Tag: Raspberry Pi

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Imaging Maker/Development

I’m Back camera back adds digital functionality to your film camera

Digital cameras became the standard for professional photographers years ago, but many still have film cameras for which they’d like to have digital functionality.

patent-claimedI’m Back is a digital camera back based on thin Raspberry Pi single-board computers that attaches to film cameras and allows users to transfer photos directly to the Internet via a browser send feature and also receive emails. It connects to wireless devices via Bluetooth. Other features include a touchscreen TFT display. I’m back ships in December. Future pricing isn’t set yet, but its maker says he hopes to sell it for $199 or less. He hopes to raise $22,714 by July 21.

The concept is a good one and not without precedent. But it’s not clear just how many consumers beyond photo enthusiast film purists there are who wouldn’t rather just use their smartphone to take a photo if they want to make use of digital functions … or just buy a digital camera instead of I’m Back. The biggest issue for now, however, is that it’s not clear just what cameras the camera back is even compatible with. Its maker says only that I’m Back works with “a great number of models.”

 

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Connected Objects

DoodleVU connected mirror starts the day off with widgets

The biggest “screen” in most people’s lives isn’t a screen at all, but rather the mirror every morning is spent in front of to make sure a suit and tie combo is just right, or makeup is applied evenly. Nothing more is asked of a mirror because it does what it does simply, and well. AppSmith Studios is pushing the complacent home object further with its DoodleVU connected mirror.

DoodleVU is a Raspberyy Pi-based Wi-Fi mirror that displays widgets from its companion mobile or web app. For now, there is a small range of apps available, but the company claims that list will grow. Out of teh box, users can do things like display a Twitter feed, leave notes on the mirror for others, stay up to date on sports scores, and a few others.

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Maker/Development

$99 pi-topCEED desktop combines STEM learning with radical affordability

The STEM dreams of children around the world are being awoken and nurtured by the stream of educational devices aimed at teaching these children how to code. The team behind their self-titled runaway Indiegogo hit Pi-Top laptop is back with a second product that looks to lower the barrier of entry even further while dealing with its chunkiness a bit more effectively.

The pi-topCEED is the first $99 Raspberry Pi desktop featuring a 13.3″ HD screen, a 180° degree hinge for greater viewing angels, and a front-facing slide-away panel that allows access to the circuitry within. The unit comes with a Raspberry Pi 2 pre-installed with pi-top OS, an OS built by makers for maker that includes key functionality like brightness control along with gaming in the form of Minecraft and educational programs like Scratch and CEEDUniverse, a MMORPG that teaches circuit and programming basics.

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Maker/Development

Raspberry Pi cleans up by donning the PiKasa

Raspberry Pi devices are super useful precisely because they offer so much functionality. From messaging, games and music playback to controlling “internet of things” devices – it can pretty much handle whatever light duties need to be accomplished. The biggest problem, though, is how messy everything becomes when the bare Pi is out in the open, with all kinds of wires connected to it.

As it turns out, the Raspberry Pi cleans up nicely with the PiKasa, a simple but attractive housing structure dedicated to making the module more presentable. The housing comes complete with a 7″ HDMI LCD screen, five USB ports, a LAN hookup, speakers, a battery charger, and a spill proof keyboard just for safety. This setup deepens the Raspberry Pi’s versatility while also making it something that can be left out in the open without causing one to look like a mad scientist. Backers can grab one for $99, with a ship date somewhere in August 2015. Its funding goal is $25,000 by April 14.

The Raspberry Pi certainly has many outfits, and this one is limited to being just a desktop. If a user is looking for something a bit more portable, the RaspiTab offers some Pi in a hackable and upgradeable tablet form.

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Cell Phone Accessories Displays

LIBERCOM152 is the klunky way to turn your iPhone into an iPad

The phablets that have rapidly become the norm may be perfect for the morning commute or occasional road trip, but at home but there’s nothing like a full-sized display to display content as brilliantly as it deserves to be, and completely capture attention as a result.

