Linux £50 MIPS micro-computer running Android and Linux

[snapman]

Rapberri Pis are all the rage these days, but now there's a new kid on the micro-computing block. Unveiled by British chip design company Imagination Technologies, the MIPS Creator CI20 is being dubbed as a rival mini-comp to the venerable Pi.

Running both Android (4.4 KitKat) and Linux systems, the MIPS Creator CI20 is an affordable micro-computer ($65/£50) that packs a micro punch. It possesses more memory and on-board storage space, as well as a more powerful processor than Pi.

For those that want to know the nitty gritty, the development board has a 1.2GHz MIPS32-based, dual-core processor, video hardware for low power 1080p decoding at 30fps, and connectivity options that offer Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connection, to name a few perks.

The MIPS Creator CI20 was initially introduced in August 2014 as a limited promotional giveaway for the likes of developers, university students and hobbyists. Following the popularity of the promotional offer, Imagination Technologies chose to take its project a step further.

Commenting on the contribution of Imagination Technologies to the "choice, affordability, power and variety of Linux development boards" on the market today, Mike Woster, COO and VP of business development for The Linux Foundation said: "Whether as a DIY or design platform, work like this is sure to attract more developers and help kick off new applications."

While comparisons between the Pi and the Creator CI20 as fellow micro-computers seems logical, principal technology analyst at the Davies Murphy Group consultancy Chris Green says it's not that straight forward.

"It's very difficult to compare the two, you have to remember that the Raspberry Pi is a foundation with a charitable aim -- it's more of a movement," he said. "The Creator CI20 is a commercial product."

"It won't make as big a splash as the Pi did, however, I think it's a good option for more advanced platform Android developers," noted Green. "What is has in its favour is that it runs Linux and Android, which makes it a cheap way you can play with Android and potentially produce apps.

"It will be interesting to see how sales of the product [Creator CI20] go, what commercial support it garners," commented Green, who noted that the Pi had been relatively unchallenged thus far in the market space.

The MIPS Creator CI20 is available to pre-order and units will be dispatched at the end of January 2015.

Source: £50 MIPS is a micro-computer running Android and Linux (Wired UK)

 

[oneman]

Pi made a lot of headway in low power usage, around 1W when nothing is attached and 2W with keyboard and wireless dongle (less with model B+). There are times when more grunt is required but that is not the target Pi market. The C120 is targeting a different market.