Phoenard project just got funded on Kickstarter: is an All-in-one Arduino-compatible prototyping Gadget powered, essentially a pocket-sized prototyping platform which you can use instead of an Arduino board Arduino, obviously having much more features:
- Rich Features: Self-programmed, Full-color touchscreen display, on-board battery and much more are included
- Portability: Being pocket-sized with dimension only 11.8 x 6.1 x 1.1 cm, making it comfortable to bring along with you
- ‘Operating Environment’: Not only introducing an ease to the user, but its OE making the Phoenard a one-of-a-kind product
- Multi-functionality: Stop putting away your development board when left unused; slide Phoenard into your pocket as your Gadget instead
- On-Board Course: Perfect for starting prototypers. No need to have programming skills or have a computer with you, as the Phoenard itself can guide you
- 100% Arduino-Compatible: No need to worry about compatibility issues, as it is powered by the same Microcontroller and protocol as the Arduino Mega
- Extendability: Easy access to your project with Phoenard extensions, simply plug-and-play and run your sketches
via Phoenard: World’s 1st Arduino-compatible Prototyping Gadget by Phoenard — Kickstarter.
Great idea – but the mcu is utterly underpowered. It needs an extra and expensive chip for mp3 decoding, graphics is slow, only one app can at a time and i am missing some extra buttons. Even arduino compatibility would be possible with a Cortex M3/M4 (arduino due!) or even an embedded linux plattform (Arduino Tre, Intel Galileo, Intel Edison …).
If the idea is to make it a portable device it will need to be energy efficient.
Using a low powered mcu it’s strange the designer didn’t choose to use an e-ink display