How it works

The Pixlpal-M1 firmware is built on the ESP-IDF framework, combining ESP-IDF components, Arduino libraries, and custom applications for the ESP32-S3 SoC.

Pixlpal fetches relevant information from the internet and shows it to users. Using the Pixlpal mobile app (iOS and Android), users can select and customise the device to display their preferred apps — such as clock, calendar, weather updates, stock/crypto tickers, ChatGPT conversational assistant, live sports updates, or internet radio.

The Pixlpal AIoT display also includes:

• An embedded microphone for audio input.
• A 3.5 mm audio jack for audio output to external speakers.
• A multifunctional rotary encoder for manual control — allowing brightness adjustment, volume control, parameter changes, and more.

New apps and features are delivered via Over-The-Air (OTA) updates. Through the USB-OTG interface, Pixlpal can be expanded with USB peripherals such as cameras, mice, keyboards, flash drives, and speakers for added functionality.

Each application runs as a standalone FreeRTOS task and can be launched via BLE commands from the Pixlpal Android or iOS mobile app.

Key Features

• Modular Application Framework – Built on FreeRTOS tasks for easy expansion.
• ESP32-S3 Target – Optimized for neural network acceleration and signal processing.
• Flexible Library Integration – Supports any Arduino library or ESP-IDF component.
• Rich Graphics Capabilities – Draw text, shapes, GIF, PNG, and SVG images.
• Connectivity – Wi-Fi for internet access, BLE for remote control and configuration.
• Audio Processing – Microphone input and DAC audio output via I2S (ESP32-audioI2S by schreibfaul1).
• USB-OTG/CDC – Read/write USB flash drives.
• Dual OTA Update Modes:
  1. From GitHub releases
  2. From USB flash drive (offline)
• Rotary Encoder Control – Multi-functional input (ebtn by saawsm).
• MQTT Support – Integrated via the PicoMQTT library by Mlesniew.