element14 has today announced its Design Flow Series webinars will be kicked off by Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton on 4 April.

In the first session Raspberry Pi fans around the world have a chance to see how simple it is to program one of the credit card sized computers. The possibilities of what can be done on a Raspberry Pi are only limited by the imagination, so to help users get up and running quickly, in this live session, Eben will talk through the simple set up procedure, how to download and install the Operating System on the SD card, run the boot up script, use the script editor and begin to create applications using the Python scripts that are pre-supplied with the software download.

Each Design Flow Series webinar will feature technical presentations, lasting about 40 minutes with a further 15 minute Q&A. Delivered by practicing engineers who are experts in their field they will offer practical ‘how to’ advice, tips, tricks and techniques that help developers get from specification through to assembled prototype in the quickest possible time. Design files and code examples used in the webinars will be exclusively available for download from element14.

Chris Sullivan, Head of Global Solutions Marketing at element14 said: “element14 is all about giving customers, design engineers and enthusiasts access to the best information and the big hitters in the sector. With the Design Flow Series we are providing some cool hints and tips, as well as useful techniques that help drive the design flow. What better way to start than with Eben Upton sharing insight into the programming of the Raspberry Pi.”

Other Design Flow Series webinars are planned for the coming weeks including:

• Integrating software, libraries, tools and COTS components with Microchip
• RTOS selection and integration with Micrium
• Using a single GUI for PCB design, component selection and physical prototyping with CadSoft
• Debugging a Mixed Signal Design With an MSO in partnership with Tektronix

To sign up to attend the first webinar with Eben Upton, Founder of the Raspberry Pi computer, go to http://www.element14.com/community/events/3282.

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Premier Farnell plc today announced that it has extended its franchise with ROHM Semiconductor, the leading manufacturer of semiconductors, passives and opto electronics, to cover Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

ROHM Semiconductor offers Integrated Circuits for video, audio, industrial, lighting, consumer, and meeting applications. The company also has solutions for the Automotive, Energy, Telecom, Computers & Peripherals and Consumer Electronics sectors, which will now enable Premier Farnell to offer a broad selection of products to its worldwide customer base. Customers will also have access to a broad range of products from resistors to high specification industrial controllers across all of Premier Farnell’s operating businesses of Farnell element14, Newark element14 and element14.

“This agreement reflects our core business strategy which focuses on supporting our global base of electronic design engineers and enhancing our product offering to our customers around the world,” said Marianne Culver, Global Head of Product Marketing and Supply Chain at Premier Farnell. “We are excited by the opportunity this agreement brings us and look forward to work even more closely with ROHM Semiconductor via our global scope that recognises the individual needs of our customers in local markets.”

ROHM Semiconductor is a “One Stop Shop” global leading player in the semiconductor industry with 341.9 Billion Yen (more than $4 Billion) revenue last fiscal year and 21,560 employees.

“With this worldwide agreement, ROHM will have a global coverage with Premier Farnell which will give more traction to our products in the multi-channel distribution. Our customers will get full benefit of Premier Farnell’s eCommerce services” said Christian Andre, President of ROHM Semiconductor Europe.

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Farnell element14 today announced a new stocking distribution agreement with Atmel Corporation, a leader in microcontroller and touch solutions. Atmel® offers microcontrollers, capacitive touch products, advanced logic, mixed signal, non-volatile memory products and radio frequency components. These technologies are used to optimise performance, efficiency and connectivity in today’s most advanced system designs, ranging from tablet computers to industrial security systems.

The Atmel portfolio at Farnell element14 offers everything a designer needs to design, debug and deploy new solutions, including Atmel AVR® 8-bit and 32-bit microcontrollers, ARM® processor-based solutions, wireless microcontroller products, 8051 architecture products, development kits and programming tools and software.

Farnell’s element14 community has become the go-to resource for engineers, offering collaboration with experts and peers, a technical library, and the Knode – an intelligent online search and knowledge tool that helps designers to research, select and buy the right solutions from the beginning stages of their design.

“With Farnell element14, customers can now quickly find the right Atmel solutions for their designs, and potentially have them delivered the same day,” said Peter Jeutter, senior director of distribution sales, EMEA, Atmel Corporation. “Farnell element14’s online marketplace further enhances the procurement options available for design engineers that require Atmel’s solutions.”

“We are excited to join Atmel’s distribution network with an agreement that extends our commitment to provide the engineering community a complete system solution from a single source,” said Neil Harrison, President, Farnell element14. “Engineers can now select from a wide range of advanced devices and development kits plus other resources from Atmel’s extensive portfolio. They can also tap into our intelligent online search/knowledge tool to help them make the right decisions. Furthermore, we can offer a flexible ordering system so that engineers can order in quantities as small as one unit to meet their unique project requirements.”

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Farnell has today announced that the Farnell and element14 brands are uniting. Bringing together the European transactional and community offerings of parent company Premier Farnell will create a single brand that consolidates the end-to-end engineering solutions offered by the business. Design engineers and purchasing professionals will now be able to access all the latest products, information, tools and services needed to complete their work in one place.

