11 ms·

Building a Raspberry Pi 3B+ full keyboard handheld

303 points by 0x0f0f0f 7y ago

stamps 7y ago
Excited to see the final build. The author provided a list of _obscure_ handhelds that you could try and get your hands on. On that list there is the Pyra[0] which is very near completion. It has some interesting features such as a replaceable CPU board (nonstandard) for future upgrades. [0]https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/pages/pyra/ https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/pages/pyra/
- qwerty456127 7y ago
  Pyra is near completion? I thought it was abandonned (I have been waiting for almost 10 years already). It looks like an almost-perfect handheld device, what it should actually be (according to my vision). The only thing missing is an RJ-45 NIC port (which would make it really useful for admins) but a USB-attached one will probably do just fine.
  - stamps 7y ago
    See my post above. Here's the latest thread from the forums: https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/even-more-to-see-here-now.83733/ https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/even-more-to-see-he...
  - borgel 7y ago
    Depending on your sense of urgency, there's now the GPD Micro PC [1]. Quite the odd duckling, but it includes an RJ-45 and an honest-to-god DB9 for RS232! [1] https://liliputing.com/2019/02/gpd-micropc-handheld-computer-preview.html https://liliputing.com/2019/02/gpd-micropc-handheld-computer...
- pergadad 7y ago
  Hmm I don't understand this. Why pay 600€ for a handheld with a 1.6ghz dual core if I can buy a netbook/13" with better specs for less? What is the use case for this device?
  - floren 7y ago
    In 2011, it was a pretty good deal. Edit: apparently it was presented in 2014... when, yes, dual core ARM would have already been pretty sub-par.
    - Grumbledour 7y ago
      It's the same story with the predecessor, the Pandora. It took forever to come out, while the preorder price steadily increased. It turned out to be pretty great when it finally arrived, but the specs did not look good anymore at that point. And it seems to be even worse for the Pyra, especially since gpd has finally understood the need and is now manufacturing similar devices. I think the concept is good but maybe it would be better to design a solid handheld with a slot in option for a pi or some similar form factor sbc. That way, users could actually upgrade the device and keep it current. The hard part these days seems not be the actual computing, but the quality and usability of the screen, keyboard and game controls.
  - stamps 7y ago
    I think the use case is mainly targeted at handheld computing/gaming. It's definitely a more boutique device. My guess would be it's for the crowd looking for repair ability and control over the device.
  - wwweston 7y ago
    The handheld / pocket form factor is just a different device category, the kind you can have always on you. It's more competition for your phone than your netbook. Of course, it arguably suffers there: 600€ will buy you a lot of phone right now (def more processor). So there's there's a reasonable question regarding whether the keyboard + controls and more open nature add enough value. The answer is probably "no" unless handheld gaming and tinkering is your thing.
- LeoPanthera 7y ago
  Do you have a source for “near completion”? I was under the impression the project was dead. It’s been “coming soon” for nearly a decade.
  - stamps 7y ago
    It definitely has been a long time. From the forums you can see the updates that the creator has provided. Here is the most recent thread which details the case molds and shows a assembled unit: https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/even-more-to-see-here-now.83733/ https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/even-more-to-see-he...
borgel 7y ago
A similar build is arturo182's Handheld Feather Wing, which uses a Blackberry Q10 keyboard [2] Though it doesn't have a processor of its own it can be plugged into Feather compatible boards that do (like @groguard's Giant Board, which runs Linux [3]). Makes quite a nice package! I ended up going the other way and building a (split) 60% keyboard with a screen and a Pi in the middle [1]. It's long enough that you can sling it over your shoulder on a guitar strap, so it somewhat fails the pocketability test. [1] https://github.com/borgel/commute-deck https://github.com/borgel/commute-deck [2] https://hackaday.io/project/165450-keyboard-featherwing https://hackaday.io/project/165450-keyboard-featherwing [3] https://www.crowdsupply.com/groboards/giant-board https://www.crowdsupply.com/groboards/giant-board
- Phillipharryt 7y ago
  Another interesting build currently being polished up is SnapOnAir's Blaspberry v2. It's deemed a "communication tool". They've made a modern day pager as well, but the new one is like a linux blackberry that is entirely open source. The developer has been in talks with arturo about working together on it (based on their tweets at least) using that q10 keyboard. It's pretty damn impressive and I've seen doom running on it (though that's not the highest benchmark).
  - crtasm 7y ago
