For all the Arduino microcomputer addicts who love tinkering around on really cool projects, here's something that will might help you bring those projects to the next level. It's the ArduinoLCD from EarthMake, and it offers an affordable way of integrating a touchscreen into your latest gizmo.
The ArduinoLCD is a 3.5-inch touchscreen with 320 x 240 resolution. Obviously, this is not going to blow anyone away with stunning HD visuals, but it will work fine for most projects. It has a 500:1 contrast ratio, which should create good blacks on the screen. The screen is also LED backlit, so it will be plenty bright, and is capable of displaying 65,000 colors.
The touchscreen features its own 16-bit GPU. It also has 4MB of internal flash memory designed for storing macros, fonts, and bitmaps. Conveniently, it comes with a mounting bracket, which should make it easy to integrate into your projects.
One of the main features that makes this screen an attractive option for Arduino users is the low power consumption. The device is rated at six to nine volts for operation and it draws slightly less than 200mA.
Interested users can preorder the device now, and it is scheduled to ship on November 11. The current retail price for the ArduinoLCD is US$79. EarthMake is calling this an "introductory price," so it could go up by the time the screen officially launches.
