Digi-Key and Make: update Boards Guide and its companion augmented reality app
Digi-Key Electronics and Make:, the publication and network for makers, have updated the Boards Guide and companion Digi-Key AR augmented reality app. They are available in both the Apple App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play store for Android-based mobile devices.
Divided into sections for microcontroller (MCU), single-board controller (SBC) and field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based boards, the guide helps students, makers and engineers identify the latest technology available to help bring innovation to life.
As a companion to this year’s guide, Digi-Key has included an augmented reality (AR) app leveraging cameras, displays and sensors in today’s mobile devices. With more than 50 boards available in AR, the app is claimed to be the best way to virtually interact with these leading platforms. The Digi-Key AR app is designed to work in conjunction with the guide or as a standalone experience.
Including detailed comparisons of more than 150 boards, the guide helps users to find the right solution for rapid prototyping and embedded design from vendors including Adafruit, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, SparkFun, BeagleBone, Micro:bit, Seeed Studio, DFRobot, Espressif and more. New to this year’s guide is an article discussing the rise of the Raspberry Pi RP2040 and Espressif ESP32 during chip shortages.
Another exclusive available only from within the app includes a video discussing in depth details of the boards and the selection process by David Groom from Make:.
“Being able to scan the boards and get an up-close look in AR is an experience you must see to appreciate,” said Kevin Walseth, manager of technical marketing at Digi-Key. “The ability to rotate, zoom and see all angles of the new boards is a great visualisation tool for students, makers and engineers wanting to take their projects from ideation to a useful design or project.”
The Make: Guide to Boards has been updated with detailed specs of the 79 hottest microcontrollers, single-board computers and FPGAs. It also covers top trends and goes hands-on with a dozen new and notable boards that you can see on the page via the Digi-Key AR app.
