Gadget

A clever developer has created a hack to allow the MacBook Pro's Touch Bar to act as a touch-enabled "Task Bar" when running under Windows 10 via Bootcamp.

Think of the Creoqode LYRA as a more affordable version of a Smach Z, GPD Win or GPD Win 2. The 5-inch handheld packs a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3 Lite that integrates a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU and 1 GB of LPDDR2 SDRAM, giving it the power to emulate practically any retro games console. The Creoqode LYRA costs £149 (~US$186) and has already reached its funding goal on Kickstarter, with Creoqode aiming to ship to backers in December.

A prototype of a Smach Z handheld game console has been unboxed and tested in a YouTube video posted by The Phawx. The device was put through its paces in three 3DMark benchmarks and managed to outscore the GPD Win 2 in all three tests. It’s now possible to reserve one of the handhelds for as little as US$10.

The hitherto unknown Movado Connect 2.0 has been discovered in a recent FCC listing. The Wear OS smartwatch comes with 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage and will be powered by either a Snapdragon Wear 2100 or a Wear 3100.

Microsoft has marked an important NASA anniversary by taking part in Project Egress, in which engineering teams were challenged to re-make a component of the Apollo 11's landing module. The Redmond cohort were charged with making the craft's hatch, a small but complicated part that required advanced CNC to replicate.

The ASUS ROG Phone II looks set to be a gamer's dream, with a 6.59-inch 120 Hz AMOLED display, 49 ms touch latency, a Snapdragon 855 Plus SoC, 12 GB of RAM, 512 GB of UFS 3.0 storage and a vapour chamber to minimise throttling. Oh, and a huge 6,000 mAh battery. ASUS has developed a brand-new set of gaming accessories too, with the Chinese version of the ROG Phone II going on sale on July 23. Expect a worldwide release in early September.

Sony has launched the Alpha 7R IV (or a7R IV), its latest 35-millimeter full-frame camera. It is the first such product to feature the new, back-illuminated, Exmor R CMOS sensor with a 61.0MP resolution. The a7R IV is also capable of professional-grade 4K video, an APS-C mode and USB 3.1 Gen 2 transfer speeds via a type C port.

Researchers at the University of California created an AI that taught itself the shortest solution paths in several different one-goal logic puzzles, including a Rubik's Cube, sliding tile puzzles, Lights out, and Sokoban. While the AI is much slower than human-programmed robots, it gives an interesting look into how AIs arrive at solutions to problems.

The PanGu is an STMicroelectronics STM32MP1 powered single-board computer (SBC), which should offer good value for money for some developers. The board runs Debian Jesse and Yocto Linux and is available to order from Taobao for 499 RMB (~US$72.50).

The pi-top [4] allows you to code and program on the move thanks to its 5-hour internal battery life. The device comes with 14 electronic components including LEDs, buttons and programmable sensors, while it even works with an optional 2-in-1 screen and keyboard or an Advanced Vehicle Kit (AVK). The pi-top [4] is available to order on Kickstarter now for US$199 and will shop in November having already reached its US$100,000 funding goal.

Unexpectedly, SIGMA Corporation has introduced the world's smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless camera. The SIGMA fp is extremely modular, weatherproof and comes with some very interesting features.

Smart glasses are useful in many contexts, most of them enterprise-related. However, it is also possible to replicate the smartphone experience to some degree using some of these devices, Vuzix-brand ones included. This company claims that a new development will bring peer-to-peer video calling to its Blade devices.

Nintendo looks to be giving the original Switch a mid-cycle revamp to match the internal specifications of the new Switch Lite. The company has made a filing seeking FCC approval for a variation in design to its flagship hybrid console noting changes to the SoC, NAND storage and CPU board.

Kali Linux is now compatible with the Raspberry Pi 4. Currently, the distro is only available as a 32-bit OS, but Offensive Security is planning on releasing a 64-bit version soon. In the meantime, security aficionados who have a spare Raspberry Pi 4 lying around can head over to the Kali Linux site and download the distro image.

After much speculation, Sony has announced a 35 mm f/1.8 lens under its FE series. The lens incorporates 11 elements, one being aspherical to suppress aberrations and maintain image resolution into the corners of a shot. The SEL35F18F weighs just 280 g (9.9 oz) too. The FE 35 mm f/1.8 (SEL35F18F) will be available to order in August for US$750 (£630).

Seeedstudio claims that the ICE Tower CPU Cooling Fan can reduce Raspberry Pi 4 core temperatures from 80 °C to 40 °C under load, which should eliminate thermal throttling. The ICE Tower is compatible with all previous RPi boards too and just requires 5 V power via a 40-pin GPIO. The ICE Tower is available to order now from Seeedstudio for US$19.90, which ships worldwide from July 19.

UMIDIGI's latest smartwatch, the Uwatch2, boasts a fully metallic unibody, an IP67 rating and a 1.33-inch 240x240 display. The OEM claims that it offers 25 days' worth of standby time and 7 to 10 days of active use. It is sold at US$33.32, although this comes down to $24 with an upcoming promotion.

