Engicam introduces SmarCore iQ6 SMARC module with Dragonwing IQ-6

Engicam has introduced the SmarCore iQ6, a SMARC 2.2 system-on-module based on the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-6 Series. The module targets industrial, IoT, and edge computing applications requiring a compact embedded platform with multimedia and AI capabilities. The SmarCore iQ6 is built around the Qualcomm IQ-615 processor and uses a heterogeneous CPU architecture composed of two […]

Grinn ReneSOM-V2H module runs Renesas RZ/V2H vision AI processor

Polish embedded systems company Grinn has introduced the ReneSOM-V2H, described as the world’s smallest SoM based on the Renesas RZ/V2H processor. Measuring 37 × 42.6 mm, the module targets edge AI and vision-based systems such as smart cameras, robotics platforms, and industrial inspection devices. The ReneSOM-V2H integrates the RZ/V2H processor with a heterogeneous architecture featuring […]

Renesas RA0E3 Arm Cortex-M23 MCU is a stripped-down RA0E1 for cost-sensitive applications

Back in 2024, Renesas first released the RA0E1, an ultra-low-power Cortex-M23 MCU designed for cost-sensitive applications, followed by the RA0E2, with extended temperature range support (-40°C to +125°C). The company has expanded its lineup with the RA0E3, a stripped-down version of the RA0E1 with less memory, fewer peripherals, and fewer GPIOs, designed for small and budget-focused applications for sensing, motor assist, safety, and basic system control. The MCU retains the same 32 MHz Arm Cortex-M23 (Armv8-M) core but now comes with 16KB flash and 2KB SRAM. It features an 8-channel 16-bit TAU timer, a 32-bit interval timer, a 10-bit ADC...

Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite wearable platform offers 5G RedCap, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 6.0, built-in AI accelerator

Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear Elite is described as the “world’s first Personal AI wearable platform”, and features an NPU for on-device AI delivering up to 12 TOPS of performance at low power, supporting 2B parameter models. It delivers up to 5x single-core CPU improvement and up to 7x faster GPU compared to the previous-generation Snapdragon W5+ Gen 2 Wearable Platform while offering up to 30% more battery life for multi-day battery life, thanks to a 3nm architecture. The new Snapdragon Wear Elite platform also supports fast charging with up to 50% charge in under 10 minutes. Snapdragon Wear Elite specifications: CPU –...

pureLiFi Bridge XC Flex delivers gigabit broadband internet through windows (made of glass)

pureLiFi Bridge XC Flex is a consumer-installable solution designed to be installed on windows (the ones made of glass, not Windows operating system!) in order to provide up to 1 Gbps broadband internet to the home. The solution leverages LiFi data transmission using invisible infrared light combined with up to 25W wireless power transfer for fast, cost-effective broadband deployment that does not require any cabling. It is comprised of indoor and outdoor units compatible with a wide range of window types, including single, double, and triple-glazed panes, as well as energy-efficient Low-E coatings. pureLiFi Bridge XC Flex highlights: Data Rates...

Quectel RM255C mid-tier 5G RedCap M.2 and LGA modules support LTE Cat 4 fallback, multi-constellation GNSS

Quectel has just announced two new 5G RedCap modules, the RM255C-GL (Global, M.2) and RG255C-NA (North America, LGA), both of which are 3GPP Release 17-compliant 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) modules designed to bridge the gap between LTE Cat 4/6 and full-featured 5G. Both the modules support 5G Sub-6GHz SA with LTE Cat 4 fallback, peak data rates of up to 223 Mbps downlink and 123 Mbps uplink, and backward compatibility with Rel-15/16 networks. Additionally, the modules support optional multi-constellation GNSS via Qualcomm IZat Gen 9VT technology along with various interfaces such as USB 2.0 and PCIe 2.0 (plus UART, SPI, I2C,...

Nordic Semi nRF93M1 IoT modules offer LTE Cat 1bis cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi location capabilities

Nordic Semiconductors introduced the nRF93M1 LTE Cat 1bis IoT modules at Mobile World Congress 2026 with up to 10 Mbps downlink and 5 Mbps uplink, as well as built-in Wi-Fi location capabilities. Two variants will be offered: the nRF93M1-LABA supporting LTE bands for Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, and the nRF93M1-LACA supporting a wider range of LTE bands and certifications for worldwide deployments. Nordic Semi nRF93M1 specifications : LTE Cat-1bis modem with 3GPP Rel. 14 support 617-2690 MHz LTE FDD and TDD band support Power Class 3 (23 dBm) Support for (e)UICC/eSIM (SGP.32 IoT) and Software SIM (SoftSIM) framework Data rates...

Qualcomm Wi-Fi 8 solutions – FastConnect 8800 Mobile Client and Qualcomm Dragonwing Networking Platforms

Qualcomm has unveiled its Wi-Fi 8 (802.11bn) portfolio, which includes the FastConnect 8800 “Mobile Connectivity System”, also integrating Bluetooth 7 wireless technology, Ultra Wideband (UWB), and Thread,  and five Dragonwing Networking platforms for access points and routers. The Dragonwing NPro A8 Elite features a 5×5 Wi-Fi 8 radio system for high-performance enterprise access points and premium home routers, the Dragonwing FiberPro A8 Elite offers similar features but adds 10G fiber access (PON) for fiber-to-the-home gateways, the Dragonwing FWA Gen 5 Elite is designed for fixed wireless access using the Qualcomm X85 5G Modem-RF System, and the Qualcomm Dragonwing N8 and...

I built a pint-sized Macintosh

To kick off MARCHintosh, I built this tiny pint-sized Macintosh with a Raspberry Pi Pico:

This is not my own doing—I just assembled the parts to run Matt Evans' Pico Micro Mac firmware on a Raspberry Pi Pico (with an RP2040).

The version I built outputs to a 640x480 VGA display at 60 Hz, and allows you to plug in a USB keyboard and mouse.

Since the original Pico's RAM is fairly constrained, you get a maximum of 208 KB of RAM with this setup—which is 63% more RAM than you got on the original '128K' Macintosh!

GEEKOM A5 Pro 2026 Edition Review – Part 2: An AMD Ryzen 5 7530U mini PC tested with Windows 11 Pro

After checking out the hardware of the GEEKOM A5 Pro 2026 Edition mini PC with an unboxing and a teardown in the first part of the review, I’ve now had time to test the AMD Ryzen 5 7530U mini PC with Windows 11 Pro. We will now report our experience by providing an overview of the software, testing features, running benchmarks such as PCMark 10, 3DMark, PassMark PerformanceTest 11, Cinebench R23, and Unigine Heaven Benchmark 4.0, testing 2.5GbE and WiFi 6 networking performance, evaluating the cooling system, and measuring fan noise levels and power consumption. Software overview and features testing...