Easter is only a few days away, the clocks went forward on Saturday night, and we are feeling very positive and spring-like.

 It is an exaggeration to suggest that we are skipping about like spring lambs, but based on all sorts of indicators, things are looking positive. One indicator is that silicon sales are up, which means people are manufacturing again and which, in turn, should kick off the next round of R&D.

It seems difficult to believe, but embedded world was even bigger than last year - 730 exhibitors and nearly 20,000 visitors. Everyone I spoke to was feeling upbeat, and we came back with a whole new set of products in the portfolio. We also learned about announcements being made later this year, and there are some good things coming.  It also goes to prove you can not beat face to face meetings and getting out to a conference is a worth while thing to do.

While we might not have an embedded world in the UK,
we do have the Embedded Masterclass. This year it is in
Cambridge (May 6th)
Reading (May 11th)
and is a wonderful mix of technical presentations, workshops and
an exhibition – given by engineers for engineers. We are sponsoring the
event this year, and there is a good line-up of speakers and exhibitors.
http://www.embedded-masterclass.com/

In the last newsletter we told you about how we, with IAR, sponsored the Imperial College Robotics Society Robo-Tracer Competition. Last week we were in Derby
to sponsor the Derby University Derbot competition .

Now in its fourth year, this competition is part of a module
in embedded systems for a BSc course in electrical
and electronic engineering.

Tim Wilmshurst, who teaches embedded systems at
the University of Derby has a web site with more information
at http://www.embedded-knowhow.co.uk/index.htm

One of the embedded world innovations was a student day. Over 700 students sat through a programme of lectures and then explored the show. Not something that we do in the UK.

And we were very impressed with the students at Imperial and in Derby. They have proved themselves by producing robots to a specification and tight deadlines. So they understand the real world!

Some of them are looking for placements, so if you think you can offer a place for a few weeks to a very bright and highly motivated student, please get in touch .

Segger has extended the range of Flash Programmers
(proudly called Flashers) and now support the entire
STM8 range of microcontrollers from ST.

 If you are working with these devices the Flasher is a must, providing full programming through high-speed interfaces
with optical isolation between target and host and complete Windows PC software.

And if you are indeed working with the STM8 family, look out for an announcement of a new compiler – coming soon.  Link to STM8 Programmer

We have someone seeking an OLD ARM Multi-ICE: the new ones do not do what they want. So if you have any ARM MULTI-ICE that are surplus to requirements we may be able to turn them into cash for you! Give us a call and we can put you in touch.  email Chris

A new release of Segger's emWin is due soon.

emWin provides an efficient, processor- and LCD controller-independent graphical user interface (GUI) for any application that operates with a graphical LCD. The new release, which was being demonstrated at embedded world, provides effects to move, rotate and blend widgets, windows and graphics. An optional skin provides widgets with a more modern look, which can be customised.

emWin is compatible with single-task and multitask environments, with a proprietary operating system or with any commercial RTOS and is shipped as "C" source code.

A demo of the new emWin is available on the Phaedsys web site .  Note this is an exe file.