Operating systems, Robotics

New DexterOS 1.3 for the Raspberry Pi version brings blocks and Python together

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Dexter Industries has just announced the launch of the new version of their DexterOS operating system. They use a Blockly-style programming language called Bloxter for the visual programming side and you can now make the move to Python more easily because they show the Python code side-by-side with the Bloxter code. They’ve also added the ability to download and upload code within the browser-based interface and log sensor data. I used DexterOS quite a bit recently when I reviewed Dexter’s GoPiGo 3 kit and I was very impressed. It’s well worth giving it a go! Read more about the new release here and download the latest version here.

Accessories, Making, Retro, Robotics

Create your very own Amazon Echo inside a Furby with a Raspberry Pi

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Zach Levine has taken an annoying toy (a Furby) and stuffed it with a Raspberry Pi Zero W, a Pimoroni Speaker pHAT and a stepper motor driver board.

He has then installed the Amazon Alexa software on the Pi and programmed it to obey his commands, triggering the robotic behaviour of the Furby. You can read a complete account of the build here and see a video of it in action below:

Magazines, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Wearable

New issue of HackSpace magazine focuses on wearables – read it today

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Raspberry Pi have just announced issue 4 of HackSpace, the new magazine for makers. This issue focuses on wearables and features the usual mix of interviews, news and tutorials. Also of note is that they’ve just started to give a free gift away to subscribers – an Adafruit Circuit Playground Express (USA/UK – The Pi Hut / Pimoroni). So, there’s never been a better time to start reading or to subscribe. Read more about the issue here.

Networking, Tutorials

Create an automatic failover/switcher wifi hotspot on your Raspberry Pi

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Roboberry, over at Raspberry Connect, has documented a way to automatically create a wifi hotspot on your Pi if your wifi connection to your router fails, or if there is no router to connect to. This is a great idea because it means you can connect to your Pi ‘on the road’ without worrying about needing to pre-set wifi credentials. Take a look here if this is what you’ve always wanted! Be warned! It’s extensive, and technical, but it has recently been updated to work with Raspbian Stretch. Obviously, this is ideal for Pi 3 or Pi Zero W owners, but will also work with compatible dongles on other models.

Accessories, Making

Make your own Amazon Echo Show… sort of… with a Raspberry Pi

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“anonteapot” on Imgur has created this lovely lookalike of an Amazon Echo Show. Using handcut MDF, he constructed a framework and then added some fabric purchased from John Lewis to complete the look. Into the back went a Raspberry Pi 3 and a 5″ screen. Of course, he needs to add voice control (maybe by using the Google AIY Project’s Voice HAT?) but it’s a great thing to display a dashboard on. You can see details of the build here.

Accessories, GPIO boards, Making, Raspberry Pi Zero, Tutorials, Video

Harry Potter animated picture frame using a Raspberry Pi Zero from Les Pounder

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Les Pounder‘s wife is a great fan of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (quite so, it’s my favourite, too!) So, Les decided to create an animated picture frame for her starring everyone’s favourite rogue Sirius Black. He found a cheap picture frame in Dunelm Mill and then took the back off. He then took a Pi Zero and a Pimoroni Hyper Pixel to drive the animated part of the project and laser cut a nice surround for the screen. A bit of start-on-boot scripting and he had his animated frame all working. Great fun! You can read more on Les’ blog and see a video of it in action below: