MediaTek Labs Announces MediaTek LinkIt™ Smart 7688 – an Open-Source Development Platform for a More Connected World
MediaTek Labs announced the MediaTek LinkIt Smart 7688 development platform, the latest addition to the LinkIt portfolio of development platforms. This new platform offers a variety of programming options and enables rapid development of advanced Wi-Fi based devices such as IP cameras, surveillance devices, smart appliances and Wi-Fi gateways that make use of cloud services.
Two versions of the platform’s Hardware Development Kit (HDK) are available: the LinkIt Smart 7688, which includes a microprocessor unit (MPU) based on the MediaTek MT7688AN system-on-chip (SOC), and the LinkIt Smart 7688 Duo, which in addition to the MPU includes a microcontroller unit (MCU) and is Arduino compatible. Both development boards feature built-in Wi-Fi, generous 128MB RAM and 32MB Flash, and a wide variety of options for connecting peripherals.
MediaTek Labs is focused on stimulating innovation in IoT and is pleased to extend its LinkIt family of development platforms to the open-source and web developer communities, enabling broader product development for a more connected world. The new LinkIt Smart 7688 development platform will appeal to a wide range of developers because of its open-source software compatibility, support for several popular programming languages and use of Linux.
It will benefit three developer communities:
- OpenWrt: Developers can use the standard OpenWrt SDK to create native C applications for their IoT device, taking advantage of over 2000 software packages offering additional functionality. Web and mobile app developers: With support for Node.js and Python, the platform offers an easy route into IoT development.
- Arduino: (LinkIt Smart 7688 Duo only) Makers can use the popular Arduino IDE to develop applications for the MCU and have realtime control of peripherals.
LinkIt Smart 7688 is able to take advantage of the MediaTek Cloud Sandbox for data collection, visualization and analytics during development.
Learn more about the platform by visiting http://labs.mediatek.com/hello7688.
Availability and Cost
The MediaTek LinkIt Smart 7688 and 7688 Duo development boards are available to ship globally from Seeed Studio, starting December 1, 2015. The LinkIt Smart 7688 costs $12.90, while the LinkIt Smart 7688 Duo costs $15.90. Both boards can be purchased from http://www.seeed.cc/7688.
A fully open-source version of the Wi-Fi driver is in development and expected to be made available by MediaTek Labs in the coming months.
MediaTek Labs launched in September 2014 and continues to provide developers, makers and service providers with SDKs, HDKs and documentation, as well as technical and business support. To learn more about MediaTek Labs, visit http://labs.mediatek.com/.
