BC::blog_english

Camera Module on BeagleBoard..

2011-06-16T18:11:00.006+09:00

We have created a camera module for BeagleBoard-xM.

This camera module comes with 5M pixel camera, which is identical to bc10's. We have not developed a driver for this module yet. When we finish a driver and other basic works, we will publish all information of this module at BC::labs. If you are interested in this camera module, please leave comments on this blog below or check BC::labs periodically. Thank you !!

Panda! Panda!! Pando

2011-04-11T12:10:00.003+09:00

Pandaboard has arrived at the office of BeatCraft. It was a little earlier than we had expected.

The articles about Pandaboard as well as how to port Android will be published at BC::labs. Thank you!

Delivery...

2011-01-14T15:37:00.006+09:00

On January 11, we visited Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and delivered bc10's new enclosures.

The new enclosure is actually the second prototype model. We had distributed acrylic plates for temporal enclosures. This time we built enough quantity of the second prototype of the body, and we lent out prototypes to some customers. The MP model is in different color from those prototypes. The MP model will be delivered at the beginning of February.

Another prototype

2011-01-05T16:36:00.006+09:00

This is another prototype of the body. The color of this body is translucent.

This one is also equipped with keypad. The keys on the right side keypad are only assigned. In Android, the top three buttons function as, from left to right, "Back", "Menu", and "Home". The bottom four buttons act as arrow keys.

Keypad

2010-12-27T14:36:00.008+09:00

Today, keypad is delivered. As you see it on pictures, its color is called transparent (actually translucent), and there is no print on the top of buttons. The keypad is symmetric design. It has no specific directions for left-right or up-bottom.

Right now, we tested the keypad with the right side expansion board. The information of the left side expansion board is also available at BC::labs. For the detail information of the left side expansion board, please visit this page.

Gingerbread on bc10

2010-12-14T21:46:00.005+09:00

Last week, a new version of the Android platform, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) was officially announced. Following the announcement, the Android SDK was updated for Android 2.3.

We experimented with this new SDK. Using the system image, which is included in the Android Emulator of the SDK, we booted bc10 successfully. We also copied Android 2.2's GSX driver to the system image of Android 2.3. bc10 was just booted, but it was not optimized for the CPU and devices of bc10. Since bc10 is a clone of BeagleBoard, please try Gingerbread on BeagleBoard. (Please try this at your own risk.) If you are interested in bc10, the technical information is available at bc10 section of BC::labs.

MeeGo Seminar Winter 2010

2010-12-13T14:35:00.005+09:00

On December 9, we attended MeeGo Seminar Winter 2010. This seminar was held at Tokyo Midtown Hall & Conference, which was located at Roppongi, Tokyo. This event was organized by the Linux Foundation. This MeeGo Seminar was the third MeeGo Seminar, and we have attended all seminars and reported on the previous seminar in this blog.

Since this event was held after the release of MeeGo1.1 and MeeGo Conference 2010, most sessions were reporting the what had already announced at the previous conference. They reviewed the present state of MeeGo1.1 and previewed the new features of MeeGo1.2. The most improvements will not be detected from the surface. The notable features of MeeGo 1.2 are “Policy Framework” and “MeeGo Security.” The former is to manage the tasks for functionality of device. Unlike PC, The hardware resource of MeeGo device is limited. This feature is critical to allocate the hardware resource and to maintain its response. The latter is a set of features for security. The number of smart phones will exceeds the number of PCs sson. The MeeGo team believes the number of viruses for smart phones will also surpass the number of PC's viruses. The MeeGo team proactively prepares for the feature virus threats. The details of these features are available at videos of MeeGo Conference 2010. Please visit here and there, respectively.

There were demos that many companies exhibited at the hall. The demos were more leaning toward consumer electronics and car electronics than smart phones. These companies intentionally might draw the line between MeeGo and Android? Android is for smart phone and its extensions, and MeeGo is for anything else. This is a just speculative thought. We look forward to seeing the next MeeGo Seminar.

ELE_CON Festival/ELE CONTEST 2010

2010-12-10T18:26:00.011+09:00

On December 5, we went to see ELE_CON Festival 2010, a DIY electronics festival. This was held at TOKYO CALTURE CALTURE, an event hall, located at Odaiba, Tokyo. This festival was a part of ELE CONTEST 2010, which is a DIY electronics contest. At the festival, the final of the contest was held. The 5 finalists presented their works in front of the jury and competed for the Grand Prize. After the winner of the Grand Prize is announced, the Award Ceremony was held and the other prize-winners were also announced.

