[chbot] BBC Micro::bit - Just buy one

[Darran]

What is the processor it uses?


On 23/01/18 22:17, Mike Field wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Today I got a Micro:Bit from https://learningdevelopments.co.nz for 
> $24.95 + p+p, including USB cable, batteries and battery box. It is 
> very, very, very, very slick and accessible.
>
> To me it seems to be what Arduino promises to be (".. electronics 
> platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software...")
>
> Specs are:
>
> - Nordic Semiconductor nRF51822, 16 MHz ARM Cortex-M0 microcontroller,
> - 256 KB Flash, 16 KB RAM.
> - Connectivity: Bluetooth LE, MicroUSB, edge connector.
> - Physically it is about half the size of a credit card.
> - An accelerometer and compass, two buttons, and 25 LEDs in a matrix.
>
> No local software is needed on your PC - no drivers, no SDK, no 
> flashing tools, not even Putty. Zero. Zip, Nada.
>
> You write on a web page, and then flash it over-the-air via iOS or 
> Android app, or plug it into a PC with USB. It presents as a USB mass 
> storage device onto which you save your downloaded 'hex' files.
>
> You can program it in nice, simple, accessible ways:
>
> - Blocks. Very similar to MIT's Scratch. It has a simulator built in 
> so you can test your code before flashing it.
>
> - JavaScript (yes, I know - WTF?). But what is really neat is that you 
> can switch between Javascript and Blocks, and you can use the 
> simulator too . Here is some code originally written in Blocks 
> converted to Javascript:
>
> letPressed = 0
> input.onButtonPressed(Button.A, () => {
> Pressed = 1
> })
> basic.showLeds(`
> . # . # .
> . . . . .
> . . # . .
> # . . . #
> . # # # .
> `)
> Pressed = 0
> basic.forever(() => {
> basic.pause(100)
> if(Pressed == 1) {
> basic.showLeds(`
> . . # . .
> . . # . .
> . . # . .
> . . . . .
> . . # . .
> `)
> }
> })
>
> - In MicroPython (no simulator to test on though). e.g:
>
>   from microbit import *
>
>   while True:
>       display.scroll('Hello, World!')
>       display.show(Image.HEART)
>       sleep(2000)
>
> It is so easy it makes Arduino look like rocket surgery.
>
> There is also an nice range of inexpensive options like breakouts & 
> 2WD robots, motor drivers and so on.
>
> It is super-neat!
>
> Mike
>
>
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