Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

A New Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ Has Arrived With Bluetooth 4.2 and Dual-Band Wi-Fi For $25 (pcworld.com)

Posted by msmash on from the new-hardware-news dept.

Raspberry Pi has introduced a new version of one of its most popular models just in time to stuff your stocking: the Model A+. And this time around, it's even more attractive. From a report: The Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ costs $25, $5 more than the previous generation, but has a lot more going for it. Just like the top-of-the-line Model B+, the new Model A+ has a 1.4GHz 64-bit quad-core processor, and you'll also get dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz + 5 GHz), a feature that was missing from the previous A+. And you'll have to use it, since the A+ doesn't have an Ethernet port. It does, however, have Bluetooth 4.2 on board. For $10 less than the $35 Model B+, you'll also only get a single USB port (versus four on the B+) as well as 512MB of RAM (versus 1GB on the B+). But otherwise, the devices are identical, with a full-size HDMI port, CSI camera port, DSI display port, stereo output and composite video port, and a micro SD port. The Raspberry Pi 3 Model A+ isn't the cheapest Pi model available -- the Zero costs $5 and the Zero W costs just $10 -- but it rounds out the options nicely. The new model is available now through Raspberry Pi retailers.

24 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Do they still have all IO on 1 usb 2.0 bus? by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    Do they still have all IO on 1 usb 2.0 bus?

    1. Re:Do they still have all IO on 1 usb 2.0 bus? by darkain · · Score: 1

      Most likely yes. There isn't much reason to change the design. If you want better I/O, I'd suggest looking at 3rd party alternatives. They're quite competitive nowadays, and support most of the same operating systems.

    2. Re:Do they still have all IO on 1 usb 2.0 bus? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2, Informative

      Do they still have all IO on 1 usb 2.0 bus?

      They've never had all the I/O on one USB 2.0 bus. The GPIO port is native.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    3. Re:Do they still have all IO on 1 usb 2.0 bus? by petermgreen · · Score: 1

      The USB controller on "A series" models is only used for the single USB port. On "B series" models it is used for a USB hub with ethernet chip that drives the USB and Ethernet ports.

      The SD card, HDMI, DSI and CSI interfaces and the interfaces available on the GPIO header go directly to the SoC. The wifi is connected to the SoC by SDIO. The bluetooth is connected to the SoC via serial.

      --
      note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
  2. A form factor is finally back by Hadlock · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I had been using the A+ form factor for my robotics projects, as they pulled about 0.230 amps peak, or 0.115 amps during normal operation. If you could smooth out that brief 0.230 spike at boot, you could run an A+ off of a 250ma solar panel (a little larger than the size of a playing card) in direct sunlight.
     
    The A+ has been discontinued for years - probably since at least mid-2015, maybe even late 2014.
     
    It's good to see it back, I never had use for the extra 3 USB ports that the B+ provided, especially now that bluetooth and wifi are built in, solves most of the reason to own the B+. The square formfactor is both smaller on the X axis, and because it doesn't have that 4xUSB-A riser, is quite a bit more flat on the Y axis, which makes it ideal for homebrew embedded projects.
     
    Curious to see how the power usage is on the new A+, I doubt it will chill out at 0.115 like the old single core device did, but it's probably still lower than the B+ by at least 15%, which is a big plus for robotics projects.

    --
    moox. for a new generation.
    1. Re:A form factor is finally back by petermgreen · · Score: 4, Informative

      The original 256M Pi1 A+ was replaced by the 512M Pi1 A+ which is still available. Farnell. CPC, RS, Allied and newark are all showing it as in-stock.

      As for power draw according to https://medium.com/@ghalfacree... the idle power draw is significantly higher than an A+ but lower than any B-series pi. The full-load power draw is lower than a 3B+ but higher than everything else.

      --
      note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
    2. Re:A form factor is finally back by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      The Pi Zero W idles around 100ma with a wifi connection going. Under load you can slow down the processor to flatten out the spikes during normal operation.

    3. Re:A form factor is finally back by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      Have you considered the Compute Module or Zero? Even smaller, and lower power if you avoid the need for 5V and supply 3.3V directly (or LiPo 3.8-4.2V). For the CM you need your own base board, for the Zero you might be able to live with the pin header alone.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:A form factor is finally back by Hadlock · · Score: 2

      The Zero W is a pretty good compromise, I wish it had been avalible when I was working on that project.
       
      I considered the Compute Module but it's miserable to work with as a hobbyist, sort of like (worse than, really) using an ATMega328p bare, except you can't even plug the compute module in to a breadboard. Also all my robots are designed with the A+ form factor in mind.
       
      I like the A form factor because it's small enough to fit in nearly any enclosure, plus it has full size ports, so you don't need a bunch of hokey hard-to-find adapters that I'm bound to lose as soon as the project goes back in the drawer. And the Zero W is not a whole lot smaller than the A+, especially vertically.
       
      The Zero W with some extra ram and USB-C port for power + USB + HDMI would be a killer board.

      --
      moox. for a new generation.
  3. 802.11ac support! by pak9rabid · · Score: 1

    It supports 802.11ac!

    1. Re:802.11ac support! by Layzej · · Score: 3, Funny

      the new Model A+ has a 1.4GHz 64-bit quad-core processor, and you'll also get dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4GHz + 5 GHz), a feature that was missing from the previous A+.