Recently, DIY electronics has gained plurality here in Japan. These types of events are frequently held, and general media start reporting these events in their news. At that day, NHK (kind of Japanese version of BBC) was at the sight. These are the Grand prize winner and the Special Jury prize winner.

Grand Prize: "Rhinon" (left), Special Jury Prize "" (right)

We thought that there were two major trends in DIY electronics. One is that art and design become more important in DIY electronics than ever. Please look at a picture of the Grand Prize winner (up and left). As you gently touch the wood object, the music box inside the body of the object starts playing a music. It is true that this employs very sophisticated technologies. In this work, the design and interface of this work is more critical to the work then the technology. Art or artistic design are once considered for some commercial products. Today, this concept is widely accepted and practiced in DIY electronics. The other trend is the use of PSoC (Programmable System-on-Chip). Three out of the five finalists used PSoC. Some PSoCs are widely used for the consumer electronics, such as TiVO set top-box and the touch-sensitive scroll wheel on the Apple iPod click wheel. The line between commercial products and DIY electronics are getting blurry.

Complete lists of the prize winners and entrants are available (in Japanese). There are other prize winners and nominees shown below below. These pictures are selected arbitrarily.

Make: Tokyo Meeting 06

2010-12-09T19:34:00.011+09:00

This is an old news. BeatCraft attended Make: Tokyo Meeting 06.On November 20th and 21st, MTM:06 was held at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. BeatCraft demonstrated a bc10 and the AMI 602 Arduino shield. We also sold AMI 602 Arduino shield kit at the booth. Our booth was located at a good place: it was directly behind a full-scale model of Hyabusa, a famous Japanese space probe. A lot of people visited our booth and asked interesting questions.We had grate time there.
Thank you.

In the demo, bc10, which was running android 2.2_1.1 and connected to an USB camera. We also displayed two expansion boards. (This type of expansion board is sold as an option.) This expansion board is equipped with universal pattern. You may add sensors and connectors to bc10 via this board. One board is put on a barometer module, and the other is hosted the thermometer modules. The technical information of these boards are published at BC::labs. Please visit this page for the details of these expansion boards.
We also exhibited the AMI 602 Arduino shield and sold the kit of this shield. These were the same as we had done at Make: Ogaki Meeting. This shield employs AMI602, a 6-axis motion sensor developed by AMI. The technical information of this shield kit is available at this page of BC::labs.

There are some pictures of the event. The pictures have been taken and selected arbitrarily.

bc10 and eneloop

2010-12-08T21:57:00.003+09:00

bc10 is tested with eneloop mobile booster (KBC-L2AS) a back-up Li-ion battery for mobile devices. This is tested with a Japanese model. Probably, bc10 would work with KBC-L2S, an european version of eneloop mobile booster. According to the manuals, the specifications of both models are basically not much different. The result would be the same.

bc10 is put into a prototype of its enclose, and it is confirmed to work with a portable battery. bc10 is required 1A of power supply. The two USB type A output terminals of the eneloop are occupied for a bc10. Connecting to bc10, USB mini-B type plug is required.
The size of the prototype case of bc10 is W188 x H83 x D17.4 (mm), and the eneloop (W62 x H70 x D22 (mm)) fits behind bc10 well. If the eneloop is fixed to the body of bc10 well, it can be used as a grip. This battery is very handy for using bc10 outside or in mobile condition.

By the way, we did not measure the battery life. According to the manual of the eneloop, the battery will sustain for 2 hours at 1A level of output. Since we have not conducted any tests on the duration of the battery life, the battery life is not guaranteed. (In this pictures, the case of bc10 is a prototype. The color, size, and other details of the prototype case may differ from the ones of the production type.)

ET 2010 (bc10 & bc9 in action!)

2010-12-02T19:38:00.007+09:00

From December 1st to 3rd, Embedded Technology 2010, a trade show for embedded technology, is held at Pacifico Yokohama. OSAKA NDS CO., LTD sets up a booth and demonstrates a wireless network solution. The subject of the demo is "Wireless network solutions for Android devices." They choose bc10 and bc9 for their demo.

