Last Week’s Featured Products

from Last Week’s Featured Products
by Sully Romero

2017 02 27 03 02

Last Week’s Featured Products

1. Long Flex sensor

This sensor can detect flexing or bending in one direction. They were popularized by being used in the Nintendo PowerGlove as a gaming interface.

These sensors are easy to use, they are basically resistors that change value based on how much they’re flexed. If they’re unflexed, the resistance is about ~10KΩ. When flexed all the way the resistance rises to ~20KΩ. They’re pretty similar to FSRs so following this tutorial will get you started. You can use an analog input on a microcontroller (with a pullup resistor) or a digital input with the use of a 0.1uF capacitor for RC timing.

The bottom part of the sensor (where the pins are crimped on) is very delicate so make sure to have strain relief – such as clamping or gluing that part so as not to rip out the contacts!

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2. Raspberry Pi Zero W

Note: Due to popular demand, there might be some delay in shipping products containing Pi Zero W!

If you didn’t think that the Raspberry Pi Zero could possibly get any better, then boy do we have a pleasant surprise for you! The new Raspberry Pi Zero W offers all the benefits of the Pi Zero v1.3, but with one big difference – built-in WiFi!

More specifically, this giant upgrade is the addition of a BCM43143 WiFi chip BUILT-IN to your Raspberry Pi Zero – just like the Pi 3! No more pesky WiFi adapters – this Pi is WiFi ready. There’s also Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) on board making the Pi an excellent IoT solution (BLE support is still in the works, software-wise).

We also have a basic pack, budget pack and starter pack with all the essentials to get your Zero W up and running.

At first glance, the Pi Zero W looks just like the Raspberry Pi Zero v1.3 we know and love. But when we started to think of the added convenience of not having to worry about hooking up a WiFi dongle or Ethernet cable – and what a well-chosen set of accessories could add – we realized the appeal. And then we saw the price…could it be true? Yes!

This is the slimmest, most pared down Raspberry Pi to date. It’s kind of like the little cousin to the Pi 3 – with just a micro SD card slot, a mini HDMI port, two micro USB ports (one for power, one for USB), and 512MB of RAM. It has a single-core 1 GHz processor chip, similar to the Pi A+ and B+.

The best part about all this is that the Pi Zero W keeps the same shape, connectors, and mounting holes as the Pi Zero v1.3. 99% of cases and accessories will still be fully compatible with both the Pi Zero W and v1.3 – though if you have a case with a metal top there might be some WiFi chip difficulties.

Please note – even though there’s built-in WiFi, the Pi Zero W is quite minimal and requires a few accessories to turn it into a computer! At a minimum we recommend:

To keep the price and size as small as possible, there is a spot on the Zero for a 2×20 pin header. This header is not included or soldered on. Creative individuals can easily solder in a set of 2×20 male header strip so you can plug in any sort of Pi HAT or other plug-in topper. Or, go with a 2×20 female header and plug the Pi Zero directly into an Adafruit Cobbler or T-Cobbler.

We also strongly recommend some other parts and pieces to make your Pi Zero computing experience easier:

  • Adafruit Pi Zero Enclosure – Adafruit’s classic, sturdy plastic enclosure. Keeps your Pi Zero safe and sleek.
  • Pi Zero Protector – Keep your Pi Zero safe while handling with this simple sandwich-style acrylic case.
  • USB Powered Hub – So you can plug in any kind of USB devices without overloading the Zero’s power supply. (You can also, ironically, power the Zero from the hub itself by plugging in a micro USB cable into the hub)
  • Mini Wireless Keyboard w/Trackpad – Requires only one USB port, which makes it a great match for the Pi Zero
  • Wireless Keyboard + Mouse set – Also requires only one USB port, but for everyday use.
  • Pi Cobbler or T-Cobbler – When paired with the male or female 2×20 pin header, you can use your Zero with a breadboard to connect sensors, LEDs, motors and more!
  • Ethernet Hub and USB Hub w/ Micro USB OTG Connector – One can never have enough socks, or USB ports. Add some more USB and Ethernet capability to your Raspberry Pi Zero if you’re an Ethernet enthusiast!

Please note: Some boards are made in the UK, some in China. WE DO NOT KNOW IN ADVANCE WHICH ONES YOU MAY RECEIVE!

3. Pi Foundation Raspberry Pi Zero Case + Mini Camera Cable

The first ‘official’ Pi Zero case from the Raspberry Pi Foundation is here in Raspberry Pi’s sleek pink and white! While we’ve had our own classic Pi Zero case for a little while now, the Pi Foundation celebrates the release of the Pi Zero W with this impressive, well-designed effort that is definitely what we’ve come to expect from the folks who made the Raspberry Pi.

The case comes in four parts – a pink base and three different options for the top of the case, all of which are white. You can snap on lids according to how you’re using your Pi Zero. If you want to utilize your Pi Zero’s GPIO pins, there’s one lid with a cut-out above the pins for more flexibility. Or, if you’re not a fan of seeing your Pi, there’s a white lid that conveniently fills in the gap. Lastly, there’s a neat lid with a small circular hole in the center for snapping in a Raspberry Pi Camera Board!

This case’s smart design and customizability makes it a worthy addition to the Pi case genre! It also comes with a little bonus: a 1.5″ mini camera cable! Great if you want to add a Pi Camera to your Zero W or v1.3, it’s a compact alternative to the standard lengthier cable.

This product includes the case base with three lids, mini camera cable, and rubber bumper feet. It does not come with a Raspberry Pi or other components. It’s designed for the Pi Zero W but will also work with Pi Zero v1.3. We also offer the Pi Foundation’s official case for the Pi 3, B+ and Pi 2.

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4. OSMC RF Remote Control

OSMC is a free and open source media player based on Linux. We love the OSMC RF Remote Control for a Raspberry Pi media center. Each button on this remote is mapped to a unique function within OSMC. The USB receiver makes installation a snap and serves as the receiver for the remote. The RF design means no more line of sight issues – you can operate your media center from any angle! Each purchase of a remote helps support OSMC.

OSMC runs on all models of Raspberry Pi and is available for free download here! For the best performance OSMC recommends a Class 10 SD card, a stable power supply, and at least 1GB RAM for your Raspberry Pi. These aren’t required for the Remote Control but it sure helps.

What’s included:

  • OSMC remote control unit
  • OSMC remote battery (CR-232)
  • USB receiver

Note: Raspberry Pi, Class 10 SD card, and power supply are not included! You’ll need all those to complete your OSMC build. We also have a DIY tutorial for turning your Raspberry Pi into a media center.

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