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TrimUI Model S (PowKiddy A66) — Updated Review & Guide

TrimUI Model S (PowKiddy A66) — Updated Review & Guide

Last updated: 11JUL2021

The tiny TrimUI Model S (now rebranded as the PowKiddy A66) has received a lot of excellent development over the past few months, so it’s time for me to revisit my initial review. And while I initially recommended avoiding this device, these new updates have changed my mind — this is now a device worth considering. Let’s check it out.

Buy one here (PowKiddy A66)
Buy the old TrimUI Model S

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Retro Game Emulation on an iPhone

Retro Game Emulation on an iPhone

Last updated: 27JAN2022 (see Changelog for details)

The iPhone can do a lot of things seamlessly, and it’s a very powerful device. But something as simple as running an NES game can be quite challenging. So let’s set up your iPhone as a retro game emulation device — no jailbreaking required.

Like with my previous video about gaming on an iPhone (which covered standalone games, Apple Arcade, and streaming), the Backbone One is an essential component of gaming on iOS. There are other options available, like the Razer Kishi or GameSir X2 BT controller, but the Backbone One is miles better than these options thanks to its ease of use and helpful app integration.

One final note before we get started: emulation on iOS is a moving target. With each new iOS update, some things may get broken, or (very rarely) things might actually improve. My advice is to be patient with new iOS updates, and give the development teams to catch up. I’ll keep this guide updated with the latest developments going forward.

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Introducing 351Droid for RG351P, RG351M, and RG351V!

Introducing 351Droid for RG351P, RG351M, and RG351V!

Last updated: 04JUL2021

351Droid is an unofficial build of LineageOS 18.1 (Android 11) for Anbernic RG351 devices, and as of today it now has a public testing build. This build supports proper control layout, it resizes the userdata partition on boot, and supports the wifi chips in 351M and 351V. Let’s take a look at how to install this firmware, and its potential for Android-based retro gaming.

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Review: iPhone as a Gaming Handheld

Review: iPhone as a Gaming Handheld

Over 50% of the US phone market share comes from the iPhone, but it is rarely seen as a gaming device. In this video, let’s look at standalone games, Apple Arcade, and how to use streaming to transform your iPhone into a gaming handheld with some help from the BACKBONE ONE controller.

This is the first of two videos. In the next video, we’ll focus on retro game emulation and sideloading your own apps.

Buy a BACKBONE ONE

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RGB10 Max Button Swaps: Panda and Tiger Mods

RGB10 Max Button Swaps: Panda and Tiger Mods

In today’s video we will swap out the buttons on each PowKiddy RGB10 Max model for a cool effect. Even better, PowKiddy even sells the “panda” mod version already! We’ll also fix the screen lifting issue, and try out some CPU heatsinks.

Buy the RGB10 Max
Spare buttons and case
Copper shim heatsinks
B7000 glue
iFixit toolkit

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Prime Day Deal: $79 Fire HD 10 Plus!

Prime Day Deal: $79 Fire HD 10 Plus!

Holy crap, remember that Fire HD 10 Plus video I did the other week, and I suggested you wait for Prime Day to get it? It’s now available for $79 (3GB) or $109 (4GB), which is a full $70 cheaper than it was when I bought it. I thought it was a great deal then, now I’m thinking about getting a second one 😎

Here’s the link (affiliate): https://amzn.to/35Fw58E
My video review: https://youtu.be/Oes2BHIRwo0

If you don’t want to click on the affiliate link, just search for “Fire HD 10 Plus” on Amazon. The price should be good for the next few days. As far as which model to get, I think it will depend on your use case. If you primarily want to use it for retro (PS1 and below) games, game streaming, and media consumption, the 3GB version should be fine. If you want to play PSP, N64, and Dreamcast you might want to think about upgrading to the 4GB model. Enjoy!