The Wand Company TOS Tricorder is coming!

[2vix]

From the Gooooooooog

…..”Raw files have the largest file sizes due to their uncompressed or minimally processed nature. MP4 files have smaller file sizes compared to raw files as they employ compression techniques to reduce storage requirements.”….

YEP Exactly right. Also from the goog.....

Q: Can stm32 play mp4?
"The STM32 is not designed for high-performance video decoding, and MP4 is a complex container format that typically requires significant processing power for decoding. Playing MP4 videos, particularly high-resolution ones, on an STM32 can be very challenging, and may require significant optimization and potentially specialized hardware"

Q: Can stm32 play RGB565?
"RGB565 is a common color format used for displays, and STM32 devices, especially those with an LTDC (LCD-TFT controller) or DSI (Display Serial Interface) interface, are well-equipped to handle it"

But like you said.. largest file size. "Large" meaning eleven episodes of TOS will equal one million .raw files

 

[Ronldheld]

Did TWC say the SD card was going to be enabled in a future firmware update?

 

[Leinads]

I (believe) recently he said maybe?
Side note:

Chris Barnardo
November 8, 2024 at 12:34 pm

“Well, it’s not magic, so although we might have some of the front end components, screen, speaker, buttons… there is a great deal more to making a device that can load, decode and play video and MP4, otherwise you could just connect those three elements together with cables and hey-presto have a video player! So, unfortunately, that capability is not going to be available in this tricorder.”

 

[Leinads]

Now, we here beg to differ.

 

[FANATICO]

I (believe) recently he said maybe?
Side note:

Chris Barnardo
November 8, 2024 at 12:34 pm

Well, it’s not magic, so although we might have some of the front end components, screen, speaker, buttons… there is a great deal more to making a device that can load, decode and play video and MP4, otherwise you could just connect those three elements together with cables and hey-presto have a video player! So, unfortunately, that capability is not going to be available in this tricorder.

From the OG himself…….

(He beat Sulu to it!….)

 

[FANATICO]

YEP Exactly right. Also from the goog.....

Q: Can stm32 play mp4?
"The STM32 is not designed for high-performance video decoding, and MP4 is a complex container format that typically requires significant processing power for decoding. Playing MP4 videos, particularly high-resolution ones, on an STM32 can be very challenging, and may require significant optimization and potentially specialized hardware"

Q: Can stm32 play RGB565?
"RGB565 is a common color format used for displays, and STM32 devices, especially those with an LTDC (LCD-TFT controller) or DSI (Display Serial Interface) interface, are well-equipped to handle it"

But like you said.. largest file size. "Large" meaning eleven episodes of TOS will equal one million .raw files
View attachment 1958112

Can you glean anything from this..scroll down a lil…..

Playing raw RGB565 video

 

[2vix]

Did TWC say the SD card was going to be enabled in a future firmware update?

Verbatim……from the TWC blog

“Chris Barnardo June 16, 2025 at 3:58 pm
So are we, it’s taking way to long!

We initially put an SD card into the electronic design (at an early stage) with the intention of having a repository for large files such as animations or videos. The main issue was development time. However, it was too late in the project to remove the SD card, due to the tooling already having been made and the electronic circuit having been finalised, we left it in there with the thought that we might update the software at some stage in the future to enable the SD card functioin and thus unlock some new features. We are busy right now, so that is a way off, and we have no plans right now to enable its function.”

 

[Leinads]

Good find - that’s the recent quote. ugh

 

[2vix]

Can you glean anything from this..scroll down a lil…..

Playing raw RGB565 video

Are you talking about this:

I ran into this last night when converting my video. I had to figure out if our SD slot was SPI or SDIO.
SDIO is way faster because it uses more data lines i guess

Here is (i think) an SPI card slot pin connection diagram:

See the pin on either end does nothing. now look at this one thats SDIO (i think):

So then I looked at the pcb pic of our SD slot:

and it looks like for sure there is a circuit path to the end pin on the bottom.

So from all this I have concluded its wired for the faster SDIO and therefor can play rgb565 faster than 12FPS

Do i know what im talking about? I FOR SURE DONT. Im dancing on the head of a pin here...

 

[Leinads]

Chris Barnardo. “We are busy right now, so that is a way off, and we have no plans right now to enable its function.”

