Light by Moore’s Cloud Goes for Homegrown Crowdfunding

About a month ago, a project launched on Kickstarter called the Light by Moore’s Cloud. Unfortunately, the project failed to meet its funding goal, despite gathering about 2,000 supporters. With the company’s Kickstarter funding plans foiled, it has decided to run its own homegrown crowdfunding project.

light moores cloud

The Light is an open-source, computer-controlled cube that has 52 individual LEDs inside that can change to any of 2 million different colors. The light can be configured to produce static colors, or cool animation effects. The Light is also Wi-Fi connected allow you to control it from an application running on the iPad or iPhone. And since it’s running an embedded Linux computer with the LAMP stack on it, you can write your own custom applications for it as well.

Moore’s Cloud is now seeking funding from its own website allowing people to pre-order the Light for $149(USD). That is about $50 more expensive than the device was on Kickstarter. Not only is the device more expensive, but it now has a $10 shipping fee as well. The increased prices will allow them to go into production with about 3,000 of the lights being pre-sold, which is significantly lower than the nearly 7,000 they had to sell to hit their Kickstarter goal. The increased price could be a turn-off to the people who had previously committed on Kickstarter, so only time will tell if they will hit their goal.

Assuming they can make it this time, they’re estimating a ship date of July 2013.

Linux to drop i386 support in the 3.8 kernel, make us upgrade our Doom rig

Linux to drop i386 support in the 38 kernel, make us upgrade our Doom rig

Linux has developed a reputation for running on just about anything. If proposed changes to the 3.8 kernel take effect, we’ll have to add an “almost” disclaimer. The OS’ maintainers expect to drop support for Intel’s i386 architecture with the new release, noting that there’s “quite a bit of complexity” that could be lifted by swinging the focus to (much) newer chips. Don’t expect Torvalds to have much nostalgia for i386 despite basing much of his early work on it, either, as he’s bidding “good riddance” to the legacy code. We can’t blame the Linux collective for wanting to drop support for 27-year-old silicon that’s well out of fashion, even in embedded components; you’ll just have to forgive us if we shed a tear for that retro gaming PC which finally fell off the update bandwagon.

[Image credit: Konstantin Lanzet, Wikipedia]

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Via: ZDNet, Extremetech

Source: Kernel.org, Gmane.org

Gabe Newell hints at possible ‘turnkey’ Valve living room system, sees others following suit

Steam Big Picture TV

Valve has been making a visibly deep push into the living room, but in bits and pieces — controllers here, Big Picture interfaces there. Company chief Gabe Newell may have just hinted at a more holistic, though non-exclusive, approach in the works. Chatting on the sidelines of the Video Game Awards, he tells Kotaku that any Valve hardware would involve a “turnkey solution” with a “very controlled” environment, not unlike a console. While that’s not necessarily the confirmation of the rumored Steam Box, Newell only stokes the speculation further through his eagerness to put Big Picture on Steam for Linux and get that much more control when building hardware. The game developer doesn’t see his company monopolizing couch-based devices should it get involved, however — he predicts more companies will be selling PCs in 2013 tailored for the TV in a way that would favor Steam. We won’t consider either a Valve-made gaming box or its third-party equivalents to be imminent based solely on award show banter, but the remarks suggest that at least one of the PCs is more than just a dream.

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Source: Kotaku

Do You Care About Ubuntu?

So we were just having a discussion about Linux and someone mentioned that nobody cares about Ubuntu. While that may be true for the vast majority of folks, I’m wondering if it’s true of our readers. Please discuss. More »

PengPod and PengStick available for pre-order, will begin shipping in early 2013

The PengPod and PengStick have been floating around for a few weeks, with an Indiegogo crowdfunding expenditure seeking $49,000 in funding. The company has exceeded that number, garnering in excess of $79,000. Now that the goal was hit, the devices are available for pre-order, with shipping starting in January 2013.

A total of three devices are available for pre-order: the PengPod 700 (7-inch tablet), PengPod 1000 (10-inch tablet), and PengStick (mini PC). All three devices run Linux – or Android 4.0, depending on buyer preference – and run Allwinner system-on-a-chip A10s. Also available are a few accessories, including 8GB/16GB/32GB microSD cards with a bootable Linux image, a keyboard/case combo, and a “Linux on flash upgrade” for $5 if you don’t want Android.

The 7-inch PengPod 700 tablet has an 800 x 480 resolution and an HDMI video-out port. There’s a 1.3-megapixel front camera, speakers, and wifi connectivity. It has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage space. You can pre-order one for $110. The PengPod 1000, meanwhile, has a resolution of 1024 x 600, as well as an HDMI port. The front camera is listed as only 0.3-megapixel versus the 700′s 1.3-megapixel. Likewise, it offers 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage space. You can grab it for $175.

The PengStick is a mini PC that measures in at less than 3.5-inches in length, allowing you to slip it into your pocket or bag and easily transport it with you. Video connection works via a mini HDMI-to-HDMI, and the device features a single USB port and 1 USB OTG adapter, 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage space. You can pre-order it for $75. All three devices can be dual-booted with an SD card. The devices are “expected to start shipping in January.”

