Add 4 More USB Ports to C.H.I.P. Thanks to Open Source Hardware

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C.H.I.P. smothered in Queso DIP Photograph by JKW

C.H.I.P.ster Kolja Windeler (JKW on the forums) built an accessory board called Queso DIP that’s basically like attaching a powered USB hub directly to C.H.I.P.

The Queso DIP connects directly to C.H.I.P.’s header pins and provides 4 additional USB ports, plus it can power attached USB device and C.H.I.P.. This means you can plug-in anything from a webcam to USB hard drive and the Queso DIP will take care of the power management.

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So Shiny, So Chrome – The Brand Spanking New C.H.I.P. Flasher!!!

C.H.I.P.s come pre-flashed with an operating system because we felt it should be usable out of the box. Installing an operating system can be an arduous process, especially when you’re raring to get started. We’ve definitely felt it ourselves…heck, even our own C.H.I.P. flashing process was arduous…until now!

Howie and Tina took to the challenge of a simple C.H.I.P. flasher and came back with our new C.H.I.P. web flasher for Google Chrome, now available in its Alpha Release. So what’s that mean?

You can now replace the operating system on your C.H.I.P. from your computer directly from the Chrome web browser. Just head to flash.getchip.com, and follow the on-screen instructions. All you’ll need is a C.H.I.P., a micro USB cable, a jumper wire or a paper clip, a computer with the Chrome web browser, and around 7 minutes. Keep in mind, this will replace the ENTIRETY of your C.H.I.P.’s storage. If there’s anything you want to keep, back it up before flashing.

The Flasher has 3 options: the C.H.I.P. boot repair tool, Debian on C.H.I.P. with GUI by Crunch (our most up-to-date factory flashed image), and Debian on C.H.I.P. without GUI by Crunch.

We’re super stoked to release this. It’s a vast improvement over our previous flashing process and the most exciting thing is it only gets better from here! Can’t wait to show you what else we have in store!

Let us know what you think in the forum. What works. What doesn’t work. It all helps us move forward.

Stay Tuned and Get Flashing!

mmmtc

Everyone at NTC especially Howie and Tina (and Barry Allen)

Thanks to Howie, flashing is relaxing!

Thanks to Howie, flashing is relaxing!

C.H.I.P. Does Embedded Linux Conference Things with the Free Electrons Team

Maxime (left) and Boris (right) helping Dr. K. scheme his future Linux presentation

Maxime (left) and Boris (right) helping Dr. K. scheme his future Linux presentation

This week in San Diego, Richard and Dr. K. joined up with Maxime, Antoine, and Boris from Free Electrons for the Linux Foundation’s Embedded Linux Conference.

The conference offers Linux developers who work on embedded systems — basically any device that isn’t a laptop, desktop, or large server– the chance to learn about new technologies, present their latest research, and to finally meet each other in person.

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