[New IoT gadget] Photon Unboxed!

Particle Photon is a miniature WiFi Internet of Things microcontroller. It is specifically designed to have a small size (~ 5cm X 2cm X 1.5cm), built in WiFi chip, and consumes lower power than popular Arduino controllers. Her is my first impression on the device.

Look:

Photon’s package and exterior look are great. Very modern style (black-blue) with added sense of scientific humor.

Neat package and inbox Photon joke.

Backside bright blue light interference pattern.

WiFi Connection:

Photon has a great advantage of code-less WiFi connection via app. For Arduino + WiFi Shield I have to write codes and reflash the device everytime I change a WiFi. Not so for Photon. By using the app connecting to WiFi becomes extremely easy.

Just kidding here. I love pokemon everyday….

Web IDE:

Photon provides a web IDE (integrated development environment) for developers to code and upload firmware on any device.

So far the IDE works great on my Android browser. I really like the remote compilation feature to send firmware into the device via WiFi: this means I don’t need to unplug my tablet power.

Photon Web IDE. Code is similar to Arduino.

The file organization is a bit clumsy though. It’s unclear to me so far how to write firmware along with custom libraries. Otherwise the built-in libraries are similar to Arduino’s and are very easy to use.

Overall I feel Photon is a great device. It is small, it works, and the development environment is superb. Highly recommend for anyone who want to build IoT projects.