blog@SchmartBoard

Win one of 3 Apple iPads

SchmartBoard has announced the 2010 MCU Challenge. The 2010 Schmartboard MCU Challenge is effectively 3 contests in one. We have separate challenges for creating circuits using the SchmartBoard 710-0004-01 board for the Microchip 8 Bit PIC MCU, 710-0005-01 for Parallax Propeller and 710-0006-01 for Texas Instruments MSP430, Piccolo and Stellaris Cortex M3. Entrants can enter 1 or more segment and/or multiple times for each segment.                                                                                                      Prizes are as follows:                

· First Prize – Apple iPad-16GB, WiFi
· Second Prize – Cue Radio Model r1
· Third Prize MPLAB ICD3 In-Circuit Debugger
· Honorable Mention 1 MPLAB Starter Kit for PIC18F MCU
· (4) Honorable Mention 2 $50 Coupon at Jameco Electronics or Robot Shop

Parallax Propeller MCU Segment
· First Prize – Apple iPad-16GB, WiFi
· Second Prize – Parallax Stingray Robot Kit
· Third Prize – Parallax PropScope – USB Oscilloscope
· (2) Honorable Mention 1 Elenco Snap Circuit Deluxe Kit
· (2) Honorable Mention 2 $50 Coupon at Jameco Electronics or Robot Shop

Texas Instruments MCU Segment
· First Prize – Apple iPad-16GB, WiFi
· (3) Second Prizes - eZ430 Chronos Sports Watch Dev Kit
· (3) Third Prizes - Programming tool for the MCU product of your choice
· (2) Honorable Mention 1 First Choice of $50 Coupon at Jameco Electronics or Robot Shop
· (2) Honorable Mention 2 $50 Coupon at Jameco Electronics or Robot Shop                                                                       

For more information, go to the SchmartBoard Website.

Everything is Bigger in Texas

We currently have two development boards using our "ez" technology.  One for Microchip and the other for Parallax.  The great thing about these boards is that the user can hand solder the MCU themselves, which means they can pick the MCU of their choice.  In the case of the MicroChip PIC, our boards supports all 100+ 8 bit PICs in an SOIC package.  ..ONE BOARDfor OVER 100 PICs!

In 2 weeks we will officially announce a new product with Texas Instruments.  This board will be even more impressive as it will support chips in 3 families, instead of just 1 family.  It will support the MSP430, C2000, and Stellaris Cortex M3 families

Look for a major special on this board, when released

Maker Faire

I was at the Maker Faire yesterday.  It killed me that we were there as visitors and not venders.  What a gold mine of talented, motivated creative, dare I say Schmart people.  We had hoped to be there this year and were going to be there with a partner.  Things did not work out in the 11th hour.  We will have to be there next year.  I saw many of the same things I've seen over the past few years, but the crowd has swelled to crazy numbers.  For those not familiar with the show it is a sensory overload experience packed with robots, electronics, rocketry, mechanics, crafts and much more.  For anyone interested in technology, it is a must.

Free SchmartBoards in May

SchmartBoard wants to give you a free board! SchmartBoard has a new Forum with 200+ members   and no posts. We are offering a bribe to jumpstart the forum. We are practically begging to give away 100 free    SchmartBoards' in the month of May. All you have to do is sign up with our Forum, and post a question, photo of a SchmartBoard project, or other comment.

Schmartboard,inc. 111 Deerwood Road, #235 San Ramon, CA 94583 510-659-1549 info@schmartboard.com

You Can Do It!

SchmartBoard has just released this fun video which shows how easy using Schmartboard is.  We hope you enjoy it!

 

 

SchmartForum Sneak Peak

Hello:

At the beginning of April, we will officially launch a new SchmartBoard forum that will be more powerful and useful than the Yahoo groups pge. We will use it to quickly answer questions and allow users to post photos, etc.

I'd like to invite SchmartBlog readers access to the site before it becomes announced next month. Keep in mind we may be modifying it somewhat over the next two weeks., but your posted information will not be deleted.

http://forum.schmartboard.com

Regards

Finally, Prototyping Boards for SMT Connectors

These new boards support SMT connectors from companies such as Hirose, Molex, Samtec and Tyco.  They supported pitches are .4mm, .5mm, 8mm, 1.0mm, and 1.27mm.  They also use our patented SchmartBoard|ez technology.  SchmartBoard|ez is our solution for hand soldering surface-mount components.

 

Users have been asking us to support SMT connectors for some time now”.  In fact, users have been taking our SOIC boards and cutting them in half to support SMT connectors and LCD panels.  With these new boards we now support the vast majority of what people have been requesting, and we hope to work closely with the connector manufacturers to fill in other areas of need

 

The suggested retail for the boards are $9.99 each or in 10 packs for $80.00

We Need Your Input!!

SchmartBoard Is Looking For Your Input

We need your input of some ideas for future modules. It will onl y take 1 minute of your time. If you make a recommendation that we haven't  thought of and we   use it, we       will pay  you $10 in SchmartMoney.       (Must be signed up for SchmartMoney Program) Take Quick Survey

New SchmartMoney Program is Off and Running!

The New SchmartMoney Program is one week old and initial indications are that a lot of people will ultimately sign up.  In the program, everytime one buys a SchmartBoard from any SchmartBoard distributor or anything off of SchmartBoard.com , they receive 5% back in the form of SchmartMoney.  SchmartMoney can be used to buy anything on schmartboard.com or in increments of $50, converted into real cash, paid via Paypal.

Perhaps it is the economy that has made this program timely.  Some users have already earned enough in the first week to buy a free SchmartBoard.  Additionally, we have participents who reside in: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Mexico, Peru, United Kingsom in addition the The U.S.  If you buy our products, you should sign up...there is no obligation to do anything, except get free stuff!

SchmartMoney

Today we have launched the new SchmartMoney Program. In short, when you buy a SchmartBoard product from a SchmartBoard distributor or any product or service from SchmartBoard directly, you get SchmartMoney, which can be used to buy products at SchmartBoard's website, or even converted into cash!  Signing up is quick and easy and you are never under any obligation to buy anything new.  Sign up today!