[004] CHIP $9 computer, and PocketCHIP

Review and experiments with the CHIP $9 mini-computer, and the PocketCHIP plug-in for the CHIP that makes it into a mobile computing device.
Show Notes: opentechlab.org.uk/videos:004...
Twitter: @OpenTechLabChan
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[@black56night]

I love how you managed to get away from the relatives, hit the lab and record an hour long video. Awesome! 😊

[@stancrawford5363]

Ordering is fast and easy. Getting it is another thing. Good luck!

[@pronoy91]

This is a great video with lots of information. I arrived here with one curiosity and leaving with plethora of fun stuff. Kudos =)

[@happysprollie]

I've got one of these PocketCHIP devices gathering dust in a drawer. Time to dig it out and have a play. Great video.

[@phildavis1723]

Phenomenal video! Your great explanations and descriptions of linux's operations have added a lot to my tiny bit of knowledge of linux! I really have none, but now that I know about you, I think I will soon!

[@robina.jensen6114]

Nice video. Lot's of info, not only for Chip9, but it could also be used on RPi2 /RPi3. :-)

[@AlejandroArcade]

Super informative video. Thanks.

[@electrodacus]

Great video. Good luck with this new channel.

[@pepzi_]

Liked and subscribed. Great content so far on your channel. Looking forward to seeing more :)

[@leonardoboyle6353]

Thanks for the great video. Learned a lot from this and other video on HDMI extender. The level of discussion is just right for me. I can't understand the appalling negative comments. Keep up the good work. I'm a subscriber and I look forward to new videos.

[@IqbalMohdSarim]

Great and informative video ... keep making more!

[@IljaSara]

This video just got you an instant subscriber. Can one be in love with youtube channel? Jokes aside: This channel has the content I've been looking for a long time. Tech and Open Source. Thank you.

[@jackrippah]

Very nicely done review! Tnx

[@asaf158]

plz never stop! it's so cool

[@Maskddingo]

I was a 'kernel hacker' backer. They double sent me my final reward. Wound up with 2 pocket chips, 2 chips, 2 vga and hdmi boards. I left one set sealed in box. Also have an alpha and a beta version of the chip. It's pretty neat. I've used to program Arduinos. Also has come in handy as a pocket terminal that is a bit more user friendly than a phone app IMHO.

[@danielsalloum3006]

$0.30 so far, so funny. It has to be tricky to hit such a niche audience, but your content is well appreciated.

[@thunderstruck4015]

I bought the C.H.I.P. no poket chip and use it through a TRSS-connected composite cable featuring rca connections, a usb hub with a built-in wireless mouse keyboard and is a full-featured PC

[@heyarno]

He skips the touch calibration and then complains about the touch screen not doing what he expects...hm....

[@OpenTechLab]

Didn't know you could do that. Thanks for the tip. There's some info here: bit.ly/2mGxFSK Unless I missed something, this isn't explained in the official docs, right?

[@heyarno]

Oh, I referred to to one of the first grey welcome screens you skipped through. There was something that looked like a picture manual, on how to calibrate the touch input. I'm re-watching the video now to give you a time mark.

[@heyarno]

Ok, I remembered seeing the screen from 18:14 when I commented. It's not what I thought. But a quick search shows a rudimentary method of calibration www.chip-community.org/index.php/Calibrate_Touchscreen

[@Dessimat0r]

Isn't it also a resistive screen? In which case, use a better stylus (like the type a 3DS might use, etc).

[@WorldInThe]

I was thinking this aswell. Since it's resistive that would be a big reason he was having the issues he was having. Even a mechanical pencil with the lead retracted would work better than the stylus he was using.

[@ernestuz]

Just discovered your channel and subscribed :)

[@kyimedical]

thank you for running ppen techlab

[@OpenTechLab]

kyimedical thanks for watching!