[via PC World]


PengPod and PengStick available for pre-order, will begin shipping in early 2013 is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Hardkernel reveals pair of quad-core Exynos ODROID-U developer boards, starting at $69

Hardkernal reveals pair of quadcore Exynos ODROIDU developer boards, starting at $69

One area where Moore’s law can be seen alive and well seems to be the developer and small project computer world. Whether it’s the ubiquitous Raspberry Pi, Intel’s NUC, or any number of similar products. There’s one more name to add to this list, and that’s the ODROID-U from Hardkernel. The boards are a little more expensive than Raspberry Pi’s impressively cheap Model A and Model B, but you are getting some bang for that buck. The $69 ODROID-U comes with a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 4412 processor (as found in the Galaxy S III and Note II, 1GB of RAM, quad-core Mali 400 graphics, micro-HDMI, a brace of USB ports, a headphone jack and Ethernet. If you want a little more oomph, for an extra $20 you can have the RAM doubled, and a 1.7GHz core with the ODROID-U2 model. There’s one stat you might notice missing which is flash memory. There’s no onboard storage, so you’ll have to bring your own memory for the built-in microSD slot. As the ODROID name suggests, the boards can run Android, as well as a variety of Linux flavours. Sound good? In a reverse of what you might expect, the ODROID-U2 will be available first, starting December 21st, with the cheaper board pencilled in to arrive on January 16th.

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Via: Android Community

Source: Hardkernel

How-to: Picking a desktop environment in Linux

DNP  Howto Picking a Desktop Environment in Linux

We’ve taken you through a tour of Window Managers in Linux, and now it’s time to show you the Window Manager’s bigger brother: the desktop environment, or DE for short. With a sea of choices out there, we can see where Linux newbies might feel a bit overwhelmed. Catch us after the break and we’ll show you some of our favorites, along with a few honorable mentions.

Continue reading How-to: Picking a desktop environment in Linux

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Nokia seeks Linux engineer, Android crowd goes wild

A Nokia job listing [since taken down] has been discovered seeking a Senior Engineer with Linux expertise, rather than Windows Phone experience, this leading the Android masses to have a freak-out-festival about the possibilities of a Google OS Nokia device. At the moment it’s a nearly all-Microsoft party at Nokia with the latter shaking hands heavily with the former for the launch of Windows Phone 8 with devices like the Nokia Lumia 920, a hero for the operating system. With a Linux expert on their team, (not that Nokia doesn’t already have engineers with such expertise), it would appear that Nokia is attempting to keep their ties with Android at least a possible future plan – but clues are dubious at best.

It’s not that we don’t think Nokia would ever make an attempt and creating an Android phone, it’s just that one single job posting does not a Nexus make. Back in May of 2011 there was a single prediction from super stealth inside Eldar Murtazin which said that if Microsoft didn’t outright purchase Nokia inside 2012, they’d toss out ex-Microsoft executive Stephen Elop from the CEO spot and place former Nokia smartphone chief Anssi Vanjoki back on top.

The prediction also supported ideas like a Nokia tablet and a collection of MeeGo devices throughout the months of 2012 as well, so it’s not as if this pack of information fell entirely correctly. Meanwhile the job listing appearing this week seeks an employee wanting to work in a “start-up environment” with “exciting new products” and future mobile phone technology. That could mean absolutely anything from an Android application to a new implementation of an upcoming technology standard on Lumia smartphones – maybe even more NFC action for apps.

Have a peek down our Linux tag portal to see what you can see – you’ll find that outside of Android, there’s not a whole lot that makes sense here for Nokia to want to hire a Linux expert unless they simply want to keep up-to-date on the most widely-used mobile operating system on the planet. Is that such a strange possibility?

[via Mark Wilcox]


Nokia seeks Linux engineer, Android crowd goes wild is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.


Raspberry Pi’s $25 Model A enters production, could be in tinkerers’ projects early next year

Raspberry Pi's $25 Model A enters production, could be in tinkerer's projects early next year

Raspberry Pi‘s Model B computer will be no stranger to regular readers. We’ve seen it turn up in all sorts of projects, and generally stretched in various directions. If you were holding out for the cheaper, lower specced Model A however, your time is near. A recent post on the official Raspberry Pi site confirms that the first Model A samples are rolling off the production line. The main differences? Whereas Model B has two USB ports and 512 MB of RAM plus Ethernet, Model A sports only the one port, has half the RAM, and no Ethernet connection, making it more power economical as well as $10 cheaper. Price likely isn’t the issue here, but if you were after the even more stripped back version, it’s estimated they’ll be ready to purchase online early next year.

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Source: Raspberry Pi

Dell now offering XPS 13 Ultrabook running Ubuntu

Dell has launched an Ubuntu version of its attractive XPS 13 ultrabook. The ultrabook is aimed at developers, offering them “the essentials they want” bundled up in a Linux-harboring device. The laptop is available for purchase now from Dell starting at $1,449. You can also nab a Windows version of the machine if Ubuntu isn’t your thing.

The XPS 13 features a 13.3-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768. Inside you’ll find an Intel Core i7-3517U 3GHz processor and 8GB of RAM. There’s Intel HD 4000 graphics, and a 256GB SSD. The operating system is the latest and greatest Ubuntu version 12.04. It weighs in at a svelte 2.99lbs. Included with the purchase is one year of ProSupport.

ProSupport can be bumped up to 2-year and 3-year service plans for an extra $215 and $330. The machine itself is made from carbon fiber and aluminum, and offers Gorilla Glass for durability. The battery is a 6-cell unit, while the audio is Waves Maxx Audio 4.0. The laptop measures in at just 6mm on its thinnest edge, and 18mm at its thickest point, which is still less than 3/4 of an inch.

Dell offered this statement: “We’re super excited about the XPS 13 Laptop, Developer Edition, and want to thank all the developers who have been actively participating in helping us create a laptop designed specifically for them. Basically, we loaded a super sleek Dell machine with Ubuntu to give developers the essentials they want while staying true to our core values of openness and affordability. But the power of the community input really helped make this a big success.”

[via Dell]


Dell now offering XPS 13 Ultrabook running Ubuntu is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.