We take a look at the venerable Sony game box with an eye toward power handling and architecture. Chances are that if you’re a gamer, you’re experiencing your video games on a Sony PlayStation 4. To date, over 75 million PlayStation 4 boxes have sold. The closest competitor is the Xbox One (36.03 million) and […]
Consumer Electronics
WAAS-based MCU amps performance of wireless earbuds and hearables
Cypress Semiconductor Corp. introduced a Bluetooth audio offering that brings leading-edge performance to wireless earbuds and hearables. Based on the new Wireless Audio Stereo Synchronization (WASS) application and the CYW20721 Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Audio microcontroller (MCU), the solution provides robust connections for differentiated performance in wireless earbuds. The MCU features a link budget […]
Development toolset speeds prototyping of low power location trackers
u‑blox introduced the toolset comprising the u-track software and the C030-R410M application board. The toolset is a rapid-prototyping platform that lets product designers test and optimize the position accuracy and power consumption of wireless location tracking applications that use LTE-M and NB‑IoT cellular networks, as well as Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology. The toolset targets […]
New processor platform for smartwatches extends battery life
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. launched the next generation Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 Platform for smartwatches. The platform is based on a new ultra-low power system architecture designed to deliver a rich interactive mode, new personalized experiences, and extended battery life. The official launch, at an event in San Francisco, was supported by Google, who discussed the […]
Cozmo Robot, a distant relative of Vector: Teardown
Cozmo is a palm-sized robot from San Francisco-based Anki, the same company that makes an intelligent racing robot system called Overdrive that we’ve torn down previously. Cozmo is actually an earlier version of an Anki robot called Vector. Vector has more capabilities in the area of artificial intelligence, thanks to its use of a processor that’s […]
Cellular LTE-M development kits feature LPWAN software-defined technology-agile modems
Digi International today announced the immediate availability of the Digi XBee3 Cellular LTE-M development kits, featuring Digi’s next-generation smart cellular modem. This LTE-M certification, to be followed by the certification of Digi XBee3 Cellular NB-IoT in October 2018, allows Digi to bring one of the first LPWAN, software-defined technology-agile modems capable of offering Cat-M or NB-IoT […]
Drone kit aims to make innovation easy for amateurs
IIT Bombay-based nano-drone startup, Drona Aviation, has developed PlutoX, said to be ultimate aerial robotics kit for makers. “Being tinkerers ourselves, we’re well aware of the demotivating crashes, burdensome coding and other challenges that limit the scope of tinkering and innovating with drones. PlutoX was engineered particularly ensuring agility, durability and affordability for fellow tinkerers,” […]
Bluetooth audio SoC carries LDAC audio codec technology
With mainstream consumer demand for high-quality audio experiences growing, consumers expect Bluetooth audio devices to create an immersive and uninterrupted listening experience. However, Bluetooth audio designs are often limited by the bit depth and frequency rate of existing codecs, which are the communication and compression technology used to send audio over the air. Now designers of audio […]
Secure microcontroller delivers advanced cryptography in pint-sized package
Manufacturers of security-sensitive industrial, consumer, computing and internet of things (IoT) devices now have a fast, efficient way to build in secure cryptographic operations, integrate key storage and enable active tamper detection with the MAX32558. As the newest member of the DeepCover family of secure microcontrollers from Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., the MAX32558 offers these robust security […]
FPGAs handle multiple monitors on a single DisplayPort connection thanks to new IP
Microsemi Corporation, today announced the availability of Bitec’s DisplayPort intellectual property (IP) core optimized for PolarFire field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Compared to alternative solutions, the core gives designers the ability to take advantage of the PolarFire family’s smaller size and 50 percent lower power to enable stunning image quality in small formfactor embedded displays and monitors. “Bitec’s targeting […]