Google's own developer board helps developers bring machine-learning models to the network edge.

The baseboard has a Raspberry Pi-like 40-pin GPIO expansion header, microSD slot for flash memory, USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet port, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports for power and peripherals, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a terminal to wire up stereo speakers.

Developers can now get their hands on Google's souped-up answer to the Raspberry Pi: the $150 Coral Dev Board, which features Google's Edge TPU machine-learning accelerator for low-powered devices that sit on the edge of a network.

Google unveiled the tiny Edge TPU ASIC last July as its low-cost chip for bringing machine learning to sensors that can run machine-learning models on the TensorFlow lite framework.

The Edge TPU now features in the Coral-branded $75 USB 'thumb drive' accelerator and as part of a removable 'system on module' that ships with a developer baseboard.

The Edge TPU Module includes an NXP i.MX 8M system on a chip that consists of a quad-core Cortex-A53 and Cortex-M4F, a Vivante GC7000 Lite Graphics graphics processor, 8GB of eMMC storage, and 1GB of LDDR4 RAM. It also features Wi-Fi with 2x2 MIMO (802.11b/g/n/ac 2.4/5GHz) and Bluetooth 4.1. The add-on measures 48mm x 40mm x 5mm.

The baseboard has an RPi-like 40-pin GPIO expansion header, microSD slot for flash memory, USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet port, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports for power and peripherals, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a terminal to wire up stereo speakers. It measures 88mm x 60mm x 24mm. There's of course video and camera interfaces for computer-vision applications.

Google also launched a $25 five-megapixel Coral Camera Module that connects to the Dev Board via a camera flex cable.

SEE: Sensor'd enterprise: IoT, ML, and big data (ZDNet special report) | Download the report as a PDF (TechRepublic)

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Google notes that the Dev Board can be used as a single-board computer with accelerated machine-learning processing, but it also serves as an evaluation kit for manufacturers who want to use just the SOM combined with their own custom PCB hardware.

The Edge TPU-powered SOM will be capable of executing "state-of-the-art mobile vision models such as MobileNet v2 at 100+ fps, in a power efficient manner", according to Google.

According to Hackster.io, Google plans to reveal more about the developer board and USB device at the TensorFlow Dev Summit, which kicks off today.

As Hackster.io notes, the Edge TPU devices would be used in the second stage of developing a machine-learning algorithm after it has already been trained on a large dataset. Developers could then run already trained devices nearer to the data and have devices that use machine learning without the cloud. 




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Hardkernel's Odroid N2 promises great performance for its price.

Hardkernel failed to deliver the $100 Rockchip RK3399-based Odroid-N1 developer board last year due to component shortages. But it's now back with a successor, the Odroid-N2, which is cheaper and performs significantly better in benchmarking tests.

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The Odroid-N2 won't be as cheap as the $35 Raspberry Pi, but it's also intended for a different market that's willing to pay for some extra memory, more ports, and a faster processor.

The 2GB DDR4 RAM model will cost $63, while a 4GB DDR4 RAM model costs $79. Notably, these figures are still well below the $100 price that Hardkernel had planned for the Rockchip-based Odroid-N1.

Instead of a Rockchip processor, the N2 will come with an Amlogic S922X processor, consisting of a four-core 1.8GHz Cortex-A73 processor, a dual-core 1.9GHz Cortex-A53 processor, and a new Mali-G52 GPU.       

It also features a generous four USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, a 40-pin expansion header for peripherals, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI 2.0, a micro USB 2.0 port, two LED indicators, an infrared receiver, an eMMC flash module socket, microSD card slot, and bootable 8MB SPI flash memory.

There's also an active cooling fan connector and Real-Time Clock (RTC) backup battery connector. Hardkernel says the device's low power consumption means the RTC should be able to run for over a decade on a tiny CR2032 backup battery.

There's no integrated Wi-Fi, but users will have the option to add this via USB adapters. Hardkernel says its got hardware to accelerate video decoder that can play 4K H.265 at 60FPS.


If Hardkernel's benchmarks are to be believed, the Odroid-N2 should significantly outperform the Raspberry Pi 3 and the never-released Odroid N-1.

It also describes the Odroid-N2's CPU multi-core performance as about 20 percent faster than the Odroid-N1, its DDR4 RAM is 35 percent faster than the N1's DDR3 RAM.

Meanwhile, The N2's Mali-G52 is estimated to be 10 percent faster than the N1's GPU, according to Hardkernel's GPU benchmarks.

The single-board computer also ships with a large metal heatsink to handle CPU and RAM heat and minimize the need for throttling. The CPU is located on the bottom side of the printed circuit board to improve thermal characteristics.