[@Datan0de]

Hands-down, this is the best video I've seen about the CHIP and PocketCHIP! Tons of great info here. Now I want to pick up a GPS receiver and duplicate what you've done here with my own PocketCHIP. Two questions: Did you ever find a workaround that allows you to boot the PocketCHIP with the GPS connected? If so, would it be possible to permanently connect the GPS to the internal solder pads and fit everything inside the case?

[@DoRC]

Is there no way to calibrate the touch in software?

[@EdwinFairchild]

you can get a Wireless USB keyboard Mouse Combo and it will only use one USB port for the receiver , hence no need for a hub

[@UNSCPILOT]

Unless you also want a flash drive or other device linked up, but cheap simple hubs are a dime a dozen so not a huge deal. That said it makes me wanna put my Pi 3 or Pi 0 to work, kinda impulse bought them without a plan XD

[@DecibelAlex]

$9 + $60 shipping. charger sold separately*

[@TheRealTrimBrady]

DecibelAlex 😆 eBay

[@wahabfiles6260]

@@TheRealTrimBrady Its $90 on Amazon and $75 in their website!

[@SilverSpoon_]

sunvox! Oh yeah I love this software.

[@nxxxxzn]

29:50 I shorted 5v & 3v and smoke escaped from chip board. any idea how to fix?

[@KanthanakornNoysena]

Thanks. it is useful before buying one.

[@Tech.Library]

@opentechlab i added # to the two lines of the autologin and saved,but when i did sudo apt install matchbox it says unable to locate packgage.Any taughts

[@justthebeginning1448]

That is COOL!

[@Guds777]

Strange time indeed, i bought a smart watch the other day, which in fact is working android phone with its own sim card, 3G and everything a full size phone has. And fitz on my wrist.

[@MrTomasMaliauka]

I have started to be interested in single board computers. It seems everybody are interested in them these days. Also in open source electronics, like Arduinos, actuators and sensors. Can you suggest where I should start to get basic information on how different OS works on SBC? How to configure, where to fing programs or start writting my own.

[@Cynthia_Cantrell]

Tomas Maliauka Consider getting a RaspberryPi 3 kit. There are different levels of kits for different levels of skill, cost, and ambition. I've been using mine to learn Python, but it has become my main computer - especially after my Windoze desktop died. The RaspberryPi marketing aims for kids and school projects, but don't let that turn you off. With a fast microSD card, it is a fully functional and usable everyday computer. The Raspbian operating system comes with a full set of LibreOffice software, several programming languages, browser, Mathmatica, and games. Other operating systems are available if you would prefer those as well. Learning Linux is a matter of reading, searching, reading or watching some more, and trying things out. I suspect I will be learning a lot more Python and Linux over the coming months. I've already written an snp file to SPICE model converter to use in my engineering work, as well as an LFSR counter designer in Python. How much you can learn is up to how much effort you put in! Good luck! Cynthia

[@N4Y0]

Is there a U.K. Link and if there is can you inform me because I would love to get one

[@tonybaines3332]

where do you buy one in the uk ?

[@frank124c]

I'm thinking about buying an SBC to replace an old computer I've been using to cruise the internet. I would like to see everything put together, the sbc, the box and the fan with 8gb RAM. I have a monitor and keyboard.

[@Nicolai0Nerland]

SunVox is a multi-platform music-tracker / modular soft synth that's been around quite a while now. I was pleasantly surprised seeing it shipped with the PocketChip. It's really awesome to use and play with, even if one isn't used to tracker-style composing. www.warmplace.ru/soft/sunvox/

[@MrTomasMaliauka]

Where have you learned all these commands and basics of embedded Linux programming? It seems that for every problem you know the answer.

[@user-ol3tf1qi6c]

I'm your 1000th sub! YES!

[@OpenTechLab]

Welcome, my friend. Thanks for watching!

[@d3stinYwOw]

About Abiword - It has It's own quirks everywhere. About Gnumeric - It's lightweight AND very precise - much more than Excel from MSO or Calc from LO. ;)

[@ikeyasector]

On mine, I can play Quake II using the 3D graphics chip.

