Raspberry Pi Archives

AppWizard

May 3, 2025

This one app has made my life easier and my wife happier

The author has at least 35 different smart home devices, leading to a fragmented experience with multiple apps and services. They are considering using Home Assistant as a central hub for device control, which supports various protocols like Matter, Thread, Zigbee, HomeKit, and Nest. Home Assistant can be installed easily on devices like Raspberry Pi or Virtual Machines, requiring a constant network connection. Once set up, it consolidates controls into one interface, allowing for custom dashboards and automations. Recent developments, such as Google discontinuing support for older Nest Thermostats, have prompted users to seek alternatives like Home Assistant for a unified control experience. The introduction of customizable lock screen shortcuts in Android 14 allows users to replace the Google Home app with Home Assistant. Users are encouraged to start simple and gradually expand their system.

Winsage

May 2, 2025

How To Dual Boot Linux and Windows on any PC

The process of installing Linux has evolved from text-based installers in the late 1990s to user-friendly graphical installers in distributions like Ubuntu and OpenSUSE. Users can start with a single-board computer like the Raspberry Pi or set up a dual-boot configuration with Windows and Linux using a custom boot menu called GRUB. It is advisable to back up the drive before installation to prevent data loss. To create a Linux Install USB, users need to download an ISO image of the Linux distribution and use Rufus to write it onto a USB drive of at least 8GB. The steps include selecting the USB drive, choosing the Linux OS, selecting the GPT partition scheme, and writing the OS in ISO image mode. For dual-boot installation, users should insert the USB drive, boot from it, and select “Try or Install Ubuntu” from the GRUB menu. After testing hardware functionality, the installation process involves selecting language, configuring accessibility, choosing keyboard layout, connecting to the Internet, and selecting installation options. Users must choose “Install Ubuntu alongside Windows Boot Manager” and allocate space for each operating system. After installation, users need to adjust BIOS settings to ensure the system boots from the Linux installation. This includes selecting the Boot menu, setting the Linux install as Boot Option 1, and saving the changes. Upon rebooting, users can select their Linux OS from the GRUB menu and verify the functionality of both operating systems.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

Tiny11’s creator squashed Windows 11 ARM onto an iPad Air M2, and it works better than you’d think

NTDev has successfully run Windows 11 Arm64 on the iPad Air M2 using a streamlined version called Tiny11, which has a smaller file size and fewer features. This was achieved with the UTM app and just-in-time (JIT) emulation, taking advantage of the iPad Air M2's ARM CPU. Although users may experience some lag, the ability to run Windows 11 on this device without crashing demonstrates innovative software solutions. This effort is part of a trend where enthusiasts explore unconventional methods to run Windows 11 on various devices.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

5 amazing Linux distros that are better than Windows, but you should avoid them as a beginner

Linux distributions have evolved to be more accessible for users transitioning from Windows and macOS, with Debian-based distributions being relatively easy to navigate. DietPi is an ultra-lightweight OS that requires manual configuration of essential packages, making it more suitable for experienced users. Tails prioritizes user privacy by using the Tor network and operates from a USB drive, but is not ideal for casual users. Qubes OS enhances security through virtualization but has a steep learning curve and challenges with GPU passthrough. Talos Linux is optimized for Kubernetes projects but may be difficult for newcomers due to its lack of SSH support and immutable design. Bazzite, a gaming-focused distribution based on Fedora, offers a user-friendly setup but may not support multiplayer games with kernel-level anti-cheat technology, making it less suitable for competitive gamers.

Winsage

April 21, 2025

I ran Windows 11 inside a Docker container… on my Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi series has evolved into versatile systems, but running Windows has been challenging for enthusiasts. A recent project explored running Windows 11 on the Raspberry Pi 5 using Runtipi, a platform for deploying containers. This method allows Windows 11 to run in a container using KVM technology. The installation process took about 38-43 minutes, resulting in a Windows 11 desktop with limited performance, including a capped display resolution of 800x600. Geekbench 6 tests showed single-core performance similar to Raspberry Pi OS, but multi-core performance was lower. Running PC games resulted in long load times and resolution issues, making the experience unsatisfactory. The containerized approach simplifies the installation process compared to traditional methods, making it a viable option for running lightweight applications on the Raspberry Pi.

Winsage

April 2, 2025

Windows OS On A Pixel Watch! PHD Student Achieves The Impossible! News24 –

A PhD student named Gustave Monce, along with a small team, successfully ran the Windows operating system on a Pixel Watch through the WOA project. The process involved examining a rooted boot image, modifying the stock UEFI, altering the ACPI table, and patching various files to enable the watch to run Windows PE. Despite the extensive work, the project faced challenges due to the Pixel Watch's internal architecture, which was designed for its native OS. Additionally, old iPads can be repurposed as e-readers by downloading e-book reader applications or, for a more ambitious project, by booting them with a Raspberry Pi or another Linux-based operating system.

Winsage

March 15, 2025

Forget Windows, SteamOS is reportedly prepping for a general release to dethrone Microsoft

Valve is preparing to make SteamOS publicly available, allowing users to install it on various devices beyond the Steam Deck. Reports indicate that a post on X (formerly Twitter) hinted at the imminent public release of SteamOS, which will no longer be exclusive to the Steam Deck. This development enables users to transform a range of devices into gaming systems, including handhelds and unconventional gadgets. However, SteamOS still faces challenges in competing with Windows as the preferred gaming operating system.

AppWizard

February 24, 2025

This Raspberry Pi Creeper robot is bringing our Minecraft nightmares to real life

The Raspberry Pi has been used to create a creeper robot by developer Efren Lopez, integrating artificial intelligence. The robot can navigate and observe its surroundings, featuring a body on motorized wheels, a movable head with a servo mechanism, and a camera module for vision. It is powered by a Raspberry Pi 5, connected to a Pimoroni NVMe Base Duo, a Hailo-8 Raspberry Pi AI kit, and a Pimoroni Yukon board, with onboard batteries for mobility. The robot includes two cameras (a Pi Cam V3 and an Arducam ToF module) and a Dayton audio transducer for audio output. Lopez has shared build videos on YouTube to showcase the robot's capabilities.

Winsage

February 6, 2025

Microsoft debuts Windows MIDI Services with MIDI 2.0 support

Microsoft has released a public preview of Windows MIDI Services, supporting the MIDI 2.0 standard, as part of build 27788 in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Canary Channel. Users may encounter a known installation error (0x8007000d) and a failed .NET update (0x80073712), and are advised to retry the build while avoiding the .NET update. The development of Windows MIDI Services has been ongoing, with updates provided since 2022 and a GitHub repository opened in 2023. The feature was anticipated to debut in Windows Insider builds but was delayed until February. MIDI serves as a standard for connecting electronic instruments to computers for music creation, and this update is particularly beneficial for electronic music users. Microsoft plans to extend this technology to supported versions of Windows 10 and 11 before October.

Winsage

December 13, 2024

Windows 10’s end is coming: here’s what you should do about it

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. Windows 10 was launched in July 2015 and replaced Windows 8. Users can upgrade to Windows 11 if their hardware meets the minimum specifications, which include a 1 GHz CPU, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of storage, along with a second-generation Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and UEFI BIOS capable of secure boot. Many older PCs may not qualify for the upgrade, requiring at least an 8th Gen Intel processor or a Zen+ AMD processor. Users can also consider installing Linux distributions like Ubuntu or ChromeOS on older PCs. Remaining on Windows 10 after support ends poses security risks and limits access to updates.