Clearly, I’ve not blogged for quite some time. I think it’s time for an icraigt reboot. icraigt 2.0?
A new theme is in the making along with a queue of new posts to add to the blog. I’ll also be adding other content (online CV), general stuff of interest, links etc.
When? Over the next few weeks.
Pebble has just announced that it is shutting down operations, having sold to Fitbit.
I find this to be a thoroughly disappointing move, not because I was amongst the first to back Pebble on their original Kickstarter but because, yet again, a company with an amazing product, that set itself aside from the mainstream, has turned out to only be in it for the money.
It seems the only goal in the modern start up business is to get successful enough to sell out.
I love my Pebble, I love that it’s unique, tough, dependable and funky. Making great products just isn’t the in-thing any more……. that’s a shame.
Read Ben’s post for the latest update to GPIO Zero!
http://bennuttall.com/whats-new-gpio-zero-v1-3/
I’m very excited that #robotwars returns on the BBC tonight (UK). It’s been 12 years since it last aired and, this time around, it has the always interesting Dr Lucy Rogers on the judging panel and is being hosted by none other than Dara O’Briain.
In the run up (it’s now just 30 minutes from the show airing) I set up a Twitter Monitor (Raspberry Pi coupled to a Pimoroni Blinkt) to flash on every mention the of the Robot Wars hashtag. Needless to say, it has been and continues to go absolutely crazy! It’s almost flashing continuously.
BBC Two tonight at 8pm (UK).
Here is the Rii K12 Ultra Slim 2.4GHz Keyboard.
I should make it very clear, this is an ultra slim keyboard so it’s not suited to being your everyday keyboard.
Where the ultra slim keyboard excels is in being very portable, as you’d expect. It is small; here it is pictured on my PC Specialist Optimus Series 15.6″ laptop. It’s a great size for dropping in a bag when you are going portable.
It’s also rechargeable so there’s no faffing about with batteries or worrying about having to carry spares. Key feel is very nice, with positive action, good resistance and a quiet operation.
Where I think the Rii excels (other than in portability) is the trackpad. The response is excellent and it is large enough to be very usable.
The main body of the Rii K12 is steel which keeps everything very solid (but not heavy). The keyboard sits at a slight incline to aid typing and comfort and there are 5 rubber feet to prevent you chasing it around your desk (three along the top and two at the bottom). The K12 feels very stable in use and is surprisingly easy to get along with (given its size). I found I was able to type reasonably fast within a couple of minutes use.
Being so small, Rii have had to be creative with layout so expect to find punctuation and symbols in non-standard locations.
Overall, the Rii K12 is the perfect travel companion. It is light, small and yet nice to use with a very good trackpad.
The temporary HDMIPi setup (awaiting the Raspberry Pi B+ before getting everything wholly contained in the HDMIPi casing).
The display itself is really nice. Bright, crisp, 1280×800 display with good view angles (horizontal better than vertical).
Next step is to mount the B+ into the case and pick up a cheap keyboard+trackpad combo (wireless). Once compete, the only thing external to the HDMIPi case will be the keyboard and power supply.
Then it’s time to pick up a PiGlow and get the boys to program the Pi to light it up.
#raspberrypi #hdmipi
Next on the hit list was the interior lights….. gone is the yellow tinge after fitting LEDs.
I used these.
The end result is really nice, although the picture doesn’t really do it justice.
Next will be the foot well lights!
I couldn’t stand that horrible yellow tinge of the side (DRL) lights, so fitted some Polargs this morning.
They provide a much whiter light.
I bought these: http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/180712488934?txnId=1234476503008