SoCSicle Update --
We expected to have SoCSicle inventory in the next week. We were notified by the board house yesterday that our connectors for the piggyback boards are out of stock and not expected until November 21st. Since that is so close to the Thanksgiving holiday, we expect the shipment to arrive around the second week of December.
We apologize for the delay and were caught by surprise however, these connectors are not normally high volume sellers. In the meantime, we will have the datasheet, press release, and product photo up on the web next week.
We will also be offering a pre-shipment sale to help ease the pain of the late delivery. That offer will begin November 15th, and run through the end of 2007.
Timelines has become Worldwide Distributors and Consultants for Hi-Tech Compilers --
You'll note the Hi-Tech logo at the bottom of the right frame. We've decided to become worldwide distributors for Hi-Tech compilers for several reasons. First, by promtoting Hi-Tech compilers, we are supporting the only cross-platform compiler that works across a large number of microcontrollers. Because a big part of our business is developing educational materials, we believe our customers and students will benefit because make files, linker scripts, parsers, and compilers use the same syntax. Second, we will be offering discounts on the compilers we deliver when bundled with or purcahsed after acquiring a Timelines or PSoC Training product. This allows us to offer you, the customer better value. And finally, we are expanding to support new microcontroller manufacturers in 2008 and we can add the Hi-Tech products for the new lines as they become available or as we begin supporting new parts.
October 20th, 2007
SoCSicle Development Board Announcement
We are pleased to introduce the SoCSicle Development board. The SoCSicle was conceived last December to complement "The Beginner's Guide to PSoC Express". We began developing the concept in February and went through several prototype stages before completion.
The SoCSicle went to production on October 15th, and will be available November 10th, 2007. This is almost three months later than originally planned but we think the end product will be more useful, have a longer lifecycle, and be easier to use for the beginner and electronics hobbyist.
SoCSicle will be available for pre-order on October 22nd. We will be offering special pricing for customers who pre-order and existing owners of "The Beginner's Guide to PSoC Express".
July 6th, 2007
Book Review in Electronic Design
The Beginner’s Guide to PSoC Express By Oliver H. Bailey ISBN: 978-0-9790344-0-4 William Wong | ED Online ID #15918 | June 19, 2007 Article Rating: Not Rated |
Cypress Semiconductor’s PSoC configurable microcontroller is a handy part to use in an embedded application because half of its peripheral set is specified by the designer. Unfortunately, when it first came out, this configuration process was a bit more difficult than writing a “Hello World” program. Cypress created the PSoC Express development tool to greatly simplify the process. PSoC Express is a graphical modeling system that allows developers to create applications without resorting to text-based programming tools.
International Orders and Credit Card Restrictions have been lifted.
International shipping button has been added and the restrictions allowing credit vards from non-US addresses has also been lifted. All International orders are currently being shipped via USPS International Priority Mail. Please allow 6-7 weeks for the package to get through customs and delivered.
July 1, 2007
Orders not Placed at www.PSoCTraining.com
If you did not purchase your book from www.PSoCTraining.com don't call or email us looking for tracking information because we did not process your order. Please contact the vendor where you purchased your book for tracking and order information..
May 23, 2007
What is PSoCTraining.com
PSoCTraining.com is a site dedicated to the PSoC Mixed-Signal Microcontroller from Cypress Semiconductor. The site operates under the control of Timelines Industries, publisher of "The Beginner's Guide to PSoC Express" and Oliver Bailey, the author of the book. The goal is to provide high quality training and educational tools that include books, DVD's, seminars, board level products and training tours to bring help educators, engineers, students, and hobbyists have the best "PSoC Experience" possible. And psoctraining.com is an offical CYPros consulting entity.
What is the PSoC?
For those new to the PSoC, it is a Mixed-Signal Microcontroller or Processor from Cypress semiconductor. While there are other mixed-signal parts on the market, the PSoC is unique in that the firmware design process is more visual based than other similar type parts. Having visual design tools for low costs parts is unheard of because the investment in software is high. Because of the visual design environment, there are capabilities extended to the developer in how the internal buss is configured allowing for design of cascading mixed signal components within the part. There are two design tools available for PSoC. The first is PSoC Express, a completely visual environment that allows complete project development without writing any manual code at all. This visual front-end generates standard C code which is then compiled, downloaded, and executed entirely from within the visual environment. There is also PSoC Designer which is a more advanced tool, allowing developers direct code control, and access to the internal digital and analog blocks in additiona to the internal buss and I/O pins.
The Beginner's Guide to PSoC Express, Microcontroller Development without Writing Code
This book is 250 pages in length and covers all aspects if PSoC Express. Originally developed using PSoC Express 2.2, the same concepts and methods are applicable to the upcoming PSoC Express 3 which is due later in 2007. The entire PSoC Express development process is covered through hands on examples using a variety of PSoC Parts. While these examples were ddeveloped using the World Tour board from Cypress, they can be easily be ported to other PSoC devices by simply changing the target device type and pin assignments.