    Fantastic. I really miss the form factor+keyboard of the Blackberry Bold line, I'd love to buy a ready-to-use Blaspberry or FeatherWing.
  - hauget 7y ago
    Here's a video of the latest iteration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvxloZ2Ox60 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvxloZ2Ox60 The guy running the project (Philippe) is quite the genius!
    - ccadic 7y ago
      Lol. No I am not. Just mad about technology :)
ge96 7y ago
What is that thing called that shows the "distro"? design, I see it all the the time in /r/unixporn Also I'm looking forward to when phones get cheaper that have more ram so can run dex or something similar, not quite "dual boot" but something where you have a full os working somehow(maybe virtualized though maybe poor performance)
- echometa 7y ago
  neofetch
- jax_the_dog 7y ago
  neofetch or screenfetch
- lukeholder 7y ago
  screenfetch or neofetch
jokoon 7y ago
I'm less and less convinced that a handheld keyboard can really be justified if you want to do some linux or programming stuff on such a device. Touch screens can be simple enough if you get used to them, they save a lot of space on the device and I think they are cheaper than a keyboard. Touch-swipe features will also make things much, much easier on a touch keyboard, and I'm sure it's totally possible to add linux commands or programming keywords to a swipe dictionary. Touch keyboards can also have their layouts changed. Other thing to consider if you're typing code, it would be nice to introduce more autocomplete to make things easier. In the end if you really want to type, just get a real keyboard and sit down at a table. I'd also rather buy a well-made handheld keyboard that you attach to a device, but sadly I can't find one that is worth it.
- stamps 7y ago
  I suppose you could step away from the traditional keyboard and get something like a twiddler[0]? [0] https://twiddler.tekgear.com/ https://twiddler.tekgear.com/
- dvdkon 7y ago
  "Soft" keyboards on a touchscreen have a number of disadvantages, the biggest for me is that they take up a large part of the screen. I could use the terminal or edit source code just fine on my phone's screen, but only if at least 40% of it wasn't taken up by a keyboard. Secondly, I think you're underestimating the number of "weird" sequences of characters programmers and terminal users regularly type. Sure, a proper keyboard and a table is always better, but there are often situations where such a comfort isn't available.
  - olivil 7y ago
    But a hardware keyboard takes up a lot of potential screen space, even when it's not in use.
    - dvdkon 7y ago
      This doesn't apply to devices which have slide-out keyboards or a clamshell design. The linked design is more "Blackberry-style" as far as I can tell, but those are not the devices I primarily had in mind.
cr0sh 7y ago
Definitely going to be following this, as it's something I've thought of doing for my "next" phone - for basically all the reasons you've stated. I'm sick and tired of not being in total control of my current phone. I've thought about rooting it, but even if I did (it's a Samsung S7 from T-Mobile - which has a different processor and other stuff than the S7 that is easily rootable - and there are other "games" Samsung and probably T-Mobile play cat-n-mouse with the guys figuring out ways to root - which means a new update, etc - ugh all around ultimately), there's still the whole Google Store thing, walled gardens, etc. Then there's the crap that happens with apps you like; I had this great file manager app that I loved, that also had numerous other tools - had used it for years, paid for the "ad-free" version, etc. Then one day, via HN or something, I don't recall exactly, someone noted that the app (and the company behind it) had been sold, and that the new version was doing dirty things behind the scenes, introducing bloatware and who knows what else - and people were abandoning it left and right. I recoiled - did some more research - and that night took it off my phone; I paid something like $15.00 for it - not a huge amount of money, but still - money lost. I ended up getting a different file manager, which is ok, but nothing like what I had - paid for the ad-free version - but who knows if the same thing will happen down the line? Then there's the whole "file management", copying, sharing, etc angle - the whole BS about how in Android, if an app didn't create a directory, you can't put files in it (this apparently is conditional in some fashion - but it isn't very clear). This makes moving and managing files very difficult at times. Or the whole "let's not let users treat the device as a USB block device to copy/move/delete files from - and instead put in place another crappy layer that prevents all that - for some hand-wavy reason that didn't seem to be a problem when I first got my G1"... There are other things, too - but you get the picture. I'm tired of it. Totally. My next phone will (hopefully) be one that I build, will run Linux, and will be under my complete control. I'm kinda hoping that by the time I get around to it, that there'll be an equivalent to the RasPi 4 in the Zero W's footprint. Add on a few other modules (IMU+GPS and 4G mainly) - and you have