Month: March 2022

Precursor open hardware mobile device with an FPGA is now shipping (crowdfunding)

The Precursor is a pocket-sized mobile device with a physical keyboard and a small display. But it’s not a smartphone. Instead it’s an open hardware device aimed at developers and enthusiasts looking for a device they have complete control over. Not only is the software open source, but the Precuror is also powered by an […]

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The Precursor is a pocket-sized mobile device with a physical keyboard and a small display. But it’s not a smartphone. Instead it’s an open hardware device aimed at developers and enthusiasts looking for a device they have complete control over. Not only is the software open source, but the Precuror is also powered by an FPGA that can be programmed to perform as different types of chips – it’s been tested working as a RISC-V processor.

Developers bunnie Huang and Sean “xobs” cross launched a crowdfunding campaign for the Precursor in 2020, and now units have begun shipping to backers. That’s the good news. The less good news is that if you want a Precursor but haven’t already placed a pre-order, you may be in for a long wait.

Global supply chain issues have delayed the initial batch by just a few weeks past the latest estimate, with backer units already shipping (and arriving), and pre-orders set to go out within weeks.

But some components required to build more Precursor units may not be available for nearly a year, so Huang says the team won’t be able to produce a second batch until late 2022 at the earliest, and possibly early 2023.

That said, the Precursor is a very niche device aimed at a specific set of enthusiasts who may be willing to wait… especially since it’s not like there’s really any direct competition.

Here’s a run-down of some of the device’s key features:

  • Xilinx XC7S50 primary System on Chip (SoC) FPGA
  • iCE40UP5K secondary Embedded Controller (EC) FPGA
  • 16 MB external SRAM
  • 128 MB FLASH
  • 536 x 336 pixel black and white display (200 pixels per inch)
  • Physical keyboard with changeable layout overlays (backlit)
  • 0.7 W speaker
  • Vibration motor
  • 3.5mm headphone jack (but no integrated microphone)
  • SiliconLabs WF200C WiFi chipset (sandboxed)
  • USB-C port
  • 1,100 mAh battery
  • Anti-tamper features

The Precursor measures 138 x 69 x 7.2mm (5.4″ x 2.7″ x 0.3″) and weighs 96 grams (3.4 ounces), making it smaller than most modern phones. It’s also designed to be repairable – there’s no adhesive used and you can open the case with a screwdriver. Optional accessories that are already available for order include replacement screens and keyboards, including models with different keyboard layouts.

The device ships with a custom open source operating system called Xous, and the Precursor should be able to get up to 5.5 hours of battery life under active use or 100 hours of standby time.

You can find more details at the Precursor Crowd Supply crowdfunding campaign page.

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40 Jahre Time Bandits: Terry Gilliams zeitlos schöner Fantasyfilm

Das Fantasy-Abenteuer von Terry Gilliam ist aus der Perspektive eines kleinen Jungen erzählt. Begleitet wird er von einer Gruppe kleinwüchsiger Zeitbanditen. Von Peter Osteried (Filmkritik, Apple TV)

Das Fantasy-Abenteuer von Terry Gilliam ist aus der Perspektive eines kleinen Jungen erzählt. Begleitet wird er von einer Gruppe kleinwüchsiger Zeitbanditen. Von Peter Osteried (Filmkritik, Apple TV)

Hungernde Tiere

Infolge der Abtrennung Russlands von Swift geraten auch Hilfsorganisationen ins Schleudern. Die Hundehilfe Russland greift verzweifelt zu unüblichen Maßnahmen

Infolge der Abtrennung Russlands von Swift geraten auch Hilfsorganisationen ins Schleudern. Die Hundehilfe Russland greift verzweifelt zu unüblichen Maßnahmen

SAP: Softwarevertrag für ungültig erklärt

Eine Lizenz- und Wartungsvereinbarung zwischen SAP und Südafrika wurde für ungültig erklärt. Das Unternehmen muss rund 20 Millionen Euro zurückzahlen. (SAP)