On the operating system side, the N2 supports Ubuntu 18.04 LTS with Kernel version 4.9.152 LTS supported through to January 2023. It also supports Android 9.0 Pie.

The board measures 90mm x 90mm x 17mm but expands to 100mm x 91mm x 24mm with the heatsink.

Hardkernel says it won't be accepting pre-orders though it does expect to have the boards ready for shipping by early April with sales to start from late March. Cases for the computers are priced $4.

odroidn2board.jpg
The Odroid-N2 won't be as cheap as the $35 Raspberry Pi, but it's also intended for a different market.

Pine H64 Model B also available with same memory as the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ but for $10 less.

Computer and developer-board maker Pine64 has announced the Pine H64 Model B, another Raspberry Pi-like computer that updates Pine64's H64 Model A from last year.

Pine64 H64 Model B boards cost the same as the H64 Model A, starting at $25 for the model with 1GB of RAM, but the newer model now includes a built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth module.

Besides these additional wireless modules, the Pine H64 Model B remains largely unchanged, with the same Allwinner H6 system on chip (SoC) and the same layout as the original H64, as well its more expensive Rockchip-based Rock64.

The common design allows each model to use the same shaped cases. The H6 SoC itself is a four-core Cortex-A53 Arm CPU with a Mali-T720 MP2 GPU.

Key features include a microSD slot that supports up to 256GB of storage, 128MB of flash memory, one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, and a two by 20-pin GPIO header.

It also features a mini PCIe connector, digital video out, a 3.5mm combined headphone and mic plug, an eMMC socket, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. And it supports 4K video playback.

Pine64 intends to sell the 1GB board for $24.95, the 2GB model for $35.95, and a 3GB variant for $44.95. More details are available on Pine64's forum.

Pine64 announced two more devices. The Rockchip-powered Pinebook Pro Linux laptop will go on sale for around $199, offering fans a more capable laptop than the existing Pinebook that was intended for tinkering.

The black magnesium-alloy Pinebook Pro runs on a Rockchip RK3399 ARM SoC, has a 14-inch 1080p LCD screen, and comes with either 64GB or 128GB of eMMC storage and 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM.

The Allwinner-based PineTab is a new Linux tablet that runs on the Allwinner A64 SoC and features an 11.6-inch screen with an attachable keyboard. The device is expected to sell for $99 with the keyboard or $79 without it.

It comes with Bluetooth 4.0, wifi 802.11n, 16GB of eMMC storage, 2GB or LPDDR3 RAM, and features a 702p 10-inch LCD screen.

pin64h64modelb.jpg
Pine64 intends to sell the 1GB board for $24.95, the 2GB model for $35.95, and a 3GB variant for $44.95.



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Raspberry Pi 3 owners rejoice but note that the app is still in beta

Just a short while ago, Valve discontinued its Steam Link – the little box that lets you stream games from a PC to the TV in your living room – and for those who lament the demise of the device, the good news is you can now make your own with a Raspberry Pi.

That’s because Valve has released the Steam Link app for the Raspberry Pi 3 and Raspberry Pi 3 B+ models running the Raspbian Stretch operating system, albeit only in beta at this point.

You can find instructions on how to install and fire up the app on your Pi in Valve’s announcement post right here.

Work in progress

Initial feedback seems fairly positive, with one gamer observing that the Pi works pretty well as a replacement device, although (anecdotally) there is possibly a little extra lag (in the order of 5ms or so) compared to using the Steam Link. And that would make sense, plus you have to bear in mind that this is still beta software so it will continue to be polished and honed.

It’s great to see Valve make such a move, and give Raspberry Pi owning folks options on this front. Although if you’re unsure about the aforementioned instructions – or you’re running into problems during installation of the app, as seems to have happened to the odd user in Valve’s forum post – then fret not, because we’ve got a full tutorial in the works on making your Raspberry Pi a Steam Link.

This will explain everything in easy to follow steps, so keep your eyes peeled for that one, because it’ll be with you soon enough.

Raspberry Pi Foundation updates its budget single-board computer with the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+

One of the key differences with the Model 3 B feature-wise is that the Pi 3 A lacks an Ethernet port and has only a single USB port.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has announced the Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+, offering several major improvements over the current compact version of the classic Raspberry Pi 1 Model A+.

The current Model A+ was getting long in the tooth, announced in November 2014 as the successor to the original Model A. The 2014 Model 1 A+ still employed the first Raspberry Pi's single-core chipset.

The new Pi 3 A+, available today, gains the same quad-core system on chip as the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ released earlier this year. The SoC is Broadcom's BCM2837B0, which is a 1.4GHz 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 CPU.