everything for a full phone. I might even not implement voice call features, as virtually everything I do tends to be texting-based anyway. Don't want a keyboard, either - if I can get a decent capacitive touchscreen that'll connect to the Pi, I'll be fine; if I need a keyboard, bluetooth will work. Which also means I could use it as a "portable desktop" - all the convenience of a handheld, with the ability to become something more like a laptop on the occasion I need it (plus, if I need a big monitor, plugging that in would be easy too). It's nice to see someone else blazing this trail - one that other's have gone down too (I know of other projects like this - some Arduino based, which is another route I have considered - but using an ESP32 as the core). You've already made a ton of progress, but I look forward to your future efforts. Good luck with it!
mirimir 7y ago
It'd be cool to have an integrated mobile version of Tinfoil Chat.[0] Basically, three computers routed via Tor, with one that's effectively isolated using optocouplers. You'd probably want at least that one to be EMF shielded, as well. And you could generalize for web browsing etc. Maybe also use ideas from Qubes Air. 0) https://github.com/maqp/tfc https://github.com/maqp/tfc
thesuperbigfrog 7y ago
It is exciting to see cool handhelds like this! I really want to have a handheld / phone that can handle all of my on-the-go computing and connect to my servers if I need more compute power. As a tangent, if you have an Android phone and need to do some Linux-style computing on the go, consider Termux (https://termux.com/ https://termux.com/). Termux enables your Android phone to run command-line utilities, text editors (vim and emacs), several programming languages (C, C++, Perl, Python, Ruby, Rust, Scheme, and more), web servers, and lots of other tools. It is one of my favorite Android apps by far.
- ZoomZoomZoom 7y ago
  What I'd really wanted to see, and not sure why it's still not a thing, is some standardized laptop that would allow upgrading it's core SoC. Latest Pis are quite capable for basic tasks and will only get more powerful.
  - LeoPanthera 7y ago
    What I want more than anything in the world is a Psion-sized portable computer where the brains are provided by the Rasperry Pi compute module: https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3-plus/?variant=compute-module-3plus-32gb https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3-plus/?... I’m genuinely surprised that this isn’t already a thing, since it would make upgrades trivial.
    - thesuperbigfrog 7y ago
      I had a Series 5mx back in the day and it was glorious. Android has all of the capabilities software-wise, but I have yet to find a device that matches the Psion Series 5mx form factor, specifically the folding clamshell and nicely-sized hardware keyboard. Most external foldable Bluetooth keyboards are too big, rather finicky, and always running out of battery on me.
      - sympodius 7y ago
groundlogic 7y ago
Nice project. The stumble block for these kinds of projects is often the keyboard. It seems tricky to get something nice to use without using keyboards from other products - and then being a slave to that mini keyboard's dimensions and availability. This project made something that seemed like it could be nice (the page was missing a final photo of the project all put together), on a custom PCB with off-the-shelf switches.
- 0x0f0f0f 7y ago
  The keyboard is working fine and since it's powered by a Teensy 3.2/LC it can be plugged into any USB host, I'm still waiting to get the keys printed in order to put the working build in the case. The CardKB project is also interesting if you want a keyboard with soldered keys, only "downside" is I2C bus.
  - groundlogic 7y ago
    CardKB is a chinese project, right? I can't seem to find the single original source for this thing, just lots of pages talking about it, like: https://m5stack.com/products/cardkb-mini-keyboard https://m5stack.com/products/cardkb-mini-keyboard
qwerty456127 7y ago
I'd love to have an eInk one. AFAIK there are eInk displays available for rPi, but they probably need a different set-up.
- jsjohnst 7y ago
  > AFAIK there are eInk displays available for rPi There are hundreds in all shapes, sizes, and levels of color support. Quick search of Adafruit, Amazon, Digikey, or similar will turn up a lot of them.
techstrategist 7y ago
What is the most useful handheld keyboard you’ve seen or used?
- noonespecial 7y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Pre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Pre
- groundlogic 7y ago
  Nokia E61i: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-1858.php https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-1858.php
- andrey_utkin 7y ago
  Twiddler 3
  - techstrategist 7y ago
    Now that’s the kind of thing I’m looking for! How’s the learning curve? Edit: too bad about the $199 price tag. Way out of my impulse purchase range.
    - techstrategist 7y ago
      I also found https://www.tapwithus.com/ https://www.tapwithus.com/ which looks similarly cool.
    - andrey_utkin 7y ago
      Takes few hours to start, few evenings to be able to type with pleasure. I use CoolHand layout which is good for Unix command line.
