Crunch time for 7.52

About 8 weeks have raced by since the MPLAB IDE 7.51 interim release. That means another release is rapidly approaching and it's crunch time for the entire Microchip Development Systems group. Not only do we have a new interim version of the IDE on deck, major new versions of MPLAB C18 and MPLAB C30 will follow closely behind.

I can't tell you much about the all of the changes in MPLAB IDE because I haven't had much time to try them out myself. Same goes for C18.

On the other hand, I've been working closely with another test engineer to run C30 through the gauntlet. I can tell you that this C30 release has a few significant new features and it is a big step for the compiler. I shouldn't really detail the new features before the release, but be sure to read the readme file and the migration document when they hit the web.

So, once all of the software tools are approved for release to the web, I'll try to come up with a bullet list of changes that may interest http://forum.microchip.com users like I did for MPLAB IDE 7.51. I didn't get much feedback last time, but I hope it was useful to some users.

MiWi Wireless Networking Protocol Stack available as AN1066

One of Microchip's many applications groups recently released application note 1066 for the MiWi protocol stack. I haven't used it myself, but I attended a presentation on the wireless protocol a few months ago, and it peaked my interest.

The MiWi™ Wireless Networking Protocol is a simple protocol designed for low data rate, short distance, low-cost networks. Fundamentally based on IEEE802.15.4™ for wireless personal area networks(WPANs), the MiWi protocol provides an easy-to-use alternative for wireless communication. In particular, it targets smaller applications that have relatively small network sizes, with few hops between nodes, using Microchip’s MRF24J40 2.4GHz transceiver for IEEE802.15.4 compliant networks.

This application note covers the definition of the MiWi Wireless Networking Protocol Stack and how it works. The example Stack implementation data structures, usage and APIs are covered in this document, as well as resource requirements for this implementation. For completeness, the document also introduces several aspects of wireless networking, as well as key features of IEEE 802.15.4. However, it is assumed that the user is already familiar with the C programming language and IEEE 802.15.4. You are strongly advised to read the specification in detail prior to using the Microchip MiWi Wireless Networking Protocol Stack.

Most importantly, the software works with everybody's my favorite C compilers, MPLAB C18 for PIC18 and MPLAB C30 for PIC24/dsPIC30/dsPIC33. You can read more about MiWi here or get AN1066 here.

Transmeta shuts down CPU business

ExtremeTech is reporting that Transmeta is getting out of the CPU engineering business and instead will focus on IP development and licensing.

Steve Jobs says that DRM doesn't work

Over at apple.com, Steve Jobs' blog gives his Thoughts on Music. The 10-minute read explains the current state of the digital music industry and (surprisingly) respectfully mentions all of the industry's major players. Where does he want the industry to go?

Why would the big four music companies agree to let Apple and others distribute their music without using DRM systems to protect it? The simplest answer is because DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy. Though the big four music companies require that all their music sold online be protected with DRMs, these same music companies continue to sell billions of CDs a year which contain completely unprotected music. That’s right! No DRM system was ever developed for the CD, so all the music distributed on CDs can be easily uploaded to the Internet, then (illegally) downloaded and played on any computer or player.

Read the full post.

Can't Run Home Editions Of Windows Vista On Virtual Machines

Paul McDougall at Information Week is reporting that Microsoft's Vista Home Premium or Basic editions' license agreement prohibits "booting the software 'within a virtual (or otherwise emulated) hardware system'".

That means Linux aficionados or users of Apple Macs will not legally be able to use software from vendors such as Parallels or EMC's VMWare to create so-called virtual machines on their desktops to run Vista alongside their favorite OS. Windows users wanting to run Vista in a virtual machine environment for security or productivity purposes also will need either the Business or Ultimate Edition.

Read the full article at Information Week.

Microchip's dsPIC30FXXXX DSCs Chosen as "Finalists" for EDN Innovation Awards

Microchip’s dsPIC30FXXXX DSCs for Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPSs) were chosen by EDN as finalists for its Innovation Awards, in the “Microcontrollers and DSCs” category. Congratulations to the DSC team!