[@wmtrader]

After hearing your accent I did not expect you to be living in BFE Cheyenne Wyoming. You must be in the MI5 witness relocation program.

[@Roadbobek]

And where can u buy the gps module?

[@TheFecesGuy]

Where do you purchase this device

[@SevenDeMagnus]

Hi. That's just 9 dollars including the screen and dome keyboard- that's cool. What did you spray to remove the sticker? Thank you. God bless, Proverbs 31

[@MikeRota]

Does that keyboard and monitor case work with a Raspberry Pi Zero W?

[@OpenTechLab]

Unfortunately not - it's a completely different thing. I would love it if there were a standard for such things - but unfortunately every type of device: Arduino, RPi, RPi Zero, BeagleBone, Papillio Board, etc. they all have their own kinds of Shields/Hats/Wings etc. which are not compatible.

[@enduro-crosstime548]

where to buy it

[@serverguy2]

That's the most odd Colorado accent I have ever heard. However, I got most of the words. But, seriously, folks. this is an excellent presentation. However, as with all presentations of the "$9 Computer", it quickly becomes obvious that by the time you get enough stuff to make it work, you are at about 3 times the price of a Raspberry Pi 3 which is at least 4 times faster than this dog. I won't be buying one but have learned a lot from this presentation. Thanks a lot for preparing it. Made it all the way through!

[@mstrVLT]

wow!

[@piercer4882]

where can you buy it for 9$ i looked on ebay and someone was selling it for $130

[@OpenTechLab]

Still only available on back-order on getchip.com . I guess we have to wait for the production run to finish.

[@i_love_pandas8458]

Can you run retro pie on it

[@jkrupp]

I can't find it in eBay

[@danielepiccatman8998]

dose pocket chip come with the chip or do i have to buy it sepretly.

[@OpenTechLab]

It does. The PocketCHIP kit ships with both the CHIP and the PocketCHIP plug-in. You have to buy the HDMI DIP separately, though.

[@JoshuaBoyd]

What do you spritz on the HDMI board before taking the toothbrush to it?

[@OpenTechLab]

+Joshua Boyd Isopropyl Alcohol aka IPA

[@OpenTechLab]

+Joshua Boyd also really I should be using an antistatic brush

[@Roadbobek]

How do you do it with Windows?

[@DoRC]

Hey... Can you go back to "I'm running linux" and repeat everything? :) :)

[@WilsonBradleyTheOfficial]

What GPS formating output is it ? 105.064200, 40.506041 doesn't show up on google maps.. ;-) .. I also am looking for a small LCD screen friendly Window Manager. On the Raspberry using most images, the Windows that open are beyond the screen and hard to use. Even standard settings, it's annoying. Let me know if you have any to recommend. BTW: thanks for showing and your time. Ignore the troll haters..

[@joshuasilva2455]

lucky i ordered my chip in february and still havent go it

[@t0xy22]

Still? Xd

[@DrEtzor]

Chip - a $9 Mini-Computer which has USB port and Headphone Jack. iPhone 7 - a $649 Smartphone which has Lightning port. So, at less than 1/65th of the price, the Chip still has a Headphone Jack, and can basically do the exact same things as the iPhone. That iPhone sure seems like great value.

[@TomsLife9]

where's the UL listing? FCC testing for radiated emissions? there's a lot more than just the face value hardware...

[@vuffovuffoni2691]

You could also say that a tricycle can do the exact same things as a Tesla, yet it costs a fraction of the price and still has pedals. Or you can stop taking drugs and grow a brain.

[@vanskiid]

shutup about the headphone jack. DON'T BUY AN IPHONE

[@DrEtzor]

Do you need Aloe Vera for those burns around your intimate areas? too bad they haven't yet made an medicine for people who buy Apple products.

[@mickeythompson9537]

Presumably, that mini-cumputer's flimsy construction will last longer than an iPhone after it's next deliberately crippling 'update'.