Eine Lizenz- und Wartungsvereinbarung zwischen SAP und Südafrika wurde für ungültig erklärt. Das Unternehmen muss rund 20 Millionen Euro zurückzahlen. (SAP)

Internet Explorer dies in June, but IE Mode will live on for years

As Microsoft announced last year, the company is finally putting Internet Explorer 11 out to pasture this summer. The legacy web browser will be retired on June 15, 2022, and Microsoft is encouraging users to switch to the newer Edge web browser (although third-party browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Vivaldi are also options). But Microsoft […]

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As Microsoft announced last year, the company is finally putting Internet Explorer 11 out to pasture this summer. The legacy web browser will be retired on June 15, 2022, and Microsoft is encouraging users to switch to the newer Edge web browser (although third-party browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Vivaldi are also options).

But Microsoft is also aware that some organizations continue to rely on older web sites and apps that require IE11, so the company has built an IE Mode for the Edge web browser. And it’s going to be around until 2029… for some versions of Windows.

If you’re wondering what IE11 retirement looks like, first Microsoft will end support for the application on Windows 10 computers that already have it installed. That happens on June 15, 2022. Some time after that, Microsoft will use Windows Update to roll out a change that removes Internet Explorer from Windows 10 computers altogether, and redirects users to Edge.

The Microsoft Edge web browser is built on Google’s open source Chromium browser and uses the Blink rendering engine, while IE11 uses Microsoft’s older Trident engine. IE Mode for Edge is a feature that will let folks continue to access sites that require Trident for a limited time.

How limited? Folks who are running Windows 10 will be able to continue using IE Mode through January 9, 2029. The same goes for Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10 IOT 2019.

But the end of IE Mode comes much sooner for older versions of Windows. Microsoft pulls the plug for Windows 8.1 on January 10, 2023 and for Windows 7 (Extended Security Update users) on January 15, 2023.

Meanwhile, neither Internet Explorer nor IE Mode have ever been available on Windows 11. So if you’re running applications that require it and need a new computer, you’d better see if you can downgrade to Windows 10.

You can find a more detailed breakdown of when IE Mode reaches end of life on various versions of Windows in an article at Microsoft’s Tech Community website.

via Neowin

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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s new expansion is good so far—but is it worth $25?

Believe it or not, the best track so far comes from the series’ smartphone version.

Coconut Mall, it's good to have you back in modern <em>Mario Kart</em>. But how about the rest of this week's new racetracks? Do they bode well for the total, $25, 48-track DLC pack?

Enlarge / Coconut Mall, it's good to have you back in modern Mario Kart. But how about the rest of this week's new racetracks? Do they bode well for the total, $25, 48-track DLC pack? (credit: Nintendo)

Despite Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launching as a retread of its original Wii U version, we still strongly recommended its second coming on Switch—and so far, over 40 million Switch owners have agreed with us. Hence, we weren't surprised to see the game get a massive expansion pack announcement last month. Why would Nintendo launch a sequel when millions of people are still buying the latest one at close to full price?

The expansion pack will eventually add 48 more racetracks to MK8D, thus doubling the game's total selection. Nintendo is breaking this down into six dumps of eight tracks each, and the first wave lands on Nintendo Switch consoles today. Based on what we're seeing so far, the DLC initiative meets our medium-high expectations. These perfectly fine tracks come with karting ideas both old and new, and they're a great perk as part of the $50/year Switch Online Expansion Pack tier, but they don't make us confident about the whole package as a $25 standalone purchase.

Ninja Hideaway might be reason enough to buy

As previously announced, the Booster Course Pass (timely word choice, Nintendo) will revolve around the existing Mario Kart pantheon, as opposed to brand-new tracks. That could mean anything from the Super Nintendo original to the 2018 rollout of Mario Kart Tour on smartphones. (Also, we don't know if any of these will turn out to be exclusive to, say, the series' battle mode; so far, that's not the case.) Outside of this week's content update, Nintendo is keeping the rest of the racetrack selection hidden for the time being, and Nintendo says the remaining packs will finish launching by the end of 2023.

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