- This ESP32-based project can do a lot on a 2.8-inch screen
- Play retro video games and watch extended video clips
- If you like what you see, there are instructions for building your own.
We’re always interested in mods and hacks here at TechRadar, and a new retro-style mini TV caught my eye: it fits in the palm of your hand, it looks like it belongs in The Simpsonsand can play videos as well as classic video games.
It’s the work of modder DynaMightTech (via XDA Developers) and is based on the ‘cheap yellow screen’ (CYD) development board, so there’s an ESP32 controller chip powering everything, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
These boards have become popular among hobbyists because everything you need to get started is built into the board itself, including a small 2.8-inch screen that is taken advantage of here. Meanwhile, the exterior of the TV has been 3D printed.
“When I came up with this project during an afternoon walk, it was initially going to just be a case for the CYD, which looked like a retro TV,” explains the modder behind the project. “However, I ended up falling down multiple rabbit holes that apparently only led to more rabbit holes!”
See it in action
On the software side, the device uses a custom launcher app that supports classic games from a variety of consoles, including the NES, and a handful of PC games, such as Condemn and Duke Nukem 3D.
When you’re done playing, you can sit back and enjoy some video clips. The device is capable of playing movies of 90 minutes or more without problems, and there is even the possibility of downloading and converting YouTube videos.
The demo video shows you the small TV in action, with games like Tetris and shows like The Simpsons (of course) on the small screen. You also get a functional button on the TV that allows you to switch between channels.
As much as I would like to have one of these little devices, the CYD Retro Mini TV is not available to purchase. Instead, you can create one yourself, using the step-by-step guide that DynaMightTech has published on Autodesk Instructables.
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