iLabs Challenger+ RP2040 LoRa Mk II Adds Upgraded Power Architecture and BConnect Expansion

iLabs has released the Challenger+ RP2040 LoRa Mk II, an upgraded Feather-format microcontroller board that combines the Raspberry Pi RP2040 with an RFM95W LoRa radio module. The new revision refines the original design with improved noise isolation, enhanced power distribution, and added modular connectivity options. The board features a redesigned power supply with separate power […]

Turris Omnia NG Introduced with OpenWRT-Derived OS, Wi-Fi 7, and 10 Gbps Networking

CZ.NIC has launched the Turris Omnia NG router, described as a new open-source device focused on security, performance, and modularity. It features a quad-core processor, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and M.2-based expandability, targeting users who require a long-lasting and adaptable networking platform. The Omnia NG is powered by a quad-core ARMv8 processor operating at 2.2 GHz […]

Progress on upstream Linux for MediaTek Genio IoT SoCs and boards

Collabora announced a partnership with MediaTek to bring upstream support to the Genio IoT SoCs and boards in  November 2024, but since the announcement was new at the time, no work had been done, and I didn’t write about it. However, almost one year later, Collabora can now report very good progress, especially for MediaTek MT8395 boards like Genio 1200 EVK and Radxa NIO 12L, which are now usable with mainline/upstream Linux since most features are implemented. But improvements also extend to MediaTek Genio 510 and Genio 700 EVKs, and the collaboration will continue with work on newer MediaTek Genio...

Giveaway Week 2025 – Elecrow Pi Terminal Raspberry CM4 industrial HMI display

Sometimes we receive samples even though we did not ask for them, said we would have time to review them, or due to miscommunication. That’s exactly what has happened with the Elecrow Pi Terminal, a Raspberry Pi CM4-powered industrial HMI with a 7-inch touchscreen display. So instead of letting it go to waste, I decided to offer it as the second prize of the CNX Software Giveaway Week 2025 contest. Elecrow Pi Terminal specifications: SoM – Raspberry Pi CM4 Lite SoC – Broadcom BCM2711 CPU – Quad-core Cortex-A72 SoC @ 1.5GHz GPU – VideoCore VI with support for OpenGL ES...

Bauble

The Bauble is a spherical festive decoration with 16 coloured LEDs that you can program to flash in different patterns:

The Bauble is a flashing decoration based on an AVR32DD28
that can display a variety of patterns.

It consists of two identical circular PCBs that slot together to create a three dimensional circuit; each PCB contains eight LEDs of four different colours, and one of the PCBs houses the microcontroller and battery, 

The Bauble started with the idea of creating a three-dimensional circuit by combining PCBs. It is constructed from two copies of the same circular PCB that slot together:

The two boards...

$200 SpecFive Spectre Pro Android 12 smartphone integrates LoRa Mesh connectivity

LoRa Mesh solutions like Meshtastic or MeshCore enable off-grid messaging, GPS coordinates, and in some cases, audio communication for emergencies, working or hiking in remote areas, or simply to be able to communicate outside of cellular networks. However, adoption is limited, as users need to buy a terminal that costs about the same as an entry-level smartphone, or they may not see any use for it, except for emergencies. Integrating LoRa Mesh into Android smartphones can lower the cost of the feature, since the battery, enclosure, etc… are already there, and you just need to add a LoRa module and...

This battery-powered NB-IoT/LTE-M industrial data logger is designed to run for years

NORVI EC-M12-BC-C6-C-A (or EC-M12 for shorts) is a battery-powered cellular IoT industrial data logger offering NB-IoT and LTE-M connectivity, 2G fallback, two 4-20mA sensor inputs, an RS485 interface, and two 3.6V/19,000mAh non-rechargeable Lithium batteries for up to 5-7 years of operation. The IP67-rated data logger is built around a low-power STM32L072 Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller, and features a SIM7070 cellular IoT modem, a microSD card slot for data storage, and a single 8-pin M8 connector carrying analog input and RS485 signals. NORVI EC-M12-BC-C6-C-A specifications: Microcontroller – STMicro STM32L072 Arm Cortex-M0+ MCU clocked at up to 32 MHz with 20 KB of...

HackBEE is a Raspberry Pi RP2350 USB-C dongle for developers (Crowdfunding)

Hack the Board’s HackBEE is a tiny programmable USB-C dongle and development platform powered by the Raspberry Pi RP2350 Arm Cortex-M33/Hazard3 RISC-V microcontroller. It supports USB host and device modes, has side buttons, and includes a multi-color RGB LED for feedback. The device can be used as a programmable HID device (keyboard/mouse/media controller), a USB host or device for testing and prototyping, an automation tool for repetitive tasks, a compact input emulator, or a teaching tool for C/C+, MicroPython, and embedded systems education. HackBEE specifications: MCU – Raspberry Pi RP2350A CPU Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 @ 150 MHz with Arm Trustzone,...

Giveaway Week 2025 – M5Stack Tab5 ESP32-P4 IoT devkit

It’s that time of the year when we organize CNX Software Giveaway Week, a global contest where we give away review samples or get companies to send units to readers. For the 12th edition of the contest, we have seven items to give away this time around: five review samples I will send myself, and two prizes from companies offering a router board and an industrial development kit. As usual, the contest is open worldwide, and CNX Software Thailand has a separate contest with four additional items for people with an address in Thailand. The first prize will be the...

Creality Sermoon S1 high-end 3D scanner review – Part 1: specifications and unboxing

Creality has sent me the Sermoon S1 high-end 3D scanner for review. It supports blue laser line and infrared structured light scanning, offers high accuracy up to 0.02mm, scans objects from 5 x 5 x 5 m3 to 4000 x 4000 x 4000 mm3, and looks like a pretty cool device overall. I’ll start the review by diving into the specifications, before going through an unboxing to check out the 3D scanner and its accessories. I’ll then need to study a bit more before testing out with different objects in the second part of the review. Sermoon S1 3D scanner...