unixhero 7y ago
I'd like to build a keyboard computer akin to the Amiga 1200 with a RPI4. Any one else thinks that would be cool?
- replete 7y ago
  Pi4 Amiga project YES. I'm in. Custom floppy driver required for authenticity. Checkout the ARMiga Kickstarter project.
  - unixhero 7y ago
    Nice project. It's out of production and out of stock as so many of these projects almost always are. Maybe I'll just make some clasps and instructions on how to tape it to a proper keyboard such as the king of all keyboards for all time: Keytronic KT-2001.
replete 7y ago
Great start. That low resolution is challenging for desktop UI, but maybe great if you're a devop hacker. We need a real open source phone platform. I'm curious about IBMs new hardware ..
etatoby 7y ago
What would be cool is putting a RPI-like mainboard and modern screen in an old PSION 5 case. Those things were built like bricks and had a great keyboard.
5- 7y ago
To go on a tangent, even though my personal search for the ultimate handheld computer shall never be concluded, I feel like I found a lot of the things I've been looking for (specifcally in Zaurus and the Psions) in my 7" GPD Pocket 2, which incidentally (paired with a keyboard and screen) is my main machine these days, yet I do carry it in my jacket's inner pocket to do some programming on the go. It runs Linux, is run-of-the-mill Intel-based ultrabook somewhat on the lower end (Core i3, 8GB ram, 128GB disk), with indeed its only non-boring feature being its size. Build quality, battery life, etc. is all on par with big-brand ultrabooks.
- badtuple 7y ago
  I have a GPD Pocket 2 and I want to like it _so much_, but I just can't get used to the keyboard layout. Everything about it is perfect except for that, but since I just program directly from the framebuffer a keyboard that I can't get used to and use intuitively is pretty much a deal breaker :(
  - 5- 7y ago
    By "program directly from the framebuffer" do you mean that you can't use X11 key remapping facilities? In that case, loadkeys(1) will help (on linux).
whsheet 7y ago
Guess I am the only one but I heavily depend on my smartphone's ssh client and a fast and close VPS. I use it all the time and a phone's keyboard is actually the perfect interface for console apps like vim.
8bitsrule 7y ago
Soooo ... pocket-sized CPU, works with standard-sized KB and monitor ... sweet. Soooo ... where do I reach to unplug the optional hand-held phoneset with all the baseband HW/SIM/snoopy-shit built into it?
seanwalker08 7y ago
I built a Raspberry Pi handheld, just a little different type of handheld: https://www.simplecove.com/597/wooden-handheld-game-console/ https://www.simplecove.com/597/wooden-handheld-game-console/ Not as interesting as the OP though.
girvo 7y ago
I've been looking for a screen like the one shown in this article for years now. I've been trying to build something like the "Freewrite", a mechanical keyboard with barely a computer built into it, with long battery life. This gets me closer!
ausjke 7y ago
or you can run termux on android with a bluetooth portable keyboard https://termux.com/ https://termux.com/
ethanpil 7y ago
This is really inspiring I have been dreaming of building my own little portable notebook, powered by PI4 and a hefty USB-C battery. With the beautiful, small HDMI LCD panels available today and a 3D printer, its within reach! 100% inspired by https://habr.com/en/post/437912/ https://habr.com/en/post/437912/ which I first saw here on HN
- borgel 7y ago
  Depending on your goals, there's the GPD Micro PC [1]. Quite the odd duckling, but it includes an RJ-45 and an honest-to-god DB9 for RS232! Not nearly as fun as building it yourself though! [1] https://liliputing.com/2019/02/gpd-micropc-handheld-computer-preview.html https://liliputing.com/2019/02/gpd-micropc-handheld-computer...
bayesian_horse 7y ago
A Raspberry Pi 4 based tablet/laptop may be interesting. Though I don't know if the RPi4 is actually competitive, in terms of battery life, with intel-based netbooks and the like. If I were to do that, I would probably arrive at a ridiculously thick tablet with a couple of 18650 cells for power and it would need a good fan to try and save the screen from the heat.
kristianp 7y ago
I wouldn't use the word "full" for the keyboard. It's 60 keys and looks the size of half a keyboard. I think they meant that it is going to have all the qwerty alphabet.
beilabs 7y ago
My first system was a ZX-Spectrum 128k; I would love to get one of those keyboards; change out the cassette by to stick in the raspberry pi and use that as a dedicated system hooked up to a monitor. That was a really nice keyboard from memory; granted 30+ years have made the mind fog up a bit.
Jaruzel 7y ago
Anthony DiGirolamo's full project log/design of his 'Raspberry Pi Handheld' (which is the inspiration/source for 0x0f0f0f's build) is here: https://hackaday.io/project/162281/logs https://hackaday.io/project/162281/logs
kwhitefoot 7y ago
> Use USB devices like ... full size keyboards, My Moto G5+ and my Lebnovo 10" tablet work perfectly with a USB on the go adaptor and a full sized Lenovo keyboard with built in hub and a mouse. Edit: It also works well with memory sticks.

