Extensions for the Raspberry Pi

Completely Unattached

WiFi can be installed using USB sticks like the EW 7811Un from Edimax, which costs around EUR8/$9 and transmits signals according to IEEE 802.11b/g/n standards. Conrad Electronic offers its own USB stick for Bluetooth 4.0 for about $11 [26].

Private Cloud

The Ionas server from Ionas lets the user set up a private cloud [27]. When purchased, it comes in a small box that contains a Raspberry Pi with a 1TB hard drive. To start, this duo functions as data storage for a small network; however, it can also synchronize data, contact, calendar, and browser data among numerous computers and even Android devices. Finally, the mini server can play music.

Access to the server occurs via VPN connections with authorization certificates. Data stored on the Ionas server can be encrypted. According to the manufacturer, the server uses 4W when not in use. Raspbian and well-known open source software like Seafile and OpenVPN run on the Raspberry Pi. The purchase price for the server is somewhat high at around EUR250/$280, and it can only be configured remotely over the Ionas Hotline. With a little bit of resourcefulness and administrative knowledge, it should be possible to build your own version of the Ionas server.

NXP and Element 14 deliver a plugin module by the name of Explore-NFC for near-field communication, or NFC [28]. The Raspberry Pi uses the module to read RFID cards and to communicate with NFC-capable smartphones. The module costs EUR35/$39 and can handle reader/writer, P2P, and card emulation, or all three NFC modes.

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