While it doesn’t measure up to an HDTV or even most desktop PC screens, the 9.7- inch, full HD LIBERCOM152 lets consumers experience all their phone apps on a tablet-sized display. The full capacitive touch screen is primarily designed as a smartphone complement, but can connect to a PC, Mac, or even Rapsberry Pi to facilitate video calls, gaming, and Web browsing. Utilizing a a dual charging and micro-HDMI display cable reduces lag in the screen so that it can better support real-time mirroring. Early birds can grab their own LIBERCOM152 for up to $200 off the $350 retail price, with a ship date of June 2015 expected. The campaign seks $80,000.

The LIBERCOM152’s oozes retro charm with its SNES-inspired design that even includes a game controller. However, for what it costs, most users would e served better by a sleeker iPad or other tablet as it lacks the integration of ASUS’ Padfone X.

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Maker/Development

RoboCORE cloud-powered device and development platform opens the door to innovative robotics

Robotics as a hobby is becoming increasingly popular due to the the availability of development platforms such as Arduino and Raspberry Pi. These platforms are inexpensive and extremely customizable, making them especially suited to tinkerers everywhere. Their biggest problems are their lack of power underneath the hood, along with the offline-only limits that stifle all sorts of possibilities.

The RoboCORE is a cloud-powered device and development platform that combines hardware and software into one, streamlining the process for creating all sorts of inventions. It isn’t dependent on any particular mechanics system, so it can paired with anything from Legos to custom metal constructions—the only limitation being the skill and imagination of the person working with it. The RoboCORE’s Intel Edison CPU facilitates the control of both autonomous and remotely-controlled constructions, along with the attached modules, motors, sensors, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi within them. In the right hands, powerful robots can be created, running the gamut from telepresence to connected lawnmowers.

The beauty of the platform is its wireless capability, allowing users to program and control their creations from anywhere using web, Android, or iOS apps that take advantage of Web IDE. The company’s C/C++ proprietary robotics framework, titled hFramework, does the heavy lifting—although users can opt to code in Python as well. None of the advanced knowledge is needed for basic creations, though, as programming templates are available to get those interested started right way.

RoboCORE is another product aiming to streamline the necessities that a maker demands, but that is something a product like Mono does as well. As engaging and helpful as the RoboCORE can be, it will have a tough time garnering attention among a sea of other, more established development platforms.

A RoboCORE with an Intel Edison is awarded for $159, but early birds can grab one for less. The $50,000 campaign is looking to raise the funding by March 13, and expects to get the product out in the summer of this year.

Categories
Technology

Ubotia PiPanther moddable tank seeks and destroys

Nowadays, our fellow aerial-based drones are busy getting all the limelight. This leaves all the land-based devices like the Ubotia PiPanther out in the cold. Many aerial drones focus on videography and trying to look cool as possible, but after the video is done, where’s the fun?

The PiPanther is essentially a Raspberry Pi on tracks, and comes equipped with Wi-Fi functionality along with an HD camera to facilitate shooting games with its companion Ubotia app and other PiPanthers. The device is also moddable as well, so additions like LEDs can be added if a night game is preferred. Both iOS and Android users can both remotely control the PiPanther, and an open API will ensure users won’t get bored too easily. Pair it with something like Droidles to create interesting scenarios. The €99 (~$120) product and is expected to ship in April 2015 with a successful campaign of €5,000 (~$6,069).

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Maker/Development

RaspiTab open-source tablet is customizable, hacker-friendly

Every year, all the big name tablets on the market offer increasingly greater levels of performance and design, giving users unparalleled graphics and robust operating systems that pretty much do anything software-wise. Unfortunately, all this software is inherently limited by what hardware these companies choose to install in the device themselves. This leaves users who’d prefer alternative capabilities pretty much out in the cold.

