Blog Posts

Blog Posts

MiciMike’s Open-Source PCB Turns Google Home Mini Into Local Voice Assistant (Crowdfunding) – CNX Software

MiciMike Home Mini Drop In PCB

The MiciMike Home Mini Drop-In PCB is an open-source replacement mainboard designed to convert a 1st Gen Google Home Mini into a fully local, privacy-focused voice assistant running Home Assistant Voice. Built around an ESP32-S3 MCU and an XMOS XU316 audio processor, it removes cloud dependencies without any case modifications or soldering. The board offers on-device wake word detection, echo cancellation, and noise suppression via two MEMS microphones, and comes pre-flashed with ESPHome for easy Home Assistant integration. The PCBA fully supports local voice processing, optional cloud LLM integration, media playback, and Snapcast. It’s released as open hardware under the CERN-OHL-S v2 license, with complete design files available, making it suitable for privacy-focused smart-home automation, DIY voice assistants, and hardware-reuse projects. MiciMike Home Mini Drop-In PCB specifications: Compatibility – Google Home Mini 1st generation Wireless MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3 CPU –  Dual-core Xtensa LX7 microcontroller @ up to 240 […]

The post MiciMike’s open-source drop-in PCB converts Google Home Mini into a local voice assistant (Crowdfunding) appeared first on CNX Software – Embedded Systems News.

GitHub Quickly Fixed a Critical Vulnerability in Under Six Hours

GitHub employees fixed a critical remote code execution vulnerability in less than six hours last month. Wiz Research used AI models to uncover a vulnerability in GitHub’s internal git infrastructure that could have allowed attackers to access millions of public and private code repositories. “Our security team immediately began validating the bug bounty report. Within […]

China Halts Issuance of New Robotaxi Licenses Following Baidu Incident

China has suspended new licenses for autonomous vehicles, Bloomberg reports, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. The move comes after dozens of robotaxis operated by Chinese tech giant Baidu ground to a halt in traffic last month in Wuhan, creating chaos. The restrictions will prevent companies from adding new driverless cars to their fleets, […]

EU Rules Meta Isn’t Doing Enough to Keep Kids Off Facebook and Instagram

Meta is breaching Europe’s Digital Services Act (DSA) rules by failing to prevent children under 13 from using Facebook and Instagram, according to a preliminary decision issued by the European Commission. The Commission announced the ruling on Wednesday after an almost two-year investigation, saying that Meta doesn’t have adequate measures in place to stop under-13s […]

SpaceX Obligated to Settle Charges for Upcoming Rocket Launches: Explanation of Reasons

new announcement that has been released. The charges will be based on the dimensions of each payload, starting at $0.25 per pound in 2026, progressively increasing by $0.10 each subsequent year. By the year 2033, the cumulative fees are expected to reach approximately $1.50 per pound, ultimately capping at $30,000 for each launch or reentry. These funds will support the Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST), which falls under the purview of the FAA, to manage activities within the space sector.

This is quite standard, as airlines are already subject to similar fees from the FAA to help maintain the aviation sector. The new fees for launches and reentries adopt a comparable strategy, which, initially, the FAA suspended to promote the advancement of the current space era. The collected funds will assist the FAA licensing division in overseeing rocket launches, a necessity highlighted by industry advocates. Ongoing launches from SpaceX and Blue Origin may enhance financial capabilities, while another contender, Rocket Labs, is expected to enter the field, initiating a hypersonic rocket series that could rival others in the market.

Reasons the FAA requires these fees for licensing and oversight

Crucial Bluetooth Add-ons for Your iPhone

fantastic 3-in-1 wireless chargers for the iPhone – not to mention the array of MagSafe devices available. Nevertheless, you can significantly enhance your iPhone’s functionality by incorporating Bluetooth accessories, such as wireless earbuds, an Apple Watch, or a smart hydration bottle.

These gadgets can greatly increase your iPhone’s usefulness. Wireless earbuds enable you to listen to music or participate in calls while your iPhone charges; the Apple Watch monitors your health even during sleep; and a Bluetooth hydration bottle indicates if you’re consuming enough water throughout the day.

Unlike in earlier years, there’s no requirement to disable Bluetooth on an iPhone when not in use, nor on other tech devices. The connectivity is so energy-efficient that keeping it off could be more problematic than leaving it on, as you won’t be able to enjoy its connectivity without activating it manually each time. The gadgets featured below represent a selection of my favorite Bluetooth accessories, which I use every day with my iPhone. I’ve also highlighted some of the most sought-after products you can frequently see people using on the streets.

Wireless earbuds