The new brand will continue to provide customers with all they currently receive and expect from Farnell, but with the added benefit of combining the industry’s first online research, design and collaboration tools from element14. The pioneering community site was the first to allow engineers to connect with one another and with industry experts to collaborate on new ideas and challenges. The community helps users find answers to their questions and to gather impartial, independent knowledge and information on technical issues and the latest innovations and technologies.

Farnell has a proud history of innovation in electronics distribution across Europe. Always keeping customers at the core of its strategy, the business has led the industry in RoHS compliance, created award-winning packaging options, was the first to offer a free CAD software tool download, and recently launched the unique and powerful Knode on element14.

Through its recent announcement of a global distribution deal with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Farnell’s element14 community is driving the Raspberry Pi revolution across the globe to educate a new generation of programmers. Farnell element14 is one of only two global distributors to offer the ground-breaking credit card sized computer. A bespoke group created on the eCommunity is supporting the conversations, debates and sharing of knowledge and information from the flood of developers and first-time programmers keen to get the most from the Raspberry Pi.

Farnell element14 will build upon the company’s legacy of leadership in innovative electronics distribution and map the future with services and solutions beyond products. As more and more customers do their business over the web, Farnell element14 is leading industry through the transition, fusing the established Farnell brand with that of the innovative element14 community to give customers unparalleled service and access to global support and advice. The single brand will firmly establish Farnell element14 as the trusted global source of engineering solutions.

“When we analyse the web’s potential to transform the way businesses operate today, we realise that there’s more coming up in the next few decades with big changes in customer shopping habits,” said Alan Paterson, Marketing Director, Farnell Europe. “The coming together of element14 and Farnell into a single, powerful entity is a significant step that highlights how the business has adapted well to the digital age. We continue to provide the great products and services both brands are known for with a vision of a single destination that offers an unprecedented range of technical data, innovative tools and services, meaningful community and expert engagement, and the best component shopping experience ever.”

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Farnell element14, the leading multi-channel electronics distributor announced today that it is to stock new profiles of its Multicomp Terminal Blocks. The six full ranges will be offered in all commonly used pitches and circuit sizes from two-way to 12-way, and will significantly increase the number of low cost options now available to electronic designers and maintenance engineers.

The new terminal blocks provide a choice formats including single pole screw clamp, screwless terminals, screw terminals, modular screw terminals, and pluggable terminal blocks. Multicomp terminal blocks offer the added reassurance of UL, VDE and CE approvals.

Typical uses for Farnell element14 Multicomp Terminal Blocks include automation and industrial power and signal applications.

The full offering of Multicomp is available for same day shipping at (http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?N=2031+202830&Ntk=PLS_MAN_BRAND_NAME&Ntt=multicomp&Ntx=)

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element14 has today announced the three winners of its global “Raspberry Road Test” challenge. Peter Fenech, Gizmo B73 and Jodi Curtis are the proud owners of the amazing credit card sized computer, the Raspberry Pi that launches today on Pi Day.

The challenge, launched last week, invited Raspberry Pi fans around the world for a chance to win one of the mostly hotly desired gadgets of the year by submitting their answers to the question – “What innovation will you create using the amazing Raspberry Pi computer”? Several entries were received during the week on element14’s RoadTest group with a range of innovative ideas on what users would create with the Raspberry Pi. The “Raspberry Road Test” challenge engaged several like minded fans of the Raspberry Pi, encouraging them to talk about their ideas and creations on the community, as well as submit their ideas for amazing innovations.

The winners submitted their innovative ideas via the group and are extremely delighted to win the coveted computer.

“This is absolutely incredible and I feel so lucky to own such a sough-after device, thanks to element14’s Road Test challenge,” said Peter Fenech. “I can empathise with the huge demand for the Raspberry Pi as this is truly an innovation that is one of the most exciting electronic/embedded computing products to be launched for decades. Today design engineers and would-be coders across the world are clamouring to get their hands on the device to see how it can be modified and what innovative programs can be created to run on it, and I am one of the lucky ones to be able to secure one on Pi Day!”

Why they wanted their Pi
“Being quite new to the world of electronics and coding I enrolled in this RoadTest to be able to fully test the purpose of the Raspberry Pi which is to see how young students cope with the technology and how much they can understand the amazement of working with hardware that can be coded for many different needs such as a music player or even a small PC that can run Linux.”

“I have many project ideas that I would like to try with the Raspberry Pi however my most adventurous is probably an autonomous roving robot,” said Gizmo B73. “I have an existing tracked base that I will use and combine this with an Arduino Mega connected to a motor driver and other sensors for interaction with the environment. I will use the GPIO on the computer to interact with the Arduino, and then use OpenCV with webcams to implement Computer Vision using the Raspberry Pi and then use a USB WiFi dongle too so that I can monitor the Raspberry Pi as it roves around.”

“I was thinking of programming a low to mid frequency signal generator, 5v power source and oscilloscope, with an add-on D/A for classrooms with my flatmate,” said Jodi Curtis.

