Simple Control Interface for Linux Computers: pyLCI

Posted on 21/04/2016 by Lambert Varias

It’s becoming increasingly clear to makers that single board computers and the DIY devices based on them need control interfaces that are simpler and faster to use than desktop peripherals or even full-on PCs. Pičugins Arsenijs believes he’s come up with a much simpler alternative.

Arsenijs’ calls his invention as he sees it: a Python-based Linux Control Interface, or pyLCI. It’s main components are a HD44780-compatible character display and at least five buttons, like the keypad in the image above. The idea is to use the pyLCI to make quick adjustments to your Raspberry Pi or other Linux-based device, such as toggling Wi-Fi or rebooting.

Arsenijs is still working on the pyLCI – for instance, he wants to make it connect over Wi-Fi – but he already set up a guide for folks who want to write Python applications for the device. Check out his Hack A Day page for more on his project.

[via Make:]

DIY Pocket Linux Computer: Nintendo LX

Posted on 14/04/2016 by Lambert Varias

We’ve seen a Raspberry Pi used as the basis for a normal-sized laptop, but maker Node managed to cram a Pi 2, a keyboard and a 3.5″ touchscreen into a case that’s roughly the size of a Nintendo DS. It also has three USB ports, an Ethernet port and a composite video out, and runs Linux. It’s the maker’s version of the new MacBook – but with more ports.

It doesn’t have a trackpad, but Node can use the touchscreen to switch between windows, thanks to the open source window manager i3. It won’t win awards for aesthetics or ergonomics, but this little guy can do most of the things you do on a computer, such as surfing the Web, watching videos and playing games.

This project is for advanced makers only, especially because it requires hacking off parts of the Pi 2. That said, Node went out of his way to make his guide as accessible as possible. He made a guide in video form…

As an Imgur album…

DIY Nintendo DS sized pocket computer (Raspberry Pi)

And as post on his website. As he said in the video up top, Node is also considering selling a DIY kit if enough people are interested in one. Check out his YouTube page for more of his projects and lessons.

[via Reddit]

Raspberry Pi Game Boy Case Mod Has microSD Card Slot in Cartridge: Game Boy Zero

Posted on 07/04/2016 by Lambert Varias

Another day, another Raspberry Pi retro emulator in a Game Boy case. But Redditor wermy426’s Game Boy Zero deserves its own post because it has a couple of neat features. The main one is that he loads software on the Pi by inserting a cartridge, just as you would load a game on a normal Game Boy. Wermy426 soldered an SD card reader to the cartridge, then connected the cartridge reader to the Pi’s SD card pads.

While the Frankensteined gadget looks like a mishmash of wires, tape and hot glue inside, wermy426 managed to make it clean and practical on the outside. For instance, the Li-ion battery, the USB hub and the display controls are accessible via the battery compartment. Wermy426 also added small L and R buttons where a pair of screws on the back used to be.

Here’s his build log:

Game Boy Zero

Check out the description on wermy426’s video for more on the parts that he used.

[via Reddit via Engadget]

Raspberry Pi Zero Game Boy Case Mod: Maker Man Zero

Posted on 04/04/2016 by Lambert Varias

We’ve seen the Raspberry Pi 2 stuffed inside the case of the original Game Boy to make a retro handheld gaming sytem. Redditor bentika did the same but with the $5 Raspberry Pi Zero. The tiny board made the project cheaper, but no less complex.

Bentika used a 3.5″ 320×240 LCD, which is why he had to cut out the case’s classic gray display frame. He positioned the Pi’s microSD card slot where the contrast wheel used to be, the microUSB port in the space for the original charging port and the USB port in the space external connector.

All of the buttons work, including the power switch, and bentika also added four additional buttons at the back. He installed a 2500mAh battery that lasts up to 3h per charge. Here’s a comprehensive demo of the awesome gaming machine.

Here’s his build log:

Raspberry Pi Zero Gameboy Casemod.

Head to Reddit for bentika’s parts list. I look forward to the day that the Raspberry Pi 30 will let you play everything from Pong to Crysis 30 on the go.

Ben Heck’s Lunch Box Dev Board Testing Kit Holds Pis and Bones

Posted on 03/04/2016 by Lambert Varias

Master modder Ben Heck wanted to have a portable and compact dumb terminal to test single board computers, development boards and whatever else you may call them. It sounds like a simple contraption – it’s basically a keyboard and a screen with an HDMI input – but since Ben decided to reuse old devices and materials it ended up being a somewhat complicated project.

Ben used the screen and driver board from a Motorola Atrix laptop dock, and stuffed those and the other electronics into an old medical toolbox. You can skip to 18:48 in the video below to see the finished product.

I can’t help but think that there’s a simpler solution to this, or that it’s a gadget that should already exist. I think it’s an opportunity worth looking into.

Deal: Piper Raspberry Pi Computer Kit

Posted on 16/03/2016 by Paul Strauss

While the Raspberry Pi computer offers great bang for the buck, it requires quite a bit of technical knowledge to turn it into something useful. The Piper is a complete kit that lets kids and adults alike build their own working computer with the Raspberry Pi as its brains.

Piper teaches the fundamentals of computer engineering through its assembly process, and as you go. Once you build the computer, you’re not done either. A special Minecraft map continues to teach, as it guides you through the process of creating additional circuits while interacting with the game. The system includes buttons, LED lights, buzzers, buttons and switches, and breadboards for creating more circuits.

The complete Piper system normally sells for $295(USD), but we’ve got it in the Technabob Shop for a limited time for just $239, a savings of 18%.

