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* Event: Manchester Free Software's October Meeting * Talk: BeagleBoard-X15: First look * Speaker: Michael Dorrington

* Date: Tuesday, 18th October 2016 (3rd Tuesday of the month) * Start time: 19:00 * Finish time: 20:30 (and then on for social)

* Location: Madlab. (Manchester Digital Laboratory). - http://madlab.org.uk/ * Address: 36-40 Edge Street, Manchester. M4 1HN. - Opposite "Common" on Edge Street, Northern Quarter. - http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=19/53.48413/-2.23639

== Details ==

The purpose of Manchester Free Software is to promote the Free Software philosophy.

Every meeting we start with an opportunity for informal key signing. For an explanation of what this is about see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_signing_party

The meeting will be a talk and then discussion on the talk. After this we will discuss event work.

=== Talk ===

The BeagleBoard.org Foundation have designed a series of ARM based Free Hardware computers that are Free Software friendly. Manchester Free Software have previously demonstrated one model, the BeagleBone Black, running a Wi-Fi mesh network and FreedomBone.

The designs up to and including the BeagleBone Black are similar to the Raspberry Pi, but for people who care about freedom. BeagleBoard.org have now designed ARM based Free Hardware computer that is more like a desktop computer and about the size of a NUC.

The BeagleBoard-X15 has some in particularly interesting features:

* 2 real Gigabit Ethernet ports * 2G RAM * USB 3.0 * eSATA * Lots of other I/O capability.

Mass production of hardware has been delayed but we have an early low volume revision to demonstrate.

In the talk we will explore the BeagleBoard-X15 including live demos and use cases.

More information:

* http://beagleboard.org/about * http://beagleboard.org/x15 * http://www.elinux.org/Beagleboard:BeagleBoard-X15

If you have experience of Beagleboard.org hardware, other Free Hardware, ARM devices, U-Boot or similar then please consider giving a lightning talk at the meeting.

=== Event work ===

Discuss the GNOME 3.22 release party that happened on 23rd September and MFS organising a Debian 9 (Stretch) release party when it is released sometime next year.

== After-meeting ==

The meeting will be followed by informal discussion and socialising in the Terrace (which is next door to Madlab). There are soft drinks available and there is no pressure to consume alcohol.

== Location ==

The meeting will take place at the usual venue of Madlab, details above.

== Transport ==

=== Parking ===

Around the venue there are parking meter bays that become zero cost after 8pm on Tuesday so you will have to pay up until then and the maximum stay is 2 hours BUT MAKE SURE YOU VERIFY ALL THIS on parking.

There are paid parking lots around the venue, they are marked by a blue P in this OpenStreetMap centred on Madlab http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/53.4843/-2.2365. Most of those parking lots are owned by NCP http://www.ncp.co.uk/.

If you can’t decide otherwise then park in Manchester Arndale http://www.manchesterarndale.com/directions.aspx.

=== Public Transport ===

Manchester Victoria (MCV) train station, Shudehill tram and bus station, and Manchester Piccadilly bus station are all fairly close to Madlab, see OpenStreetMap centred on Madlab http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=15/53.4843/-2.2365.

Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train station and Manchester Central Coach Station are not too far away either.

== More Information ==

Information about Manchester Free Software can be found on the Manchester Free Software pages on LibrePlanet https://libreplanet.org/wiki/Manchester.

Regards, Mike. MFS Chair.