Samwise Makers' News
Friday, June 19, 2026
Commodore Unveils Linux-Powered Flip Phone Running Sailfish OS
The revived Commodore brand has unveiled the Callback 8020, a Linux-powered flip phone designed with hardware enthusiasts and privacy-focused users in mind. The device runs Sailfish OS, a Linux-based operating system compatible with Android apps, giving users a genuinely open-source-friendly smartphone platform. Key hardware specifications include a replaceable battery pack, a 48MP Sony camera sensor, and a Cirrus Logic digital-to-analog converter for high-quality audio output. The flip form factor is a deliberate design choice, physically separating the display from the keyboard. Sailfish OS support for Android apps ensures compatibility with the wider mobile software ecosystem despite the Callback 8020's non-Android foundation.
Sources: Hackaday
3Dresyn's Depolymerizable Resin Makes Photopolymer Recycling Possible
Photopolymer resins used in SLA and MSLA 3D printing permanently harden under UV light and cannot normally be recycled or reprocessed. A new approach from 3Dresyn addresses this with depolymerizable resin formulations and additives that allow the cured polymer to break back down with heat and be reformed for reuse. The system comes in two temperature variants: one depolymerizes at 80°C and another at 150°C. Both the compatible resins and the required additives are available directly from 3Dresyn. The process could substantially reduce photopolymer waste from desktop resin printers, addressing a recognized environmental concern with the format.
Sources: Hackaday
Builder Creates Two-Way Holographic Display With ESP8266 and Beam-Splitter Cube
Maker Julius Makes has built a compact two-way holographic display using a Wemos D1 development board with an ESP8266 microcontroller driving two OLED displays over I2C. The displays are mounted in a 3D-printed assembly aimed at a beam-splitter cube, which routes each display's image along a separate optical path through the cube. The result is a device that shows a different image depending on the angle from which a viewer approaches, creating a simple holographic effect with entirely off-the-shelf components. The project demonstrates how low-cost microcontrollers, inexpensive OLED modules, and a beam-splitter cube can combine to produce striking optical illusions.
Sources: Hackaday
Qualcomm Linux 2.0 Brings Upstream-First Open Development to Dragonwing IoT
Qualcomm has announced Qualcomm Linux 2.0 for its Dragonwing IoT platform lineup, committing to an upstream-first open development model and a unified, scalable Linux framework across all Dragonwing IoT hardware. The upstream-first approach means kernel patches will be submitted directly to the mainline Linux kernel rather than maintained in separate downstream forks, which historically fragment support and complicate long-term maintenance. The new framework replaces per-device kernel trees with a single consistent software stack across the Dragonwing portfolio. For embedded developers using Qualcomm IoT hardware, the shift should simplify software bring-up, reduce maintenance burden, and improve long-term platform support reliability.
Sources: CNX Software
Open Healthware Conference 2026 Approaches: San Francisco, July 9–10
The Open Source Hardware Association is hosting the 2026 Open Healthware Conference on July 9 and 10 in San Francisco, and Hackster.io flagged the event this week as it draws near. The conference explores ways to democratize health technology and make it more accessible through open hardware principles. It brings together medical professionals and open-source developers working on health-related hardware projects, with demonstrations and discussion covering assistive technologies and health-focused open hardware. For makers and engineers working at the intersection of open-source development and medical device design, the event represents a concentrated gathering on applying maker methodologies to healthcare technology.
Sources: Hackster.io
Snap-Fit ESP32-C3 Super Mini Enclosure Joins the #3DThursday Collection
Adafruit's weekly 3DThursday feature this week showcases a snap-fit enclosure designed specifically for the ESP32-C3 Super Mini, one of the smallest members of the ESP32 microcontroller family. The case uses a tool-free snap-fit mechanism to secure the board without screws, making it easy to open for prototyping and snap shut for deployment. The ESP32-C3 Super Mini is widely used in maker projects for its small footprint, integrated wireless connectivity, and low cost. Providing an open 3D-printable case for the board extends its usability into projects requiring clean, protective housing, and the design can be printed on any standard FDM desktop printer.
Sources: Adafruit Blog
Maker Solves the Panel-Mount OLED Display Problem With Custom PCBs
Maker Galopago has solved a recurring frustration in electronics builds: cleanly mounting inexpensive OLED display modules into a panel. Standard bare OLED PCBs vary slightly in size and leave exposed edges, making neat installation difficult without additional hardware. The solution uses an off-the-shelf 48 by 29mm power panel meter enclosure as the housing, paired with two custom PCBs — one holding a voltage regulator and supporting components, and the other providing screw terminals for easy wiring connections. The assembled unit slots into a panel cutout with a bezel covering any gaps. The complete project and design files are shared on Hackaday for others to reproduce.
Sources: Hackaday
Top Crowdfunding
Kickstarter / Indiegogo
1. xTool WonderPress — $3.1M raised, Kickstarter (closes June 24)
2. CardputerZero (M5Stack) — $1.4M raised, Kickstarter
3. Revopoint POP 4 — $2.6M raised, Kickstarter
GitHub Trending
Makers & Hardware
None this week — live star counts unavailable
Upcoming Events
Maker Faire Switzerland — June 20–21, Zürich
Open Healthware Conference — July 9–10, San Francisco
Maker Faire Bay Area — Sept 25–27, Mare Island, CA
Curated by JD · samwise.agency