Latest news with #keychain
The Verge
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Thumby Color micro-review: a delightfully tiny GBA clone that doesn't play Nintendo
It's always a risk betting on new video game hardware from a little-known company: what if game developers never show up? But the $50 Thumby Color, on sale this week, is an easier sell — the two-inch handheld is cute as a button, fits on your keychain, lets aspiring programmers build and publish games right on the web, and I'm finding it so much easier to play than the tinier $30 original! Here's my video comparing the two and showing off playable takes on Tetris, Connect 4, Minesweeper, Doom, Bust-a-Move, 2048, and more: Where the original Thumby uses a 133MHz Raspberry Pi RP2040 to power a black-and-white screen measuring just 0.4 inches diagonally, with a mere 1.4MB of space for games, the new Thumby Color can double the clockspeed with its RP2350 chip, has double the screen at 0.85 inches, and nearly 10 times the storage at around 14MB usable space. As you may have just seen, that isn't a lot of power, but it's enough to wow in such a tiny package. (Yes, there's legitimately a real, playable copy of Doom running on the original Thumby thanks to Graham Sanderson, with tweaks by James Brown, and you can install it here yourself!) The original Thumby was so difficult to play. Forget thumbs, I needed to use my thumbnails to press its buttons and D-pad, and I practically needed a magnifying glass to tell the tetrominoes (Tetris shapes) apart on its 1-bit OLED. Thankfully, the Thumby Color's D-pad actually has a tangible pivot point. It's stiff, but I can actually roll it with a thumb! Now all those original Thumby games (the color is backwards compatible!) and new Color games have moderately usable controls — and when you add the 16-bit color LCD screen at 128 x 128 resolution, it's far easier to make out those pixels. Especially when each tetromino gets its own color. The Thumby Color also has new shoulder buttons a la Game Boy Advance — which are so much easier to actuate than face buttons at this size that I hope TinyCircuits will let us remap them to A and B for original Thumby titles. For now, they're underused by current games, as are the new rumble motor and speaker. One obvious win is a new USB-C port for data and charging; no more digging out a micro-USB cable like the original. And you'll want that cable. TinyCircuits estimates a battery life of just two hours, and I saw the Color's LED indicator signal low battery every time I took it for an extended play session. I won't pretend there's a lot to play on a Thumby Color yet, any more than there was on an original Thumby when it first came out. But I didn't have to look hard to find fun. I'd definitely whip one out for a quick game of trick shot pool (ComboPool for Thumby Color), the relaxing zen of my tiny sand and water garden (Sand for Thumby Color), or the novelty of challenging someone to the tiniest game of two-player Pong (2pddl42ppl for OG Thumby). You can browse previews of every Thumby Color game here and every OG Thumby game here, and even try playing the latter titles in a web emulator (click the game, then click 'open') so you see what you're getting. The website also handles updates and loading games onto your Thumby, and power users can connect and upload files with Thonny as well. It feels like the Thumby Color is launching a touch early. It's slower than the original Thumby to boot, and its UI is slower to scroll through games than I'd like, which would be helpful considering how many more it can fit. Some original Thumby games also crashed at launch for me. 'I hear your criticisms, we do have an update planned for later this summer that address some of these,' TinyCircuits founder Ken Burns tells me. Call them novelties, call them stocking stuffers, but the Thumby and Thumby Color are cool; like the company's TinyTV, I'd gladly be gifted one, and I could see buying one if I enjoyed programming and wanted to create a tiny game of my own. I'm also eager to see what other shenanigans Thumby Color owners manage to pull: the RP2350 chip is technically capable of SNES and Game Boy Color emulators elsewhere, as well as a fast full-color version of Doom. Though if you want emulation in a Game Boy Advance package, and don't mind potentially supporting piracy, there's also Anbernic to look at. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Sean Hollister Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Hands-on Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Nintendo Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Reviews Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech
News.com.au
10-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Aussies lose it over now sold out $29 Kmart ‘keychain'
Budget retail giant Kmart has sparked a frenzy with the release of a $29 keychain, with the item selling out online just days after the brand shared it to social media. The retail store shared a clip to TikTok of the keychain showing it also doubled as a mini digital camera that came with a charging cable and memory card. Kmart's video showed a woman attaching the item to her car keys, before turning it on and taking happy snaps with a friend. 'Say hello to Kmart's $29 mini digital camera,' the promo video states. Social media users promptly lost their minds over the reveal that it was not only a cute accessory but a functional piece of technology. '30 dollars is wild,' one social media user commented. Another added: 'I don't need it, I don't need it, I don't need, I don't need, but I'm afraid I might have to get it.' 'I ran to Kmart today and got four of them. Originally went to get for the three kids … had to get myself one. They are so freaking worth it,' another said. One social media user commented: 'The quality on it is actually really good.' 'This is soooo cuteeeee I want oneeeeee,' another said. One commented: 'Now why would you ever want this.' 