What! Computer for $5!

Raspberry Pi ()has come up with a computer for $5.

Well, even the other Raspberry PIs were not very expensive($20 ~$30). It also attests to the fact that IoT is catching on. It has become so cheap that some magazine (MagPi) gave it away to its readers bundled with the issue.

Image source of of Raspberry Pi Zero with MagPi is here.

According to a pcworld.com article (IDG News Service)  it uses a 1 GHZ ARM processor from Broadcom (BCM2835). It has 512MB RAM with the OS loaded on the micro-USB card. It has Micro-USB sockets for data and power including a mini-HDMI socket as well. It has a 40-pin GPIO and the circuit-board may require soldering by customers.

Here is a PDF document  for BCM2835 Processor.

Here is the YouTube video:

Participate in Windows 10 IOT Core Home Automation Contest

Awards range from trips to New York, Rome depending on the category. This contest is to celebrate the Windows 10 IoT Core in colloboration with Hackster.IO.

Home automation is one of the hottest areas in the Maker world and Windows 10 IoT provides just the needed tools to make it happen. Windows 10 IoT Core for Raspberry Pi 2  a small foot print, low-cost and is perfect product for developing Home Automation solutions such as,

• Security
• Lighting
• Audio, etc.

Raspberry Pi 2 on Amazon at $41.87

How do get enter this contest?

It is actually in progress and Round 1 is over. You need to create an account with Hackster.io; download the Windows 10 IOT Core and you have all the requirements. Start building your brilliant project and submit.

Download link for Windows 10 IoT Core, Visual Studio; SDK and other needed tools here.
Although Round 1 is over keep track of it and you may find some fun projects that you can improve upon. Nothing is set in stone.

Final 3rd round will be on September 18, 2015