Own $20 MicroPython Smartwatch
A Hacker News post highlighted running MicroPython on a $3 smartwatch, showcasing MicroPython's simplicity for microcontrollers. WASP-OS introduced as an affordable alternative for PineTime. Colmi P8 smartwatch at $16.29 enables MicroPython usage with 240x240 screen and long battery life. Users can set up the watch using an Android device with BLE capabilities for custom app development.
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A post on Hacker News sparked interest in running MicroPython on a $3 smartwatch, leading to the exploration of MicroPython's versatility and simplicity for programming microcontrollers. While traditional smartwatches like the Apple Watch offer powerful computing, their high cost and limited customization options can be prohibitive. WASP-OS emerged as an alternative operating system to bring MicroPython to affordable smartwatches like the PineTime. The Colmi P8 smartwatch, priced at $16.29, became a cost-effective option for running MicroPython with a 240x240 screen and long battery life. Setting up the Colmi P8 involved using an Android device with BLE capabilities and following specific steps to flash the necessary files onto the watch. With the process completed, users could enjoy a smartwatch running MicroPython, enabling the development of custom applications. This affordable solution provided a platform for experimentation and coding in a familiar language, offering a budget-friendly alternative to mainstream smartwatches.
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9 commentsThe saving grace is that modifying or adding functionality to micropython is pretty straight forward. It's just a FreeRTOS app, the organization is intuitive, the code is fairly short. Anything performance heavy can be written in C and called from micropython (same idea as torch or numpy).
I remember making watch face bitmaps with paint!
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