Teach Your Kids Engineering with the Piper Raspberry Pi Computer Kit

Posted on 16/03/2016 by Alexandru Chiuariu

As a parent, if you discover that your children have an affinity for engineering and electronics at a very early age, you have a duty to nourish that passion.

Raspberry Pi computers come as cheap as $5 (the recently launched Raspberry Pi Zero costs that much), but complex kits such as the one currently featured in our store aren’t that expensive, either, despite the great number of additional modules.

The Piper computer kit, which measures 14.7? × 2.9? × 10.5? and tips the scale at 5.2 pounds, is based on the Raspberry Pi 2 mini computer. This is a very capable piece of hardware even on its own, but the added components are the things that make it shine. Piper has included in the wooden computer case an LCD screen, a Lithium battery, a speaker, bread boards, buttons, switches and LED lights. There’s even a screwdriver included in the package, so you can proceed to assembling the computer right after getting it out of the box.

What’s truly great about the Piper Raspberry Pi kit is that it takes an age-appropriate approach to teaching engineering and electronics. Assuming that your kid is 7+ years old, you can get him or her this kit and see how a young person’s curiosity can lead to projects you couldn’t have thought of as an adult.

Minecraft is brought into play in order to make learning engineering even more approachable. Progressing through each of the game’s levels implies connecting different pieces of hardware to the Raspberry Pi. Since there are LED lights, motion sensors, buzzers, buttons and switches to tinker with, there is a great number of ways everything could be interconnected.

To get access to extra levels and sharing capabilities, you’d have to connect the Piper Raspberry Pi kit to a Wi-Fi network. It’s incredible to think that such a low-priced computer has wireless connectivity on top of everything. Come to think of it, this makes perfect sense, since the kit was built to be portable, and even includes a Lithium battery for that purpose. That basically means that kids can move around while playing with this, in case the environment influences their creativity.

In other news, Western Digital has just launched WD PiDrive, a 314GB hard-disk that’s specifically designed for the Raspberry Pi. As this mini computer is extremely cheap, WD’s HDD couldn’t have represented a great addition to it if it weren’t affordable, too. At $46, which is how much this piece of storage costs, Western Digital’s product definitely meets our expectations.

In the next 6 days, you can buy the Piper Raspberry Pi computer kit on Walyou Deals for $239, a 18% discount from the original price of $295. All sales are final, and orders are shipped for free, with deliveries expected to take place between March 25 and 28. Don’t miss this opportunity to teach your kids electronics and engineering in a manner that’s appropriate to their age!

Be social! Follow Walyou on Facebook and Twitter, and read more related stories about the SitePoint Premium lifetime subscription, or the Pay What You Want Hardcore Game Dev Bundle.

Raspberry Pi Zero Motor Controller: ZeroBorg

Posted on 07/03/2016 by Lambert Varias

PiBorg specializes in motor controllers and sensors for the Raspberry Pi, as well as robot kits based on the affordable computer. The company’s latest controller is for the tiny Raspberry Pi Zero, one that’s equally compact yet will let you manage up to 12 motors.

The ZeroBorg has an I2C header, four H-bridges, two analog ports and runs off of a 9V power source. It will be available in three pre-soldered formats. The KS1 can handle four motors or two stepper motors. The KS2 adds a DC/DC regulator and a 9V battery clip so you can power the controller and the Pi Zero from a single source, an infrared sensor for remote control and a secondary I2C header. Finally, the KS3 are three daisy chained KS1 boards. It has all the capabilities of the KS2 but can handle up to 12 motors.

Pledge at least about $30 (USD) on Kickstarter to receive a ZeroBorg as a reward.

[via Kicktraq]

DIY Amazon Echo: Raspberry Pi Pi Pi Pi Pi…

Posted on 04/03/2016 by Lambert Varias

Amazon has just released two variants of the Echo, a personal assistant and Bluetooth speaker. Both these variants – the Tap and the Echo Dot – are significantly cheaper than the $180 (USD) Echo. But makers can save even more money by tapping into Amazon’s Alexa voice service using a single board computer.

This DIY solution is possible because Amazon allows registered developers to access its Alexa for free. Sam Machin wrote programs that let you use the C.H.I.P. or the Raspberry Pi as Alexa clients. You’ll also need a speaker, a microphone and a push button. Here’s Sam demonstrating his C.H.I.P. Echo:

And here’s a detailed tutorial for the software setup courtesy of Novaspirit Tech:

You can download Sam Machin’s code on his GitHub page. Novaspirit Tech also posted their fork of Sam’s Raspberry Pi code on their GitHub page.

[via Lifehacker]

Raspberry Pi 3 Has Better SoC, Built-in Wi-Fi & Bluetooth: New Slice, Same Price

Posted on 02/03/2016 by Lambert Varias

Single board computers are getting more and more powerful, as exemplified by last year’s Pine A64. The Raspberry Pi Foundation keeps up with the times with the third version of its extremely popular computer. The Raspberry Pi 3 has significant improvements over the Raspberry Pi 2 but with the same price tag.

The Pi 3 has a new system-on-a-chip, the Broadcom BCM2837. It has a quad-core processor running at 1.2GHz, which helps make the Pi 3 up to 60% more powerful than the Pi 2, and up to 10 times more powerful than the original Pi. Equally noteworthy are the built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1 radios, making the Pi 3 perfect for networked projects.

The Pi 3 still works with 2.0A power adapters, but the Raspberry Pi Foundation recommends that you switch to 2.5A if you have more power hungry devices connected to the computer. You can pre-order the Pi 3 from Element 14 for $35 (USD).

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