The Raspberry Pi Foundation has unveiled a new, smaller version of
the original Model A, called the Model A+. The new model will be sold
for $20 (approximately Rs. 1,230) and has the same basic configuration
as the original Model A while borrowing a few new features from the
recently launched Model B+.
The newly announced Model A+ uses the same Broadcom
BCM2835 SoC and has the same 256MB of RAM as the Model A, but switches
from an SD card slot to a microSD slot, adds 14 new general purpose
input-output (GPIO) pins for connecting additional sensors and
peripherals, and features improved audio circuitry with a dedicated
low-noise power supply. The board's physical width has been reduced from
86mm to 65mm and it consumes less power as well.
The Broadcom
BCM2835 offers a 700MHz ARM11 CPU core, FPU, and Vidcore IV GPU. 1080p
HD video output is supported via HDMI. There is just one USB port along
with a 10/100 Ethernet port and 3.5mm audio/composite video output.
The
$20 price is a new low for the Raspberry Pi Foundation, which hopes to
get its miniature computers into the hands of students, hobbyists and
entrepreneurs who can come up with new uses for it to advance the field
of computing. The new 40-pin GPIO layout, which preserves the original
26-pin cluster but adds 14 more pins, was introduced with the Model B+.
Raspberry
Pi Model A+ boards will be produced at a Sony-owned factory in the UK
and sold via online retailers there and in the United States.