minute 3 months ago

new MNT August 2025 Update article by [@holo_memory](

holo//memory (@holo_memory@mastodon.gamedev.place)

) is out, and there's so much nerdy stuff it's almost zine-length, enjoy:

MNT August 2025 Update

Many nice things happened in August, like a mini campaign on Crowd Supply and a new version of the MNT Reform Next Motherboard.

minute 3 months ago

on our very recent shipments of MNT laptops to the US, i can see that a number of people had to pay "government charges" via UPS before delivery. there is no transparency on these charges, we can only see the dollar amount. the amount is never the expected 15% (EU->US agreement), but usually around 25%, in some cases more. even taking sales taxes into account it doesn't add up. so far no one can explain to us how the charges are calculated or how to appeal. this is beyond frustrating. any ideas?

minute 4 months ago

so i can finally finish this one! but it looks like i have way too many passives lol

minute 4 months ago

always good to have 3d models

minute 4 months ago

this week i was at the combination sick leave/homo office/staycation/workation

minute 4 months ago

anyone up for taking a look at this PCB layout before i order? (branch mb-d4 important in case you clone)

GitLab

nref-motherboard · mb-d4 · Reform / reform-next · GitLab

GitLab Community Edition

i still have to clean up the silkscreen due to some changes but otherwise i'm pretty ok with the layout. compromises: hdmi traces are not coplanar all the way to the end, but i never ever had issues with hdmi SI. focus is on usb3 and pcie, and power. and ethernet is still on an inner layer, but it worked fine before and with correct stackup it should be fine still.

minute 4 months ago

now available: a green LED version of the MNT x Kolibri HALO-90 Electronic Earrings (open hardware, sound reactive). also after the link: a new video demo by [@holo_memory](

Gamedev Mastodon

holo//memory (@holo_memory@mastodon.gamedev.place)

) demonstrating all modes and colors of the earrings (warning: some strobing lights, but video doesn't auto play). check them out:

MNT x Kolibri HALO-90 Electronic Earrings - MNT Research Shop

Open hardware electronic earrings that light up and respond to audio in real time.

minute 4 months ago

i can finally show you the supporter t-shirt design for MNT Reform Next! this is a test print in size M (too big for me, i mostly wear S). it's a 4-color screenprint and i did the design this time, based on many small MNT/Reform related design elements made over the years by [@holo_memory](

Gamedev Mastodon

holo//memory (@holo_memory@mastodon.gamedev.place)

), featuring pixel Tina by @npub12gl2...frt9 and some little stuff by myself (including the Y2K MNT logo riff). the MNT Reform Next industrial design itself is of course by Ana Dantas (who isn't on fedi).

minute 4 months ago

did i get this right? today i really realized that there is really no VAT (value added tax) in the US (because there is a sales tax system?) and so if you imported products from EU countries (example) you don't have to pay any import VAT. this only leaves the special excise tax (gasoline, cigarettes, alcohol?) and tariffs. as a german citizen i always have to pay 19% import VAT to my govt when i import something from the US, so it's mind boggling that this was not an issue for USians so far