      Also comes with a sense of humour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  4. RAM by darkain · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I was very excited by this, until I saw the RAM reduction. I guess this particular board is intended for embedded applications more so than the B+ being designed as a tiny desktop? I'm having trouble seeing where this fits in, considering a single USB port, but still full HDMI? Maybe just for a wall display that is wireless networked only? That RAM reduction seriously hinders a lot of graphical applications that would use the HDMI port in the first place.

    1. Re:RAM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I guess this particular board is intended for embedded applications more so than the B+ being designed as a tiny desktop?

      No, all raspberry pi's are intended as embedded systems targeting educational use.
      Not a single one was ever designed to be a tiny desktop, even though they can certainly do so for various definitions of "tiny"

      HDMI is there for the sole purpose of working cheaply and with current tech.
      Anything analog needing more bandwidth than composite is going to add components to convert to analog and thus cost, including VGA.
      The HDMI 1 spec isn't licensed, is already digital, uses a cheap connector, and is present on a lot of current display devices.

      The old composite out (which isn't present anymore) was about the extent of analog one could do that cheap. It's basically 3 resistors and a single digital PWM IO to get color at a ntsc resolution, and do have a cheap RCA connector.
      But even that input is starting to disappear from display devices, as sad as that fact is.

      So even though the Pi has a GPU with a respectable amount of oomph, HDMI wasn't really intended to be anything more than a replacement for component.

      At least originally, it wasn't designed that way *at all*
      They never guessed it would explode as a media playback system like it did. I wouldn't be surprised to hear they do make design choices around that fact *now*, but their base architecture wasn't really made for it and isn't something one just up and changes without expense and reason.

    2. Re:RAM by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      That RAM reduction seriously hinders a lot of graphical applications that would use the HDMI port in the first place.

      I'm sure everyone over the age of 40 is cringing at that comment. And in any case the console looks great at 1080p. :-)

  5. Ethernet port is like a headphone jack by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    For people who need it, they don't want dongles. Especially Ethernet used in PiHoles.

  6. I'm all about retrogaming... by Parker+Lewis · · Score: 2

    Few days ago I just built a light version of EmulationStation (https://github.com/raelgc/EmulationStation/), which uses at least 1/3 less then Retropie version (but well, several features were removed, no free lunch). Wondering it can work well splitting the RAM between video and CPU for most of the emulators.

    1. Re:I'm all about retrogaming... by Parker+Lewis · · Score: 1

      The exact RAM usage depends on the user selected theme. But with a heavier theme (cannot remember if it was Tronkyfran, with full hd and super high quality images), Retropie version was using 97MB. The light fork using the same theme was using 29MB.

  7. Re:Can't run Java , Relegated To Toy Status by bobbied · · Score: 2

    This can't run Java, it's in the same "toy" class as the Arduino and C/C++ toy project boards.

    All you need for Java is a few cores, preferable i3 or better, a few GB of ram, [at least 8 ] , and a few 100GB of disk space for helper libraries and classes.

    for "hello world" type programs, this is the way to go. Anything beyond that, it's useless.

    Ah, patience grasshopper... One must use the right tool for the job. Java is a resource hog that gives you platform independence, while C/C++ is where one gets performance... Who in their right mind runs Java on anything in this class of computer and expects to get performance? Code in C/C++ young one, it won't hurt you, unless it is a tool you do not have in your tool box, then you must suffer.

    Wise developers obtain many tools, and use the right one for the job at hand. What job are you trying to do? Which is the right tool? Consider carefully.

    --
    "File to fit, pound to insert, paint to match" - Aircraft Maintenance 101
  8. Re:Can't run Java , Relegated To Toy Status by Hadlock · · Score: 1

    Anyone writing a greenfield project in Java in 2018, that isn't also targeting Android, or doing Big Data processing, needs to get their head checked

    --
    moox. for a new generation.
  9. 512MB RAM is a joke by Wolfrider · · Score: 1

    With a 64-bit processor, why can't they at least standardize on 3-4GB of RAM minimum?

    --
    .
    == WolfriderV6 == I'm willing to admit that *I just might* be wrong... Are you??
    1. Re:512MB RAM is a joke by Maavin · · Score: 1

      Because the current SoC (which is basically a GPU with an CPU appendix) can only address 1GB of Ram. If you need more, the Pi is not for you. simple as that... May be the next Pi will have more, but that will be an entirely different system.

      --


      Crivens! I kicked meself in me own heid!
    2. Re:512MB RAM is a joke by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      512MB RAM is a joke

      No it's not. You just need to learn to accpet that you're not going to have a full desktop up to a modern spec for $20.

      There are PLENTY of uses for a $20 raspberry pi with 512M of RAM. They're just not a cheapass full spec desktop system.

      For automation, robotics, embedding etc, it's sufficient overkill that you can do a lot of things easily without really thinking too hard. More than enough to run a full sized Linux distro (headless) without having to strip it down.

      With a 64-bit processor, why can't they at least standardize on 3-4GB of RAM minimum?

      Cost. Heat. Power.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    3. Re:512MB RAM is a joke by walterbyrd · · Score: 1

      I think there are competing products that have 2GB of RAM.

      Pine64 looks promising, but they are hard to buy.

  10. "Cost" means nothing if you cannot actually buy it by walterbyrd · · Score: 1

    If this goes the way of most Raspberry Pi products. You won't be able to buy one at the advertised price for the next two years.