Linux.com: In less than two years the Raspberry Pi has sold more than 1 million units and become widely used and adored among DIY hackers and embedded professionals alike.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Linux Today
Tag Archives: Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi’s Eben Upton: Open Source Lessons from Wayland
By libbyclark
In less than two years the Raspberry Pi has sold more than 1 million units and become widely used and adored among DIY hackers and embedded professionals alike. It began in 2006 as a modest idea to provide a low-cost educational computer for students to tinker with. Now the $25 Linux-based single-board computer is the basis for all kinds of gadgets from near-space cameras, to open source spy boxes, to the PiGate, a full-scale Stargate replica.
During that time the board’s creators have also gotten a fast education on open source software development and the process of collaboration, said Raspberry Pi Foundation Executive Director Eben Upton. He’ll share some of those valuable lessons during his keynote talk at LinuxCon and CloudOpen North America in New Orleans, Sept. 16-18, where he’s also planning a new demonstration of the Pi’s prowess.
Here, Upton talks about some of the open source projects the Pi Foundation is involved in; their choice of the Wayland display manager; their focus on media performance; their efforts to expand computer science education and literacy; and his favorite Pi projects.
Can you give us a preview of your LinuxCon keynote?
I’m not a natural open source guy. No one would mistake me for being a classic open source fan. I find it interesting to the extent it’s useful to me. So I’ve come to RasperryPi as a bit of a novice, with not so much experience in running a project that’s deeply intertwined with the open source community. I’ve made a lot of mistakes so I’ll talk about what I’ve learned.
I thought we could ship a platform that basically works and the open source community will take care of the rest. There are some areas they’ll do a great job, particularly things that have a lot of eyes on a problem and are able to attract the attention of a particular expert. The other things aren’t so great, particularly around desktop acceleration. We’ve had to go out and pay contractors who are able to move that stuff forward for us. It’s been a learning process of finding what those categories are — the things for the community and those for the foundation.
How is the Pi Foundation involved in open source projects?
We’ve been supporting a number of open source projects. We make a little money every time we sell a Pi and have a little pot of money we spend on things deemed important to the mission of the foundation.
There are some bits of Linux infrastructure not well optimized for our platform so there’s been a low level of work paying people to write fast implementations of audio codings, for example.
Higher level stuff we’ve been doing are things like Wayland, accelerated web browsing. Things that are tying us into the way the desktop experience is evolving under Linux.
What are you working on right now?
We’re pushing on support for Wayland. It’s the future of Linux desktop graphics. It’s a clean-break architecture. It’s obviously somewhat controversial, there’s a feeling that there’s …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Linux Foundation
Hacker's Tiny Spy Computers Aim To Track Targets Around Entire Neighborhoods And Cities
Forbes: Each CreepyDOL computer is built from a $25 tiny, single-board computers known as a Raspberry Pi and designed to be inconspicuously plugged into a power outlet anywhere with public Wifi
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Linux Today
LittleBox DIY Kit: Make Your Own Raspberry Pi-based All-in-One PC
ostatic: LittleBox is a DIY kit that allows you to transform your Raspberry Pi into a full-fledged all-in-one desktop computer.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Linux Today
Raspberry Pi Camera Module Review – Eye Pi
Linux User & Developer: Does the Raspberry Pi’s first official accessory live up to its high-resolution hype, or is its outlook blurred?
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Linux Today
Using motion
By droidus
I am using motion on my Raspberry Pi with an HP webcam. When I begin motion, and from another computer, type in the address of the server with the webcam, then the port (8000/8001), it just says that the page could not be found. When I type in just the IP address, i come to a page that says “It works!”, which I believe, to be the default Apache page.
Is there a service that motion needs to stream the video, to allow remote connections to view it? I had it working before, and it prompted me for a username/password.
Is there a service that motion needs to stream the video, to allow remote connections to view it? I had it working before, and it prompted me for a username/password.
From: http://www.unix.com/unix-dummies-questions-answers/221373-using-motion.html
Parallella: The $99 Linux supercomputer
ZDnet: Move over Raspberry Pi, here comes Adapteva’s Parallella,
What makes a “lightweight” desktop environment lightweight?
Over the last few days I was wondering what is a “lightweight” desktop. And I must say I couldn’t come up with an answer to that question.
I was considering various things like “being memory efficient” which I discarded for obvious reasons. First of all it’s difficult to measure memory usage correctly (I haven’t seen anyone, who provides numbers, doing it correctly, this includes especially Phoronix). And then it’s comparing mostly apples to oranges. Loading a high-resolution wallpaper might make all the difference in the memory usage. Also if desktop environment Foo provides features which are not provided by Bar it’s obvious that Foo uses more memory. But still it’s apples vs oranges. It’s not a comparison on memory, it’s a comparison of features. And of course one might consider the Time-memory-tradeoff.
