PINE A64 is a $15, ‘high-performance’ take on the Raspberry Pi
Thanks to boards like the Raspberry Pi, DIY computing projects are no longer reserved for enthusiasts who can afford to sink hundreds of dollars into them. As the new $5 Pi Zero demonstrates, picking up on a new project now costs the same as a cup of coffee. It also means that if a new entrant wants to make an impact, it needs to include a better range of components or beat its competition on price. Or both. And that’s exactly what PINE64 Inc. is looking to do.
There’s no denying that the PINE64 Inc. is attempting to build upon the Raspberry Pi’s legacy. The team says its board’s name is derived from two constant variables – Pi and Euler’s Number e (the mathematical constant). As you may have guessed, the 64 comes from its 64-bit processor and the A helps differentiate it from future versions. Taking of processors, the PINE A64 hosts an ARMv8 Cortex-A53 chip. Oh, and it starts from just $15 and is available to “pre-order” via Kickstarter right now.
Measuring 3.125 inches by 5 inches, the PINE A64 includes a quad-core ARM Cortex A53 1.2GHz processor, dual-core Mali 400 MP2 graphics, support for up to 2GB of DDR3 SDRAM, a microSD slot (which can handle cards up to 256GB), up to gigabit ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI 1.4 connector offering 4K output and both a stereo mini-jack connector and built-in 3.7V Lithium battery charging circuit. PINE64 Inc. will also offer separate modules that will add a 5-megapixel camera port, 4 lane MIPI video port, touch panel port, WiFi connectivity and Bluetooth 4.0. Like other boards, it runs on 5V power through MicroUSB but can also call upon on-board power management via a battery.
Click to enlarge.
“PINE64 set out to create a simple, smart and affordable computer that gives people access toward making their next big idea come to life.” says Co-Founder Johnson Jeng. “We provide a powerful 64-bit quad-core single-board computer at an exceptional price and remain compatible with multiple open source software platforms to build a community of creativity and innovation.”
If you’re familiar with other ARM-based boards then you know the drill. It can be set up to operate as a mini computer, a gaming console, control your connected home and let you run your own media center. It’ll handle Android 5.1 (Lollipop), Ubuntu Linux, openHAB, OpenWRT and Kodi, which offers 4Kx2K output via the H.265 video standard (1080p60 and 4Kp30) and also supports Miracast.
Why so cheap?
When asked why Raspberry Pi continued to launch hardware based on the ARMv7 architecture when ARMv8 64-bit chips are readily available, founder Eben Upton alluded to the fact that a more powerful processor would come with a boost in price. When your business is focused on delivering performance without the cost, that can become a problem.
For PINE64 Inc., the tipping point likely came earlier this year when companies began launching new super-cheap 64-bit System-on-a-Chip (SoC) platforms. Allwinner, for example, touted a $5 64-bit Cortex A53 processor for tablets way back in January, and it’s this chip that powers the $15 PINE A64 board. A year is a long time in the fast-moving world of processors, so it’s reasonable to expect that Raspberry Pi’s rationale for sticking with ARMv7 isn’t as valid as it once was.
PINE64 is available as three different models — the PINE A64, PINE A64+ and PINE A64+ 2GB — that offer more memory, connectivity and features for a little extra money:
Click to enlarge.
While there are plenty of 4K streamers now available, namely via Amazon and Roku, nothing quite beats being able to build one yourself. The open-source community has already fully embraced the Raspberry Pi and ported powerful media center software so it can run on the Pi’s ARMv7 chipset, but video decoding is stable but not spectacular. Sure, you can throw a 4GB Matroska-encoded (MKV) file at it and it’ll do the job, but extra performance is always welcome. That’s not to say the PINE A64 is a 4K powerhouse, and a lot also depends on the software you’re using for the job.
PINE64 Inc. says it is launching pre-orders via Kickstarter (with a $31,416 goal) in order to get an idea of what makers want to see before it comes to market. Do people want a $15 version or a $19 model with better specs, for instance? If you decide to back the project today, the company says boards will begin shipping globally in February.
There will undoubtedly be interest in a development board that can offer more power and similar features to the Pi and at an very competitive price. However, it remains to be seen whether the crowdsourcing approach will resonate with makers who can order a rival board anytime they want.
Source: PINE64, (Kickstarter)
The Moto E will be updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow after all, in select regions only
A month or two ago when Motorola first published its list of handsets that were eligible to be updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, you might have noticed that there was some distinct outrage that the Moto E 2015 wasn’t mentioned. Motorola has since updated the list, with the Moto E 2015 making an appearance. It is only good news, however, depending on which region you live in.
According to the newly updated list, the Moto E 2015 will be updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but only in the following regions:
- Canada
- Latin America
- Europe
- Asia
If you own a Moto E 2015 that originated from China or the US, it would appear you are still out of luck. While it’s a nice surprise for the eligible regions, for the US and China, it’s still a bitter pill to swallow for a handset released only a few months ago, especially since Motorola had promised timely updates.
