Variscite unveils two i.MX8 QuadMax modules

Variscite announced Linux-powered “VAR-SOM-MX8” and “SPEAR-MX8” modules with an up to an i.MX8 QuadMax SoC plus up to 8GB LPDDR4 and 64GB eMMC. It also previewed a VAR-SOM-6UL COM. At Embedded World next week in Nuremberg, Germany, Variscite will showcase its Linux and Android driven i.MX8-family computer-on-modules, including new VAR-SOM-MX8 and SPEAR-MX8 modules that feature NXP’s highest-end i.MX8 SoC up to a QuadMax model (see farther below). We have already covered most of the other showcased products, including the 14nm fabricated, quad -A53 i.MX8M Mini based DART-MX8M-Mini. When we covered the DART-MX8M-Mini in September, Variscite didn’t have an image or product page, but both are now available here

Android Leftovers

• Android Q: Everything we know so far about Google’s next mobile OS

• Qualcomm is testing QM215 chipset for Android Go phones

• Nokia 6 (2017) gets Android 9 Pie as HMD keeps its 2-year update promise

• Samsung Galaxy S10 is the first non-Pixel/Android One device to ship with Google’s Digital Wellbeing

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e hands-on: A solid Android tablet with almost zero real competitors [Video]

• Android leads the way in business but security concerns remain

• Here’s how to undo an Android app update if you’re not ready for the new version

Programming: Developer Happiness, Rblpapi 0.3.8 and Python

• Developer happiness: What you need to know

  A person needs the right tools for the job. There's nothing as frustrating as getting halfway through a car repair, for instance, only to discover you don't have the specialized tool you need to complete the job. The same concept applies to developers: you need the tools to do what you are best at, without disrupting your workflow with compliance and security needs, so you can produce code faster. Over half—51%, to be specific—of developers spend only one to four hours each day programming, according to ActiveState's recent Developer Survey 2018: Open Source Runtime Pains. In other words, the majority of developers spend less than half of their time coding. According to the survey, 50% of developers say security is one of their biggest concerns, but 67% of developers choose not to add a new language when coding because of the difficulties related to corporate policies.

• Rblpapi 0.3.8: Keeping CRAN happy

  A minimal maintenance release of Rblpapi, now at version 0.3.9, arrived on CRAN earlier today. Rblpapi provides a direct interface between R and the Bloomberg Terminal via the C++ API provided by Bloomberg (but note that a valid Bloomberg license and installation is required). This is the ninth release since the package first appeared on CRAN in 2016. It accomodates a request by CRAN / R Core to cope with staged installs which will be a new feature of R 3.6.0. No other changes were made (besides updating a now-stale URL at Bloomberg in a few spots and other miniscule maintenance). However, a few other changes have been piling up at the GitHub repo so feel free to try that version too.

• Episode #200: Escaping Excel Hell with Python and Pandas

• Testing native ES modules using Mocha and esm.

Games: Steam, Devil Engine, City Game Studio and More

• A reminder about Steam's platform-specific wishlist feature you should be using

  Why is it important? Well, we speak to a huge amount of game developers and a very common issue we've come across since this was implemented was a very low volume of wishlists from Linux.

• Devil Engine, a seriously good looking shoot 'em up is coming to Linux

  I spoke to the developer of Devil Engine, a brand new shoot 'em up that looks ridiculously good and they confirmed to me it's coming to Linux. After searching over new games on Steam, to see if anything not currently on Linux took my interest I came across Devil Engine last night. I decided to shoot a quick email to the developer about Linux support, they replied to mention that "Yes, it's in the works." (quoted with permission)—awesome!

• City Game Studio is another sim that has you run your own games company, developed on Linux

  City Game Studio from Binogure Studio will have you run your own game development company, this one was actually developed on Linux using Godot Engine and other FOSS tools.

• Headliner: NoviNews, a game where you control the news adds experimental Linux support

  This is fun news to start the day with, Unbound Creations have added experimental Linux support to Headliner: NoviNews.

• NBlood, an open source port of the classic FPS 'Blood' using EDuke32

  Based on the EDuke32 game engine, NBlood is a new open source port of the classic FPS Blood. From what Voidpoint said on Twitter, it's using their version of the game engine too. While there's a new remaster of Blood coming from Nightdive Studios, which hasn't yet been confirmed for Linux (so we've not mentioned it) it's good to see the classics still being updated for other platforms (and getting newer features).

• Sci-fi puzzle horror 'The Subject' officially adds Linux support

  Today, DarkStone Digital have added Linux support to their rather good and scary looking sci-fi puzzle horror game The Subject. DarkStone Digital is actually made up of a single developer, Brian Clarke, who previously worked for different AAA studios as "an artist in leadership and director positions".

• Sudden Strike 4 releases an update with free bonus missions, plus a new Pacific War DLC

  Showing some good post-release support, Kite Games and Kalypso Media Digital have pushed out a free content update and a new DLC for the strategy game Sudden Strike 4 today.