• Introduction: A few weeks ago, news of a new palmtop computer for hackers powered by the Espressif ESP32-P4 was brought. The Tanmatsu is a compact handheld device with a QWERTY keyboard and an 800×480 DSI display. It's at the final prototype stage with a pre-order page. The author was invited to give it a close-up inspection.
• A Little History, And First Impressions: The Tanmatsu originated from badge.team and was intended to be the badge for the upcoming WHY2025 hacker camp. Due to differences of opinion, it became a standalone project. It's a rectangular slab with a QWERTY keyboard and display, an array of ports, and a sandwich construction. The keyboard is a silicone moulding, and the display is of higher quality than previous badges.
• A Hardware Quick Tour: Unscrewing the rear cover reveals the circuitry. The main components include the P4 processor, ESP32-C6, Ai-Thinker Ra-01SH LoRA module, power circuitry, USB hub chip, microcontrollers, expansion connector, and various peripheral connectors. The expansion port is intended to foster an ecosystem of clip-on add-ons.
• What About The Software?: The Tanmatsu has a new OS based on the AppFS system, with a GUI launcher and an open source app store. It supports high-level scripting languages and native apps. The device had the OS with a name badge app installed, and earlier prototypes showed work on more useful apps.
• In Conclusion: The Tanmatsu is physically well-designed and ready for manufacture. It shows signs of being delivered on time with working software. As a general-purpose hacker's palmtop computer, it's between devices like the Flipper Zero and Linux-based devices. It can be pre-ordered for €99.17 (about $102) outside the EU and €120 with tax included for EU customers. The author has one on order and will provide a full review.