Wand-speak for: “This would be too expensive for us to implement.”

 

[FANATICO]

Are you talking about this:

View attachment 1958156

I ran into this last night when converting my video. I had to figure out if our SD slot was SPI or SDIO.
SDIO is way faster because it uses more data lines i guess

View attachment 1958157

Here is (i think) an SPI card slot pin connection diagram:

View attachment 1958158

See the pin on either end does nothing. now look at this one thats SDIO (i think):

View attachment 1958160

So then I looked at the pcb pic of our SD slot:

View attachment 1958161

and it looks like for sure there is a circuit path to the end pin on the bottom.

So from all this I have concluded its wired for the faster SDIO and therefor can play rgb565 faster than 12FPS

Do i know what im talking about? I FOR SURE DONT. Im dancing on the head of a pin here...

You might have a side gig as a bamboozler

Well we already know what Chris said…..but because he pretty much says they can activate the card slot to be used for animations and videos….then someone, not wand, will figure out how to activate it…quicker then wand gets to it….(I hope)

Of course your plan to try doing the Frankencorder way is it still a go?

 

[JiminSTLouis]

Did TWC say the SD card was going to be enabled in a future firmware update?

Chris Barnardo June 16, 2025 at 3:58 pm
We initially put an SD card into the electronic design (at an early stage) with the intention of having a repository for large files such as animations or videos. The main issue was development time. However, it was too late in the project to remove the SD card, due to the tooling already having been made and the electronic circuit having been finalised, we left it in there with the thought that we might update the software at some stage in the future to enable the SD card functioin and thus unlock some new features. We are busy right now, so that is a way off, and we have no plans right now to enable its function.

And

Chris Barnardo July 10, 2025 at 10:54 pm
lots has been said about it already. It was in the earliest designs as a way to add storage, but as the design progressed the additional software to manage the SD card was beyond the scope of the project if we were going to deliver it any time soon. By then it was too late to remove the SD card from the mechanical design. There is a chance that we will enable it in the future. Yes the USB socket will be used for upgrades or patch fixes as and when we can do them or the Tricorder needs them. We are very unlikely to include material from the Federation Handbook, as that is not considered canon.

 

[Ronldheld]

Thanks. Cannot seem to remember posts that far back

 

[Leinads]

Thanks. Cannot seem to remember posts that far back

We must drink our Ovaltine, and our daily…

 

[FANATICO]

Chris Barnardo June 16, 2025 at 3:58 pm
We initially put an SD card into the electronic design (at an early stage) with the intention of having a repository for large files such as animations or videos. The main issue was development time. However, it was too late in the project to remove the SD card, due to the tooling already having been made and the electronic circuit having been finalised, we left it in there with the thought that we might update the software at some stage in the future to enable the SD card functioin and thus unlock some new features. We are busy right now, so that is a way off, and we have no plans right now to enable its function.

And

Chris Barnardo July 10, 2025 at 10:54 pm
lots has been said about it already. It was in the earliest designs as a way to add storage, but as the design progressed the additional software to manage the SD card was beyond the scope of the project if we were going to deliver it any time soon. By then it was too late to remove the SD card from the mechanical design. There is a chance that we will enable it in the future. Yes the USB socket will be used for upgrades or patch fixes as and when we can do them or the Tricorder needs them. We are very unlikely to include material from the Federation Handbook, as that is not considered canon.

Hence the myriad of thoughts to hack every which other way and not to wait on Wand…nor to use the USB-C

I think it’s clear that Wand doesn’t give a ratz….i personally don’t want to wait another possible 5 years

 

[Ronldheld]

Ovatine and Geritol, or just the Geritol?

 

[Leinads]

I love what 2vix is doing, but I fear that for many, these features will be out of reach on a technical level. Hopefully, once she has a working prototype, the same functionality can be incorporated into a simpler, ‘plug-and-play’ system for the average tricorder owner with basic electronics knowledge, possibly even in kit form?

 

[smithjohnj]

Didn't Chris also say they were making enough tricorders no one needed to worry about missing out?

 

[Leinads]

Didn't Chris also say they were making enough tricorders no one needed to worry about missing out?

yup.

 

[Leinads]

I believe the interest is too great. Once the dust settles, they’ll do another run.