Lantronix Embedd Linux Networking Contest

To promote the XPort Pro, a tiny self contained network server, Lantronix will give up to $6000US for the winning design. You will need to purchase an evaluation kit for $99 to enter.

NXP Microcontroller Design Challenge

The NPX LPC1100 Design Challenge just started and offers contestents a free NXP LPCXpresso development platform ($29 value), if your design is approved by the judges. If your design is not approved, you can still participate and win prizes by rating design entries and giving feedback. The LPCXpresso is unique in that it can be used as a stand alone JTAG debugger by cutting the traces between the LPC-Link and the Target portions of the board. The target section for the contest includes an LPC1114 (LPC1343 shown in the picture). The processor architecture is the new ARM Cortex-M0, designed to be small and energy efficient for battery-powered devices. The development environment is an Eclipse-based LPC IDE from Code Red Technologies, its free but limited to 128KB downloads. The prizes for the contest are given as Apple Gift Cards of up to $3000.

Analog Devices New BF50x DSP

The new 50x series Blackfin Processors offer 400MHz at $4.50, and come with a new analog-to-digital (ADC) control module (ACM), PWM units, optional on-chip flash and ADCs. This family is targeted mainly to industrial applications such as motor control, power inverters, uninterruptible power supplies, smart metering, and advanced sensing. They also are recommended for portable medical devices—with the lower cost and high performance, they may be attractive for consumer electronic devices as well. The BF506F EZ-KIT LITE development board is less expensive than other Blackfin EZ-Kits at $199, and includes a USB debug interface so you don't need to purchase a JTAG device. Embedded Linux is actively developed for the blackfin at http://blackfin.uclinux.org/ with toolchain development and a uCLinux port.

National Instruments/Tektronix Embedded Seminars

Measurement and Analysis Techniques for Embedded System Designers will be presented by National Instruments and Tektronix in 10 U.S. cities and Toronto starting March 2010. The half day session will include talks on automated control of measurements, advanced analysis tools, and examples of enhancing embedded system testing. They will showcase Tektronix test equiptment and National Instruments LabVIEW and LabVIEW SignalExpress software. Both analog and digital techniques will be presented.

Low Cost TI DSP Development USB Stick

The TMDX5505eZDSP USB Powered DSP development tool includes everything you need for fixed-point DSP development for $49. Texas Instruments recommends this processor family for low-power consumer applications such as voice recording, musical instruments, and portable medical devices. You can start developing without purchasing any other tools according to this introductory video. The eZdsp features an integrated codec with line-in and headphone jacks, as well as an expansion connector for custom projects. You can also download a DSP library and image processing library at TI's website. They include optimized assembly routines for the 55x that you can call from C code.

Windows 7 Sensor API Targets Embedded Hardware

Microsoft has released the new Sensor API in Windows 7 to access data from external devices. The new API will still require development of a custom device driver for your hardware, but aims to reduce the complexity of applications that need to access the data. There are a number of examples applications available . Some are in the Windows 7 WDK, others are online like this one on MSDN for a motion sensor. It includes source and even firmware for a BASIC stamp microcontroller. You can build the project yourself with a Parallax passive-infrared sensor and HomeWork Board. One nice feature of the API is that it allows for virtual sensors. These can be used to develop and test apps without connecting the sensor to the PC. This can be very useful when you have seperate teams developing the Windows applications and the embedded hardware. If you have a well defined interface you should be able to switch from the virtual sensor to the final hardware without rewriting a lot of code.

TI Releasing Watch for Microcontroller Development

Amazing new platform for development, eZ430-Chronos Wireless Watch Development Tool. Introductory video here and assembly/disassembly video here. Not available at the time of writing but will be available for purchase for $49 at TI eStore.

New Low-Cost Altera FPGA Eval Board

The New $49 BeMicro FPGA Evaluation Kit available from arrowdevtools.com looks very impressive with the availability of free tools and a Nios II processor. With the on-board USB-Blaster for Quartus II Web edition you should have all you need to design and debug with a custom FPGA microcontroller. For I/O you have an 80-pin edge connector, eight LEDs, a UART and JTAG. See this getting started page for more details.

Freescale Offers Re-configurable Embedded Systems Platform

Freescale's tower development system is unique in physical design and also because it will support multiple processor families according to the tower system website, TowerGeeks.org. Currently only Coldfire processor boards are available along with a few peripheral boards. You can purchase either a complete kit or inidividual boards from Digi-Key. The kit shown above (TWR-MCF51CN-KIT) costs $100 and includes a microcontroller board, a serial module board, and two elevator boards.

Barnes and Noble Announces Nook

Barnes and Noble has released details and some specifications of its new electronic reader, Nook.