[@stormgirl09]

so its pretty much a tablet PC for smart computer nerds :P lol. despite not understanding most of the jargon its still an intriguing device!

[@tclan414]

Order this 2 years ago never received it. No refund nothing. When I sent an email I got the same reply that they where running behind on shipping.

[@TheDormonid]

what did you just sprayed over the board to clean the terrible sticker???

[@OpenTechLab]

It's Isopropyl Alcohol a.k.a. IPA. You can get it bottled or as a spray. The result wasn't perfect - the CHIP has matt-black solder-resist, and the sticker seems somewhat metalic, so I think I ended up with small amounts of conductive debris ingrained into the solder-resist. Fortunately it didn't seem to break anything.

[@Yngwiejmalmsteen08]

OpenTechLab hi opentech where can I buy one in the uk ? Thanks

[@OpenTechLab]

I think people are reselling at a mark-up on eBay, or I believe you can place a back-order at getchip.com .

[@antoinevs7201]

This is really a little liniux phone!

[@alvodisco]

The voices won't stop they tell me to do things, great video by the way could use some better lighting tho

[@blastygamez]

U have also appimages and tons of other software options

[@blastygamez]

392102

[@elmariachi5133]

I'd always rather go for an Oran Pi PC H3, 1GB RAM and QuadCore. For just 15$ it offers a really usable desktop experience.

[@pmlonline]

You can't even buy the thing anymore. People have been waiting 8 months to get it. Nothing.

[@AttilaAsztalos]

That's what happens when the price is a publicity stunt meant to reel people in (hoping to make up for it in accessory and shipping pricing) instead of reflecting actual sustainable production costs.

[@KekseTheFox]

paul the og paul i found him yay you get this right his name is paul jake paul oh forget it

[@DarkAvatar1313]

Same thing happened with the first Rasberry Pi Zero...

[@AlejandroArcade]

There are lots on sale. Go to the CHIP and PocketCHIP forums.

[@airworldpremium4472]

linux?

[@dj0rdj3-]

Aw my eyes from your console how do you work in that whiteness? I prefer dark background and white letters.

[@OpenTechLab]

I use a white on black terminal for my own work, but it doesn't come out very well in the recording, so I do my presentations with black on white

[@JacobDavidCCunningham]

Wonder if you could yeah you could... just pair it up with one of those logitech keyboard/mouse from WalMart those are pretty cool.

[@wahabfiles6260]

WHERE DO YOU BUY THIS FOR $9? ITS $90 ON AMAZON AND $75 IN THEIR OWN WEBSITE!

[@Ghozer]

It was doing that with your pen because you were holding it at such an angle, and it's such a large tip - get some Nintendo DS styli and it'll be fine!

[@OpenTechLab]

You're right - I think a stylus would help. You can get them for $0.20 on AliExpress. But despite appearances on the video, I really believe there was a misalignment. I wonder if it happened to anyone else.

[@Sam-gy2ts]

hi

[@rich1051414]

Misalignment happens, and should be calibrated at the factory after installation. I wonder if they skipped that step...

[@dangoldbach6570]

I learned that there is much to learn about these little "toys".... I am now eyeing my new microwave and smart fridge screwdriver in hand. Want it to make my sammich when I pull in my driveway...

[@relikvija]

i cant learn

[@EnglishLaw]

That's the positive attitute. lol

[@n3r0z3r0]

18:42 absurdly long wireless password :D

[@modifiedvai5975]

NTC doesn't even ship their product

[@volkerking5932]

Only Advertisement for this Chip set!

[@lancelotxavier9084]

Ordered one many months ago ... NEVER got it. 2nd kick starter that took my money and never delivered.

[@Datan0de]

I realize your comment is old, and I hope you've received your PocketCHIP by now, but you haven't been ripped off- they've just had serious supply line issues. I ordered my first CHIP and PocketCHIP back during the first kickstarter, and it took several months to get them. It was frustrating, but in the end I got everything I ordered and have been having a great time with them!

