BeagleBone Black packs 1GHz ARM CPU, 512MB RAM for just $45 (video)

Maker tested, engineer approved: Introducing $45, 1-GHz BeagleBone Black open-source Linux computer

Everything you need to go from box to developing in less than 3.14 minutes

DESIGN WEST – SAN JOSE (April 23, 2013) -With BeagleBone Black, the next-generation offering from BeagleBoard.org, everyone from electronic artists to engineers has access to a ready-to- use, 1-GHz computer for only $45. This credit-card-sized, Linux computer is an open hardware and software development platform that makes it quick and easy to transform great ideas into products. BeagleBone Black allows developers to leverage the ideas and knowledge of the highly active and engaged users of the BeagleBoard.org community who support each other from concept through development. Opportunities for innovation are endless.

It's all in the box

For only $45, BeagleBone Black includes all the necessary components in the box to connect a display, keyboard and network, providing a lower total cost of ownership than the nearest competitor and allowing for immediate development.

BeagleBone Black is based on the 1-GHz SitaraTM AM335x ARM® CortexTM-A8 processor from Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI). TI's Sitara AM335x processor enhances the user experience by enabling an advanced graphical user interface and more than 2x higher performance than ARM11TM-based solutions. BeagleBone Black includes 2GB of on-board storage to run pre-loaded Linux software, as well as a USB cable to power the board. Featuring USB, Ethernet and HDMI interfaces, BeagleBone Black has the interfaces to connect to a wide variety of devices such as a mouse, keyboard or LCD display. BeagleBone Black offers designers flexibility with expansion headers, including 65 digital I/Os, seven analog inputs and access to a variety of analog and digital peripherals.

Open-source software and hardware accelerate development time

BeagleBone Black is based on production-ready hardware and software, helping developers, makers, hobbyists and students around the world speed development time. In addition, all of the components on BeagleBone Black, including TI's Sitara AM335x processor, are commercially available.

BeagleBone Black comes pre-loaded with a Linux operating system and Cloud9 IDE to kickstart development and keep the microSD slot available for additional storage. The software is optimized to help new users explore embedded Linux and become proficient quickly. The ecosystem includes free access to documentation, example code and mainline kernel support for other software distributions like
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Ubuntu, Android and Fedora. BeagleBone Black's kernel and driver flexibility allows users to easily integrate new hardware and software.
More than 30 plug-in boards, called "capes" by the community, are compatible with BeagleBone Black, with more capes to come. Integrating BeagleBone Black with these capes-such as 3D printers, a DMX lighting controller, a Geiger counter, a telerobotic submarine, LCD touch screens and more-extends the functionality of the board to enable an even broader range of innovative projects and rapidly accelerate the development process.

Community engagement fosters innovation

The ticket to maximizing the full potential of BeagleBone Black is to tap into the wealth of information available in one of the most active communities in the industry, BeagleBoard.org. Interact with other developers to learn, answer questions, share ideas or just watch for inspiration. By utilizing the brilliant minds and contributions of open-source developers, BeagleBoard.org members can solve their development challenges quickly.

"With all you need to get started included in the box for only $45, BeagleBone Black is a fantastic platform for hardware hackers at a great value," said engineer Limor Fried, Entrepreneur Magazine's Entrepreneur of the Year and founder of Adafruit Industries. "BeagleBone Black and the BeagleBoard.org community can help almost any electronic artist-from beginner to professional developers-easily bring their unique project concepts to reality."

Order yours today!

Do you have a creative project idea that can help change the world? Make it a reality by ordering BeagleBone Black now. A list of distributors is available at www.beagleboard.org/black. Initial quantities are limited. BeagleBone Black is expected to ship in volume by the end of May.

