Raspberry Pi mini computer becomes a tech playground

OC Register ^ | March 7, 2013 Updated: March 8, 2013 8:55 a.m. | IAN HAMILTON / ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The bare-bones $35 computer by a Broadcom engineer teaches programming skills to children.

Broadcom engineer Eben Upton started a foundation with a simple goal: to make and sell an inexpensive computer that could help teach children computer programming.

The result: Upton created the Raspberry Pi, a $35 computer slightly larger than an Altoids tin that's like a blank slate for tech enthusiasts.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Not sure of the details on this story,....but featured this morning on the front page of the Business section of the Orange County Register.

[ShadowAce]

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

• GRAPHIC: One smart piece of pi

[Donkey Odious]

Has anyone else noticed that the term “Altoid Tin” has become PC size reference for what used to be “a pack of cigarettes”?

[cyclotic]

I’m a coach on a FIRST Robotics Team. Our programmer is using one of these on our bot this year for some of sensors and cameras. I’m not sure exactly what for, I mentor the mechanical part of the robot.

Here’s our team website. http://frc3941.techbrick.com/ Personal and corporate sponsorship opportunities are available and sorely needed. PM me if you’re interested.

[Dr. Sivana]

They shouldn’t call that a mini-computer. A PDP-11 is a mini-computer. This should be called a mini PC, perhaps.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[USAF80]

Can’t put components in a pack of smokes though. The Altoids tins can be used for lots of different projects thats why the refer to it. I use them as survival kits. Crush proof and perfect for carrying in a pocket.

[Errant]

Just flashed an SD card with OpenELEC (version os XBMC) and playing John Willam’s Jurassic Park on to massive speakers - AWESOME!!

[zeugma]

They shouldn’t call that a mini-computer. A PDP-11 is a mini-computer. This should be called a mini PC, perhaps.

A PDP-11 is a bit bigger than a RPi. Probably not as fast either.

[SgtHooper]

Or a little bit smaller than an ounce of pot.

[Dr. Sivana]

A PDP-11 is a bit bigger than a RPi. Probably not as fast either.

Yes, and a Compaq 386 is also bigger and slower than an RPi, but it is a MICRO-computer. The problem is that in terms of computer scale, MINI is actually on the large size. Even the body of the article refers to the RPI as a microcomputer. You might also call it a mini-microcomputer, but the term minicomputer is taken.

[Errant]

[douginthearmy]

I have 3. I’m ordering more soon. Using one to build my Master’s capstone project.

[douginthearmy]

I think the Altoid tin is a Brit reference. The Pi is made in the UK. Very few Americans say “tin” even when refering to a small metal box.

[MMaschin]

I have a hdhomerun prime, and am currently using Windows Media Center. I have media center extenders in the garage, and on the outside patio. I’m hoping to replace the extenders with Raspberry Pi based htpc’s in the future.

Hdhomerun has now updated their prime’s to act as DLNA servers. I’ve looked at using XBMC on the Rpi, but until there is a PVR addin with DTCP-IP support, it’s not worth replacing the extenders.

[Errant]

Just booted the RPi for the first time with OpenELEC. Pretty impressive for such a small package; in learning in mode now. :)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

what is OpenELEC?

[Errant]

"Open Embedded Linux Entertainment Center, or OpenELEC for short, is a small Linux distribution built from scratch as a platform to turn your computer into a complete XBMC media center. OpenELEC is designed to make your system boot as fast as possible and the install is so easy that anyone can turn a blank PC into a media machine in less than 15 minutes."

http://openelec.tv/

Available for a number of platforms, including RPi.

[Kid Shelleen]

How does one get started developing? Anyone know some good links for sample projects?
Thanks in advance for any info..

[Paradox]

I’ve watched this thing come to fruition for quite some time now, the only thing is, I can’t think of anything to use it for. Probably going to use it to control something, but haven’t decided what.

[Marie Antoinette]

Cheap tech ping!

