Avnet Embedded EMEA has developed a microsite to explain the benefits of Microsoft’s family of software for dedicated devices.

The new site, which is now live at www.avnet-embedded.eu/software, details the available products and their suitability for certain vertical markets. Manufacturers will be shown the benefits of Windows Embedded licensing such as extended product availability, lower cost of ownership and specific features unique to the embedded portfolio. The site also hosts videos that demonstrate, step-by-step, how simple building a Windows Embedded image can be.

Nick Donaldson, Marketing Director Software EMEA, comments: “We recognised a need to raise awareness of a set of products that can dramatically improve the profitability of intelligent systems manufacturers. At Avnet Embedded, we decided to build a resource to help identify the best-fit Microsoft platform for them. This microsite is intended to be the first step in a long-term partnership with our manufacturing ecosystem built on delivery of value and continuous improvement. “

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Avnet Embedded announces as an EMEA distributor of Option embedded solutions the wireless industry’s first 3G PCie module with an integrated SIM card holder and micro SD card holder and optional WiFi.

Markets such as digital signage have traditionally been challenging and expensive to integrate with embedded connectivity. The Option GTM671 WFS is an all-in-one connectivity solution on a single PCIe Minicard, specifically fit for such connected devices which typically don’t have SIM card holders. This solution makes integration of wireless connectivity into connected devices significantly easier, speeding up time to market and keeping costs at a manageable level, while providing peace of mind in terms of security and a seamless end user experience.

Bernard Schaballie, General Manager Embedded Solutions at Option: “Option has a long history of industry firsts. Combining an integrated SIM card and micro SD card holder on a single module is a hugely compelling solution for a wide range of M2M plays where connectivity, storage, security and user experience are of paramount importance.”

Alastair Worth, Marketing Director Wireless, Avnet Embedded “We are delighted that Option has introduced such a ground breaking product. The combination of new features allows our customers to create devices with unique functionality and to seamlessly 3G enable existing designs without any requirement for redesign”

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Avnet Embedded in EMEA, an Avnet, Inc. company, has announced that it has signed an agreement to represent Fujitsu’s range of embedded motherboards in France, Italy and the Nordic countries. Suitable for a wide range of applications such as industrial automation, medical and surveillance, the range includes ATX, μATX and mini-ITX products.

CPU options range from the latest Quadcore processors to low power G series devices from AMD. All the boards are manufactured in Germany and are 100 percent tested. They are designed for 24/7 operation and are available with extended availability to ensure continuity of supply.

Examples of the new range of motherboards (mainboards) include the D3076-S, an ATX form factor product featuring Intel®’s Q67 Express chipset supporting DDR3 1333 SDRAM memory and 2nd generation Intel® CoreTM i3 / i5 / i7 processors (Socket LGA1155). Designed & approved for enhanced operating temperature range from 0 to 60degC the board also provides dual Intel® GbE LAN controller, vPro capability, serial ATA III, high definition 5.1 audio, Intel® HD graphics / DirectX 10.1 graphics controller, USB 2.0, trusted platform module TPM V1.2 and an improved thermal management/system monitoring MCU. The μATX D3071-S is also based on the Intel® Q67 Express chipset with a similar array of features.

Fujitsu’s D3003-S – is a mini-ITX product based on AMD embedded G-Series. This low power product provides dual GBE LAN Ethernet controller on board, Serial ATA III RAID, Audio on board (HDA), AMD Radeon graphics (DirectX 11), m-SATA support for Embedded OS, LVDS/Display port connector, USB 2.0, Instantly available PC (IA-PC) and improved thermal management/system monitoring.

Comments Alessandro Brazzoni, marketing director, Embedded Computing, at Avnet Embedded: “Fujitsu’s embedded motherboards provide high-performance solutions across the board for our industrial customer base, providing a wide range of features and designed to stand up to the wear and tear of constant use.”

Replies Peter Hoser, director OEM sales at Fujitsu: “Avnet Embedded has the skill set and experience as well as portfolio of supporting embedded technologies to help designers maximize the capabilities of our leading embedded mainboards. We believe they will grow our share of this market very significantly in France, Italy and the Nordic countries.”
Adds Alessandro Brazzoni at Avnet Embedded: “We are delighted to be able to offer our customers these high quality products from Fujitsu. They perfectly complement our range of embedded solutions and we are able to offer full value-added design expertise to help engineers get the best solution for their application. “

Avnet Embedded in EMEA today announced a special offer on Bluegiga’s Bluetooth SMART (also known as Bluetooth 4.0) BLE 112 development kit. Costing just $300, the kit contains everything designers need to get started quickly; for an additional $100 Avnet Embedded will also add three more BLE112 modules and one extra dongle. Bluetooth SMART products are ideal where low power operation, negligible latency and security are paramount, like heart rate, blood and glucose monitoring sensors, as well as industrial and home automation applications.

The new generation of Bluetooth dramatically reduces power consumption while ensuring excellent performance and security. Typically Bluetooth SMART products transmit data payloads up to 15 times faster than conventional Bluetooth technology and overall power consumption is reduced by over 90%. The new Bluegiga Bluetooth BLE 112 development kit contains: BLE112 evaluation board; BLED112 Bluetooth 4.0 SMART USB dongle; two BLE112 Bluetooth 4.0 SMART modules; firmware programming cable; cables and documentation; and access to Bluegiga’s Bluetooth 4.0 software development kit.
Also included is Bluegiga’s Bluetooth 4.0 software development environment with its BGScrip™ scripting language and Profile Toolkit™. BGScript™ enables designers to embed applications directly in the BLE112 module and the Profile Toolkit™ speeds development time with a simple XML based description language.
The Bluegiga BLE112 Bluetooth 4.0 SMART module offers the radio, stack, profiles and space for end user applications, so it can be used without an additional microcontroller. BLE112 also provides hardware interfaces so designers can easily connect sensors, button interfaces and displays. It runs on a standard 3V coin cell battery or pair of AAA batteries. In its lowest power sleep mode it consumes only 400nA and wakes up in a few hundred micro-seconds.

The BLED112 Bluetooth dongle integrates all Bluetooth SMART features. The USB dongle can simulate a standard USB device, virtual COM port or USB HID device. The HID can be used for keyboards and mice because no driver is needed. The COM port emulation enables simple host application development using a simple API.