If you can't find Intel's Joule developer boards in your country, it's because shipments have been held up. Intel's Joule 570x and 550x are powerful computer boards that can be built as a PC, or be used to build robots, drones, or smart devices. But Intel is now seeking government certification so the boards can be cleared for shipment in those countries. Joule shipments have currently been blocked in a number of countries, including Taiwan, Japan, and Israel, all of which have active technology markets where hobbyists design hardware. Users that have ordered Joule boards from retailers abroad can't receive shipments in the blocked countries.

Microsoft is challenging Linux's domination in Raspberry Pi-type computers by bringing support for Windows 10 OS to more developer boards. The newest computer to get a version of Windows 10 will be Intel's Joule, which has cutting-edge hardware compared to Raspberry Pi 3. To be specific, Joule will get support for Windows 10 IoT Core -- a slimmed down version of Windows 10 -- by year-end, Microsoft said in a blog post last week. Joule currently supports only the Linux OS. With Windows 10 IoT Core, Joule can be used to develop gadgets, robots, drones, wearables, medical devices, and smart industrial devices. The OS is supported by four other mini-computers -- Raspberry Pi 2 and 3, Qualcomm's DragonBoard 410c, and Intel's MinnowMax.

Intel has unleashed a new competitor to Raspberry Pi 3 with its new Joule development board, which packs in superior graphics and wireless connectivity. The chipmaker has loaded the development board with technology found in regular PCs: a 64-bit quad-core Atom processor, 4K graphics, 802.11ac connectivity, and DDR4 memory features. However, Joule doesn't compete on price with the Raspberry Pi, which sells for US 35. A high-end version of the Joule board is on sale at the Intel Developer Forum this week for 369.99. The Joule will provide big-time computing power for robots, drones, smart devices, and wearables.