Do you love retro gaming? How about pocket sized devices, powered by Linux that you can take anywhere? The FunKey S looks like a really sweet bit of kit. Small enough to keep with your keys, powerful enough to play tons of retro games.
Funded on Kickstarter back in July 2020 which we completely missed, the FunKey team managed to raise €165,760 and they've been taking pre-orders that have proven to be popular so it went out of stock. Powered by Linux and open source, the FunKey S doesn't use a traditional Linux distribution but instead they built it themselves with Buildroot.
They're continuing to expand the selection of systems it supports currently mentioning 10 including: Playstation 1, GameGear, NES, SuperNES, Gameboy (classic, Color and Advance), Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Atari, Neo Geo Pocket, Wonderswan.
Small but looks like it's designed quite well:
- Large directional arrows and buttons A|B|X|Y|START
- Generous L1/R1 back shoulder buttons
- Additional buttons for ergonomic: POWER|Fn
- 1.54" 240x240 IPS LCD color screen for high contrasts and viewing angle, 50Hz refresh rate
- Built-in 0.5W speaker for heady retro-sounds
- Single Micro USB connector for Power + Data Drag & Drop as a standard USB memory stick
- Low battery / charge indicator
- Strong metallic strap attachment needle
It includes a number of useful enhancements too, considering it's designed for a little gaming on the go. It wakes when it opens to be ready for you, it will automatically save when you close it up before turning off and it can resume when you open it back up. They're claiming around 5 seconds to boot and be ready to game too.
Since it's open source everything about it sounds easy too. Upgrades are dragging and dropping files while hooked up over USB, developers can add whatever they like to it since it's all open.
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 42.5 x 44.5 x 13.8 mm
- Processor: ARM Cortex-A7 @ 1.2 GHz
- RAM: 64 MB DDR2
- Storage: SD card up to 128GB
- Display: LCD IPS screen, 1.52”, 240x240 px
- Audio: ∅10 mm mono speaker, 500 mW
- Battery: 410 mAh Li-ion battery
- LED charging indicator
- Micro USB Port: charge battery, load games
See more on the FunKey website where it will be available from €65. You can find hardware details on Hackaday, plus all the code is up on GitHub.
I must admit I'm tempted by this, what a lovely little device.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Another problem is the size of the whole thing. I understand that's the point, but it's just too tiny for me. Using it on the go implies things like commuting, but I can see myself struggling with these tiny buttons and a single road bump making me lose focus on the screen as it's so tiny. Then there's no audio jack, so the whole bus can enjoy PLINK PLINK WAHOO with me.
Last edited by fractal on 16 March 2021 at 3:15 pm UTC
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001171420896.html
Notice the "Brand" Label on the back.
Eh?
-edit-
Right now the one to buy seems to be the RG351M (?)
Last edited by kokoko3k on 16 March 2021 at 3:59 pm UTC
Quoting: kokoko3kThere are tons of them, but wait...
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001171420896.html
Notice the "Brand" Label on the back.
Eh?
-edit-
Right now the one to buy seems to be the RG351M (?)
None of them are that small though. Not a bad thing for me personally, but this one was meant to be key chain sized.
Quoting: EhvisNone of them are that small though.At least they have L2/R2 buttons.
Quoting: EhvisYes, it seems china makers used their projects to make a bigger one!Quoting: kokoko3kThere are tons of them, but wait...
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001171420896.html
Notice the "Brand" Label on the back.
Eh?
-edit-
Right now the one to buy seems to be the RG351M (?)
None of them are that small though. Not a bad thing for me personally, but this one was meant to be key chain sized.
Sadly, needing to press Fn+L1/R1 in stead of L2/R2 is kind of a let down and will probably make some (most ?) PSX games unplayable...
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