Mr. Brad Linder of Liliputing reports on the upcoming Auspicious Machine. What is the Auspicious Machine? I yield the floor to Mr. Linder, who notes that despite bearing a strong resemblance to the BlackBerry (I dare say it is a near dead ringer for my BlackBerry Classic), it has some meaningful differences from its aesthetic inspiration:
[T]his little device isn’t a phone. It’s a modular portable computer with built-in game controller keys and support for GNU/Linux software. It’s up for pre-order in China for RMB 1656 (about $240) and the developer is hoping to begin shipping the Auspicious Machine to customers in June.
I love the design, form-factor, and concept. Pixy Misa of Ambient Irony (hat tip for the link) explained its purpose in more technical detail:
[I]t’s designed as a carrier for a Raspberry Pi Compute Module – specifically the CM4 – or anything with a compatible form factor.
Now if only we could make one of these with Linux and phone functionality, all of my phone problems would be solved.