While Google’s Project Ara is making all the headlines for being a user customised modular smartphone, software engineer and Raspberry Pi enthusiast David Hunt has decided to get head of the game and build his own smartphone from a Raspberry Pi, an Adafruit touchscreen, and some carefully placed padding. The whole unit is held together with zip ties and costs US$158 (RM516).
Dubbed the PiPhone, this bodged smartphone can take calls, send texts, and even use data; although his demonstration video only showed Hunt making a call. The PiPhone uses a Sim900 GSM/GPRS module for communications; and no, it still requires SIM card in order to work.
Hunt admits that for the price it would be better to go to the local store and actually buy a proper phone, but that takes away from the fun and ingenuity that goes into tinkering with electronics. He has also offered to upload the source code for the phone to Github, in case anyone wants to try their hand at building a home made smartphone.
[source: David Hunt]
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