Computing on KittenLabs

AnotterKiosk

Sun, 19 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

What is it?

This project is a Debian Linux-based operating system for computers, either PCs or Raspberry Pi’s.
It is designed to take the URL to a website and display it in fullscreen, without any UI elements.

There are several similar solutions for this task, but many suffer from issues like reliability issues due to broken SD cards, crashing browsers, etc.

NVMe BIOS Option ROM

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

What is it?

The NVMe BIOS Option ROM is a heavily modified version of iPXE, which can be integrated into a computers BIOS (or provided via a PCI card, USB flash drive, SD card, etc.).
It allows x86 computers to boot from NVMe devices attached via PCIe, even on devices which are much older than NVMe itself.

The NVMe implementation was ported from SeaBIOS and modified to work with iPXE.

M.2 NVMe -> miniPCIe

Sat, 19 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What is it?

This mechanical adapter allows older devices (like the popular apu2 SBCs) to use modern M.2 NVMe storage.

Usage

2 adapters installed in a PC Engines apu2 with Samsung PM991 NVMe SSDs:

M.2 adapters in an APU2">

Palm IIIc LED backlight

Sun, 15 May 2022 00:00:00 +0000

What is it?

A replacement LED backlight for the popular Palm IIIc handheld computers (“PDAs”) of the early 00s.
The original CCFL backlight (high voltage fluorescent tubes in a portable device!) uses a lot of power for very little brightness.

This mod can be used replace broken/worn out CCFL tubes in a Palm handheld.

Modification

PCBs

eMMC (micro)SD card

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000

What is it?

These PCBs contain eMMC storage ICs, which are electrically compatible with SD and microSD interfaces.
They use a different protocol and (depending on the type of eMMC IC used) can be more reliable and faster.

Many (but not all!) SD card slots/readers can also handle eMMC.

These adapters can be used in devices like Raspberry Pis, APUs, etc. to provide stable eMMC storage through the SD slot.

FlexibleLOM PCIe adapter

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

What is it?

This passive adapter PCB allows the use of HP FlexibleLOM extension cards (like 10/40 GbE network cards) in regular PCIe slots. FlexibleLOM extension cards are available used at very low prices (due to them not being PCIe compatible, despite using the same physical slot).

Development photos

For easier prototyping, a PCIe to 0.1" header PCB was designed:

Pinebook Pro M.2 WiFi

Thu, 23 Apr 2020 00:00:00 +0000

What is it?

The M.2 A/E key adapter enables the use of M.2 WiFi cards in the Pinebook Pro Arm64 laptop.

This adapter was designed as a replacement for the available NVMe M.2 (M-key) adapter.
It uses the same flat flex cable, mounting screws and mounting position.

Computing on KittenLabs

AnotterKiosk

What is it?

NVMe BIOS Option ROM

What is it?

M.2 NVMe -> miniPCIe

What is it?

Usage

Links

Palm IIIc LED backlight

What is it?

Modification

PCBs

Links

eMMC (micro)SD card

What is it?

FlexibleLOM PCIe adapter

What is it?

Development photos

Pinebook Pro M.2 WiFi

What is it?

WiFi 6 (Intel AX200) speedtest

Links