So is it all about features? Obviously not. If there is a feature a user needs and uses it cannot be bloat. The fact that a desktop environment has only few features cannot be the key to being lightweight. Being evil now: many people say GNOME is removing features, but nobody would say that GNOME is lightweight.
What about support for old systems? That’s not lightweight, that’s support for old hardware. And it’s something which doesn’t make any sense given Moore’s law. Which raises the first question: what is old hardware? One year, two years, ten years? Is it a moving target or is a Pentium III for all time the reference? Optimizing for old hardware means not making use of modern hardware capabilities. But does that make sense to not use modern hardware if it is available? Using the GPU for things the GPU can do better than the CPU is a good thing, isn’t it? Parallelize a computation on multi-core if possible is a good thing, isn’t it? But if you do so, you are optimizing for modern hardware and not for old hardware. So saying you are good for old hardware, implies you are bad on new hardware? Also I’m wondering how one can optimize for old hardware? Developers tend to have new hardware to not have problems like this. And how can one keep support for old hardware when the complete stack is moving towards new hardware? Who tests the kernel against old hardware? Who provides DRI drivers for obsoleted hardware which doesn’t fit into modern mainboards (who remembers AGP or PCI)? Who ensures that software is still working on 32 bit systems, who would notice such a breakage for example in the X-Server? So lightweight cannot be fit for old hardware. And remember: optimizing for old hardware is not the same as optimizing for modern low-end hardware. Even the Raspberry Pi has a stronger CPU (700 MHz) than the oldest Pentium III (450 MHz) – not to mention things like OpenGL…
What’s it then? Let’s ask Wikipedia. For Xfce it tells us, that “it aims to be fast and lightweight, while still being visually appealing and easy to use”. Unfortunately there’s no
All out of Pi: $25 Raspberry Pi sells out in U.S.
The U.S. distributor of the $25 Raspberry Pi computer quickly exhausted its limited supply of the devices Monday.
Allied Electronics, which distributes the single-board computer in the United States, has posted a no mas notice at its website.
“Due to limited supply of the Raspberry Pi Model A, we are not offering preorders or backorders on the product at this time,” the posting said.
“The Raspberry Pi Model A will only be available for purchase when we have inventory on hand to fill the order,” it added.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld
Create a VPN with the Raspberry Pi
Linux User & Developer: We’ll be using Arch Linux as the operating system for our VPN server, since it is lightweight and has only the minimum packages required for a working system.
Live Twitter Q&A Thursday with Adapteva CEO on the $99 Linux Supercomputer
By libbyclark
Back in October Adapteva wrapped up a successful Kickstarter campaign to build a Raspberry Pi-inspired $99 Linux supercomputer. Next month the company expects the first Parallela boards to be in production — just in time to show off at The Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit in San Francisco.
Here, CEO Andreas Olofsson gives us a preview of his talk at Collab, the benefits of parallel processing, and his company’s quest to make parallel computing available to the masses. Have a burning question he doesn’t answer here? Join us for a live Twitter chat with Andreas (@adapteva) Thursday, March 28 at 11 a.m. PST. Follow the conversation and submit questions with the hash tag #LiveLinuxQA.
Why is it so hard to achieve ubiquitous parallel processing?
Andreas Olofsson: Historically serial processing improved so quickly that in most applications there was no need for massively parallel processing. Unfortunately, serial processing performance has now hit a brick wall and the only practical path to scaling performance in the future is through parallel processing. To make parallel software applications ubiquitous, we will need to make parallel hardware accessible to all programmers, create much more productive parallel programming methods, and convert all serial programmers to parallel programmers. These are major challenges, but certainly not insurmountable.
What are the benefits of parallel computing that make it so essential for programmers?
Programmers that write scalable parallel applications should benefit from processor core scaling just like programmers in the past benefited from frequency scaling.
What is Parallella and where are you now with the project?
The Parallella is an open $99 credit card sized parallel computer. The goal of the project is to “make parallel computing accessible to everyone” so that we can speed up the adoption of parallel processing in the industry. We shipped Parallella prototype systems and open source SDKs in January and are now in the process of building up the first batch of final form factor boards.
What’s the secret to crowd-funding a project?
Launch a project that is important to a lot of people, become completely open, and never give up.
Can you give us a sneak preview of your Collaboration Summit talk? What can attendees expect to hear?
