We have the Raspberry Pi Zero, but its availability issues in some regions only frustrate users. Then we have the whole Arduino family and its Chinese clones, but perhaps our project needs more firepower. What would be a suitable "middle ground" then? One possible answer is the Omega2, a mini Linux computer with integrated WiFi, modular, easy to program, very economical, and as big as a cherry.
Every time a high-profile company talks about the famous "Internet of Things", I feel that the only thing it achieves is to distance that concept from the user. At the end of the day, the projects of millions of enthusiasts around the globe are more interesting than any automated, hyper-connected official solution. I would even dare to say that the Internet of Things will never exist as the big names of the market envision it, but rather it will adapt to a much more advanced and broad DIY movement, in which users build and experiment on their own, using free software resources and very low-cost hardware. The Raspberry Pi Zero is a compelling proof in favor of that trend, but now we have something new: The Omega2.
580 MHz in its CPU. 64 megabytes of RAM, 16 megabytes of storage, USB 2.0 support, integrated WiFi, 15 GPIO pins, two UART connections, and a huge potential. On its own, this mini computer has no video output, but thanks to its high connectivity it's very easy to control it through a web browser with a special cloud service (called Onion Cloud, which by the way is optional), or directly via SSH for those who prefer that route. Then expansion modules come into play, allowing you to add compatibility with Arduino shields, a small OLED screen, servo motor controls, physical Ethernet port, Bluetooth, GPS, and much more. WiFi repeater, media server, and streaming platform are just three of the many roles the Omega2 can assume.
And it costs five dollars. Yes, the standard edition costs just five bucks. For four extra dollars you can get a version that has double the memory (RAM and storage) and a microSD slot as an expansion path. Its Kickstarter campaign has been a success, and with six days to go (hurry up!) it has far surpassed its original goal of $15,000. If all goes well, the first units will reach backers in November.
