VIA now offering unofficial Mozilla OS

VIA Embedded's APC range of computers was launched with the Android OS. They're soon to offer the unofficial version of the new Mozilla OS called Boot 2 Gecko.

The $79 APC rock and the $99 APC Paper are beautifully designed, embedded platforms, offering a quick way for developers to develop new software for operating system such as Android and Mozilla. More at Liliputing.com

ARM and VIA embedded

ARM processors, as oppossed to x86 processors, have become the platform choice for a lot of things that were once the domain of low power processors like VIA's C3 and then C7 line.

VIA themself now have five product lines that feature ARM processors. They are:

• ARM based VAB series of Pico-ITX boards
• VIA Alta DS digital signage solutions
• VIA ARTiGO embedded computers (Pico-ITX board inside)
• VIA M’SERV embedded computers (Nano-ITX board inside)
• Fanless AMOS series of embedded computers

What do all of these have in common? VIA Embedded Pico-ITX and Nano-ITX boards that feature ARM processors. ARM processors, coupled with VIA's expertise at embedded high quality and feature rich chips onto loa profile embedded boards, offer the best performance per watt solution available.

Introducing VIA Embedded's MagicView

VIA and S3 graphics have had a long collaboration in designing embedded graphics solutions. Their latest partnership, however, has seen the development of an Android based development software solution for digital signage. MagicView is an ...

“advanced digital signage solution developed by VIA Technologies in collaboration with S3 Graphics comprised of a VIA embedded system and content management software called MagicView. In comparison with other digital signage solutions on the current market which require high-performance CPU capability which lead to high costs to build up systems, VIA Magic Box supports hardware decoding acceleration technology and enhanced HD video playback of the most demanding HD video formats, including, WMV9, VC1 and H.264 at screen resolutions of up to 1080p.”

The Canadian company Capital Networks is the first company announced as a development partner using VIA's ALTA DS system and MagicView. [Source]

VIA offering an ARM digital signage system

The ALTA DS System offers developers of digital signage systems a small, robust and easily programmable kit. The hardware features include:

• ARM Cortex-A9 System on Chip
• hardware acceleration for video
• HDMI and VGA (optional) ports
• 4 USBs
• one Ethernet
• 4GB eMMC flash memory onboard (expandable to 16GB)
• 1GB DDR3 SD RAM

This is a simple but effective solution for digital signage projects and the less complicated the hardware, the less can go wrong with it. [Source]

The cardboard box PC is back

I thought this was old news but apparently it was new news for some people when it was spotted at the recent Computex trade show in Taiwan. It's VIA's APC Paper Rock, first announced in January this year, but not arriving until Q3 2013.

Tom's Hardware has done a short write-up on the upcoming embedded delight.

"VIA has revealed the APC Paper. The APC Paper is basically an APC Rock board in a cardboard and aluminum box, which opens up like a book to show off the APC Rock board. When closed, it measures 204 x 98 x 28 mm."

Rumours surface of a new single-board computer from VIA by July

After the success of the Raspberry Pi-like VIA APC Paper single board computer, its little wonder that VIA will follow up with new models. The Element14 community has this to say:

"What sets VIA’s new board above the Raspberry Pi (even though the Pi is smaller) is not only faster hardware but all the aforementioned connections which gives users more options regarding peripherals that can be connected including Wi-Fi via a USB dongle."

They seem to know quite a bit about this board that hasn't been announced yet!

Easy fit for the ARMTiGO

The VIA ARMTiGO was announced as a PC for "hotel automation, digital signage and, surveillance as well as for medical and healthcare applications". It's easy to see why when you look at it fit to the back of a monitor like this.

This sort of placement of an embedded computer keeps fairly secure from physical tampering and means that no extra space above and beyond the monitor has to be found for the computing muscle. The monitor itself becomes the focus of the device in question.

VIA ARMTiGO may be appealing to home enthusiasts but the market is in automation

The VIA ARMTiGO A800 is the world's smallest ARM based computer and although it has obvious appeal for HTPCs and having a small PC in the kitchen or kid's room, the real market is in embedded applications, argues Softpedia.

"Small really does mean small when it comes to health care technology, digital signage, surveillance and other embedded applications.

Client organizations can hide the system anywhere they wish, even behind a monitor, or just leave it on the wall for everyone to see, provided they have a VESA mount (7.5 cm x 7.5 cm / 2.95 x 2.95 inches)." 

ARTiGO turns into ARMTiGO

VIA started manufacturing ARTiGO systems a few years back - small form factor complete systems designed for automation and digital signage applications. They featured VIA x86 platforms on the inside, with VIA processors and graphics chips offering a very flexible array of display options.

VIA has now announced a new line of systems that takes this small, robust, feature set and makes it smaller again by using an ARM SoC.

“VIA is leveraging its advanced SFF system design expertise demonstrated in its market leading x86 ARTiGO systems to create a new family of smaller, lower power ARM based systems,” said Epan Wu, Head of the VIA Embedded, VIA Technologies, Inc. “The introduction of the ARM-based ARMTiGO A800 allows us to provide our customers with a comprehensive range of solutions in both leading processor architectures.”

Developers have the option to use Linux or Android.

VIA announces tough little PC

The new VIA ARMOS-800 is designed to go where PCs don't normally last. This tough little beast, looking like an animal ready to defend in spikey black, can operate at extreme temperatures, supporting a range of -40° up to 80°C. It's passively cooled and has a peak operating power drain of a mere 3.14W TDP. Being based on the ARM based VIA VAB-800 Pico-ITX board, the complete package is only 150mm x 46mm x 108mm.