'Other than for kids who don't have phones … why? We have cameras with us every day,' one said. 'Saw on TikTok. Immediately left TikTok and went to the Kmart website. Ordered. Paid. Impatiently waiting for order to arrive even though I literally ordered seconds ago,' another commented. Since the video was shared, it has sold out online and many said they couldn't find it in stores. Kmart took to social media once again to calm shoppers, writing: 'Rest assure more stock will arrive soon.' ï¸� Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the brand commented on its popularity. 'Kmart is delighted to see our Mini Digital Camera resonate so strongly with customers and gain viral attention,' a Kmart spokesperson told 'Its popularity reflects a growing appreciation for products that blend nostalgic appeal with practical, everyday functionality. At just $29, this compact and easy-to-use camera is perfect for capturing spontaneous moments, whether at home, travelling, or on the move. Best of all, it comes as a complete pack with a charging cable and memory card included. 'The resurgence of retro-inspired tech speaks to a desire for simplicity, sentimentality and self-expression. At Kmart, we're proud to offer thoughtfully designed products that spark joy and create meaningful connections with our community.' It's not the first time that the budget retailer released a piece of tech with a Y2K feel that caught the attention of shoppers. In March, it dropped a $39 Digital Video Recorder and it promptly went viral on TikTok. The compact camera featured a two-inch LCD screen, offers up to 16x digital zoom, and records in 720p HD — perfect for creating home movies reminiscent of the 90s and early 2000s. It also included an SD card, which you can insert into your laptop to transfer the files. 'The Y2K aesthetic is back, and so is the love for digital cameras and camcorders,' a Kmart spokesperson told 'The Digital Video Recorder brings retro charm with a modern twist — perfect for snapping candid moments and recording memories in a fun, nostalgic way without breaking the bank. 'We know Kmart customers love a good throwback, and these products have made it easy to join the trend. These budget-friendly gadgets offer a simple, no-fuss way to capture life's everyday adventures.' 'Kmart just released little handy cams,' said influencer @cocodevile. 'I'm going see if I can find it before anyone else gets it cause I know they're going be very popular'. Once they found the item, they took it home and gave it a whirl, claiming 'the quality is very bad' but 'I like that'. It's the grainy, low-resolution footage that brought back a wave of childhood memories for Coco and their followers. 'The quality is so Y2K,' one person commented, while another noted: 'I feel like this would be cool if you want to film your life like it's the 80s/90s. Nostalgic aesthetic. Pretty cool for the price'. Another declared that they wanted to have the digital video recorders on tables at their wedding for guests to film candid content. The hype has already influenced many, with one stating, 'I bought one last night,' and another saying: 'Excellent review, I have been influenced and will be buying for the nostalgia, thank you'.
The Sun
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Katie Price reveals row with Princess after teen splashes out £290 on a KEYRING after passing driving test
KATIE Price couldn't believe her oldest daughter spent almost £300 on a keychain for the keys to her new car. Princess Andre, 17, recently passed her driving test and shared pictures of her white Audi A1 she had bought, complete with a personalised number plate. 3 3 Katie gushed about her daughter's achievement and said she would worry about her driving and that she encouraged Princess to start by driving around the block to get experience. The former glamour model spoke about Princess and her new car on her podcast, Houses, Horses and Harvey, which she co-hosts with her sister, Sophie Price. "She's so excited, she ordered a b****y Louis Vuitton key ring for £290," Katie told her younger sibling. The proud mum said she chided her daughter for the lavish purchase, but Princess argued "it will last forever." Sophie was shocked at the price of the keyring saying when she got her first car, "I went straight to Halford's and got an air freshener." Katie then joked that Princess was "turning into me," because she wanted "all sparkly pink" interiors in her car and her famous mum promised to buy it all for her. "She's a girl of my own heart," Katie gushed. After Princess showed off her purchase, she was inundated by trolls who accused her of lying about buying the car herself. Instead, the suggested Katie and her ex-husband, Peter Andre, had bought it for Princess. But Princess was quick to shut down the trolls, pointing out she has been working and saved the money herself. Katie Price boasts she earns 'really good money' but claims she can't rent anywhere to live after bankruptcy hell 'These comments are so funny. To everyone out there, yes I work and yes I earn my own money which I'm super proud of and so thankful that I'm lucky enough to buy my own car xx.' Becoming an influencer in her own right, Princess has already signed brand ambassador deals with high street beauty chain Superdrug and online retailer PrettyLittleThing, and has launched her own jewellery range. She's also vowed to be a millionaire by the time she turns 20. On top of everything else, Princess is following in her mum's footsteps and has landed her own TV show on ITV. The series will give fans a behind-the-scenes look at her home life and early modelling career. A TV insider said: 'Princess is very conscious of the fact her mum got famous very early in her career, so Katie is a big inspiration to her. 'Bagging her own TV show is a huge deal, but producers are keen to stress it is about her and not her famous parents. "Both Katie and Peter are likely to feature, though it will likely be more as cameo stars.' 3