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By: Unknown On 5:20 PM

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Nikon Coolpix P330 packs 1/1.7-inch 12.2MP sensor and f/1.8 lens, we go hands-on

Caution Coolpix P310 owners: Nikon's latest point-and-shoot announcement may cause you to weep. The P330, as this year's flavor is to be called, offers a handful of upgrades over its predecessor, which launched in February of 2012. First, there's a new larger sensor on board, with 1/1.7 of an inch to work with, compared to 1/2.3 of an inch on last year's flavor. It'll also snap lower-resolution images, which may sound like a step backwards, but the 12.2-megapixel chip should offer superior image quality, along with a sensitivity range of ISO 80 through 12,800. Also new this year is RAW shooting -- a feature that could help position this mid-range model as a companion shooter for advanced amateurs and pros alike, for those occasions where a full-size rig wouldn't be practical. Finally, there's a 5x, 24-120mm f/1.8-5.6 optic with lens-based VR, a 3-inch TFT LCD, built-in GPS, 1080/30p and 60i video shooting and WiFi connectivity with the optional ($60) WU-1a module.

In an atypical move, Nikon graciously permitted us to photograph the P330 before its official debut, so we have some hands-on pics and impressions to share. The camera itself looks very similar to the P310 -- there's a nifty mode dial up top, along with a zoom toggle, control dial, power button, stereo mics and a pop-up flash. It's a solid-feeling compact, though Sony's RX100 does offer a more premium feel (and shooting experience to boot, but for nearly twice the price). Overall, the P330 is a solid entrant to Nikon's midrange lineup, but at $380, it's a fairly significant investment, too. Expect the camera to hit stores later this month in black and white -- you, dear reader, can thumb through our hands-on gallery for an up-close look today, though.Nikon Coolpix P330 hands-onSee all photoswhen.eng("eng.galleries.init")

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The COOLPIX P330: Big Performance from a Tiny Camera

The COOLPIX P330 offers a useful 5x wide angle to telephoto (24mm-120mm, 35mm equivalent) zoom and cutting-edge features in a sleek, portable design for exceptional images and HD video. The P330 has a 1/1.7-inch, 12.2-megapixel backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor that offers users the ability to confidently capture vibrant photos with low noise. Additionally, the super-sharp f/1.8 lens is the fastest in the COOLPIX line, rendering photos and Full HD 1080p video with striking clarity in a variety of lighting conditions. The lens also includes Vibration Reduction image stabilization to further reduce the effects of image blur when shooting handheld. Designed for the user who wants a sophisticated camera with the option of an advanced feature set, the COOLPIX P330 includes manual controls (P,S,A,M) and can now capture NRW/RAW images.

The P330 also enables users to enhance their photography with the inclusion of various Scene Modes, as well as Nikon's Easy Auto Mode for capturing beautiful imagery during scenic vacations, celebrations or everyday moments, all with the convenience of a small, portable size. Additionally, the camera incorporates Full HD Video with stereo sound, engaged with just a simple press of the dedicated video record button.

This high-performance camera also comes with built-in GPS capabilities so photographers can easily log even their most exotic travels by pinpointing the exact latitude and longitude where the image was captured.

Pricing and Availability
The COOLPIX A will be available in March 2013 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $1099.95* and will be offered in Black and Silver. The DF-CP1 Optical Viewfinder will be available for a suggested retail price of $449.96*, and the UR-E24 Adapter Ring and HN-CP18 Lens Hood will be sold together for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $129.96*; accessories will be available in March 2013. The COOLPIX P330 will also be available in March 2013 for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $379.95* and will be offered in Black and White.

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By: Unknown On 7:21 PM

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Apple's Lightning AV Adapter packs an ARM SoC, may use AirPlay-like decoding

The developers at Panic didn't start their days with the intention of ripping open a Lightning Digital AV Adapter, but that's exactly what happened once they suspected it held some secrets. At first, the group hooked the cable up to various iOS devices expecting 1080p mirroring, but were greeted with 1,600 x 900 as the highest possible resolution. A bit bewildered, they noticed MPEG artifacts, which led them to believe the dongle was acting as a small AirPlay-like receiver that supports streaming and decoding. Now entirely suspicious, the team tore the cable asunder and exposed an ARM SoC apparently packing 256MB of RAM. According to the devs, it's possible that the Lightning connector's small number of pins prevented Cupertino from delivering raw HDMI output, so they were forced to improvise with the added silicon. We've reached out to Apple to nail down just how the cable works.

Via: Apple Insider, The Next Web

Source: Panic Blog

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By: Unknown On 9:12 PM

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