"The VIA ARMOS-800 industrial system is an ultra-compact solution designed to take full advantage of the super power-efficient, ARM based VIA VAB-800 Pico-ITX board, making it easy to create a broad spectrum of easy to assemble, fanless system designs for a wide variety of embedded applications."

VIA and Capital Networks team up for Android digital signage system

VIA has offered digital signage solutions for many years; it must be close to a decade in fact. One of the leaders of the field is Capital Networks, and the two companies have just announced a partnership which will see the development of an Android-based system for digital signage and advertising.

"The recently released VIA ARM DS will leverage Capital Networks Audience for Android software to create a complete Android digital signage solution for an ever widening range of applications in the digital market from kiosks, POS systems, video walls, and menu boards to TVOIP, cloud streaming, and Out of Home Advertising across a broad spectrum of retail, hospitality, education, and entertainment environments." ... read more.

VIA's Android trend continues with display system

VIA's APC, the $49 little pocket rocket which sold out last week, was the company's first foray into the Android space. Now they're taking the OS to a new segment with the VIA ARM DS, an all-in-one display system.

The ARM Cortex A9 SoC system is 18cm x 12cm x 2.5cm and it's adaptable for use as kiosks, POS systems, video walls, and menu boards to TVOIP, cloud streaming, and Out of Home Advertising. Like many of VIA's products it's set up as a development kit, with software development and support being provided by VIA. That makes it highly customisable.

More information here.

Get your APC now ... oh no wait, they're sold out!

I got an email the other day from VIA announcing that pre-orders are now being accepted for their pocket rocket "bicycle for your mind" $49 Android PC (APC). I was a little busy with other things, thought I'd blog about that later this week and so today I followed the link and low and behold, all the pre-orders are sold out. It took less than 24 hours. Very impressive indeed.

I wonder when round two of sales will be?

VIA's new AMOS 3002 touted as infotainment solution for vehicles

I've heard the story of entertainment in cars for at least ten years now. The excitement started with getting MP3 players in cars. Then it was video. Then it was GPS. Then it was general Internet access. Now it's social media. To run it all you need a small computer that can handle bumps and heat and cold. Enter the VIA AMOS 3002. As Embedded M2M Solutions reports ...

"The AMOS (News - Alert)-3002 can serve a variety of applications including digital signage and kiosks, telematics and M2M controller, but the design may be primarily marketed for in-vehicle infotainment. The tiny computer measures approximately 8” by 4” by 2” and can handle up to 50G’s of shock and can function in temperatures ranging between -4F and 140F."

Head of VIA Embedded interviewed about new COM modules

Why did VIA decide to release the new series of COM modules, asks Embedded TV at the Embedded World 2012.

Dual core brought to Em-ITX form factor

I always appreciate the write up of new VIA embedded boards done by LinuxForDevices.com. They are very thorough. Here are the highlights of the new EITX-3002 board:

"As far as we're aware, Via has never publicized TDPs for either of these CPUs, though it has naturally made all the usual noises about low-power operation. The company does, however, reveal that the overall EITX-3002 uses 24.86 Watts with the Eden X2, and 27.67 Watts with the Nano X2. Both processors are supported by the VX900H chipset and a single SODIMM slot that accepts up to 4GB of RAM, Via says. Persistent storage is catered for by SATA ports and a CFast expansion slot, adds the company."

This board has a lot of output options, including support for dual displays.

The VIA AMOS-5001 modular chassis wins an award

The PC/104 and Small Form Factors Magazine has given the VIA AMOS-5001 chassis an Editor's Choice award out of appreciation for how well the product makes development easier.

“VIA Technologies has made prototyping hardware and software designs easier with the VIA AMOS-5001 chassis kit,” says Chris A. Ciufo, OpenSystems Media, Group Editorial Director, Military and Aerospace Group. “This flexible kit measures up to be tough enough to withstand harsh conditions but is moldable to many different applications.”
- More.

Vision Intelligence Displays launched by VIA Embedded

You know how in Science Fiction movies, starting in the '70s or '80s, people stand around touching screens to get information. In today's world you're more likely to do that with a mobile device like a smartphone or tablet, but the technology is out there for touchscreen displays to be used more in the public sphere and in industry.

The Vision Intelligence Display (VID) series of digital touch screens for embedded applications from VIA, are designed for interactive kiosks, POI and POS embedded systems, and industrial automation controls.

These embedded systems are available with screen sizes ranging between 7 and 19 inches. They are designed to be integrated for use with VIA AMOS or EITX solutions. - Source: Press Release.

VIA shows of HD digital signage at Las Vegas Expo

It seems kind of appropriate that in the city of flashy lights and signs, a Digital Display Expo should be held. The Las Vegas strip property owners ought to go and check out what's on offer. Elvis can now be in HD, with multiple content streams, DirectX 10.1 and the latest OpenGL, thanks to the VIA eH1, a low profile card featuring the S3 Chrome 5400E GPU, designed as an add-on for embedded systems.

At the Expo, will will also be showing off both ARM and X86 based products for digital signage.

"A range of VIA EPIA Mini-ITX boards with additional graphical and HD multimedia muscle will be demonstrated, including boards based on the multimedia-focused VIA VX900 chipset and the latest VIA Nano X2 dual core processor.

Complete digital solutions systems will be shown, including the robust VIA VIPRO panel series which combine a comprehensive range of features in a high quality, industrial-grade LCD panel. Other signage systems include and the VIA VMPC, a fanless, ultra thin system featuring an industry-first thru-chassis VESA mounting design, turning any standard display into a digital signage device in moments. "

The show runs until tomorrow, 24th February. Source: Press Release.