The launcher on real screens

Day two after the first power-on, and the launcher runs on the real panels. Seeing your own UI on the actual screens is a very different feeling from a mockup.

Only 256 × 192

Each screen is physically larger, but the shell only shows a 256 × 192 window, the same as the original DS. Everything the system draws lives inside that window; the rest of the panel is never lit.

3D without a GPU

The chip has no 3D graphics hardware, so the little consoles on the top screen are drawn entirely in software: a few dozen faces per model, rotated and shaded every frame. The rule for the models was simple: you should recognise the console at a glance, and fine detail doesn't matter.

One menu key

Like FunKey S, POWER is the only menu key. A short press opens the menu anywhere. Holding it for 2 seconds turns the console off, after saving if you're in a game.