Gaming: World's smallest console is the same size as a POSTAGE STAMP-but is ...

Gaming: World's smallest console is the same size as a POSTAGE STAMP-but is ...
Gaming: World's smallest console is the same size as a POSTAGE STAMP-but is ...

The world's smallest handheld games console — which is about the size of a postage stamp, but plays just like a full-size device — has been developed by US engineers.

The 'Thumby' console from Ohio-based TinyCircuits comes with five retro games pre-installed, including tiny takes on classics like Tetris, Space Invaders and Snake.

Users can even create their own games using the MicroPython programming language and play multiplayer games with others, by means of a linking cable.

The console is being sold from £14 ($19) for a basic grey model, with other colours and additional accessories like linking cables also available at higher prices.

Each Thumby sports a working battery, buzzer, gameplay buttons, power switch, screen and a micro-USB port to charge the console and update its software.

The screen is an OLED display and a loop on the bottom-right corner of each tiny, Game Boy-like console allows it to be attached to a keychain just like a keyring.

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The world's smallest handheld games console (pictured) — which is about the size of a postage stamp, but plays just like a full-size device — has been developed by US engineers

The world's smallest handheld games console (pictured) — which is about the size of a postage stamp, but plays just like a full-size device — has been developed by US engineers

The 'Thumby' console from Ohio-based TinyCircuits comes with five retro games pre-installed, including tiny takes on classics like Tetris , Space Invaders and Snake. Pictured: the Thumby console, at just 0.7 inches (18 millimetres) across, is about the size of a bee

The 'Thumby' console from Ohio-based TinyCircuits comes with five retro games pre-installed, including tiny takes on classics like Tetris , Space Invaders and Snake. Pictured: the Thumby console, at just 0.7 inches (18 millimetres) across, is about the size of a bee

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Users can even create their own games using the MicroPython programming language and play multiplayer games with others, by means of a linking cable (pictured)

Users can even create their own games using the MicroPython programming language and play multiplayer games with others, by means of a linking cable (pictured)

The console is being sold from £14 ($19) for a basic grey model (pictured), with other colours and additional accessories like linking cables also available at higher prices

The console is being sold from £14 ($19) for a basic grey model (pictured), with other colours and additional accessories like linking cables also available at higher prices

The diminutive handheld recently won 'Best in Show: Most Innovative Product' at the GDex Conference in Columbus, Ohio, where the design was praised in particular for how it can help introduce beginners to coding in a fun way

The diminutive handheld recently won 'Best in Show: Most Innovative Product' at the GDex Conference in Columbus, Ohio, where the design was praised in particular for how it can help introduce beginners to coding in a fun way

THUMBY STATS 

Manufacturer: TinyCircuits

Size: 1.1x0.7x0.4 inches (30x18x9 mm)

Weight: 0.01 lbs (4.7 grams)

Price:

Grey: £14 ($19) Light grey/blue/magenta: £18 ($24) Gold: £26 ($35)

Controls:

4-way D-pad Two action buttons Power switch 

Screen: Bright 72x40 OLED display  

Port: micro USB 

Processor: Raspberry Pi RP2040

Memory: 2MB total storage

Battery: 40mAh Rechargeable LiPo

Battery life: 2 hours of gameplay

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'My goal with Thumby was to make the smallest game console,' said Thumby's principal engineer, Ben Rose. 

'When people see tiny, they think cheap. We designed a high-quality product with a powerful processor that defies its size.

'Thumby started out as my personal project, but as we saw people's reactions to the prototype, we knew we wanted to make it into a new TinyCircuits product.

This, he added, will allow 'more people can put it on their keychain, enjoy playing it, or even create their own games.'

The diminutive handheld recently won 'Best in Show: Most Innovative Product' at the GDex Conference in Columbus, Ohio, where the design was praised in particular for how it can help introduce beginners to coding in a fun way.

'The Thumby is really tiny, and is just the size of a person's thumb —

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