Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Raspberry Pi - the £15 computer


David Braben explains the raspberry PI scheme designed to give a £15 computer on a stick to every child. He is talking to the BBC's Rory Cellan-Jones

Monday, August 15, 2011

For all Gadgets+.Net Micro fans .Net Gadgeteer is now available...
http://www.ghielectronics.com/catalog/product/297


Description
FEZ Spider Starter Kit is the first commercially available .NET Gadgeteer-compatible kit. it includes everything necessary for educators, hobbyists and even professionals. Embedded development is fast & easy (FEZ) thanks to .NET Micro Framework, .NET Gadgeteer and the numerous GHI value added features such as WiFi and USB Host.
The kit includes:
FEZ Spider Mainboard is a .NET Gadgeteer-compatible mainboard based on GHI Electronics' EMX module. This makes FEZ Spider Mainboard the most feature-full .NET Gadgeteer compatible device in the market. It contains all of .NET Micro Framework core features and adds many exclusive features, such as USB host, WiFi and RLP (loading native code). All these features combine to provide a rapid prototyping platform.

Key Features:
  • 14 .NET Gadgeteer compatible sockets
  • Configurable on-board LED
  • Configuration switches.
  • Based on GHI Electronics EMX module
    • 72MHz 32-bit ARM7 processor
    • 4.5 MB Flash
    • 16 MB RAM
    • LCD controller
    • Full TCP/IP Stack with SSL, HTTP, TCP, UDP, DHCP
    • Ethernet, WiFi driver and PPP ( GPRS/ 3G modems) and DPWS
    • USB host
    • USB Device with specialized libraries to emulate devices like thumb-drive, virtual COM (CDC), mouse, keyboard
    • 76 GPIO Pin
    • 2 SPI (8/16bit)
    • I2C
    • 4 UART
    • 2 CAN Channels
    • 7 10-bit Analog Inputs
    • 10-bit Analog Output (capable of WAV audio playback)
    • 4-bit SD/MMC Memory card interface
    • 6 PWM
    • OneWire interface (available on any IO)
    • Built-in Real Time Clock (RTC) with the suitable crystal
    • Processor register access
    • OutputCompare for generating waveforms with high accuracy
    • RLP allowing users to load native code (C/Assembly) for real-time requirements
    • Extended double-precision math class
    • FAT File System
    • Cryptography (AES and XTEA)
    • Low power and hibernate support
    • In-field update (from SD, network or other)
  • Dimensions: W 2.25" x L 2.05" x H 0.5"
Power
  • Supply voltages are regulated 3.3Volt and 5.0Volt DC.
  • Low power and hibernate modes
  • Active power consumption 160 mA
  • Idle power consumption 120 mA
  • Hibernate power consumption 40 mA
Enviromental:
  • Operating temperature: -20 to 65°C
  • RoHS compliant /Lead-free compliant
Most EMX software features are GHI exclusive, see software documentation for details.
For more information about .NET Gadgeteer visit:
http://www.netmf.com/gadgeteer/



Sunday, August 14, 2011

Breathalyser using Aurdino @ Science Gallery Dublin

Today we had workshop in Dublin Science Gallery @1300. Which was held by Irish robotic society, David taught us how to make breathalyser using Aurdino. It was a good fun.  
















Friday, August 12, 2011

Games in Google+

The launch of games on Google+ is no surprise. Back in June, a reference to “Google+ Games” appeared in Google+ code. Google has been taking its time to make sure Google+ is fully functional before wide release and before it starts accepting branded profiles, but gaming is clearly a big step toward building a viable competitor to Facebook.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Hackers break into Subaru Outback via text message


We've already seen SCADA systems controlled by Google Search, and now the Black Hat Technical Security Conference is offering up yet another slice of cringe-inducing hacker pie. A pair of pros from iSec Partners security firm was able to unlock and start the engine of aSubaru Outback using an Android phone and a process they call war texting. By setting up their own GSM network, they were able to snatch up password authentication messages being sent from server to car, allowing them the option to ride off in a brand new crossover. Apparently, your car isn't the only thing in danger of a war-texting takeover, however, as the team says there are a slew of devices and systems, accessible over telephone networks, that are vulnerable to similar attacks, including A-GPS tracking devices, 3G security cameras, SCADA sensors -- and thus the power grid and water supply -- home automation, and urban traffic control systems. Somehow this group of otherwise innocent looking New York textersappears a whole lot more sinister now.
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