303 points by 0x0f0f0f 7y ago

Excited to see the final build. The author provided a list of _obscure_ handhelds that you could try and get your hands on. On that list there is the Pyra[0] which is very near completion. It has some interesting features such as a replaceable CPU board (nonstandard) for future upgrades. [0]https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/pages/pyra/ https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/pages/pyra/

qwerty456127 7y ago
Pyra is near completion? I thought it was abandonned (I have been waiting for almost 10 years already). It looks like an almost-perfect handheld device, what it should actually be (according to my vision). The only thing missing is an RJ-45 NIC port (which would make it really useful for admins) but a USB-attached one will probably do just fine.
- stamps 7y ago
  See my post above. Here's the latest thread from the forums: https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/even-more-to-see-here-now.83733/ https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/even-more-to-see-he...
- borgel 7y ago
  Depending on your sense of urgency, there's now the GPD Micro PC [1]. Quite the odd duckling, but it includes an RJ-45 and an honest-to-god DB9 for RS232! [1] https://liliputing.com/2019/02/gpd-micropc-handheld-computer-preview.html https://liliputing.com/2019/02/gpd-micropc-handheld-computer...
pergadad 7y ago
Hmm I don't understand this. Why pay 600€ for a handheld with a 1.6ghz dual core if I can buy a netbook/13" with better specs for less? What is the use case for this device?
- floren 7y ago
  In 2011, it was a pretty good deal. Edit: apparently it was presented in 2014... when, yes, dual core ARM would have already been pretty sub-par.
  - Grumbledour 7y ago
    It's the same story with the predecessor, the Pandora. It took forever to come out, while the preorder price steadily increased. It turned out to be pretty great when it finally arrived, but the specs did not look good anymore at that point. And it seems to be even worse for the Pyra, especially since gpd has finally understood the need and is now manufacturing similar devices. I think the concept is good but maybe it would be better to design a solid handheld with a slot in option for a pi or some similar form factor sbc. That way, users could actually upgrade the device and keep it current. The hard part these days seems not be the actual computing, but the quality and usability of the screen, keyboard and game controls.
- stamps 7y ago
  I think the use case is mainly targeted at handheld computing/gaming. It's definitely a more boutique device. My guess would be it's for the crowd looking for repair ability and control over the device.
- wwweston 7y ago
  The handheld / pocket form factor is just a different device category, the kind you can have always on you. It's more competition for your phone than your netbook. Of course, it arguably suffers there: 600€ will buy you a lot of phone right now (def more processor). So there's there's a reasonable question regarding whether the keyboard + controls and more open nature add enough value. The answer is probably "no" unless handheld gaming and tinkering is your thing.
LeoPanthera 7y ago
Do you have a source for “near completion”? I was under the impression the project was dead. It’s been “coming soon” for nearly a decade.
- stamps 7y ago
  It definitely has been a long time. From the forums you can see the updates that the creator has provided. Here is the most recent thread which details the case molds and shows a assembled unit: https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/even-more-to-see-here-now.83733/ https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/threads/even-more-to-see-he...

borgel 7y ago

A similar build is arturo182's Handheld Feather Wing, which uses a Blackberry Q10 keyboard [2] Though it doesn't have a processor of its own it can be plugged into Feather compatible boards that do (like @groguard's Giant Board, which runs Linux [3]). Makes quite a nice package! I ended up going the other way and building a (split) 60% keyboard with a screen and a Pi in the middle [1]. It's long enough that you can sling it over your shoulder on a guitar strap, so it somewhat fails the pocketability test. [1] https://github.com/borgel/commute-deck https://github.com/borgel/commute-deck [2] https://hackaday.io/project/165450-keyboard-featherwing https://hackaday.io/project/165450-keyboard-featherwing [3] https://www.crowdsupply.com/groboards/giant-board https://www.crowdsupply.com/groboards/giant-board

