Qualcomm is buying Arduino, releases new Raspberry Pi-esque Arduino board

Qualcomm, a leading semiconductor company, has announced the acquisition of Arduino, a renowned open-source hardware and software company. The deal aims to strengthen Qualcomm's position in the growing market for low-cost, single-board computers and microcontrollers. As part of the acquisition, Qualcomm has released a new Arduino board, which is comparable to the popular Raspberry Pi. This new board, dubbed the "Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect," is powered by Qualcomm's own system-on-a-chip (SoC) and features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Qualcomm has assured that Arduino will maintain its own branding and "open-source ethos," indicating that the company's commitment to the open-source community will continue under the new ownership. This move is seen as Qualcomm's strategy to expand its reach in the rapidly growing market for low-cost, programmable boards used in a wide range of applications, from hobbyist projects to industrial automation. The acquisition and the new Arduino board release are expected to provide more options for developers and enthusiasts in the rapidly evolving landscape of single-board computers and microcontrollers.