What's going on with FEZ?

FEZ Cobra is Shipping

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We are pleased to announce that FEZ Cobra is in full production and we have plenty in stock. FEZ Cobra is unique among our FEZ offerings, because it uses EMX module. This gives FEZ Cobra a huge advantage when it comes to secure networking and colorful graphics.

Visit the FEZ Cobra page or see the Comparison Chart.

FEZ Robot finds objects and follows a line

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Our senior member Hai Nguyen is showing off his robot that keeps a way from objects and follows a line.

Here is it keeping off objects...

and here it is following a line (He made it work in few hours!)

New products....many new products!

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400

We haven't updated the news in a while but we have been adding a lot of new exciting components to the website. From the new MP3 and WiFi shields to the color LCD extension and power adapters. There have also been many little enhancements on the documentation and brochures as well.

Please feel free to browse around and check out all the new and cool devices.

RockBand Stage Kit with FEZ Domino

Tue, 25 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

RockBand StageKit comes with a plenty of LEDs of different colors and also includes a strobe light in a fog machine....all that, and we found it on clearance for $25!! Connect it to FEZ and you can do some magic!

Coding this demo took about 30 minutes...try doing that with Arduino, BS2 or whatever embedded system you may have!

http://www.microframeworkprojects.com/index.php?title=RockBandStageKit

Production release SDK is now online

Sat, 22 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Thanks to our customer's valuable feedback and support, GHI NETMF 4.0 SDK version 1.0.5 production release is now available.

This release also adds new features such as extended math libraries and SD card detect.

As always, check the release notes on the download page and make sure you update the firmware to the latest as explained in the video and the tutorial. Everything you need is on the download page http://www.tinyclr.com/dl/

Updating firmware is detailed in the FEZ tutorial.
This video also shows how to update the firmware.

Not sure about FEZ? Search the web!

Sun, 16 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Being only about 3 months old, FEZ is catching on very quickly. Very soon, FEZ will be the way for hobbyists and beginners...
These are just few of the many FEZ comments we see online...

"...this is truly a powerful development environment...debugging couldn't be easier..."
http://www.fieldeffect.info/w/fez
Same website managed to use the beta Ethernet shield sdrivers.
http://www.fieldeffect.info/w/FEZNetwork

"In my previous post I complained how upset I'm that there is no cheap .NET Micro Framework hardware for hobbyists. Now I can take it back. IMHO we finally have a very powerful alternative to Arduino and similar platforms, with the price that won't break the bank (especially with FEZ Mini)."
http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/02/hands-on_with_fez_mini_a_net-powere.html

" I’ve earned my living for the last 5 years as a Linux system administrator — and I have no intention of ever returning to a Windows domain of my own volition. That said, there’s no denying the power of the .NET framework, C#, and the Visual Studio environment and their impact on rapid prototyping and development cycles."
"FEZ Domino is somewhat akin to an Arduino on the juice"
http://www.imagitronics.org/2010/03/fez-domino-im-a-fanboy/

"In short, I love FEZ!... Easy. Robust. Scalable. Powerful. Support is awesome"

"The GHI folk have obviously committed to making .NetMF work for us all. The great thing is they have a range of products, so if you see this one as being restrictive, you have a "next step" that you can go to, and not have to rewrite your code. I don't think there's anything like that in the Arduino platform, and probably only more confusing if you were to talk about porting code between AVR or PIC devices with specific registers/values that change."

"I was writing apps very quickly and started to branch off into more sophisticated apps"
http://www.tinyclr.com/forum/1/176/

New "First power up" video

Fri, 14 May 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Similar to the FEZ tutorial, the getting started video is very detailed about all aspects. If you want to watch a quick video to get you started, this is made you.

Hope you like it...

Release Candidate SDK is now available

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

GHI NETMF SDK version 1.0.4 is a release candidate which means it includes all features with no known issues. If all goes well, the production SDK will be available in one to two weeks.

As always, check the release notes on the download page and make sure you update the firmware to the latest as explained in the video and the tutorial. Everything you need is on the download page http://www.tinyclr.com/dl/

Updating firmware is detailed in the FEZ tutorial.
This video also shows how to update the firmware.

Wheel controller used to move an RC car.

Sat, 24 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Thanks to the USB technology, by having USB host support on USBizi, possibilities are endless. This is a project showing how to use a USB wheel to control an RC car.
Remember that FEZ Domino is based on USBizi-144 and so this project can be done on FEZ Domino as well. Actually, it will be easier to do on FEZ Domino that the old USBizi board.
Still, this project is cool enough to be featured here.

Free eBook is updated to include XML and Crypto

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Latest USBizi (FEZ) firmware added XML and Cryptography support. For these important additions, we have updated our free eBook.
Reading/writing XML data and encrypting/decrypting data was never easier!

Even more features for FEZ with new SDK 1.0.3

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

This new GHI NETMF SDK version 1.0.3 with USBizi firmware version 4.0.1.0 adds many great new features to USBizi (FEZ)
First of all, the firmware has gone through a lot of intensive testing and we fixed/enhanced many things.
As far as features, it added:
1. Real Time Clock support.
2. PWM support updated.
3. CAN support.
4. Watchdog support.
5. Battery RAM support.
6. Cryptography support.