[Paradox]

http://www.raspberrypi.org/

[VeniVidiVici]

Didn’t you buy one of these? I was thinking of getting one just for the geek factor alone :)

[Errant]

http://python.org/

[GOPJ]

Thanks for the ping.

[Psiman]

Good Catch

[Windflier]

I’ve watched this thing come to fruition for quite some time now, the only thing is, I can’t think of anything to use it for.

I felt the same way about personal computers in the eighties. The business I worked for in the late 70s had their own computer intranet, which we managers had to file daily reports on, but outside of business, accounting, research, military, and government, I just couldn't imagine all of the things we use personal computers for today.

[beef]

I got one. It’s worth it just to run XBMC. I can’t wait for the next version, whatever that may bring.

[JimSp]

The life hacker / survival / EDC crowd uses the word tin a lot. Altoids tins are a staple of their conversations.

[zeugma]

You might also call it a mini-microcomputer, but the term minicomputer is taken.

No doubt. Perhaps we can call them pico-computers. They'll surely get smaller still so we should hold off from using the term nano-computer.

[FreedomPoster]

I have one on the den TV running Raspbmc so I can stream video. It works great. It streams 1080p video just fine. I measured the power draw and it will cost me <$5/yr to leave it on 24/7.

http://www.raspbmc.com/about/

http://xbmc.org/

[FreedomPoster]

Sunday morning bump and some techie pings.

[Betis70]

>>Using one to build my Master’s capstone project.

Cool, would love to hear more about the project. I have one and got one for my bro for Christmas. They were hard to find at that time, but MCM electronics had them in stock.

[Kid Shelleen]

Here is web page that has some good ideas for apps

http://raspberrypihacks.com/

[Errant]

It's a great little device. I watched a movie streaming from amazon prime tonight. I haven't gotten netflix to stream over it yet, but working on it. Netfilx uses windows silverlight.

Also, you will need to get a .mp2 license for about $4, if you want to watch any of your movie files in that format. Mp4 and some other formats work fine without the license.

Thanks for the link. I'm planning on connecting it to the real world soon, as I have been playing around with the arduino and netduios boards as well.

[JerseyHighlander]

I’m just about ready to buy three, but am stumped over one point.

Remote controls.

Which type are you using?
Any suggestions?

[FreedomPoster]

Right now, I’m just using a Logitech wireless mouse.

I think there’s a way to use your iPhone (or a smartphone in general), but it hasn’t been enough of a priority yet. I had the mouse, and I’ve only had the thing going for 2-3 weeks, and I’ve been busy with other things.

[FreedomPoster]

How did you watch the Amazon Prime stream? In Raspbmc? Or just through a browser in Raspian? Other?

[Errant]

I'm using OpenELEC; just playing around for now. Here is a link that will explain the process of adding "Add-Ons". Any version of XBMC should work the same way. OpenElec is the smallest build, I think. The other versions do more, but take more resources.

One thing I discovered, the device must have at least .850 amps or you'll have issues. At 1 amp @ 5 volts through the micro USB, not problems driving a mouse, keyboard, VGA adapter and a small set of speakers.

Another thing, you have to go to audio settings, under system settings and tell it to use analog (headphone/speaker jack) or HDMI. It has unbelievable sound sound and picture for a $35 device. I still haven't tried the RCA video output for comparison.

[Errant]

Here ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyF0Xp3lXCo

[Nik Naym]

“Has anyone else noticed that the term “Altoid Tin” has become PC size reference for what used to be “a pack of cigarettes”?”

That is because today’s tinkerers like to build things into Altoid tins.

So when they say “the size of an Altoid can” they mean “You can use an Altoid can as a project box to build it in”.

[FreedomPoster]

See here for example.

http://www.bendobson.co.uk/category/uncategorized/

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I got distracted by other concerns ...and opportunities.

not computer related.

There are some around here doing stuff with it.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Check the posts on the thread....good stuff .