Phillipharryt 7y ago
Another interesting build currently being polished up is SnapOnAir's Blaspberry v2. It's deemed a "communication tool". They've made a modern day pager as well, but the new one is like a linux blackberry that is entirely open source. The developer has been in talks with arturo about working together on it (based on their tweets at least) using that q10 keyboard. It's pretty damn impressive and I've seen doom running on it (though that's not the highest benchmark).
- crtasm 7y ago
  Fantastic. I really miss the form factor+keyboard of the Blackberry Bold line, I'd love to buy a ready-to-use Blaspberry or FeatherWing.
- hauget 7y ago
  Here's a video of the latest iteration: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvxloZ2Ox60 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvxloZ2Ox60 The guy running the project (Philippe) is quite the genius!
  - ccadic 7y ago
    Lol. No I am not. Just mad about technology :)

ge96 7y ago

What is that thing called that shows the "distro"? design, I see it all the the time in /r/unixporn Also I'm looking forward to when phones get cheaper that have more ram so can run dex or something similar, not quite "dual boot" but something where you have a full os working somehow(maybe virtualized though maybe poor performance)

echometa 7y ago
neofetch
jax_the_dog 7y ago
neofetch or screenfetch
lukeholder 7y ago
screenfetch or neofetch

jokoon 7y ago

I'm less and less convinced that a handheld keyboard can really be justified if you want to do some linux or programming stuff on such a device. Touch screens can be simple enough if you get used to them, they save a lot of space on the device and I think they are cheaper than a keyboard. Touch-swipe features will also make things much, much easier on a touch keyboard, and I'm sure it's totally possible to add linux commands or programming keywords to a swipe dictionary. Touch keyboards can also have their layouts changed. Other thing to consider if you're typing code, it would be nice to introduce more autocomplete to make things easier. In the end if you really want to type, just get a real keyboard and sit down at a table. I'd also rather buy a well-made handheld keyboard that you attach to a device, but sadly I can't find one that is worth it.

stamps 7y ago
I suppose you could step away from the traditional keyboard and get something like a twiddler[0]? [0] https://twiddler.tekgear.com/ https://twiddler.tekgear.com/
dvdkon 7y ago
"Soft" keyboards on a touchscreen have a number of disadvantages, the biggest for me is that they take up a large part of the screen. I could use the terminal or edit source code just fine on my phone's screen, but only if at least 40% of it wasn't taken up by a keyboard. Secondly, I think you're underestimating the number of "weird" sequences of characters programmers and terminal users regularly type. Sure, a proper keyboard and a table is always better, but there are often situations where such a comfort isn't available.
- olivil 7y ago
  But a hardware keyboard takes up a lot of potential screen space, even when it's not in use.
  - dvdkon 7y ago
    This doesn't apply to devices which have slide-out keyboards or a clamshell design. The linked design is more "Blackberry-style" as far as I can tell, but those are not the devices I primarily had in mind.

cr0sh 7y ago

Definitely going to be following this, as it's something I've thought of doing for my "next" phone - for basically all the reasons you've stated. I'm sick and tired of not being in total control of my current phone. I've thought about rooting it, but even if I did (it's a Samsung S7 from T-Mobile - which has a different processor and other stuff than the S7 that is easily rootable - and there are other "games" Samsung and probably T-Mobile play cat-n-mouse with the guys figuring out ways to root - which means a new update, etc - ugh all around ultimately), there's still the whole Google Store thing, walled gardens, etc. Then there's the crap that happens with apps you like; I had this great file manager app that I loved, that also had numerous other tools - had used it for years, paid for the "ad-free" version, etc. Then one day, via HN or something, I don't recall exactly, someone noted that the app (and the company behind it) had been sold, and that the new version was doing dirty things behind the scenes, introducing bloatware and who knows what else - and people were abandoning it left and right. I recoiled - did some more research - and that night took it off my phone; I paid something like $15.00 for it - not a huge amount of money, but still - money lost. I ended up getting a different file manager, which is ok, but nothing like what I had - paid for the ad-free version - but who knows if the same thing will happen down the line? Then there's the whole "file management", copying, sharing, etc angle - the whole BS about how in Android, if an app didn't create a directory, you can't put files in it (this apparently is conditional in some fashion - but it isn't very clear). This makes moving and managing files very difficult at times. Or the whole "let's not let users treat the device as a USB block device to copy/move/delete files from - and instead put in place another crappy layer that prevents all that - for some hand-wavy reason that didn't seem to be a problem when I first got my G1"... There are other things, too - but you get the picture. I'm tired of it. Totally. My next phone will (hopefully) be one that I build, will run Linux, and will be under my complete control. I'm kinda hoping that by the time I get around to it, that there'll be an equivalent to the RasPi 4 in the Zero W's footprint. Add on a few other modules (IMU+GPS and 4G mainly) - and you have everything for a full phone. I might even not implement voice call features, as virtually everything I do tends to be texting-based anyway. Don't want a keyboard, either - if I can get a decent capacitive touchscreen that'll connect to the Pi, I'll be fine; if I need a keyboard, bluetooth will work. Which also means I could use it as a "portable desktop" - all the convenience of a handheld, with the ability to become something more like a laptop on the occasion I need it (plus, if I need a big monitor, plugging that in would be easy too). It's nice to see someone else blazing this trail - one that other's have gone down too (I know of other projects like this - some Arduino based, which is another route I have considered - but using an ESP32 as the core). You've already made a ton of progress, but I look forward to your future efforts. Good luck with it!

