PathScale has announced that the EKOPath 4 Compiler Suite is now available as an open source project and free download for Linux (RedHat Enterprise Linux 5 and 6, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 and 11, and Ubuntu 10), FreeBSD and Solaris. According to the press release: This release includes documentation and the complete development stack, […]
Category Archives: News
1-Wire protocol doomed?
A 1-Wire potentiometer was slated for the Bus Pirate demo board, but it’s been discontinued. The DS2890 is a simple 3pin through-hole device, but Maxim’s recommended replacement is a 16 pin chip with a 2 wire interface. We weren’t the first to be annoyed by the recommendation, check out this comment on the replacement part: […]
IBM unveils graphene chip
As detailed in this report, IBM has announced their first graphene integrated circuit. Graphene’s structure of one-atom-thick planar sheets of sp2-bonded carbon atoms that are densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice make it one of the thinnest semiconductor materials. Further development using graphene should open the door to greater practicality of flexible electronics. While […]
Adafruit + Instructables make it Tweet challenge
Adafruit announced a Make It Tweet Challenge: We’re teaming up with Instructables to bring you the Make It Tweet Challenge. Ever wish you had a tweeting coffee pot that would announce via Twitter when a pot was ready? What about a potted plant that twittered when it needed to be watered? This is your chance […]
Help with 2600 hacker calendar
Our friends at 2600 Magazine are putting together a hacker calendar for 2012 and they’re asking for everyone’s help. They write: We’re putting together a special hacker wall calendar, filled with all sorts of awesome pictures of technology compiled by our team of photographers. Old and new tech will be represented, large and small, you […]
Nominations open for O’Reilly Open Source Awards
The 7th Annual O’Reilly Open Source Awards will be hosted this July at OSCON 2011 in Portland, Ore. These annual awards recognize individual contributors who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, and collaboration in the development of open source software. The nomination form is open to the entire open source community. The nomination period closes on […]
Radio Shack seeking input from DIY enthusiasts
As part of their participation in the recent Maker Faire, Radio Shack is seeking your input on what type of DIY components and products you would like to see in their stores. Leave a comment at this RS webpage with the top three DIY-focused parts, pieces, or products that you would like to be able […]
Microchip expands low pin count, enhanced mid-range 8-bit PIC® microcontroller family
Microchip recently announced the latest additions to its Enhanced Mid-Range core 8-bit PIC® microcontroller (MCU) family, the low pin count PIC12F(LF)1840 and PIC16F(LF)1847. Features include MI2C, SPI, and EUSART (w/auto baud) interfaces, and an ECCP (Enhanced/Capture Compare PWM) Module, along with the usual ADC, DAC, capacitive touch sensor channels, 256 bytes of EEPROM and In […]
Purdue senior design roundup 2011
Each year the Purdue seniors in electrical and computer engineering design and construct projects as part of their coursework. For your reading and viewing pleasure, here’s a descriptive summary of the projects produced by the 15 teams participating in the this spring’s ECE477 design roundup. A summary of the rules which governed these design projects […]
Atmel AVR Xplained dev boards
Atmel has announced their AVR Xplained series of dev boards. Atmel AVR Xplained is a series small-sized and easy-to-use evaluation kits for 8- and 32-bit AVR microcontrollers. It consists of a series of low cost MCU boards for evaluation and demonstration of feature and capabilities of different AVR familie. Example projects and code drivers are […]
US DoD gives thumbs up to open source
In a boost to the open source software movement, the United States Department of Defense (DoD) issued a 68+ page report entitled Open Technology Development (OTD): Lessons Learned & Best Practices for Military Software, the DoD outlines the military’s experiences with and approval of open source software. From this paragraph on page 1 of the […]
Iphone Arduino simulator app
This video shows a Schogini Systems Iphone app that allows you to simulate Arduino circuit breadboarding and sketch coding on an Iphone. According to the video, you can email the code to your computer for further development or device programming. We couldn’t find it in the app store yet this morning, but this concept looks […]
First 32bit Arduino avalable soon
Digilent is soon to be launching two Arduino compatible platforms, the Uno32(pictured above)and the Max32. based on microchip‘s pic32mx micro controllers. Following the Arduino philosophy of easy to use software and hardware, and not to mention the support structure already in place. they are both compatibly with existing shields.
Minibloq: developing a graphical programming environment for Arduino
Minibloq is a graphical programming environment for Arduino and other physical computing devices, such as DuinoBot or Maple. One of its main goals is to bring closer Arduino, Multiplo and other platforms to primary schools, kids and beginners. It’s currently under development, and they are conducting a Kickstarter campaign with the goal of finishing the […]
Open Source Activity Map
Redhat and the Georgia Institute of Technology have teamed up to produce an interactive map showing relative activity involving open source software among 75 countries. Countries are ranked according to the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Open Source Index (OSI). Thanks to Cristian Palma who submitted this info via the contact form.
Hacking police car live video cams
Today embedded systems are proliferating in business and government enterprises. One growing trend is to embed live video cameras in police vehicles, so that command headquarters can have a real time view of what’s going on in and around police cruisers. Here’s a white paper by digitamunition describing how a penetration tester went about gaining […]
Woz on our closed source education system
Here’s a brief video by Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak, keynoting ESC Silicon Valley 2011, talking about how schools tamp down creativity and need reform. Via EETimes.
Altera releases new Quartus II v11.0 with Qsys
Quartus II is Altera’s comprehensive IDE for system-on-a-programmable-chip (SOPC) design, including CPLD and FPGA development tools. They have just released their new Quartus II Software v11.0. The free downloadable web edition includes the Qsys system integration tool in production release, promises up to 2X higher interconnect performance compared to SOPC Builder, improved design reuse and […]
Geek vending machine has got it all!
Now here’s our idea of a modern, well stocked vending machine! This machine at Metrix Create:Space, a Seattle-area hackerspace, dispenses just about everything you need when you get the hunger to develop hits: Arduinos, USB cables, breathalyzer kits, LEDs, breadboards, the works. Oh yeah, it has snacks, candy bars and bottled water too. UPDATE: Rsdio […]
43Oh project of the month contest
43Oh has announced that entry to their May 2011 contest is open. This is an opportunity for you to show off what you can do with the MSP430. The winner will be determined based upon poll results of members of the 43Oh.com forum. Check out the 43Oh contest page for full details, rules and prizes.