Do you think Motorola will update the list again to include US and China? And how does this color your view of Motorola? Let us know in the comments. Afterall
Source: Motorola
Come comment on this article: The Moto E will be updated to Android 6.0 Marshmallow after all, in select regions only
Facebook’s Security Check comes to Android
Facebook’s account security feature, dubbed Security Check, landed on Android this Tuesday. It allows users to quickly review their current account settings and tighten sharing controls, log out of the network on unused devices, enable login alerts and change their passwords. The service came to Facebook’s desktop version this July and will reportedly arrive on iOS next.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Source: Facebook
Instagram brings ‘3D Touch’-like functionality to Android
When Apple rolled out its latest handsets, the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the company took great pains to highlight a snazzy feature called “3D Touch“. With the help of a pressure sensitive screen, users can more efficiently access the phone’s various menus and options. Turns out, Instagram is working on a very similar feature for its Android app, no pressure sensitive screen required.
Honestly, it’s really just a glorified long-press menu. When looking at another user’s image grid, you can press and hold on a thumbnail to pull up a near full-size preview image. Conversely, drag your finger to the edge of the screen to shrink it back down. Hold and swipe down towards the Share and Like buttons to activate them — all without lifting the finger. This feature is currently in beta but is expected to migrate to the official app within a few update cycles.
Source: Android Police
Google Chrome becomes safer for Android users
After the latest update, Google Chrome for Android has received Safe Browsing – something that has been available for the company’s desktop software for years. The new security feature will protect mobile devices against malware, unwanted software and social engineering websites.
You don’t need to update your Chrome browser to get this Safe Browsing client, as it comes bundled up with Google Play Services version 8.1 by default. If you have Chrome version 46 and up, you can relax because now you will see a red warning page if you stumble upon a page that is a privacy scare or consumes data and eats your battery.
“Social engineering—and phishing in particular—requires different protection; we need to keep an up-to-date list of bad sites on the device to make sure we can warn people before they browse into a trap. Providing this protection on a mobile device is much more difficult than on a desktop system, in no small part because we have to make sure that list doesn’t get stale.”
Google Blog
To double check that you are protected against phishing attempts and online scares, all you need to do is, go to Chrome’s Settings > Privacy menu and ensure that Safe Browsing is enabled.
Source: Google
The post Google Chrome becomes safer for Android users appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google Authenticator takes security codes from your smartwatch
It can be annoying to set up two-factor authentication and boost the security of your accounts, but Google may have found a way to ease your pain. It’s delivering an update to Authenticator for Android that not only touts a “refreshed” design, but receives codes from Android Wear smartwatches. You’re no longer stuck using this solely on your phone. To top things off, Google is rolling in early support (sadly, developer-only) for the FIDO Alliance’s NFC Security keys — in the future, you may only need to tap devices together to sign in. If you can’t bear the thought of logging in with a regular password, you’ll want to grab this upgrade in short order.
Source: Google Online Security Blog
Nexus security update for December is released
Google has released an OTA security patch for Nexus devices. The new Nexus firmware can also be found on the Google Developer site.
Builds LMY48Z or later and Android Marshmallow with Security Patch Level of December 1, 2015 or later address these issues. Refer to the Common Questions and Answers section for more details.
This is part of Google’s Android Security Bulletin Monthly Release process. All partners were notified about the update on or before November 2, 2015. Source code patches will be released to Android Open Source Project (AOSP) repository over the next 48 hours.
Most of the issues this update will fix are minor, but there was one major Critical security vulnerability that could enable remote code execution on an affected device through multiple methods such as email, web browsing, and MMS when processing media files. However, Google says they have no reports of any of these security issues being used on customers.
Source: Nexus Security Bulletin
Come comment on this article: Nexus security update for December is released
Chrome for Android protects you from dangerous websites
Google Chrome already shields you from sketchy websites on the desktop, and now it’s doing the same on your smartphone. Grab the latest version of Chrome for Android and you’ll get the same Safe Browsing security measures that you’ve seen on your computer. You’ll know if a site is perpetrating a phishing scam or pushing malware. It’s not quite as comprehensive as on the desktop (Google saves data by limiting safety info to your region), but it could still prove a lifesaver if it keeps you from falling for a convincing fraud while you’re away from your PC.
Via: Android Central
Source: Google Online Security Blog
Turing’s super-secure smartphone won’t ship this year
Bad news if you were hoping to get the extra-secure, extra-strong Turing smartphone as a gift this holiday: it’s not going to happen. Turing Robotic Industries is telling customers that it won’t ship its namesake Android phone on December 18th as promised, and that orders will instead arrive sometime in the first quarter of 2016. The company needs more time to live up to its promise of a “truly secure OS” while still offering Google Play app downloads, according to the email. Suffice it to say that this is s bit of a rude surprise, especially if you were counting on a new phone for an end-of-year trip.
Via: Android Community
Source: Android Police
Google Calendar gets reminders to keep track of your tasks
Google’s services have had reminders for a while, but they’ve usually been kept apart from your day-to-day schedule. That’s a bit counterintuitive, isn’t it? However, the company is finally setting things right by incorporating those reminders in Google Calendar. As of this week, mobile users (the web is coming soon) can create and track reminders from within the Calendar app. If you need to remember to get groceries, you’ll know right away if there’s a conflict with your kids’ recital. And importantly, you don’t have to worry about those reminders being lost in the shuffle — if you don’t tackle them one day, they’ll show up in your itinerary for the next. All iOS users should see this overdue upgrade today, while Android users will see it roll out over the course of the week.
Source: Official Gmail Blog
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