The PocketMage PDA is a pocket-sized gadget that looks a bit like a tiny laptop. It has a clamshell design featuring a 3.1 inch E Ink display on top and a QWERTY keyboard for thumb typing, along with a smaller 1.8 inch OLED secondary screen.Designed for use as a personal digital assistant rather than a full-fledged computer, the device is powered by an ESP32 microprocessor and runs a simple, open source operating system based on FreeRTOS that comes with a handful of basic software tools baked in. After introducing the PocketMage PDA last year as an open source project, the developer behind the device is now running a Crowd Supply crowdfunding campaign with reward levels starting at $185.The starting price is for a DIY kit that includes all of the hardware needed to assemble a PocketMage, but backers can also pledge $235 for a pre-assembled version. Both the kits and fully assembled systems are expected to ship by March 25, 2027.So what are you supposed to do with a little device like this? It’s designed to be a simple personal digital assistant (PDA) sort of like an old-school Palm Pilot, although the keyboard would make it more like a cross between a beeper and an Psion or HP Jornada-style PDA.It will have apps for managing contacts and calendars, but also software for writing documents or programming. And there’s support for installing some 3rd-party apps including a text-based web browser, calculator, eBook reader, and games, among other things.The PocketMage’s primary display is a 3.1 inch, 320, x 240 pixel 1-bit black and white screen that’s low-power and sunlight readable, while the secondary screen is a 1.8 inch, 256 x 32 pixel 1-bit OLED screen that should be more responsive, but tougher to view outdoors.Other features include a 1200 mAh battery, USB Type-C connector, and microSD card reader with support for up to 2TB of removable storage. There’s a real time clock module, piezo buzzer for simple audio features, and GPIO, SPI, and I2C for expansion.There’s also WiFi and Bluetooth support, courtesy of the ESP32-S3 module at the heard of the system. And if you find the PocketMage’s tiny keyboard insufficient for some tasks, there’s also support for USB keyboards (and Bluetooth keyboard support is mentioned in the development roadmap).The whole thing measures 100 x 73 x 21.7 (3.97″ x 2.87″ x 0.85).Of course, this is a crowdfunding campaign, so there’s always a chance to delays or other problems. But since the PocketMage PDA is an open source project, you can also find some of the info you’d need to build your own at the developer’s GitHub page. But at time of publication there are still some key elements that haven’t been open sourced yet, including the schematics, and 3D print files. You’d also need to purchase your own displays, keyboard, battery, and ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 module, among other things.via CNX Software