DIY Digital Art Sketchbook
Hi all, here's a little project I've been working on for a while. It's a tiny computer which can be used as a sketchbook, retro gaming console, or just as a handy paper weight after it inevitably sets on fire and deletes everything you've ever valued. I've been wanting to make something like this ever since seeing Akira's awesome DMG-Gamboy several years ago and while its not finished yet, I feel like I've at least got it to a usable prototype state now.
Looks a little too much like a bomb from the back to be airport safe.
The counting down battery indicator doesn't help things.
The counting down battery indicator doesn't help things.
Specs
Built around a hummingboard-i2ex and a Manga Screen this device has a:
- 4.3" HDMI captive touchscreen (800x400)
- 4 x USB 2.0 ports
- 4.3" HDMI captive touchscreen (800x400)
- 4 x USB 2.0 ports
- 3.5 mm audio jack
- gb Ethernet port- half height Mini PCI-E wireless card
- msata connector
- microSD port
- Infra Red receiver
- RTC clock
- Coax S/PDIF connector
- 26 pin GPIO
- 30 Pin LVDS
- micro usb ( for powering )
Memory:
- 1tb msata ssd (this is more than my laptop)
- 64gb microSD card
- 2 x 64gb USB
Power:
- 2 x 8000mAh 3.7V li-poly batteries
- a 3.7V to 5V converter used for charging
- a second 3.7V to 5V converter to power the device and display remaining charge
I'm not sure what the maximum battery life of this thing is yet, but it's lasted over 4 days of me using it without needing charging. No one enjoys charging things which is why this thing is basically entirely made of batteries.
Miscellaneous:
- Switches for turning on and off the device and screen separately to save power.
- various LED lights
- 3d printed case
- a few tactically placed rubber bands to hold everything together
Operating System
Right now I'm using a distribution of Linux called Arch as an OS for this thing but it can also run versions of Android, OpenELEC, GeexBox, Debian and Ubuntu. Arch just seemed to be the one that gave me the fewest problems and worked with my wireless card and Wacom tablet straight away. The OS can be swapped out easily just by changing out the USB flash drives.
Gaming
With an OS like Lakka installed or just a few emulators the hummingboard can play almost any retro arcade game as well emulate systems like Atari, NES, GBA, PS1 and to some degree the PS2. It can also stream games from your main computer so long as its an Nvidia-based machine by using limelight. I haven't gone deep into getting this all to work yet, partly because if it does work I'm screwed.
Art
The main program I use to draw with this thing is "MyPaint", which is a surprisingly light weight application given all the features it has. Plus it works great with my super old Wacom tablet so I can now sketch where ever I am, save the image to a USB drive and open everything later on my laptop. No more carrying around a bag so full of pencils, markers and other miscellaneous drawing equipment. It's also been working great as a notepad for uni which has meant I no longer have to worry about suffocating from a paper avalanche during the night.
I've still got a lot to do before I'm happy with this 'thing', still need to come up with a name for it to start with. I also want to completely redo the case so that I can add a tiny keyboard, USB hub, speaker and maybe a camera, accelerometer, gps... anything so long as its small. It might end up a little like a Nintendo Ds with the keyboard folding out. There are also supposed to be vastly improved batteries coming out soonish, so if I wait long enough I'll be able to make it way smaller. I honestly keep having ideas for this thing, plus I'd love to hear any suggestions anyone else has.
I've still got a lot to do before I'm happy with this 'thing', still need to come up with a name for it to start with. I also want to completely redo the case so that I can add a tiny keyboard, USB hub, speaker and maybe a camera, accelerometer, gps... anything so long as its small. It might end up a little like a Nintendo Ds with the keyboard folding out. There are also supposed to be vastly improved batteries coming out soonish, so if I wait long enough I'll be able to make it way smaller. I honestly keep having ideas for this thing, plus I'd love to hear any suggestions anyone else has.