Check out further information on how to get your Raspberry Pi and ongoing discussions at element14’s Raspberry Pi Group on the community.

The Raspberry Pi units that have been given away as prizes for this unique challenge are pre-production and are not part of the consumer allocation units from element14.

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Farnell element14 featured an exclusive launch of Verbatim’s Velve Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) development kit on its stand at this year’s Arc Show held at the Business Design Centre in London between the 29th February and the 1st March.

Farnell element14 is the first distributor to stock the new kit that adds to its already comprehensive range of solid state lighting products, technologies and know-how that includes high power LEDs, LED modules, power supplies and drivers plus thermal management, optical and interconnect solutions.

Supplied in a protective case with easy-to-use software, the Verbatim Velve kit is designed to enable lighting designers to quickly evaluate the benefits and wide range of effects offered by OLED lighting. These include tunable colour (RGB) light, exceptionally fast response times, wide viewing angles, excellent colour reproduction and contrast levels, and high Brightness. OLED technology is highly compatible with the growing demand for extremely thin and lightweight lighting designs. Low power consumption makes it especially useful in battery powered portable applications, and also addresses the environmental demand to maximise efficiency and minimise energy use in fixed applications.

“OLED technology is an exciting and versatile technology that lends itself perfectly to a wide range of lighting applications in different market sectors,” said Paul Ward, Opto Manager, Farnell. “We are excited to be the first distributor to offer the Velve product and were encouraged by the positive responses from lighting designers at the ARC show regarding the demonstration unit’s simplicity, and how it could be easily linked to products from other leading companies in the solid state lighting sector.”

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Farnell element14 has announced the addition of a further 75,000 products from leading interconnect product manufacturers Amphenol and ITT Cannon. The increased portfolio of industrial and military grade connectors is available through Farnell element14’s popular vendor direct ship programme that offers customers lead times as short as five working days.

Significant broadening of Farnell element14’s connector product range means that the company now stocks over 77,000 products from Amphenol, the world leader in military, aerospace, industrial, communications, RF and infrastructure interconnect solutions, and 51,000 items from ITT Cannon, a specialist manufacturer of military and harsh environment connectors.

Design engineers can quickly and easily search for the optimum connector solution for their applications via the element 14 community at: http://uk.farnell.com/jsp/search/browse.jsp?ICID=i-c7f1-00001002&N=100056+100071+100109

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element14 is giving Raspberry Pi fans around the world a chance to win one of three of these hotly desired gadgets.

Launched today, the global “Raspberry RoadTest” Challenge poses the question: “What innovation will you create using the amazing Raspberry Pi computer?” Designers and enthusiasts can enter the challenge by signing up on the Raspberry RoadTest page on the element14 Community and submitting ideas for the innovations they would create using this credit card-sized computer. The winner will be chosen on “Pi Day” – 14th March 2012.

element14 RoadTest has become increasingly popular among community members. Members receive a device to test and review from element14, then blog about their developments, discoveries and innovations on the community as well as their own blogs and forums. These blogs and reviews are used by other designers to connect with each other and be inspired.

The Community has has experienced a 30 fold increase in traffic since the recently launched element14 Raspberry Pi Group and product launch last week. Additionally there have been over 30,000 downloads of the operating system software – amassing over 30 Terabytes of file transfers.

More information on the “Raspberry RoadTest” Challenge can be found at www.element14.com/roadtest. To join Raspberry Pi conversations visit the element14 Community.

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In the year 2000, Benjamin J. Heckendorn, a.k.a. Ben Heck, built his first mod, a vintage, portable Atari 2600 Video Computer System. Today, element14, the first collaborative engineering community and electronics store for design engineers and electronics enthusiasts, and the prominent modding guru, give the original gaming console a face lift, incorporating more efficient and modern design elements on the latest “The Ben Heck Show” episode.

“This episode, in particular, was quite nostalgic and definitely tugged at my heart strings a bit,” said Ben. “It was an amazing experience to take a step back and see how my work has evolved. I am thrilled to be able to make a career out of what I love, and honored to share my knowledge and experience with fellow designers and techies-at-heart.”

Ben takes a stroll down memory lane and deconstructs his original portable Atari 2600 mod to determine the best approach to apply a new, up-to-date design and feel. Ben walks viewers through the entire build – from taking apart the Darth Vader Atari 2600 system, to installing new resistors and simplified soldering techniques. The final project is a sleeker, more advanced version of his original design, complete with digital volume controls and an enhanced LCD screen.

“Ben’s latest project showcases the impact that new technology can have on designs – just look at the progression of Ben’s mods over the years,” said Kevin Yapp, chief marketing officer, Premier Farnell. “element14 supports all efforts to utilize innovative technologies to enhance design projects, which is evident in the design tools and resources provided on the community, as well as through our own collaborative partnerships with industry trend-setters such as the inventors of the affordable, credit-card sized Raspberry Pi computer.”

Fans of the show are invited to join the discussion online at element14 to enter for a chance to win Ben’s revamped portable Atari 2600 gaming device for endless gaming at home or on-the-go.

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