As always, check the release notes on the download page and make sure you update the firmware to the latest as explained in the video and the tutorial. Everything you need is on the download page http://www.tinyclr.com/dl/

Updating firmware is detailed in the FEZ tutorial.
This video also shows how to update the firmware.

The Staff

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Meet our new, hard working staff.

Hello,

My name is Chimpanzee. My team and I have managed to make some changes around the site. We now have a dedicated downloads page that includes videos for an easy transition into working with FEZ. There is also a new page for our worldwide distributors. Along with a form for applying to become a distributor. If you're on the forum, we've added smilies and other enhancements. Feel free to visit the forum and give us your feedback. We are always looking for new ideas.

Sincerely,
Chimpanzee

New USB RFID Reader

Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The new RFID reader plug right into FEZ Domino USB host connector, capable of reading 125Khz tags from up to 5 to 15cm. The reader simulates a USB keyboard so using it is easily accomplished.

We've got sales -- don't hesitate!

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

We understand that during such economic times not everyone has a lot of spare cash to spend. That's why we've decided to put FEZ Domino and the Component Shield on sale. To further show our appreciation, we're introducing the FEZ Domino Starter Kit below it's suggested selling price. We've even dropped the price on FEZ Mini Starter Kits for a limited time. Don't hesitate to purchase one of these great deals because they won't last forever!

FEZ open source hardware design files are online.

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0500

FEZ Domino and FEZ Mini are open source designs. You are free to take the design files and manufacture FEZ yourself or even make FEZ devices, shields or components. We only ask that you put our company name (or your name) on the board you are making.

FEZ Mini Design Files
FEZ Domino Design Files

New FEZ SDK is online

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500

We are very happy to announce that the new FEZ SDK is now online (see downloads).
With this release, FEZ is now joining the standard GHI NETMF SDK. This means that code running on FEZ will run on any other GHI Electronics NETMF products, like EMX and ChipworkX.
This release also adds USB Host support allowing you to connect almost any USB device to FEZ and make it work with very few lines of code.

If you ordered your FEZ board/kit anytime before March 1st 2010 then you must update your firmware.
If you downloaded the SDK or any files from www.TinyCLR.com website before February 26st 2010 then you need to check for the newer version.
Updating firmware is detailed in the FEZ tutorial.
This video also shows how to update the firmware.

Geek Night at Dev Days

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500
Rob Miles is doing it again. Geek Night at Dev Days. This time with our FEZ Robot.
See more and watch this very funny video: http://www.robmiles.com/journal/2010/2/24/geek-night-fun-and-games.html

FEZ showing on Make website

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500
Brian and Szymon seem to be enjoying the new exciting technology from FEZ and NETMF.
See more: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/02/hands-on_with_fez_mini_a_net-powere.html

FEZ Mini Robot Demo from Szymon Kobalczyk on Vimeo.

New products and USB Host

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500
The FEZ Component Shield has been added to www.TinyCLR.com providing an array of simple connections for our growing list of components.
A Micro SD card expansion is available now allowing FEZ Mini to work with Micro SD cards.

That is not all! We are about ready to release a new version of the FEZ (USBizi ) firmware. The new firmware has 2 important changes. First, it adds USB host support. With this option, you can now connect almost any USB device to FEZ Domino and make it it work with couple lines of code. (FEZ Mini doesn't have USB host)
Another important change is that FEZ SDK is being merged with the standard GHI Electronics NETMF SDK. What does this mean? FEZ will be using the same powerful assemblies available for ChipworkX and EMX. This also means, you can switch from FEZ to USBizi to EMX to ChipworkX without the need to change any line of code!
Moving the SDK means we need to update all documentation, libraries, examples, component drivers and assemblies...so for the next couple days we ask you to bare with us while we update everything on the TinyCLR website.
Once this is done, we will have more news updating everyone.

FEZ Domino is shipping

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0500
We have FEZ Domino in stock and shipping now. FEZ Domino is very similar to FEZ Mini but it also offers USB host, Built-on Micro SD card connector and its pinout is compatible with Arduino.

This simple project shows how to parse MIDI files (from SD cards) and then play them on a piezo.

FEZ...the movie!!

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500
Rob Miles got his FEZ, have you got your own? http://www.robmiles.com/

It is amazing to see what "FEZ" search will result in....found this FEZ clip on Youtube!

According to Urban Dictionary, "FEZ Monkey" is the highest level of being, the highest point of evolution. Only a select few ever make it to this.

FEZ is Shipping

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500
GHI Electronics is pleases to announce that FEZ is now complete and shipping. The FEZ SDK is also available online for download.
Remember to watch the FEZ videos. We look forward to hear your comments and suggestions....and to see the amazing projects YOU will be making soon!

More Components Already!

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500
We have just added many new components like Relay16, Servo16, serial/USB cables, Servo motors, Bluetooth and more!
The plan is still to start shipping FEZ Mini and its kits on January 18th....so stay tuned.

Please note that our "contact us" was not working and so if you had used it before then we didn't receive anything. Please send again.

Welcome to the New Site

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0500
New website has just been launched.

We are excited to present you with very powerful yet easy embedded devices. All using .Net Micro Framework with C# and GHI features. We call this FEZ (Freakin' Easy!)

FEZ Mini, Starter Kit and robot kit will start shipping next week.

Many components (plugin sensors) are available online to give you a taste of what's coming! Much more are on the way.

Please use the forum for any questions. Comments are welcome.