Next generation Raspberry Pi unveiled

Both distributors have the computer in stock and available for ordering, and the price remains the same as the original Raspberry Pi - £25.

The changes offer an enhanced flexibility to the both consumer and professional engineering users as they look to develop more complex projects.

The GPIO pin count has been increased to 40, thus enabling more sensors, connectors and expansion boards to be added to the board. The original 26 pins offer compatibility to the original Raspberry Pi Model B.

Advanced power management and enhanced connectivity make it possible to power four USB accessories such as a 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.

Farnell element 14 added some pzazz to the launch offering free ice creams at two London venyes – Westminters Bridge and Tower Bridge with the added incentive of any visitor asking for Raspberry flavour received a free Raspberry Pi B+.

“The new Raspberry Pi B+ marks the first major re-design of what has been one of the stand-out tech products in the last few years,” says Claire Doyle, global head of Raspberry Pi at element14, the leading distributor of the credit-card sized computer. “We’ve already seen the board drive some amazing designs, but the B+ model opens up the opportunity to push the boundaries of complexity and innovation to make even bigger and better projects. It is also the board that can open up a whole new area of learning for young people.”

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."

Eben Upton will be joining an element14 webinar on 31 July 2014 as he discusses the features and capabilities of the B+, and shows how its improved versatility will enhance projects ranging from the most basic to the most advanced. To register for the webinar go to the Farnell element14 Community events page.