While the RaspiTab won’t win any awards with its 7″ capacitive touch screen or 5MP camera, its Raspberry Pi heart will win over the legions of tinkerers and hackers who long for more autonomy over their hardware. The Pi allows for unparalleled customization of the RaspiTab to accommodate whatever someone might need inside it, from a GPS to a NFC chip to an accelerometer. To facilitate the easy installation of these parts, the product’s chassis is held together by minimal connections so that the process of taking it apart never becomes a chore. The RaspiTab can be had for £159 (~$248). Enterprising backers can expect their own come April 2015 should the campaign reach its £125,000 (~$195,400) goal.

The RaspiTab is certainly underwhelming on the stats side, but it’s completely up to the user if it stays like that. With so much room within its chassis to make adjustments, the hackable product has the capability to be similarly equipped to or even superior than other tablets provided the user knows enough. At the very least, the RaspiTab sits firmly in the Raspberry Pi tradition of creating an educational environment that can empower those learning hardware design and coding, alongside good company like the Pi Top.

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Maker/Development

Tiny Mono provides development platform potential

Sometimes, our smart devices are a little too smart for what we want to do and a little too rigid for the intrepid among us. This makes merely tinkering with the different platforms in our lives pretty much impossible. Innovations like Arduino boards and Raspberry Pis lets buffs realize their ideas, but they can easily get out of hand and end up with nothing but a jumble of wires.

The one difficult thing when it comes to creation is testing out the idea, but the Mono makes it easy to do just that. The tiny device comes equipped with a 2.2″ TFT touch display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, an accelerometer, and a temperature sensor. Mono is a gadget as much as it is a development platform. As such, it’s completely open source, so it can act as an interface for other, custom ideas, or act on its own. By downloading tailored apps from the MonoKiosk app store, Mono can act as a one-touch light for Phillips Hue connected bulbs, or can display weather forecasts, for example. A single, fully loaded Mono goes for kr710 (~$119), and is expected in May 2015. The campaign is looking for kr500,000 (~$83,300) in funding.

In and of themselves, the applications touted by the Mono seem fairly tame, but its potential is really in how makers end up utilizing it. An expansion connector on the device’s back allows for increased utility such as connected power, a 3.5mm carries multiple digital and analog signals, and an SD card slot really gets the mind going when it comes to how much programming and data a single 32GB card can hold. All this tech in the hands of the right person can result in comparable, more innovative products than those on the market now, all at a fraction of the cost.

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Maker/Development Technology

Pi Top is a chunky open source laptop to teach you about coding

The increasing proliferation of technology in every part of our lives has led to a similar increase in demand for those who understand it all. With hardware, electronics, and code all at the heart of today’s most used technology, it’s an incredible challenge for those interested to even start. Outside of teaching yourself or attending costly college-level courses, there aren’t too many resources for those starting from scratch.

The mission behind Pi-Top is simple: focus on teaching people how to create and code great hardware. Initially, the open source laptop is shipped in pieces: a 13.3″ HD LCD monitor, various PCBs, keyboard, trackpad, Wi-Fi adapter, wiring, battery, and a Raspberry Pi to control it all. Instructions are included to lead users in the Pi-Top’s construction, and serve as an introductory lesson to everything the Pi-Top does. Afterwards, it functions as a laptop dedicated to teaching the skills necessary to transform a pure novice into someone who can design printed circuit boards, 3D print, and code anything they’d want using free online lessons direct from the company. In addition, the Raspberry Pi’s HAT specification allows small add-on boards to add functionality, a consideration Pi-Top was built with. This allows users to program robots or have access to a variety of sensors for home automation, and with more HATs being released, there are a wealth of options for the curious tinkerer. All in all, the Pi-Top is truly an accessible product priced at $285 and many agree: the company’s $80,000 has been funded.

The Pi-Top does a great job in streamlining the process of learning a topic that has incredible depth. The free online courses demonstrate immediate, physical results and will be great at drawing users in and keeping them there, a leg up on what the Novena does. Even if it may contain beefier internals (and a similarly beefy price), the makers behind the Novena do nothing to at least expand your knowledge. The Pi-Top is very user friendly, and will prove to be a hit with those who take the plunge.