mirimir 7y ago

It'd be cool to have an integrated mobile version of Tinfoil Chat.[0] Basically, three computers routed via Tor, with one that's effectively isolated using optocouplers. You'd probably want at least that one to be EMF shielded, as well. And you could generalize for web browsing etc. Maybe also use ideas from Qubes Air. 0) https://github.com/maqp/tfc https://github.com/maqp/tfc

thesuperbigfrog 7y ago

It is exciting to see cool handhelds like this! I really want to have a handheld / phone that can handle all of my on-the-go computing and connect to my servers if I need more compute power. As a tangent, if you have an Android phone and need to do some Linux-style computing on the go, consider Termux (https://termux.com/ https://termux.com/). Termux enables your Android phone to run command-line utilities, text editors (vim and emacs), several programming languages (C, C++, Perl, Python, Ruby, Rust, Scheme, and more), web servers, and lots of other tools. It is one of my favorite Android apps by far.

ZoomZoomZoom 7y ago
What I'd really wanted to see, and not sure why it's still not a thing, is some standardized laptop that would allow upgrading it's core SoC. Latest Pis are quite capable for basic tasks and will only get more powerful.
- LeoPanthera 7y ago
  What I want more than anything in the world is a Psion-sized portable computer where the brains are provided by the Rasperry Pi compute module: https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3-plus/?variant=compute-module-3plus-32gb https://www.raspberrypi.org/products/compute-module-3-plus/?... I’m genuinely surprised that this isn’t already a thing, since it would make upgrades trivial.
  - thesuperbigfrog 7y ago
    I had a Series 5mx back in the day and it was glorious. Android has all of the capabilities software-wise, but I have yet to find a device that matches the Psion Series 5mx form factor, specifically the folding clamshell and nicely-sized hardware keyboard. Most external foldable Bluetooth keyboards are too big, rather finicky, and always running out of battery on me.
    - sympodius 7y ago

groundlogic 7y ago

Nice project. The stumble block for these kinds of projects is often the keyboard. It seems tricky to get something nice to use without using keyboards from other products - and then being a slave to that mini keyboard's dimensions and availability. This project made something that seemed like it could be nice (the page was missing a final photo of the project all put together), on a custom PCB with off-the-shelf switches.

0x0f0f0f 7y ago
The keyboard is working fine and since it's powered by a Teensy 3.2/LC it can be plugged into any USB host, I'm still waiting to get the keys printed in order to put the working build in the case. The CardKB project is also interesting if you want a keyboard with soldered keys, only "downside" is I2C bus.
- groundlogic 7y ago
  CardKB is a chinese project, right? I can't seem to find the single original source for this thing, just lots of pages talking about it, like: https://m5stack.com/products/cardkb-mini-keyboard https://m5stack.com/products/cardkb-mini-keyboard

qwerty456127 7y ago

I'd love to have an eInk one. AFAIK there are eInk displays available for rPi, but they probably need a different set-up.

jsjohnst 7y ago
> AFAIK there are eInk displays available for rPi There are hundreds in all shapes, sizes, and levels of color support. Quick search of Adafruit, Amazon, Digikey, or similar will turn up a lot of them.

techstrategist 7y ago

What is the most useful handheld keyboard you’ve seen or used?

noonespecial 7y ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Pre https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Pre
groundlogic 7y ago
Nokia E61i: https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-1858.php https://www.gsmarena.com/nokia_e61i-1858.php
andrey_utkin 7y ago
Twiddler 3
- techstrategist 7y ago
  Now that’s the kind of thing I’m looking for! How’s the learning curve? Edit: too bad about the $199 price tag. Way out of my impulse purchase range.
  - techstrategist 7y ago
    I also found https://www.tapwithus.com/ https://www.tapwithus.com/ which looks similarly cool.
  - andrey_utkin 7y ago
    Takes few hours to start, few evenings to be able to type with pleasure. I use CoolHand layout which is good for Unix command line.

unixhero 7y ago

I'd like to build a keyboard computer akin to the Amiga 1200 with a RPI4. Any one else thinks that would be cool?

replete 7y ago
Pi4 Amiga project YES. I'm in. Custom floppy driver required for authenticity. Checkout the ARMiga Kickstarter project.
- unixhero 7y ago
  Nice project. It's out of production and out of stock as so many of these projects almost always are. Maybe I'll just make some clasps and instructions on how to tape it to a proper keyboard such as the king of all keyboards for all time: Keytronic KT-2001.

replete 7y ago

Great start. That low resolution is challenging for desktop UI, but maybe great if you're a devop hacker. We need a real open source phone platform. I'm curious about IBMs new hardware ..

etatoby 7y ago

What would be cool is putting a RPI-like mainboard and modern screen in an old PSION 5 case. Those things were built like bricks and had a great keyboard.

