Spark Labs Raises $4.9M to Help Engineers Make Their Devices Smart

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Re: Spark Labs Raises $4.9M to Help Engineers Make Their Devices Smart

#31

Post by jenesaisdiq » Wed, Jul 09, 2014, 1:25 AM UTC

bravo22 wrote: post #26

zsupalla wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Zach here, also from Spark. We're definitely working on next-gen hardware now, haven't selected a final chipset yet. Our hosted cloud is somewhat different from the open source version, and the differences will grow over time. As an open source company, the question always comes to "how do we make money?" Our open source thesis is to give away basic technology and sell advanced technology. Right now the biggest diffe…

Thanks for answering Zach! Your answer certainly helps make it more clear. To use your feature rich cloud, would one have to use your spark core board or one can roll own CC3000 based board + your open source firmware but pay you and have it talk to your closed cloud for scale? When is your plan to announce pricing for this feature rich cloud?

You've got it- you can build your own board using our reference design and pay us a minor fee to use our lovely cloud. Pricing isn't public yet, but we can discuss it privately if you have a need. Thanks!

Re: Spark Labs Raises $4.9M to Help Engineers Make Their Devices Smart

#32

Post by avidan » Thu, Jul 10, 2014, 1:52 AM UTC

vicngtor wrote: post #3

Well deserved. Their chip is practically the only chip that works and can be easily integrated into arduino boards.

if you mean integrating into Arduino shields, then YES, absolutely. the beauty of Spark is that it you can program using Wiring (the same language as arduino), so a lot of the example sketchs and libraries are easily transportable.

So basically, if you love an arduino shield, you can prototype using this (http://www.makershed.com/products/shield-shield) then you port the library over to spark's cloud, and you have a wifi enabled Arduino Shield!

once your prototype is where you want it, you can roll-up a version of that shield with the spark components built on the board. because the reference design of the spark core is open, its actually quite easy (assuming your shield's schematic is available).

and when you are ready for production, getting the cc3000 and stm32 is as easy as throwing a rock down the street in shenzen.

i could not be more excited about leading the investment in spark....and building products at home on the platform.

im not just the investor, im also a member.

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