Via Wired
David Hunt is an Irish programmer, photographer and maker who loves tinkering with Raspberry Pi. He started thinking about building a Raspberry Pi-based smartphone when he came across a DIY “digital camera” prototype that combined the modifiable microcomputer with a TFT touchscreen.
He realised that simply adding a GSM module could transform the image-capturing contraption into a rudimentary phone. The clincher, though, was the name: “As I came up with the name ‘PiPhone’, I said to myself, ‘I’ve really got to build this’,” Hunt says. “I think the name is so cool… And yes, it does sound similar to a famous smartphone that I won’t mention.”
WIRED would not advise you to swap your handset for the PiPhone, but here is how to try your hand at building this vaguely cyberpunk-styled device. It is also much cheaper than its competitors: Hunt swears that it can be put together for just £110.
Featured Adafruit Products!
PiTFT 2.8″ TFT 320×240 + Capacitive Touchscreen – Raspberry Pi Model B: Our best-selling PiTFT 2.8″ display just got a fancy upgrade, now we have a version with a capacitive touchscreen! That’s right, instead of a resistive touchscreen, which requires a fingernail or stylus, you can now use a fingerpad. The screen looks much nicer, with a black bezel and glass overlay. Read more.
Adafruit FONA – Mini Cellular GSM Breakout – SMA Version – v1: Ring, Ring! Who’s that callin’? It’s your breadboard! Introducing Adafruit FONA MiniGSM, an adorable all-in-one cellular phone module that lets you add voice, text, SMS and data to your project in an adorable little package. Read more.
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