5- 7y ago

To go on a tangent, even though my personal search for the ultimate handheld computer shall never be concluded, I feel like I found a lot of the things I've been looking for (specifcally in Zaurus and the Psions) in my 7" GPD Pocket 2, which incidentally (paired with a keyboard and screen) is my main machine these days, yet I do carry it in my jacket's inner pocket to do some programming on the go. It runs Linux, is run-of-the-mill Intel-based ultrabook somewhat on the lower end (Core i3, 8GB ram, 128GB disk), with indeed its only non-boring feature being its size. Build quality, battery life, etc. is all on par with big-brand ultrabooks.

badtuple 7y ago
I have a GPD Pocket 2 and I want to like it _so much_, but I just can't get used to the keyboard layout. Everything about it is perfect except for that, but since I just program directly from the framebuffer a keyboard that I can't get used to and use intuitively is pretty much a deal breaker :(
- 5- 7y ago
  By "program directly from the framebuffer" do you mean that you can't use X11 key remapping facilities? In that case, loadkeys(1) will help (on linux).

whsheet 7y ago

Guess I am the only one but I heavily depend on my smartphone's ssh client and a fast and close VPS. I use it all the time and a phone's keyboard is actually the perfect interface for console apps like vim.

8bitsrule 7y ago

Soooo ... pocket-sized CPU, works with standard-sized KB and monitor ... sweet. Soooo ... where do I reach to unplug the optional hand-held phoneset with all the baseband HW/SIM/snoopy-shit built into it?

seanwalker08 7y ago

I built a Raspberry Pi handheld, just a little different type of handheld: https://www.simplecove.com/597/wooden-handheld-game-console/ https://www.simplecove.com/597/wooden-handheld-game-console/ Not as interesting as the OP though.

girvo 7y ago

I've been looking for a screen like the one shown in this article for years now. I've been trying to build something like the "Freewrite", a mechanical keyboard with barely a computer built into it, with long battery life. This gets me closer!

ausjke 7y ago

or you can run termux on android with a bluetooth portable keyboard https://termux.com/ https://termux.com/

ethanpil 7y ago

This is really inspiring I have been dreaming of building my own little portable notebook, powered by PI4 and a hefty USB-C battery. With the beautiful, small HDMI LCD panels available today and a 3D printer, its within reach! 100% inspired by https://habr.com/en/post/437912/ https://habr.com/en/post/437912/ which I first saw here on HN

borgel 7y ago
Depending on your goals, there's the GPD Micro PC [1]. Quite the odd duckling, but it includes an RJ-45 and an honest-to-god DB9 for RS232! Not nearly as fun as building it yourself though! [1] https://liliputing.com/2019/02/gpd-micropc-handheld-computer-preview.html https://liliputing.com/2019/02/gpd-micropc-handheld-computer...

bayesian_horse 7y ago

A Raspberry Pi 4 based tablet/laptop may be interesting. Though I don't know if the RPi4 is actually competitive, in terms of battery life, with intel-based netbooks and the like. If I were to do that, I would probably arrive at a ridiculously thick tablet with a couple of 18650 cells for power and it would need a good fan to try and save the screen from the heat.

kristianp 7y ago

I wouldn't use the word "full" for the keyboard. It's 60 keys and looks the size of half a keyboard. I think they meant that it is going to have all the qwerty alphabet.

beilabs 7y ago

My first system was a ZX-Spectrum 128k; I would love to get one of those keyboards; change out the cassette by to stick in the raspberry pi and use that as a dedicated system hooked up to a monitor. That was a really nice keyboard from memory; granted 30+ years have made the mind fog up a bit.

Jaruzel 7y ago

Anthony DiGirolamo's full project log/design of his 'Raspberry Pi Handheld' (which is the inspiration/source for 0x0f0f0f's build) is here: https://hackaday.io/project/162281/logs https://hackaday.io/project/162281/logs

kwhitefoot 7y ago

> Use USB devices like ... full size keyboards, My Moto G5+ and my Lebnovo 10" tablet work perfectly with a USB on the go adaptor and a full sized Lenovo keyboard with built in hub and a mouse. Edit: It also works well with memory sticks.