A new version of the tiny UK-developed Raspberry Pi computer has been launched.

The Raspberry Pi model B+ is the third iteration of the hardware, following the Raspberry Pi model A and model B.

“This isn’t a Raspberry Pi 2, but rather the final evolution of the original Raspberry Pi,” company founder Eben Upton explained on the Raspberry blog.

Available immediately, the B+ replaces the B one and will cost the same price of £20 / $35. The new features are as follows:
•More GPIO – The GPIO header has grown to 40 pins, while retaining the same pinout for the first 26 pins as the Model B.

•More USB – Four USB 2.0 ports, compared to two on the Model B, and better hotplug and overcurrent behaviour.

•Micro SD – The old friction-fit SD card socket has been replaced with a micro SD version.

•Lower power consumption – By replacing linear regulators with switching ones power consumption has been reduced by between 0.5W and 1W.

•Better audio – The audio circuit incorporates a dedicated low-noise power supply.

•Neater form factor – The USB connectors have been aligned with the board edge, composite video has been moved onto the 3.5mm jack, and four squarely-placed mounting holes have been added.

The model B+ runs the same software as the model B and still has 512MB RAM.

In June, Raspberry confirmed that it had shipped three million Raspberry Pi computers since the initial launch in January 2012.