Citrix wields Raspberry Pi in enterprise; Microsoft matches up Pi, 3D printers; Android support coming? Credit: Citrix We scratch and claw sometimes to find enterprise IT angles regarding the tiny and inexpensive Raspberry Pi computers, but this week, an item has fallen right into our lap. Citrix touts Raspberry Pi Citrix’s latest attempt to disrupt the business desktop PC market is via its $89 HDX Ready Pi box, which combines with Citrix XenDesktop virtual desktop technology and XenApp virtual apps. That could come in cheaper even than such client devices as Chromebooks. Citrix VP of Emerging Solutions Chris Fleck writes on a company blog this week that the combination of the low-cost Raspberry Pi 3 platform with its own system-on-chip architecture, plus a locked down Linux OS, could widely expand the market for Raspberry Pi. “In classic disruptive fashion, the Raspberry Pi has already taken a significant share of the education PC market with over 8 million devices shipped. With the Citrix-optimized HDX Ready Pi, we expect many other industries to adopt the platform, now that the ‘do it yourself’ barrier is demolished.” MORE: You can now turn your Raspberry Pi into an Amazon Echo personal assistant ViewSonic and Micro Center will sell the devices on Citrix’s behalf, and Citrix says that enterprises could distribute HDX Ready Pi boxes through the mail, vending machines or other channels. The announcement made waves this week at Citrix’s Synergy conference in Las Vegas, where Citrix Technology Professionals received the devices in little white gift boxes, according to some on Twitter. One commenter on Twitter wrote: Android+Pi? Android blogs are buzzing about the possibility that Google might be bringing real Raspberry Pi support to Android. Android Police says that single-board Raspberry Pi 3 looks to be in line for some Android love based on the fact that Google 5 weeks ago built a code repository for it within its Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Could this mean Raspberry Pi devices could run Android, not just various flavors or Linux and Windows, as well as scads of Android apps? Android Police does temper its enthusiasm over this by saying: “Google may not necessarily be working on getting Android to run on the device itself, but rather could be adding support for Android to interface with the Pi for other purposes.” Microsoft has 3D printer ambitions for Pi Microsoft has provided native support for 3D printers since Windows 8.1, and now has added a Windows 10 IoT Core sample app, dubbed Network 3D Printer, that extends the range of printers handled and boosts network support to include Wi-Fi. The app can run on a Raspberry Pi and convert it into a print server. Billy Anders, director of program management for Windows IoT, writes on a Microsoft blog that: Raspberry Pi enthusiasts can use this solution starting today to network enable their 3D printers and we invite device manufacturers to evaluate the experience that this enables and the benefits of being able to easily Wi-Fi enable their devices and connect them to Windows. Fun & games: Minecraft on Pi CNet’s Jason Cipriani feels your pain if the barebones Minecraft Pi that comes with the Raspian OS for Rasperry Pi just doesn’t do it for you. He advises on how to get a full-blown version of Minecraft cranking on a Raspberry Pi. You’ll need to buy a Minecraft license and then follow instructions for installing it on Raspberry Pi. Consider it part of the game… Related content news analysis iPhone 8 Rumor Rollup: Cranking up the processors; 3D cameras; $1K-plus price With iPhone 8 A11 processors reportedly in production, the next great Apple smartphone is starting to feel more real By Bob Brown May 14, 2017 3 mins Small and Medium Business Smartphones Apple news analysis SNL one step ahead of Amazon with Echo Silver In SNL spoof, Amazon and AARP team to address senior citizens' most pressing digital assistant needs By Bob Brown May 14, 2017 1 min Small and Medium Business Amazon.com Collaboration Software news analysis You really should know what the Andrew File System is "Model of storing data in cloud and delivering parts of it via on-demand caching at the edge is something everyone takes for granted today," one AFS creator says By Bob Brown May 10, 2017 7 mins IT Training Open Source Servers news analysis Getting a jump on private LTE networks Federated Wireless, Lemko join forces on CBRS wireless networks for private LTE By Bob Brown May 08, 2017 3 mins Small and Medium Business Internet of Things Mobile PODCASTS VIDEOS RESOURCES EVENTS NEWSLETTERS Newsletter Promo Module Test Description for newsletter promo module. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe