Digi-Key Electronics, which offers the world’s largest selection of electronic components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, and ‘Make’, the leading publication and network for makers, have released the updated Boards Guide and companion Digi- Key AR augmented reality app available in both the Apple App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play store for Android-based mobile devices.
Divided into sections for the microcontroller (MCU), single-board controller (SBC), and field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based boards, the guide helps students, makers, and professional 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 app leveraging cameras, displays, and sensors in today’s mobile devices. With over 50 boards available in AR, the app is 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. With detailed comparisons of over 150 boards, there is no better way to find the right solution for rapid prototyping and embedded design from leading 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. RP2040 is currently shipping about 500,000 units per month at present. Another exclusive available only within the app includes an in-depth video discussing details of the boards and the selection process by David Groom from Make. “We are excited to launch the new Boards Guide inside the Digi-Key AR app. 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, Technical Marketing. He continued, “The ability to rotate, zoom and see all angles of the new boards is a great visualization tool for students, makers, and engineers wanting to take their projects from ideation to a useful design or project.”
“The guide Board has been updated with detailed specs of the 79 hottest microcontrollers, single-board computers, and FPGAs you can find. Whatever your project, if it needs an MCU or SBC, check our guide first for the most ideal, most available board to base it around,” said Groom, Community Editor. He also added, “We cover top trends and go hands-on with a dozen of our favorite new and notable boards that you can see, come alive on the page via the Digi-Key AR app, which also includes an exclusive video where I talk about each one.”
PDF versions of the guide and links to download the Digi-Key AR app are available at
http://www.digikey.com/boardsguide
