news
Open Hardware/Modding Leftovers
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CNX Software ☛ Realtek RTD1319C SoC with Mali-G57 GPU powers Formuler Z12 Ultra 4K TV box with optional USB DVB or ATSC tuner
Formuler Z12 Ultra is an Android 12 4K TV box powered by a Realtek RTD1319C SoC coupled with 4GB RAM and 128GB eMMC flash, support for Dolby Vision and Atmos, and popular USB ATSC or DVB-T/T2 digital TV tuners. While it was first seen in 2022 on the Formuler Z11 Pro Max, the RTD1319C is new to me, and it appears to be a variant of the RTD1319 quad-core Cortex-A55 SoC introduced in 2020, which replaces an entry-level Mali-G31 MP2 with an older, mid-range Mali-G57 MC1 GPU that should allow for smoother or higher-resolution user interfaces. However, it lacks the 4Kp60 H.266/VVC video codec support found in the Realtek RTD1319D.
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Silicon Angle ☛ SiFive introduces new processor core designs for Hey Hi (AI) devices
Chip startup SiFive Inc. today debuted four new central processing unit cores optimized to run artificial intelligence models. Santa Clara, California-based SiFive was valued at $2.5 billion following its most recent funding round in 2022. The company develops CPU designs based on the open-source RISC-V instruction set architecture, or ISA.
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CNX Software ☛ SiFive introduces 2nd Gen Intelligence RISC-V Hey Hi (AI) CPUs: X160, X180, X280 Gen 2, X390 Gen 2, and XM Gen 2
SiFive has just launched its 2nd Generation Intelligence family, featuring five new RISC-V-based products: the new X160 Gen 2 and X180 Gen 2, and upgraded X280 Gen 2, X390 Gen 2, and XM Gen 2 processors, all featuring scalar, vector, and matrix processing (XM only) capabilities designed for Hey Hi (AI) workloads. The original Intelligence X280 64-bit RISC-V CPU was introduced in 2021, following the Intelligence X390 NPU in 2023, and the Intelligence XM Series in September 2024. The X160 Gen 2 (32-bit) and X180 Gen 2 (64-bit) are entry-level AIoT CU cores targeting edge compute and IoT applications for automotive, autonomous robotics, industrial automation, and smart IoT applications. The upgrade models get support for the RVA23 profile and a few other changes.
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Collabora ☛ Tested on real silicon: Automating RISC-V Hardware-in-the-Loop
Addressing the need for reliable hardware testing for RISC-V adoption, the RISE Project and Collabora added two RISC-V boards to Collabora's LAVA testing lab.
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Linux Gizmos ☛ Photonicat 2 Portable ARM Computer with 5G, NVMe, and 24-Hour Battery Life
Kickstarter recently featured the Photonicat 2, a portable ARM-based computer aimed at travelers, vehicle setups, and homelab users needing reliable connectivity and long runtime. Building on the original Photonicat launched two years ago, the new model delivers higher performance, extended battery life, and added flexibility while staying fully open-source.
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Hackaday ☛ How To Use The AT24C32 EEPROM For 4KB External Memory For Microcontrollers
Over on YouTube [Electronic Wizard] explains how to use the AT24C32 EEPROM for external memory for microcontrollers.
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Raspberry Pi ☛ Celebrate 10 years of the European Astro Pi Challenge — registration for 2025–26 is now open
The European Astro Pi Challenge, an ESA Education project run in collaboration with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, is back for its tenth year!
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Torrent Freak ☛ 'Modded Hardware' Agrees to Settle Nintendo's Copyright Lawsuit for $2 Million
In June 2024, Nintendo filed a lawsuit against Modded Hardware and its alleged operator, Michigan-resident Ryan Daly.
In a complaint filed at a federal court in Seattle, Washington, Nintendo accused Modded Hardware of copyright infringement and violating the DMCA by trafficking in circumvention devices, among other things.
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Lee Peterson ☛ Fairphone 6 spare parts
It’s fascinating looking at the spare parts store and seeing £78 for a new display or the fact you can buy and replace individual lenses if they are damaged. Compare this to £349 if I break my iPhone 15 Pro screen, that’s almost the price of a whole Fairphone 6!
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Jan Lukas Else ☛ Improving my DIY skills
Why don’t I post much lately? I’m getting my hands more and more dirty – literally.
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Arduino ☛ An old PC case becomes a Halloween vending machine
Used PC cases are easy to find for free or at least at low prices, which makes them a good choice when you want a sturdy metal enclosure with plenty of mounting points. In this case, the PC case acts as the enclosure for a small but feature-packed vending machine. At the press of a button, it can dispense prizes (rubber balls in the demonstration), play sound effects, and show animated graphics on a large screen.