Raspberry Pi B+ adds connectivity and power features

Launched today, the new Raspberry Pi B+ board, which marks the first significant change to the credit card-sized computer, is available immediately. Priced at $35, the new board offers more sensors and accessories than ever before, enabling users to build bigger and better projects.

Advanced power management and enhanced connectivity make it possible to power four USB accessories such as 2.5 inch hard drive through the device. Up to 1.2A can be delivered to the USB ports to connect power-hungry devices and accessories without needing mains power or an external USB hub.

Featuring a 40-pin extended GPIO, even more sensors, connectors and expansion boards can be added to the board, allowing users to increase the complexity of their Raspberry Pi projects. The first 26 pins remain identical to the original Raspberry Pi Model B for 100% backward compatibility.

The Raspberry Pi B+ is based on the same Broadcom BCM2835 Chipset and 512MB of RAM as the previous model. It is powered by micro USB with AV connections through either HDMI or a new four-pole connector replacing the existing analogue audio and composite video ports. The SD card slot has been replaced with a micro-SD, tidying up the board design and helping to protect the card from damage. The B+ board also now uses less power (600mA) than the Model B Board (750mA) when running.

Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi Trading, comments: “We’ve been blown away by the projects that have been made possible through the original B boards and, with its new features, the B+ has massive potential to push the boundaries and drive further innovation. We are really looking forward to continuing our relationship with element14 and ensuring widespread adoption of the new board.”