32 LXF260 March 2020 http://www.linuxformat.comast year the fourth incarnation
of Raspberry Pi launched, and
barring some teething issues
with firmware and non-
compliant USB-C ports, it didn’t disappoint.
But once you’ve invested your £35, what are
you going to do with that cut-price, cut-
sized hardware? How do you exploit its
abilities? We have a few ideas that use
those new features – the gigabit Ethernet,
upgraded CPU and GPU, 4K-capable dual
HDMI ports –and make the Pi 4 shine.
The Pi 4 is a feasible compact desktop
computer at last. Its architecture, including
USB 3 ports that no longer share a bus, lends
itself to running as a custom NAS controller,a network appliance, or a TV media
box. And as software support
improves, that firmware firms up and
key distros bring their full functionality to
the Pi, there’s a world of potential.
Even if you don’t have the latest
edition of the Pi, we’ve got projects that
will run on its older siblings. The
original Pi (now seven years old) is
still catered for software-wise, and
while it lacks the multimedia
capabilities of the Pi 4, it can still
be used in exciting projects. And if
you want to get into a little more
hardcore electronics, we’ve got a
few Arduino projects at the end.L
Sensing the coming of spring, Jonni Bidwell emerges
from his state of semi-hibernation and outputs a
feature full of glorious maker projects.
Pi PROJECT
E X TR AVAGA NZ A
32 LXF260March 2020 http://www.linuxformat.comastyearthefourthincarnation
ofRaspberryPilaunched,and
barringsometeethingissues
withfirmwareandnon-
compliantUSB-Cports,itdidn’tdisappoint.
But once you’ve invested your £35, what are
you going to do with that cut-price, cut-
sized hardware? How do you exploit its
abilities? We have a few ideas that use
those new features – the gigabit Ethernet,
upgradedCPUandGPU,4K-capabledual
HDMIports–andmakethePi 4 shine.
ThePi 4 isafeasiblecompactdesktop
computeratlast.Itsarchitecture,including
USB 3 portsthatnolongershareabus,lends
itselftorunningasacustomNAScontroller,anetworkappliance,oraTVmedia
box.Andassoftwaresupport
improves,thatfirmwarefirmsupand
keydistrosbringtheirfullfunctionalityto
thePi,there’saworldofpotential.
Evenifyoudon’thavethelatest
editionofthePi,we’vegotprojectsthat
willrunonitsoldersiblings.The
originalPi(nowsevenyearsold)is
stillcateredforsoftware-wise,and
whileitlacksthemultimedia
capabilitiesofthePi4,itcanstill
beusedinexcitingprojects.Andif
youwanttogetintoalittlemore
hardcoreelectronics,we’vegota
fewArduinoprojectsattheend.L
Sensing the coming of spring, Jonni Bidwell emerges
from his state of semi-hibernation and outputs a
feature full of glorious maker projects.
Pi PROJECT
E X TR AVAGA NZ A