[@MarioCruz-TechPro]

Lancelot Xavier, I got mine with no problems and cost me $9.00 Usd.

[@user-pi5xz5je4y]

The store on getchip 403's.

[@deeeon3971]

It'd be awesome if I could magically replace my Palm TX's guts with this computer, especially since the TX's display is far superior to this one. A Super Hack to go for a real pocket PC!

[@eliinthewolverinestate6729]

Too bad the keyboard didn't slide under. Get rid of the top part. Add a sim card chip and would be nice cell device.

[@mickn6619]

Allwiener a13 :)

[@simeyD]

you have puffs hands.!!! oh my poor children.!! lol

[@railspony]

It isn't really like a supercomputer. It doesn't even have the IO bandwidth of a high end "mini" computer! In the 70s it would have been an expensive co-processor, but it would have really sucked for the things supercomputers were doing. Don't get confused by clock speeds. To actually make it as powerful as a supercomputer from when you were a baby it would have to cost many thousands of dollars even today.

[@zakathzakath6184]

Install Aros amiga os in it

[@R2053]

if shipping didnt cost 40 dollars i would probably get one

[@Censorshift]

Hey guys, I do most vids for Chip and Pocket CHIP if you are interested, please come by the channel to see how to get stuff like half life running on this thing

[@karolkowalski3842]

Just don't take it to the airport xD

[@E-BikeAndi]

Oldschool-Crack´s are the best!!! :-)

[@Liofa73]

10 March and still out of stock...

[@edgeeffect]

This is rather nice.... but if I was going to spend 9 quid on hardware.... I'd buy 3 old internet routers off E. Bay and run OPEN WRT on them.... admittedly I'd have no HDMI but I'd have 3 rather than one ??????????

[@pinkeye00]

Hey look another techno video

[@maze42d]

Still boots faster than my phone...

[@Sam-gy2ts]

wow

[@kf4hnf]

This guy fly's from the UK to Fort Collins Colorado so we don't find out the secret location of His Lab. HA HA

[@flo89123]

30 cents for running this channel maan feelsbad 16:01

[@OpenTechLab]

It's gone up a lot since then. I've even got Patreons now! It's not making me rich, but I'm having doing it, and getting a few sheckles to help buy supplies is really nice.

[@Phil-D83]

Needs better lighting

[@MathiasThur]

Hello. Regarding the PocketHOME view, i would suggest you trying out the Marshmallow Home. It mimics the PocketHOME but with a lot of the added features you are looking for. bbs.nextthing.co/t/apt-pocket-home-marshmallow-edition/6579 Also. If you need any help with this device, try out other fun community driven projects, or share some of your own tips and tricks, please come join us at the Slack team slofile.com/slack/chipster

[@rbaleksandar]

I have to say, putting a wallpaper on the desktop and also using XFCE (which is definitely not that lightweight but I guess if you compare it to GNOME or KDE then yes, it is) is a very peculiar choice for such a device. I would have done a minimal LXDE install (if the goal is a more traditional desktop look and feel) with 99% of the software I see in this video completely gone and (of course) no wallpaper.

[@wheelieblind]

Wish it had a nicer keyboard.

[@joshuasilva2455]

and it is not $9 it is $16

[@DJGeosmin]

the "dip"s should actuly be called qips, or quad inline packages, not dips, or dual inline packages. in my opinion.

[@bobstro]

Wouldn't be able to make the Chips & Dip jokes then.

[@astaphobic2575]

christmass day? published june 30 2017 XD

[@OpenTechLab]

+face up Jan 30th!

[@theshaggyfreak]

Did you know that Sigrok works on it? blog.damnsoft.org/using-your-pocket-c-h-i-p-as-a-portable-logic-analyzer/

[@OpenTechLab]

+William 'Shaggy' Chrapcynski Yeah I saw that. Super cool. But the PocketCHIP screen is so low-res; PV needs a little work to enable it to adapt to the small screen size

[@theshaggyfreak]

At least it does work and is good enough for my needs right now.