Raspberry Pi distributor Premier Farnell has dramatically withdrawn its support from the takeover bid of Swiss firm Datwyler. Instead, they have decided to recommend to shareholders a rival bid from Avnet who offered 12% more for the electronics firm. Read more here.
Raspberry Pi Foundation magazine The MagPi has just published its August 2016 edition. It’s packed with interesting stuff including a huge feature on Windows 10 IoT and a feature on programming Olympics-inspired games with Scratch. There’s also the usual mix of reviews and news and, as always, it’s always worth getting hold of a copy. You can purchase it from all good retailers or through the iTunes or Android app or alternatively just download the PDF from here. More information about the issue can be found here.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation has just announced that they are holding a Digital Making day for youngsters on the 23rd August (which is my birthday, but let’s ignore that for now… God knows I’m trying to). To apply, you need to be aged between 12 and 18, living in the UK, and free on Tuesday 23rd August 2016. They’re planning on doing some filming with those people who are selected, so you also need to be comfortable with that. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to make things and get excited about it!
The Foundation is willing to provide travel costs and (if you’re coming a long way) accommodation costs too.
All you need to do to apply to attend the day is film a short video of yourself saying what you like to make, and what activities you get up to in the making arena. Don’t panic – a video shot from your mobile will do. Then, you upload it somewhere (YouTube is really easy) and use the application form.
This is a really great opportunity to meet the Foundation people – they’re really clever and friendly and you’ll have a great day!
Andre Maia Chagas and his team, comprised of LL Prieto Godino, A Arrenberg and T Baden, have developed a Raspberry Pi-controlled microscope called FlyPi and entered it into the Hackaday Prize competition. Here’s what Andre has to say about the project:
Our plan with this project is to develop a complete opensource and cheap device for scientific experiments (data collection and analysis) and diagnostics (if they are “microscopy based”).
So far we were able to perform some proof of principle experiments in life sciences (Fluorescence and calcium imaging, opto and thermo genetics essays) and to perform diagnostics of the following parasites: Loa loa, Brugia Malayi, Wuchereria bankrofti, Schistosoma eggs, Mansonella perstans
It’s a fantastic and, above all else, useful project that combines that Pi with a camera module, an Arduino, 3D printed parts and various other bits and pieces. You can read more and see pictures and video here and also here.
For a while, it has been possible to communicate and program a Raspberry Pi Zero via it’s USB data port. I’ve covered this useful feature before, beginning with Andrew Mulholland’s original work but I feel it’s worth covering again, particularly when it’s been written up in such a user-friendly way, as it has been over at Circuit Basics. In this tutorial, which features lots of screenshots, Scott Campbell has described how to connect your Zero, change a couple of config files and then set-up the necessary network connection. Read the tutorial here.
Suffolk Libraries are holding a beginners’ Raspberry Jam over two sessions on Wednesday 3rd August. The sessions, which cost £1.50 per person, are being held in the Ipswich Enterprise + Innovation Hub at Ipswich County Library; the time slots are as follows:
Spaces are limited to 30 per session and children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. To book, contact the library directly by telephone on 01473 263 810.
