Tiny Computer Beloved By Hobbyists: Raspberry Pi Gets Updated Camera As New Micro:bit Alternative Emerges


The Raspberry Pi is a tiny computer, no bigger than a credit card, that is beloved by electronics hobbyists and open source coding enthusiasts.

While originally designed for education, the Raspberry Pi became popular with makers, inventors, coders, and computing and electronics hobbyists of all skill levels around the world, according to Open Source.

“Creator Eben Upton’s goal was to create a low-cost device that would improve programming skills and hardware understanding at the pre-university level. But thanks to its small size and accessible price, it was quickly adopted by tinkerers, makers, and electronics enthusiasts for projects that require more than a basic microcontroller (such as Arduino devices).”

Originally inspired by the 1981 BBC Micro, the Raspberry Pi has had a bit of an update in recent weeks. ZDNet reports that the Raspberry Pi now has a new camera module after the sensors used in the originals were end-of-lifed in 2014.

“The Raspberry Pi Blog announced a new camera module (v2) in April. The primary reason for this was the simple fact that the sensor used in the original camera module had been end-of-lifed at the end of 2014. Raspberry Pi has been producing camera modules since then from stock it built up in advance, but as that was running out, a new camera module (based on a new sensor) was required.”

The report assures Raspberry Pi users that the new camera is hardware- and software-compatible with the original camera module. Not only that, the new Raspberry Pi camera has a higher resolution than its predecessor — the new camera has an 8 megapixels resolution, 3 higher than the 5 megapixels resolution of the original.

The drop-in replacement camera is available in normal-light and IR (infrared) versions. It will work in all models of Raspberry Pi (original, 2, 3, and the new Zero) and fit in the same mounts and brackets as the original.

Reports by Inquirer and BBC state that the Raspberry Pi alternative, the BBC Micro:bit, is now available for public pre-order.

[T]he BBC Micro:bit differs [from the Raspberry Pi] by being able to connect to computers over built-in Bluetooth, meaning that students do not have to use a separate keyboard and mouse and can interact with the device through a web interface. It also means that the Micro:bit can be accessed via smartphones and tablets.

The Micro:bit can be purchased by itself for £12.99. For £14.99 a complete starter kit including a battery pack, mini-USB cable, and four project ideas is being offered.

At the steeper price of £140, a Micro:bit Club pack is available. This pack includes 10 Micro:bits, 10 USB cables, battery holders, and 20 AAA batteries.

The BBC said that the Club pack is aimed at groups and is “enough to get coding clubs, school classes, scouts and other programming-focused social gatherings up and running.”

BBC reports that Micro:bit will be made by Leeds-based manufacturer element 14, and sold only in batches of 90.

“Commercial availability of the Micro Bit follows the signing of a licensing deal with the device’s manufacturer, the Leeds-based company, element 14. The firm says it will only sell them in batches of 90.”

Prior to the release of the Micro:bit, the Raspberry Pi had been compared and contrasted most often with the Arduino.

“So you want to get started with hobbyist electronics? The world is rich with options, two of the most prominent being the Raspberry Pi and the Arduino. But which one makes sense for you?”

Open Source has compared the Raspberry Pi and Arduino in depth, noting out that the Arduino is not a micro-computer but a micro-controller.

“Depending on the person asking, I’ve almost always said yes to getting a Raspberry Pi, and not just in hopes of selling a book or two. Often the people who ask this question are at a point where they don’t even realize that the two devices aren’t the same. This isn’t ‘should I get a Mac or a PC?’ or ‘should I try Ubuntu or Fedora?’ with relatively the same endpoints and finer distinctions. The Raspberry Pi is a computer. The Arduino is a microcontroller.”

The user points out that the Raspberry Pi is better for beginners because a monitor and SD card can be plugged easily into the Raspberry Pi, producing a familiar computing environment. KODI functionality can also be used to set up a quick, functional media center.

“If you’re starting from square zero and have no idea what to do, you can at least plug an SD card and a monitor into the Pi and have a computer. You can flash the card with Kodi (formerly XMBC) and have a working media center in minutes. It’s a quick path to completed-project satisfaction with plenty of room for growth.”

https://twitter.com/CarlForrest/status/737792652024782848

[Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images]

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