Operating systems, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Software

Raspbian Jessie updated to include Node-RED and other enhancements

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Simon Long has continued his great work on the base operating system for the Raspberry Pi. The latest update includes the following:

  • The Node-RED visual development environment is installed by default. Especially great news for those who are into the “Internet of Things” as it’s a great language to use for that purpose.
  • New graphical package manager – terrific stuff. Now you can install and uninstall all different kinds of software without issuing command-line instructions.
  • New Python library GPIO Zero is installed by default.
  • Scratch has been updated.
  • Epiphany has been updated with better support for streaming video services.
  • Updated configuration app – new wait-for-network option.
GPIO boards, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Research, Science

Raspberry Pis in space aboard Atlas V rocket!

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An unmanned Cygnus cargo freighter, powered by an Atlas V rocket, has just taken off from Florida. On board are two Raspberry Pi Astro Pi units destined for the International Space Station. So exciting! Lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Here are some pics from the launch.

atlas

astrolaunch1 astrolaunch2 astrolaunch3 astrolaunch4 astrolaunch5 astrolaunch6 astrolaunch7

Just heard that the spacecraft has now separated and is properly ‘in space’. So proud of the Raspberry Pi guys for pulling this off, especially Dave Honess who has overseen the project at the Foundation 🙂

Networking, Software, Tutorials

Run a Raspberry Pi headless from initial boot-up

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David Maitland has worked out the series of commands and edits that you need to carry out in order to automatically make your Raspberry Pi headless and available on your network from first boot-up. It involves using a Linux computer to edit files on the SD card before you put it in your Zero. There is still no way of doing this from Windows, however, so your actual ability to use this still relies on having a Linux computer at your disposal. Read more here.

Photography, Security, Silliness

Hardware hacker uses Raspberry Pi Zero as a selfie-stopper

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British security expect Steve Lord has come up with a unique use for the Raspberry Pi Zero. Powered by batteries, the Zero seeks out open wifi networks and then scans network traffic for calls to Instagram, which is what most people use for selfies. The Pi then sends ‘deauth’ packets back to the user’s computer, thus potentially throwing them off the network. It’s all slightly illegal, of course, though Lord does describe the hack as pretty shitty in terms of quality, but it does go to show the danger of using open networks. Read more at The Register.