I’ll talk about the Parallella computer and the incredible impact of open hardware platforms. With a little luck, I will also be able to show off the first Parallella boards coming off the manufacturing line.
More details on Andreas’s keynote, as well as the other keynote presentations and sessions can be found on The Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit website. If you’re not already attending, you can still request an invitation.
Celebrating the Life of Pi
Linux User & Developer: We celebrate the first birthday of the Raspberry Pi with an exclusive interview with its creators covering its first year on sale and goals for 2013.
RasPlex ??? Plex on Raspberry Pi, Beta out now
LinuxUser: Plex comes to Raspberry Pi
Intel vs. AMD: Battle of the world's smallest PCs
The desktop PC isn’t dead, it’s just shrinking. There’s a new breed of miniature marvels on the market, and they boast a nonexistent footprint when attached to the back of a display. Unlike some micro-size, micro-priced computers—the $35 Raspberry Pi, for example—these incredibly small machines provide more than enough processing power for all but the most strenuous computing chores.
New generations of powerful but cool-running CPUs are largely responsible for this sudden onset of wee-ness, so it makes sense that AMD and Intel would both conjure tiny PCs to demonstrate what’s possible within the confines of an ultra-small size. Intel has christened its concept the Next Unit of Computing (NUC), while AMD’s primary manufacturing partner, Sapphire Technology, has dubbed its effort the Edge VS8.
Alas, neither the NUC nor the Edge VS8 Is cheap.
Intel’s Next Unit of Computing
What the heck is a Next Unit of Computing? It’s Intel’s vision of a miniature-size computer. It measures four inches square by two inches high, and it’s available in three kits: The $300 DC3217BY features a Core i3 3217-U processor, an HDMI audio-video port, and a Thunderbolt port (supporting DisplayPort 1.1a); the DC3217IYE (also $300) has the same CPU and dual HDMI ports; and the $175 DCCP847DYE is outfitted with a Celeron 847 processor and dual HDMI ports. (Video resolution through HDMI maxes out at 1920 by 1200 pixels for all three models).
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld
Building an always available Linux terminal: Shell-In-A-Box on Raspberry Pi
Remi Bergsma’s blog: Connect your favorite browser via HTTPS to your own hosted Shell In A Box web site, and access a Linux terminal from there.
One Million Raspberry Pi's Later, The Story of How a Mobile Phone Chip Helped Deliver a Vision
Over the past few years, one of the biggest stories in technology has also been one of its smallest: a $35, stripped-down computer by the name of Raspberry Pi. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest
Raspberry Pi to get a video camera
A video camera board has been developed for the popular cut-price Raspberry Pi computer.
The HD camera, whose specifications are still to be finalized, is expected to be available to buy in early spring, according to developers. The first cameras are expected to come with a 15-centimeter (just under 6 inches) flat cable and sell for around $25.
The lens on the camera is similar to those found on many camera phones and is expected to provide 5 megapixels.
Raspberry Pi developers claim the camera board has been developed as an alternative to using USB cameras with the Raspberry PI, as it provides a better quality resolution at a cheaper price when compared to USB solutions.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld
Raspberry Pi user shows home-automation feats using iPhone
(Phys.org)—The latest hacker enthusiast who is out to demonstrate Raspberry Pi‘s potential has a system that pairs SiriProxy with Raspberry Pi to perform numerous home automation feats, just by speaking commands into the iPhone. “Elvis Impersonator” has shown in a YouTube video how he can change Siri from a glamorous job as Concierge to a role as domestic helper. With the Pi running SiriProxy, his commands via iPhone result in his desired reactions based on his predefined instructions. “Elvis Impersonator” can order garage doors to open and close; he can adjust a thermostat, and can change channels on his TV, among other feats. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Phys.org
$25 Raspberry Pi Model A ships in Europe and soon the world
Just as Henry Ford revolutionized the auto world with his Model A, the scrappy lot at Raspberry Pi are doing the same with the computing world with their Model A.
Priced at $25, the Raspberry Pi Model A went on sale in Europe today, although that restriction will be lifted “very soon,” according to a blog at the Raspberry Pi Foundation website.
In the United States, the Model A can be pre-ordered from Allied Electronics. The units will also be available for onsite purchasing at Newark/element 14 when they’re cleared for U.S. sale.
When the Linux-based Model A was introduced last year, it sold out in a matter of minutes.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld
XBMC 12 released – includes Raspberry Pi and Android support
Linux User & Developer: The build up for XBMC 12 has been a big one, with the possibility of it being one of the biggest releases of XBMC ever.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Linux Today