Issue #74 — Twenty

Hi everyone

This week the Foundation announced the eagerly anticipated Model A+ with a couple of neat surprises: it’s a B+ with the end chopped off! Since it has a single USB port and no Ethernet the on-board USB bus is not required so rather than leaving empty space as with the original Model A, the edge of the board was moved back to the end of the 40-pin header leaving space for the B+’s squarely placed mounting holes. The big surprise being the price – as it has half the RAM as the B+ (as did the Model A), the A+ is now available at the fantastic low price of $20 or £15.

Meanwhile Gordon went to York University to observe the Raspberry Pi Battleships challenge for new computer science students, and Ben launched a newly designed homepage for the Pi site including illustrations from Sam Alder. Liz, Eben and James are have been in Munich at Electronica with RS Components.

Ben

Picture of the week

The new Raspberry Pi Model A+ in its HAT sized smaller profile and with its lower price of just $20

News

• Raspberry Pi Model A+ (raspberrypi.org)
  The B+'s little brother is available now at just $20
• Adventures in Minecraft (raspberrypi.org)
  Learn Python through building things in Minecraft with Raspberry Pi
• Diddyborg (piborg.org)
  The most powerful Raspberry Pi robot available
• Cheaper, Smaller, Curvier; The All New Raspberry Pi A+ (linuxvoice.com)
  Linux Voice interviews Eben about the new Model A+
• MyPiFi Light Bar Board (kickstarter.com)
  LED board from Paul Brown

Projects

• WiFi Controlled Pottery Kiln (raspberrypi.org)
  Pi, thermocouple, stepper motors & propane regulator making an updraft kiln
• XBMC-Powered Touchscreen Car Computer (lifehacker.com.au)
  Build your own Raspberry Pi based media centre machine in your own car
• Raspbmc Mediabox Steampunk style (instructables.com)
  XBMC goes Steampunk - make your own with this Instructables guide

Articles & more

• BattlePi (raspberrypi.org)
  Battleships challenge at York University
• Raspberry Pi launches $20 Model A+ (wired.co.uk)
  Wired cover the new Model A+
• Somehow even smaller and cheaper (engadget.com)
  Engadget's view on the new mini Pi
• The Cheapest and Smallest Pi Yet (techcrunch.com)
  Techcrunch on the A+
• Smaller and Just $20 (makezine.com)
  Matt Richardson covers the new Model A+ for Make
• Model A+ Launched Today (raspi.tv)
  Alex Eames rounds up the details of the A+
• 16 Raspberry Pi Model A+ Projects (lifehacker.co.uk)
  16 projects that are perfect uses for the slimmer, cheaper computer
• Revolutionising Education In Rural Kenya With Rachel (forbes.com)
  Free education for the masses with WorldPossible's Rachel project on Raspberry Pi

Upcoming Events

• Raspberry Jam Sweden (SE) (15 November)
• Malvern Raspberry Jam (UK) (19 November)
• Malinowy Dżemik (PL) (20 November)
• Raspberry Jam Berlin (DE) (22 November)
• Birmingham Raspberry Jam (UK) (22 November)
• Southend Raspberry Jam (UK) (22 November)
• Cotswold Raspberry Jam (UK) (22 November)
• Hull Raspberry Jam (UK) (22 November)
• Barcelona Raspberry Jam (ES) (23 November)
• North Staffordshire Raspberry Jam (UK) (24 November)
• Warwick Raspberry Jam (UK) (24 November)
• Eccles Raspberry Jam (UK) (29 November)
• London Raspberry Jam (UK) (29 November)
• Covent Garden Raspberry Jam (UK) (29 November)
• Melbourne Raspberry Jam (AU) (30 November)
• (CamJam) Pi Wars (UK) (6 December)
• Lagos Raspberry Jam (NG) (11 December)
• Huddersfield Raspberry Jam (UK) (13 December)
• Northern Ireland Raspberry Jam (UK) (13 December)

Thanks to our sponsor

UNICORN HAT

64 Pixels of rainbow joy on top of your B+ or A+

pimoroni.com

Contact & Submissions

This newsletter is curated by @ben_nuttall. Tweet links to @rpf_weekly or email weekly [at] raspberrypi.org