Guru
Joined: 20/06/2011
Location: AustraliaPosts: 2916
| Posted: 01:02am 20 Sep 2023 |
Hi Andrew, All,
I am sorry I have been unable to reply until now, I have been run off my feet with projects around the house and my 65th birthday (Tomorrow 21st Sep) which seems to have attracted hoards of people who want to pop in or take me out for dinner etc, they must all be surprised I am still around. I will milk it while it lasts.
Thank you for the kind words, there have been many 100's of hours spent between Tom, Bill and myself on getting this together. There was so much more we wanted to include in the manual but we decided that for the initial release we will go with what we have and later, as more questions such as yours arise we can follow up with a FAQ or additions to the manual.
Unfortunately I haven't got one of the `specified' batteries so I used one that was quite fat and just squeezed in and it is as ugly as me. I don't think it would be suitable to publish a picture of that.
If Tom or Bill can send me a picture I can edit it and post it here, but honestly it is very straight forward and I think most people would know how to `tape' a tiny speaker and lithium down satisfactorily, and that gel based double sided tape sticks the speaker and battery down to the base board very well
The bottom board could be cut from perspex or ply wood or other suitable material and thus save a PCB but the truth is that I (and no doubt Tom) have quite a few spare, blank PCBs from previous revisions (that are fully functional as they are all minor changes such as moving the switches lower and changing the name from Bintendo Tomboy to Game★Mite) so these are more than suitable and IMHO would look better than a blank baseboard and don't need any cutting to make work.
As to a 3D printed case, well, maybe someone will do that but I think the size and feel as it is, is perfect, adding a case would make it more awkward and cumbersome to use, however if someone does come up with a case that can only be an improvement to possible options.
Also the expansion header has the text for the Pin out under where the header sits (as there was no other suitable place to fit that text) and by using a 2nd PCB that text is visible as shown in this mockup.
No as the Game★Mite currently stands the backlight is fixed. This is an easy modification to do though, simply remove the 68R resistor, R2, and run a wire link from the side of R2 that goes to the backlight pin and which ever pin you wish to use for backlight control.
However, as Tom pointed out each game would then have to be modified to support backlight control.
As to the battery level the Game★Mite doesn't read the battery voltage, The Analog input pins are currently unallocated so you `could' allocate one of these to monitor the VBus line but once again each game would then have to be modified to support that feature.
Re. the WebMite swap, one would have to look at which pins on the PicoMite are used and compare to the available pins for the WebMite.
The problem with the 4" displays is that they are not available in ILI9341 style, and the games rely on the 320 x 240 resolution for speed and play-ability. Of course, I think, you are looking at other, non game, applications then I can see why you might want a nicer, higher resolution TFT.
Re. the power/charge switch, it is clear of the LHS of the TFT by a good 5mm so is not needed to be rocked over, of course if a 90 degree switch with the same pinout is available I am sure one could use it instead if they chose to.
You never know, maybe Santa has one put aside for you.
As to availability, I have most parts except batteries and TFT screens and Aus post don't like us sending lithium batteries in the post anyway..
I will keep price parity with Tom. So I am offering the following.
$38.50AU for a kit of all parts except TFT, battery and Pico. Inc postage in Aus.
$15AU for a set of 2 PCBs (one may be earlier version) Inc post in Aus.
$10AU for a single, latest, PCB. Inc post in Aus.
$15AU for a programmed Pico (ready to run) if ordered with above.
All other items on request.
As mentioned I will not be able to supply batteries.
Kind Regards,
Mick
Edited 2023-09-20 13:59 by bigmik