News

When it comes to games for engineers, few companies do it better than Zachtronics. From Ruckingenur and its sequel to pseudo-80s programming hit TIS-100, Zachtronics' games appeal to those who like to tinker and hack - but the company's latest is something special indeed: Shenzhen I/O. We're no strangers to the Shenzhen region of China ourselves. A technology hub, Shenzhen is a must-visit for anyone interested in electronics and technology. Where tools like Andrew 'bunnie' Huang's Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen provide a handy reference to those lucky enough to be on a trip to the region, though, Zachtronics'...

Although the Arduino is a compact development platform, with examples like the Arduino Nano and Arduino Pro Mini being particularly pocketable, sometimes you find yourself eager to try something out but without access to hardware - either the Arduino itself or the components needed for your particular circuit. Traditionally, the solution to this problem is to walk through your design using good old fashioned pen and paper, but there are alternatives. One such alternative is Autodesk Circuits, a web-based platform which allows you to design projects in a visual environment and run them on a simulated Arduino Uno. Maker Christian...

The Arduino is a fantastic platform for beginners and experts alike, but sometimes flashing a new sketch onto it can be awkward. If your Arduino is built into a project, having to crack open the case in order to connect a USB cable or use the ISP header can be annoying, and it's that annoyance that Petunia Tech is aiming to fix with its WiLoader add-on design. Currently in the early stages of Kickstarter crowdfunding, the WiLoader is relatively simple yet promises much. Based around the popular low-cost ESP8266 Wi-Fi microcontroller, the WiLoader sits on top of an Arduino's in-system...

The long-running legal battle between Arduino LLC, also known as Arduino.cc, and Arduino SRL, also known as Arduino.org, is over: the two companies have agreed to kiss and make up, forming a holding company and a non-profit foundation, and as always in these cases it's the customers that are most likely to benefit. The biggest impact felt by the Arduino-versus-Arduino battle, which stemmed from trademark disputes, was in the launch of the Genuino brand. While Arduino.cc held the rights to the Arduino trademark in the US, Arduino.org held the international trademark; thus Genuino was launched by Arduino.cc for international use....

It's no secret that we're big fans of open-source software and open hardware here at oomlout, which is why we're proud as punch to be a supporter of the upcoming Open Hardware Summit 2016 - and if you're anywhere near Portland, Oregon next Friday, we'd love to see you there! Organised by the Open Source Hardware Association (OSHWA), which has as its founding goals a desire to spread technological knowledge as far and wide as it possibly can, the annual Open Hardware Summit is a must-attend even for anyone with an interest in how collaboration can drive technological innovation. The...