Like the idea behind single-board computers a la Raspberry Pi, but wish they could use the mainstream x86 versions of Linux distros, or even Windows 10? Here’s the board you’re looking for.
The JanguarBoard is a single-board computer with an Intel Atom Z3735G Bay Trail processor, 1GB of RAM, and 16GB of eMMC storage. It has currently raised over $23,000 on Kickstarter, well in excess of its initial $3000 goal. January 22 is the deadline if you want to contribute.
Single-board computers aren’t new. There’s a wide range of them out there, the Raspberry Pi being the most common. People use such boards for all kinds of DIY projects, from robotics to media centers to ad-filtering DNS servers.
But the Pi, and other boards like it, run on ARM-based processors. Because these processors can’t run operating systems made for x86 processors, users need to track down ARM-specific Linux distros.
The JaguarBoard, then, is unique because its Intel processor can run all the usual, desktop operating systems.
“This JaguarBoard is developed on X86 architecture, and we aim to support a wide variety of OSs,” Jaguar Electronic HK states on the Kickstarter page. “We have tested its compatibility with Microsoft Windows and many Linux systems and software applications to ensure it works. So far so very good!”
Early bird Kickstarter pledges as low as $45 got a board, which may be indicative of the final price point. Right now, however, $65 contributions on Kickstarter is the cheapest way to lock down a board for yourself. For that you’ll get the board, a USB hub, and a 16 GB memory card.
If you’ve been looking for a single board computer than can run mainstream operating systems, contribute now. But even if you’ve missed the deadline, it’s good to know that affordable single-board Intel computers are becoming a reality.
Mozilla is giving Firefox’s Smart Window two new tricks. If you haven’t tried it yet, Smart Window is an optional AI mode in Firefox with a built-in chat that helps you get things done while you browse. With this update, it can fill out online forms using details from your tabs and keep an eye on websites for you.
Tired of typing the same details into every form?
The absolutely absurd idea of putting a touchscreen display on a mouse isn't exactly new. Turtle Beach already did it with its Command Series MC7, which features a 2.25-inch control screen. But apparently, even that wasn't ridiculous enough for Arctic Fox Technologies. Its new Super Mouse looks like someone took the chunky old Atari ST mouse, slapped a touchscreen and scroll wheel on it, and called it an upgrade.
The result is a rather unusual-looking mouse that is now on Kickstarter, starting at $199. And as ridiculous as it looks, some of its features are genuinely intriguing.
Apple is less than a day away from launching its highly anticipated OLED MacBook Pro with a touch-sensitive screen. But it appears that the upgrade is going to cost a pretty penny. According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly eyeing a starting price of $2,899 for the 14-inch MacBook Pro, while the 16-inch version could start at $3,399 in the US.
"At $2,899, the 14-inch model would mark the highest starting price for a new MacBook Pro model, surpassing the $2,799 Apple charged for a 17-inch version introduced in 2006," says the report. The report claims that Apple is targeting a minimum price hike of $400 for its upcoming redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.