Samwise Makers' News
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Old iPad Keyboard Makes for a Modern Netbook
Builder [bob-foss] transformed a discarded iPad Mini keyboard case into a functional netbook shell for a modern Lenovo gaming tablet. The original keyboard case, designed to hinge around an iPad Mini, was repurposed by designing and 3D-printing a custom bracket to secure the larger tablet in its place. The build relies on USB-C for both the keyboard connection and tablet power, keeping the cable routing clean. The result is a compact, folding device that brings laptop-style usability to an Android gaming tablet without the bulk of a traditional laptop. Full files and documentation are on GitHub.
ESP32-P4 Powers Video Alarm Clock
Builder [brunokeymolen] turned a Waveshare ESP32-P4 module into a video alarm clock that wakes you to any video clip in your collection. The pre-built module combines an ESP32-P4 processor with a 720-pixel-square display, a built-in RTC for accurate timekeeping, and an SD card reader for video storage. The only hardware addition was a 3D-printed bedside stand — the rest is a software project. Video files must be AVI containers with 720×720 MJPEG video and PCM stereo audio at 44.1 kHz, fitting the old eight-character FAT filename format. The project is fully open source and on GitHub.
A Vacuum Tube Computer for the Home
Builder [Mike] has constructed a working 8-bit vacuum tube computer designed for home display, using double-triode tubes sourced from former Eastern Bloc surplus stock. Following a von Neumann architecture with NOR-based logic — the same approach used in NASA's Apollo programme computers — the machine implements 16 instructions and fits into a surprisingly compact wall-mounted cabinet. A repurposed ex-British Rail flip-digit display serves as output, and the system is capable enough to run an airship simulator game written for it. Full documentation, schematics, and project details are available at thetubecomputer.com.
XIAO SAMD21 Plus and RP2040 Plus Get Extra GPIO and Battery Management
Seeed Studio expanded its XIAO Plus Series with two new boards that upgrade popular microcontroller modules with additional I/O and battery management. The XIAO SAMD21 Plus adds 16 SMD GPIO pins and an integrated Li-ion PMIC to the Cortex-M0+ SAMD21 platform, priced at $5.90. The XIAO RP2040 Plus does the same for the dual-core RP2040, adding 15 SMD GPIOs and a PMIC, priced at $4.90. Both boards keep the original compact XIAO form factor and USB-C port, are available now from Seeed, and support Arduino, PlatformIO, MicroPython, CircuitPython, Zephyr, TinyGo, and Rust.
Sources: CNX Software
FREE-WILi 2 Open-Hardware Multitool Packs Dual RP2350, FPGA, and Linux
FREE-WILi 2 is a portable open-hardware electronics lab that extends well beyond the Flipper Zero concept. It centers on dual Raspberry Pi RP2350 microcontrollers, a Lattice iCE40UP5K FPGA, and a Raspberry Pi CM Zero running Linux, packing a 3.5-inch touchscreen, sub-GHz radio, NFC, 125 kHz RFID, infrared, LoRa with Meshtastic support, and Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Zigbee via an ESP32-C5 into a handheld with a 3,000 mAh battery and 17 individually managed power zones. GPIO, SPI, UART, I2C, and analog headers extend connectivity further. The Founders Edition pre-orders for $400, with Q4 2026 shipping.
Sources: Hackster.io
CircuitPython Show Episode 64 Replays CircuitPython Day 2026 Livestream
The CircuitPython Show returned with Episode 64, replaying the CircuitPython Day 2026 Bootloader livestream hosted by Paul Cutler and Tod Kurt. The episode reviewed the past year of CircuitPython releases, including the audio effects added in CircuitPython 10, incremental improvements in versions 10.1 and 10.2, and ongoing upstream work with MicroPython. Highlights from the community showcase included a Pac-Man clone, a Z-machine interpreter for playing Zork, a video music player, an autonomous LEGO train using LIDAR for navigation, and PicoTTY, demonstrating the breadth of what makers are building on the platform.
Sources: Adafruit Blog
Top Crowdfunding
Kickstarter / Indiegogo
Petoi Quaddle — Kickstarter, $99–$199, $50K goal, Dec 2026 shipping
FREE-WILi 2 — Pre-order $400, Q4 2026 shipping
GitHub Trending
Makers & Hardware
platformio/platformio-core — 9.3k★
rust-embedded/async-embedded — 9.8k★
ESP32 WiFi CSI motion sensing — ESP32/camera sensing repo
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Curated by JD · samwise.agency