Digi-Key Electronics, the world's most widely available, fast-moving off-the-shelf electronic components distributor, and Make:, the leading publication and network for makers, is pleased to announce the 2021 Board Guide and accompanying Digi-Key AR Augmented reality app, available for download on the Apple App Store for IOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android® mobile devices.

Divided into microcontroller (MCU), single board controller (SBC), and field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based development boards, this guide helps students, makers, and professional engineers identify The latest technology for reality.

Digi-Key is proud to announce an augmented reality app that utilizes the cameras, displays and sensors of today's mobile devices as a companion app for this year's guide. Available in AR for over 50 development boards, the app is currently the best way to virtually interact with these leading platforms. Digi-Key's AR app is designed to be used in conjunction with a guide or as a standalone experience.

With over 150+ development boards available for detailed comparisons, there's no better way to find out from leading suppliers such as Adafruit, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, SparkFun, BeagleBone, Micro:bit, Seeed Studio, STMicroelectronics, Microchip, Cypress and more Find rapid prototyping and embedded design solutions. New to this year's guide is a prominent case study on a newly launched Raspberry Pi 2040 MCU-based solution research. In its first year of launch, more than 60 development boards from various vendors have emerged, further cementing the new microcontroller architecture's position in the embedded design world.

Another exclusive feature the app offers is watching videos of interviews with industry prophets about what will happen to embedded boards in the future. The video includes insights from the following experts:

Limor "Ladyada" Fried, Founder and CEO, Adafruit Industries

Eben Upton, CEO, Raspberry Pi Trading, Eric Pan, Founder and CEO, Seeed Studio

Paul Beech, Co-founder, Pimoroni Ltd.

Zach Supalla, CEO of Particle

Microchip Technology Manufacturing Instructor - Senior Engineer Bob Martin

David Sandys, Director of Technical Marketing at Digi-Key, said: "We are delighted to introduce the new Digi-Key AR app, with the 2021 Dev Guide as the first module, which we have produced in print with Make:. Offer Descriptions of all boards, key features and additional board usage capabilities, combined with the ability to place, zoom and rotate each platform, truly helps students, makers and engineers virtually utilize each of their included boards to continue to advance innovation in their designs.”

Make: Executive Editor Mike Senese: "The 2021 Boards Guide is an incredibly good resource for anyone working on electronics or project design. Bringing boards to life with an augmented reality app allows users to Exciting ways to continuously optimize the selection of components provide additionally great practical value."

The guide will be published in Issue 11 of Make: Magazine. For a PDF version of this guide and to download the Digi-Key AR app, click /boardsguide.

About Make:

Make: is the leading platform for connecting global makers. Through Make: Magazine, Make: Books, and the global network of Maker Faires, Make: Brings a DIY mindset to technology, developing and highlighting projects and tools to show how creators of all genres interact and improve the world around them.

About Digi-Key Electronics

Digi-Key Electronics is a global electronic components, a global comprehensive service authorized distributor of electronic components, headquartered in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, USA, and distributes manufacturers from more than 2000 quality brands more than 8.9 million products from merchants. Digi-Key also offers a wide variety of online resources such as EDA and design tools, datasheets, reference designs, instructional articles and videos, multimedia libraries, and more. 24/7 technical support via email, phone and live chat. For additional information or to inquire about Digi-Key's extensive product library, please visit and follow us on LinkedIn, WeChat, Weibo, QQ Video and Bilibili.