(Left:bc9, Right:bc10)

If you are interested in bc10 and bc9, please visit the booth of OSAKA NDS CO., LTD at ET 2010. Thank you.

Embedded Technology 2010 (ET2010)

Date & Time：December 1 (Wed) - 3(Fri), 2010　
　　　 10:00~17:00 (Dec. 2(Thu) close at 18:00)
Venue：Pacifico Yokohama（Access）
Admission：¥1,000-（Free for early registrants & invitation holders）

OSAKA NDS CO., LTD.
Booth #：D-05

bc10 in Black

2010-12-01T13:19:00.005+09:00

A prototype of body for bc10 has been completed, and this is the first prototype. This is made from ABS, and this body is cut out by a CNC machine. Edge marks remain on the surface of the body. This is a still first prototype model, and we need to tweak some minor parts. We also need to produce keypads.

In the pictures, the OS is an opens source version of Android 2.2 (Froyo). If you are interested in bc10, please visit our technical information site for specs and other details.

Design data of bc10 is uploaded!!

2010-10-28T22:36:00.002+09:00

Since bc10 is an Open Source Gadget, the technical information of bc10 is open to the public. Finally, we have published the technical information of bc10 at the BC:labs (our technical website). The information should have been released earlier, but we have been mainly working on software side, especially porting Android and developing drivers for it.

The technical information consists of schematic, PCB, Gerber data, layout, and BOM of Main Board of bc10 and the Expansion Board, which is included in bc10. Because of Open Source Gadget, Anybody can download and apply to any projects.

For downloading the technical information, please visit the bc10/hardware at BC::labs. If you are interested in bc10 and its related hardware and/or software projects, please join our mailing list.

Make: Ogaki Meeting

2010-10-14T15:46:00.018+09:00

This is also an old news. BeatCraft attended Make: Ogaki Meeting (MOM:01). The meeting was held on September 25th and 26th at Softopia Japan Center, which is located at Ogaki, Gifu pref. (Coincidentally, on the other side of the planet, World Maker Faire New York 2010 was held on the same days.) This Make meeting was the first one to be held outside of Tokyo. BeatCraft set up the booth and demonstrated a newly developed bc10 MP1 and the AMI 602 Arduino shield. A lot of people visited our booth. Thank you very much!!

Bc10 MP1 is a clone of BeagleBoard. This comes with TI's OMAP 3530, 4.3'' wide AMOLED (the same size as PSP), 20ch GPS, 6-axis motion sensor (3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis digital compass), and 5M pixel camera. bc10 MP1 is capable of handling Android 2.2_1.1 (Froyo) and OpenEmbedded Linux (Angstrom). For more information about bc10 MP1, please visit this page.

The AMI 602 Arduino shield is a 6-axis motion sensor shield for Arduino. AMI 602 is the 6-axis motion sensor, which is used in bc10. We made a breakout module with AMI602 sensor, first. Then, we created this shield with the breakout module. We sold the kit of AMI 602 Arduino shield. If you are interested in the AMI 602 Arduino shield, please go to this page. The technical information is listed there.

There were a lot of interesting booths. The makers' backgrounds, interests, and subject-matters were so diverse. There are some pictures of other booths. (These pictures are selected arbitrarily.)

Open Source Gadget: bc10 MP1 is available NOW!!

2010-10-13T17:38:00.015+09:00

We have not updated this blog for a while, but we have not abandoned. We have been simply busy. The production of the first lot of bc10 MP1s (commercial version) has been completed, and we started shipping bc10s to the customers!!

The Main Board of bc10 arrived at our office on 18th of September, and extension board followed it soon. Then, we started delivering bc10 on October 1st. There are some pictures of bc10 and its extension board.

The specifications of bc10MP1 are not much different from ES1 and ES2. The connectors (receptacles) have not changed. The major change is around the power supply of bc10. MP1 requires the extension board to manage the power supply.

bc10 is a clone of BeagleBoard, and it is equipped with OMAP3530. bc10 is capable of running Android 2.2_1.1 (Froyo) and OpenEmbedded Linux (Angstrom).

For farther details of bc10 MP1, please visit bc10 section of BC::labs.

Make: Ogaki Meeting

2010-08-25T22:20:00.007+09:00

BeatCraft Inc. engages in Make: Ogaki Meeting and exhibits Open Source Gadget: bc10 MP1

On September 25 and 26, Make: Ogaki Meeting will be held at Softopia Japan Center Building 3F Sopia Hall. BeatCraft, Inc. exhibits Open Source Gadget bc10 MP1 and AMI602 shield for Arduino. This is the first event to display bc10 MP1 to the public. bc10 MP1 is a clone of BeagleBoard. This is equipped with OMAP 3530, and it comes with 4.3'' AMOLED (480 x 272) as standard feature. bc10 is capable of running Android 2.2 (Froyo).

Also, BeatCraft will sell the AMI602 shield kit for Arduino at the event. AMI602 shield is a shield of 6-axis motion sensor. The demo video of AMI602 is available here. The picture of the shield is here. The price of the shield is ¥4,800 yen. (This is the Make: Ogaki Meeting special price!! ) Unfortunately, the limited quantity of the shield is available at the event. If you are interested in bc10 and/or 6 axis-motion sensor, please visit us at Make: Ogaki Meeting.

The event takes place in Ogaki-city, Gifu prefecture, which is located middle section of Honshu island (the main and largest island of Japan). It takes less than 2 hours of bullet train ride from Tokyo! Make: Ogaki Meeting will be held during OGAKI BIENNALE 2010, a kind of modern art festival, and the whole city becomes venue of the art festival. If you are interested in arts and science, Ogaki-city is a good place to visit at the last weekend of September.

We look forward to seeing you there!!

Make: Ogaki Meeting

Date : September 25 (Sat) and 26 (Sun), 2010
Time : 12:00 ~ 18:00 (Sat), 10:00 ~ 18:00 (Sun)
Venue : Softopia Japan Center Building, Okagi-city, Gifu.
Admission : Free

For more information, please visit pages, Make: Ogaki Meeting and OGAKI BIENNALE 2010.

Gadget1 R2 Bekkoame

2010-08-10T16:01:00.023+09:00

We attended Gadget1 R2 Bekkoame and exhibited Open Source Gadget: bc10 ES2. Gadget1 R2 bekkoame was held on August 7 at Oracle Aoyama Center. This event was aimed at providing a meeting place for various types of engineers, such as hardware designers, OS/middleware engineers, application developers, and web designers, and contributing to farther and deeper development of the gadget culture in Japan. In short, this was an event that various types of engineers, developers, and designers met together, presented their opinions and creations, and They exchanged their ideas and opinions on the gadgets.

We displayed a bc10 ES1, which is connected with a display, and two bc10 ES2s, which are equipped with 4.3" AMOLED with touchscreen function. This was the first time to show bc10 ES2 to the public. We also gave a presentation about bc10. At the presentation, we explained the motivation of creating bc10, the hardware specifications, and the issues of porting Android.The PowerPoint of the presentation is in the web (in Japanese).

In this event, the backgrounds of participants were so diverse, and the topics of presentations and exhibitions very differed. The participants were from corporates to hobbyists. It was quite interesting mix. The topics were from an introduction of a commercial product to an invitation to an open sourced project. There are some pictures of the events. The picture of the upper left is old gadgets. Others are booths and a presentation of the event.

The videos of the presentations are available at USTREAM now, all videos are in Japanese.

MeeGo Seminar Summer 2010

2010-07-27T13:19:00.020+09:00

Yesterday, on July 26, we attended MeeGo Seminar Summer 2010, which was held at Tokyo Conference Center Shinagawa, Tokyo. The event was organized by the Linux Foundation, and more than 200 people attended the event. There are a few pictures of the event.

Several Atom Z600 demo products (Top Row), MeeGo's intended release cycle is every 6 months (Bottom Left).

For more information about MeeGo Seminar Summer 2010, the video is already available at USTREAM. There are specific channels for the sessions: keynote and business session, technology session, and application development session. If the links do not work well, please try this page. The next MeeGo Seminar is planned to be held on December.

Gadget1 R2 Bekkoame

2010-07-26T18:08:00.006+09:00

BeatCraft, Inc attends Gadget1 R2 Bekkoame, displays Open Source Gadget : bc10 ES2, and makes a presentation about Open Source Gadget.

On August 7th, Gadget1 R2 Bekkoame will be held at Oracle Aoyama Center. BeatCraft, Inc exhibits Open Source Gadget : bc10 ES2. bc10 ES2 runs open source version of Android 2.2 (Froyo + SGX). Since bc10 displayed at Gadget1 is a preproduction model, its details will differ from the production model's.

