Tanmatsu handheld terminal has a RISC-V processor, QWERTY keyboard, and WiFi, Bluetooth, and LoRa

Tanmatsu Portable Terminal is a new gadget from Nicolai Electronics aimed at programmers, hackers and manufacturers. The open-source PDA combines a display and physical keyboard with a RISC-V processor, support for wireless protocols including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, Zigbee and LoRa, and a hacker-friendly design that can be modified with multiple expansion ports.

Nikolay Electronics We accept pre-orders for 120 euros including VAT, or 99 euros (about $103 USD) for customers outside of Europe. The company says the device will begin shipping to customers in April 2025.

At this moment the company is still finalizing a set of “final prototypes” and “working on launcher firmware that will allow users to install and run firmware binaries such as applications.” But developers hope the devices will be ready to ship by April.

The device is equipped with a “large” MIPI-DSI display with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels and a frequency of 400 MHz. ESP32-P4 dual-core microcontroller with 32 MB PSRAM, 16 MB flash memory and SD card reader.

Wireless capabilities provided ESP32-S6 radio module (WiFi, Bluetooth and Zigbee) and I-Thinker Ra-01S or Ra-01Sh LoRa module for 433 MHz or 868/915 MHz network respectively.

Other niceties include a lithium-polymer battery, a headphone jack, and expansion ports on the front and back of the device—the expansion port on the back is intended to support future “custom modules” that will expand the Tanmatsu’s functionality. Everything is held together by a 3D printed housing. Since this is a niche device that will likely be produced in small quantities and sold in hobby shops such as tend And LectroncI wouldn’t expect a better quality mass produced case anytime soon.

Since the hardware designs will be open source, anyone who wants to build their own rather than buy it should be able to do so… provided they can find all the relevant components at reasonable prices.

On the software side, the plan is to ship the PDA with open-source “running firmware” that “allows you to run custom applications” and “provides access to an application marketplace where developers can publish their creations.”

This article was first published on January 4, 2025 and last updated on January 7, 2025, with information on pricing, pre-orders, prototypes, and estimated delivery date.

by using Rubenerd