The Raspberry Pi Model B+ has been launched as the last iteration of the current mini-computer.
Since the original Model B was launched over two years ago, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has been evolving and tweaking it according to user requests.
The Model B+ is going to be the last hardware tweak of this model, until the Foundation launches a brand new iteration of Raspberry Pi.
“This isn’t a ‘Raspberry Pi 2’, but rather the final evolution of the original Raspberry Pi”, explained Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi Founder and CEO of the Engineering Team.
Model B+ costs the same as its predecessor, £26, but offers some key improvements despite using the same BCM2835 application processor and 512MB of RAM.
This version offers more GPIO with the header count now at 40 pins and has doubled the amount of USB 2.0 on offer to 4.
The old SD card socket has been replaced with a “push-push” microSD card version, and the power consumption has been reduced by somewhere between 0.5W and 1W by replacing the linear regulators with switching ones.
The actual form factor is a lot neater than its predecessor too, and you’ll notice the squarely-positioned mounting holes now the hardware has been rejigged.
Plus, Model B+ has a dedicated low-noise power supply within its audio circuit for better audio.
“We think you’re going to love Model B+, but to ensure continuiting of supply for our industrial customers we’ll be keeping Model B in production for as long as there’s demand for it.”
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