The Cluster HAT v2.3 does what it says on the tin. It allows you to combine a Raspberry Pi A+/B+/2/3 with up to 4 Raspberry Pi Zeros. The latter connect via a Controller Pi GPIO and are configured to use USB Gadget mode, making it easy to simulate or test small-scale cluster computing. The Cluster HAT v2.3 is designed by Pimoroni and is available to order from SB-Components for US$49.22.

Wearables are currently projected to influence the way personal electronics are used more and more in the future. This technology now covers both devices that can double as accessories and as clothing. Their market is estimated to be worth up to US$51.6 billion in the next 3 years.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has released a USB firmware update for the Raspberry Pi 4 that reduces its SoC operating temperatures by up to 4 °C. The update is available to download now and should reduce throttling in multi-core tasks. Beware though, it will possibly reduce USB transfer speeds.

In an interview with a small group of media outlet, Samsung CEO D.J. Koh stated that the Galaxy Fold's flubbed launch was "embarrassing." However, Koh still sees foldable devices as the next logical step in the evolution of personal computing. Koh also stated that he envisions a future of connected devices that will replace even foldable phones in a few years time.

OPPO has announced a new technology at MWC Shanghai: MeshTalk. It is described as a way to talk or text without the need for a cellular, Bluetooth or online connection. MeshTalk apparently works when 2 compatible devices are within a maximum of 1.86 miles of each other.

Based on the PiJuice HAT released in 2016, the PiJuice Zero allows the Raspberry Pi Zero to be used on the go away from a power outlet. Pi Supply has developed a software suite to help get you started and has included a low-profile to keep the overall build size small. The PiJuice Zero is available to order on Crowd Supply now for US$45 with orders shipping worldwide on October 31.

Running on a Python library, the Enviro+ can monitor indoor and outdoor atmospheric changes from air quality to temperature, humidity and noise. The board can contribute to big air quality projects like Luftdaten too. Pimoroni has developed the Enviro+ with The University of Sheffield and has included several sensors, along with a 40-pin header and a 0.96-inch colour LCD. The Enviro+ is available to pre-order now for US$47.63 and will ship worldwide from July 5.

Based on a Microchip MGC3130, the 3D Gesture & Tracking Shield brings gesture and motion tracking to the Raspberry Pi at a reasonable price. The Shield supports touch gestures and emits a short-range magnetic field to allow it to recognise gestures performed nearby it too. The 3D Gesture & Tracking Shield communicates with a Raspberry Pi via I2C and is available to purchase worldwide from Seeedstudio for US$12.90.

FriendlyElec has responded to the aggressive pricing of the Raspberry Pi 4 by cutting the MSRP of its NanoPi M4. The Rockchip RK3399 powered SBC originally started at US$65 for the 2 GB of RAM variant and has now received a 23% price cut to US$50. Similarly, the 4 GB model has come down by 21% to US$75 from US$95. The NanoPi M4 features a more powerful SoC than the Raspberry Pi 4, along with a host of ports, connectors and sensors. FriendlyElec ships worldwide.

The upcoming 12 core and 24 thread Ryzen 9 3900X has posted seriously impressive Geekbench 4.3 and SiSoftware multi-core scores, leaving the Core i9-9900K and even the Threadripper 2950X in its wake. The benchmark results confirm that the CPU will have a 3.8 GHz base clock that it can boost to between 4.51 and 4.54 GHz.

The TUL PYNQ-Z2 is a single-board computer (SBC) designed for development with the open-source Python Productivity for Zynq (PYNQ) framework. The board has Arduino and Raspberry Pi headers along with a host of other ports and connectors. The TUL PYNQ-Z2 ships worldwide from Seeedstudio for US$119 or for US$114 from Newegg if you live in the US. The former is currently offering a US$5 discount on orders too.

Khadas has changed the VIM3 slightly from when we previously reported on it earlier this month. The single-board computer (SBC) now features a more powerful Amlogic SoC, the hexa-core A331D, which can output up to 5.0 TOPS. The VIM3 now starts at US$99.99 and will ship worldwide from August 10.

CHUWI has announced that it will be adding the option to upgrade to 16GB of RAM as rewards to its Indiegogo campaign for the Minibook. These SKUs will have the same Intel m3-8100Y SoC as the UMPC's current higher-end version. The first 50 of these are to cost US$10 more than their 8GB counterparts.

Raspberry Pi Relay HATs are two a penny, but few come with a dedicated mobile app. Meet the PiRelay, a HAT that can manage up to 240 VAC/7 A or 125 VDC/10 A loads across four relays. The PiRelay costs US$17.06 via SB-Components, which ships worldwide.

The Raspberry Pi Foundation has delivered its next single-board computer a year early. The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B comes with a quad-core CPU, up to 4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM, Gigabit Ethernet dual 4K HDMI and USB Type-C. It should deliver 3x the performance of its predecessor while remaining backwards-compatible with older boards. Better still, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B costs just US$35 and is available to order worldwide now.