The book begins by taking a tour of the PSoC Express visual design desktop. It then moves on to developing a couple of real-world projects using simulations. While PSoC Express doesn't offer souce-level debugging, it has an excellent simulation system that allows proof-of-concept without source code debugging. Afterwards, several chapters are dedicated to devloping a working hour meter which includes buttons, potentioeters, seven-segment displays, I2C communicatios, and LCD outputs. The remaining chapters cover USB, Wireless Communications, CapSense, and an example on how to modify C code generated by PSoC Express. The book concludes with a chapter of available resoures developers will find useful in their own projects, a notes section for personal notes, and a subject index.
"The Beginner's Guide to PSoC Express" will be shipping June 5th, 2007. The book retails for $49.95 and includes a CD of all projjects, PSoC Express, and other useful tools for developers. To kick off the launch of this exciting new book we are offering the book/CD combo, for $39.95 for e very limited time.. Just click on the order button to the left to take advantage of the special introductory pricing. But hurry, because the special price can will be discontinued without notice.
Companion DVD
The companion DVD contains each project fully built and tested as described in the book. The project and web seminar from August 31st, 2006 is also included, fully built and tested. Also included are: Watcom C/C++, Eagle layout Editor Freeware Version and beige Bag Software's Spice V5. The components used in the USB application is also included as a non-restributable component that can be used in your own applications for personal use.
Upcoming Products, Events, and Tours
PSoC Express for C and BASIC Programmers.
We have other new products coming in the next few months. The first of these is a DVD titled "PSoC Express for C and BASIC programmers", two hours of PSoC Express training aimed specifically at C and BASIC programmers and those already using PSoC Designer. Because PSoC Express is such a radically different design tool, it requires a much different design approach. Learning this approach can be a tremendous learning curve for those of us who have been traditional C and BASIC programmers. This two hour journey will get developers, students, and hobbyists up to speed quickly by taking exisiting projects written in C and BASIC and coverting them to PSoC Express using a familar step-by-step approach with hands on projects.
PSoC Express for C and BASIC Programmers will be available in August 2007.
The SoCsicle Development Board
Cypress is continually developing new products so to eliminate our dependency on their hardware we are in the final stages of developing the SoCsicle, a development board based on the CY8C24894 PSoC. This board comes in a 48 pin DIP configuration and has headers for future expansion and piggyback cards which we are already developing. While we could place a phot of the SoCsicle here, we will be dedicating an entire area of this site to the SoCsicle, SoCsicle projects, and additional SoCsicle expansion boards.
The SoCsicle will be available during August or September of 2007.
The PSoCTraining Newsletter
We are working on the first newsletter for PSoCTraining.com. This is an experiment to see if there is enough interest to support such an effort from outside Cypress. Cypress offers a wonderful and informative newsletter geared at the general PSoC audience. Our goal is to offer a news;etter that has tricks and tips, useful technical information, and a beginner's project in each issue. We are looking for PSoC Teckies who may be interested in having an article published and sponsors whoc support will go to pay for the support of the newsletter and it's associated costs. Again, this is an experiment to see if there is enough interest and support.
PSoC Training Tour
We are in the duscussion stage of planning a training tour for 2008 using the PSoC. During quarters 3 & 4 of 2007, a preliminary training schedule of topics and cities will be put togteher. We will be adding a survey page and email address for topics and cities in North America developers would like to see us visit. More information will be included here are topics and potential cities are finalized.
PSoC Surveys and Forums
And finally, we will be having PSoC Surveys from time to time. These will include surveys on what you would like to see in the way of topics or new directions in PSoC training. This is our lifeline to you the customer, so please use it share your thoughts, likes, and dislikes with us.
Our site is independent of Cypress and depending on the level of support, use, and revenue generated we plan on adding user forums in the near future. This may be in the forum of dedicated forums on this site (preferred) or through a webring forum as a short term measure.
Return Policy
ALL Returns must have prior authorization from Timelines Industries. Returns must be in the original shipping jacket with the DVD un-opened. Return requests must be made within five days of package receipt.
Shipping & Delivery Information
U.S. Orders should allow 21 days from the date of payment. USPS advertises 2-5 days but experience has shown us that 9-21 days is typical depending on location.
International Orders should allow 45 days from the date of payment. We ship all international orders via international priority mail.
Orders are shipped within three business days of payment receipt unless otherwise noted.
Tracking Your Order
If you have not waited the specified time above, we will not respond to tracking information requests. When requesting tracking information please send us your PayPal receipt number and the name the order was placed under.
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July 4, 2007