The “Auspicious Machine” may look like a Blackberry phone, but it’s actually a handheld Linux PC with a built-in QWERTY keyboard and a 3.5-inch display that can be powered by a range of system-on-modules (SoM).
The computer, whose name can also be translated as the “Auspicious Phone”, can be used as a Linux terminal with GPIO control, and for gaming with Linux distributions such as Batotera or RetroBat with the D-Pad and ABXY buttons found on the device.
Auspicious Machine specifications:
- Supported SoMs
- Bigtreetech CB1 with Allwinner H616 quad-core Cortex-A53 processor and 1GB DDR4
- Raspberry Pi CM4 with Broadcom BCM2711 quad-core Cortex-A72 processor, up to 8GB LPDDR4, up to 32GB eMMC flash
- Radxa CM3 with Rockchip RK3566 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor, up to 4GB LPDDR4, up to 64GB eMMC flash
- Banana Pi BPI-CM4 with Amlogic A311D octa-core Cortex-A73/A55 processor with 4GB LPDDR4 and 16GB eMMC flash
- Storage – MicroSD card socket
- Display – 3.5-inch touchscreen display with 640×480 resolution
- Audio – A speaker appears to be built-in
- User inputs (besides touchscreen)
- Backlit QWERTY keyboard (12×4 array)
- Mini trackball
- Game buttons: D-Pad, and A, X, B, and Y buttons
- Physical buttons on the side
- Wireless connectivity – TDB
- USB – USB port
- Expansion – 20-pin header for expansion
- Battery – No information about the battery…
- Dimensions – 137 x 84 x 12.6mm
- Weight – About 300 grams
The developer – “Fugui” – says the portable handheld is open-source and can run various Linux-based operating systems such as CentOS, Debian, Ubuntu, etc.. depending on the system-on-module used, as the Batocera and RetroBat operating system for users more interested in retro games emulation. But I could not find any technical details or a repository for the board and the software.
An article on Bilibili also states the pre-sale of “Auspicious Machine” has started (in China) for 1,656 RMB, or about $240, with deliveries expected in June 2023. But again, it’s not clear where this pre-sale is taking place. I assume we may find out more this summer once it becomes available and may start showing up on sites like Aliexpress or other resellers.
Via Liliputing and Retrododo
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Such a device can make a nice machine for many of us, sort of an upgraded Odroid-Go that’s likely easier to develop for and much more powerful. But I suspect it remains a niche marker, for DIYers, those interested in retro-gaming, maybe musicians who could appreciate to have a midi recorder/player (or just read a score), and that’s never a huge market which can explain its high price. It costs the same as a use thinkpad x260 I just bought, and while the characteristics are not exactly the same, many of the possible applications overlap.
I want this
I like the device but I dont like the price.
Besides this kind of device which hardware and software is not designed originally as to be used in portables devices, often has poor battery performance.
There is any device with that features but in laptop form?
I would love to have something like this but i cant justify $240.
Also, it doesnt look like you can fit a Pi CM4 in that chassis. This would be much better if used the RK3566 or a equivalent option soldered to the board.
Would probably draw less power and be a slimmer product.
It seems to be a device that will be sold in China.I will continue to pay attention to it.
I see that he seems to use Allwinner H616. In most of China’s open-source handheld computers, more people use Allwinner V3s or the newly launched D1s.
This appears to be a similar concept to the Clockwork uConsole.
Yes, indeed. I should have mentioned it. They also offer a RISC-V module.
https://www.cnx-software.com/2022/10/26/uconsole-modular-arm-or-risc-v-handheld-computer-4g-connectivity/
“open-source”? where?