We’ve known for a number of years that Microsoft has been experimenting with dual-screen devices. The first was the Courier concept, then there was the Andromeda project (aka Surface Phone) which is said was put on hold. Those dreams, however, look like they might coming fruition in the form of a foldable Surface device that can also incorporates a cellular connection.

Canon is attending the 2019 Sensors Expo & Conference in San Jose, California to showcase its new 120MXSI sensor. This CMOS is rated for 120MP imaging, and can operate in visible and near-infra-red (NIR) light spectra at a maximal 9.4 frames per second.

According to a U.S. Office of Inspector General report published Tuesday, a cyberattack on NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in April 2018 was due to a severe lack of security oversight. The attack was made possible via an unauthorized Raspberry Pi that was connected to JPL's network without any knowledge of the security team. Additionally, a lack of proper network segmentation allowed the hackers to access NASA's Deep Space Network, which is responsible for managing interplanetary missions.

Edge computing is a rapidly emerging industry that may become closely associated with others such as machine learning in the future. Its market is now projected to be worth US$6.9 billion in the next 5 years. This is thought to be driven by its use in 5G and smart-city applications.

The company behind the Rock Pi 4 is back, this time with a tiny SBC powered by a Rockchip RK3308 quad-core SoC. The board comes with either 256 MB or 512 MB RAM, a built-in voice activity detector (VAD) along with a host of ports and connectors. The Rock Pi S measures just 3.8 x 3.8 cm and will sell for US$9.90.

One-Netbook seems to be constantly updating its product portfolio and now the One Mix 1S Yoga mini laptop can join that list. The pocket-sized computer with a 7-inch 1920x1200 resolution display is joining a growing and competitive market thanks to rival products from manufacturers such as GPD and Chuwi. The One Mix 1S Yoga comes with an Intel Celeron 3965Y processor.

Amazon unveiled a new Kindle Oasis that uses a front light with an adjustable color temperature. The Oasis, which goes on sale July 24th, is still one of the most expensive eReaders on the market, starting at $250. While the adjustable color temperature is nice for night readers, other manufacturers (namely Kobo) have offered this feature for years.

The PerfXLab Perf-V is an FPGA based RISC-V developer board that comes with 256 MB of DDR3 RAM along with 8 MB of FPGA and 8 MB of RISC-V flash storage. The board features a host of connectors and interfaces, while it can be programmed with Vivado and supports an IDE for Windows RISC-V development. The Perf-V will ship worldwide on June 21 from Seeedstudio and costs US$79.

Xiaomi has issued a recall of its Mi Electric Scooter (or M365) product. This request to return items does not apply to all units of the personal transport accessory, however, but to a subset of the same sold in certain countries. These devices have a hardware fault that could affect their function and the safety of their users.

The Banana Pi BPI-M4 is a mouthful, but it packs a punch thanks to its quad-core Realtek RTD1395 SoC with ARM Mali-470 MP4 graphics, 1 GB of DDR4 RAM and 8 GB of eMMC flash storage. The developer board is a dead ringer for the Raspberry Pi 3B+ and is compatible with most HATs too. The Banana Pi BPI-M4 currently ships worldwide from AliExpress for US$35.

KaiOS is the most prominent alternative to either iOS or Android on mobile devices. Its CEO, Sebastien Codeville, has just given an interview outlining this platform's directions and goals for the immediate future. They include greater functionality, more form factors and new markets.

Smach has been showing off its much anticipated and delayed handheld games console at E3 2019, with promises that it will ship at the end of the year. 17 FPS in titles like Monster Hunter World for a starting price of US$699 though? No thanks.

A micro-display is a panel that may be made of conventional materials such as OLED or LCD, yet are 2 inches at most on the diagonal. They are incorporated into everyday devices such as digital cameras, and in emerging categories such as heads-up or head-mounted displays. The latest research suggests that their market will be worth US$3.42 billion in the next 6 years.

Xiaomi has released the Mi Band 4 and it seems likely that the device will not disappoint. The Chinese company has created three variants of the fitness tracker, which is brimming with features that appear to contradict its considerably low price. Xiaomi has the basic model of the Mi Band 4 retailing for just 169 yuan, which is about US$24.

The UP Xtreme is no ordinary single board computer (SBC). The board comes with up to an Intel Core i7-8665U Whiskey Lake processor and a 16 GB RAM, along with a host of ports, connectors and sensors. The UP Xtreme is available to order on Kickstarter from €249 (~US$282) and will ship worldwide in September or October depending on the configuration you purchase.

SolidRun has announced the i.MX 8M, a new mini System on Module (SOM) board based on NXP ARM Cortex-A53 CPUs and the Gyrfalcon Lightspeeur 2803S AI accelerator for developing Edge AI applications. The Lightspeeur 2803S is a highly power-efficient AI processing unit that offers up to 16.8 TOPS of peak performance at 300 MHz. SolidRun is also offering the i.MX 8M in a HummingBoard Pulse SBC that offers Raspberry Pi-like enhanced connectivity.

The NVIDIA "Something super is coming..." video has been watched over 325,000 times in just over two weeks. Unfortunately, multiple sources have pointed towards the Super series being little more than a minor RTX 20 series refresh.