We will participate at the presentation session. In the presentation, we plan to present the specifications of bc10 and how to port Android for bc10.

For more information, please visit the homepage of the event (in Japanese).

Gadget1 R2 Bekkoame
Date: August 7 (Sat)
Venue: Oracle Aoyama Center (Map: in Japanese)
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00
Admission : Free (Preregistration is required, and register from here)

Look forward to seeing you there. Thank you.

WIRELESS JAPAN Day Two and Three

2010-07-16T20:32:00.005+09:00

WIRELESS JAPAN 2010 was closed. Thank you very much for visiting our booth. We had grate time.

The number of visitors exponentially increased at the last day, and we talked quite a lot people at our booth. We were frequently asked about the specs of bc10. We started uploading the information of bc10 on the English version of our technical web site lately. If you are interested in, please look at this site.

There are a few more pictures of WIRELESS JAPAN. These pictures were taken at the second day. We could not take any picture at the last day.

Day Two

WIRELESS JAPAN 2010 Day One

2010-07-14T22:13:00.007+09:00

Today was the opening day of WIRELESS JAPAN 2010. Fortunately, weather got better today. Thank for the good weather, a lot of people visited our booth. It was a quite busy day and not much time for taking pictures.

There is one correction. In yesterday's blog, we showed the picture of bc10 and said its OS was Android 2.1(Rowboat Eclair DSP). It was not true. Yesterday, we updated OS at very last-minute. Android 2.2 (Froyo) was successfully ported for OMAP 3530. In that picture of bc10, it was actually running Android 2.2 (Froyo +SGX), not Android 2.1 (Rowboat Eclair DSP). It is true that bc10 is capable of running Android 2.1(Rowboat Eclair DSP), but we display bc10 with Android 2.2 (Froyo +SGX) for WIRELESS JAPAN.

Preparation for WIRELESS JAPAN 2010

2010-07-13T21:19:00.008+09:00

Today, we went to Tokyo Big Sight (the venue of WIRELESS JAPAN) to set up the booth. We were the first one to show up there in our section and to prepare the booth for tomorrow.

At WIRELESS JAPAN, we will display and demonstrate Open Source Gadget:bc10 (see the picture bottom left). bc10 is basically a clone of BeagleBoard, yet we have added extra functions to bc10. We have paid grate attention to the design of bc10, so bc10 can be easily used for everyday occasions. To consider its functionality and design, bc10 is very versatile.

If you like to see bc10 in person, please visit the expo and check out out booth.

EXPO COMM WIRELESS JAPAN 2010 (WIRELESS JAPAN 2010)
Date: July 14 (Wed) - 16 (Fri), 2010
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight, East Hall 1&2/Conference Tower (Map)
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 / Final Day Close at 17:00
Booth #: S-A7 (Part of Japan Android Group)
Admission: Free

We look forward to seeing you there!!

WIRLESS JAPAN 2010

2010-07-12T19:30:00.014+09:00

BeatCraft, Inc participates WIRELESS JAPAN 2010 and exhibits Open Source Gadget:bc10.

From July 14 to 16, WIRELESS JAPAN 2010 will be held at Tokyo Big Sight. By courtesy of Japan Android Group, we will set up the booth at the section of Japan Android Group. We will showcase Open Source Gadget:bc10. bc10 runs Android 2.1 (Rowboat Eclair DSP). As an Open Source Gadget, we will release bc10's technical information to the public. (Some software and hardware information of bc10 has already been published at BC::labs, our technical website)

If you are interested in Android and/or wireless technology in general, please visit the Expo and drop by our booth. Admission is free. We are look forward to seeing you. Thank you.

EXPO COMM WIRELESS JAPAN 2010 (WIRELESS JAPAN 2010)
Date: July 14 (Wed) - 16 (Fri), 2010
Venue: Tokyo Big Sight, East Hall 1&2/Conference Tower (Map)
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 / Final Day Close at 17:00
Booth #: S-A7 (Part of Japan Android Group)
Admission: Free

About BeatCraft, Inc, please visit our homepage (in Japanese).
For more information of bc10, please visit our technical website, BC::labs (in Japanese, English version in progress).

Look forward to seeing you there!!