Despite the upgraded specs, the Pi 3 A+ will still cost $25, or $10 less than Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, which has double the memory.

One of the key differences with the Model B+ feature-wise is that the Pi 3 A+ lacks an Ethernet port and has only a single USB port.

Their absence permits the smaller form factor, which is more squarish compared with the Pi 3B+. Like the Pi Zero, the new Pi 3 A+ has 512MB of RAM, which is double the RAM of the 2014 model when it launched. The old A+ doubled its RAM in 2016.

To ensure continuity, the Pi 3 A+ shares the same mechanical footprint as the 2014 Model A+, measuring 65mm × 56.5mm (2.56in × 2.22in), with the same 40-pin GPIO header. Its size makes it more appealing for projects that need a smaller computer.


However, the Pi 3 A+ does feature dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11ac wireless LAN, and Bluetooth 4.2.

The HDMI 1.3 port supports 1,080p monitors and TVs, and there's a microUSB connector for power, as well as a four-pole stereo audio output and composite video jack.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation said the Raspberry Pi 3 A+ will remain in production until at least January 2023.

Raspberry Pi 3 A+ is available from approved resellers, such as RS Components and Farnell element14.



In the spec sheet, the Raspberry Pi Foundation says the Raspberry Pi 3 A will remain in production until at least January 2023.



SOURCE:

Libre Computer's $10 La Frite board offers a cheap alternative to the Raspberry Pi A+.

The cheapest La Frite option costs $10 for a board with 512MB of RAM, while for $15 and up, backers can get a La Frite with 1GB of RAM.

The La Frite board is a follow up to Libre Computing's $25 Le Potato board and is "loosely based" on the design of the Raspberry Pi A+ -- a smaller and cheaper Pi than the $35 Raspberry Pi B+ -- due to the 40-pin GPIO header setup.

It's currently available to backers on the device's Kickstarter page and will be generally available in November.

The cheapest $10 option is a La Frite with 512MB of RAM, while for $15 and up, backers can get a La Frite with 1GB of RAM.

The La Frite is running on an S805X system on a chip that features a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 at 1.2GHz and Arm Mali-450 GPU Cores, according to Libre Computer's specs sheet.

As noted by ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic, the La Frite can output video to 1,080p displays via HDMI 1.4, making it comparable to the Raspberry Pi 3 B+, while the La Frite offers faster DDR4 memory.

The computer has two USB 2.0 Type ports, 100Mbps Ethernet, HDMI 2.0, a micro USB power socket, and an eMMC interface.

Key features the Le Frite is missing compared with the Raspberry Pi 3 B+ are Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. But that could be expected as these were also missing from its predecessor, the $25 Le Potato.

Libre Computer says the board supports Ubuntu, Debian, LibreELEC, Lakka, RetroPie, Android Oreo, and other Linux distributions.

Other boards the Shenzhen-based company has launched include the $35 Renegade, which runs on a Rockchip RK3328 quad-core Cortex A53 processor, and the pricier and more powerful Renegade Elite with a six-core Rockchip RK3399 CPU.

The Le Frite campaign has already raised twice its $10,000 target, which means it will be funded with shipments commencing in November.

A project to build the $50 phone has been launched on Crowd Supply.

The ZeroPhone will be based around the tiny Raspberry Pi Zero, an Arduino microcontroller, and the ESP8266 Wi-Fi module.

If you're looking for a smartphone that doesn't harvest data 24/7, then the ZeroPhone may be the device for you.

Provided you can think of something useful to do with a board with only 64MB of on-chip RAM.

If you're specifically not looking for a Raspberry Pi, the Renegade Elite could be the board of choice.

Engineer board producers like 96Boards are homing in on CPUs helped by neural handling units. 

A new, improved Raspberry Pi 3 is available. I've been trying it out, here's what I have found so far.

• The CPU speed has been bumped up to 1.4GHz
• The Wi-Fi has been bumped up to 802.11ac
• The Bluetooth has been bumped up to 4.2
• The Wired Ethernet connection has been bumped up to 1Gbps (but see below for a caveat on this)
• The power-over-ethernet capability has been added (but see below for a caveat on this)
• Network and USB boot has been improved
• Thermal management has been improved (so the higher CPU speed doesn't turn your Pi3B+ into a pile of goo)

Raspberry Pi Foundation unveils the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, its newest model in the Raspberry Pi 3 lineup.

Raspberry Pi Foundation unveils the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, its newest model in the Raspberry Pi 3 lineup.

A guide to Raspberry Pi alternatives, from low-cost options to more powerful boards.