Digital outfit of the week: Thumby - key fob with entertainment factor

Admittedly, Thumby cannot replace a real console. But that's not the intention behind the creative gadget from TinyCircuits, who specialize in miniature devices. Like its original size, the keychain is fully functional and offers you five different retro games at the beginning, including a puzzle game and a side scroller. You can also download other titles from the PC or even install games you have developed yourself. Then use the built-in menu to choose what you want to play.

For your own creations, the manufacturer has provided a website called "Thumby Editor IDE". All you have to do is call it up with a compatible browser, connect your Thumby to the PC using a microUSB cable and you're good to go.

A step-by-step guide will help you design your own minigames. You can also share your work with other technology fans via the homepage. The retro key fob, which is just under three centimeters in size, also offers scope for prospective hobby developers. There is space on the two megabyte memory for various titles that you can try out on the next train journey, for example. You can even play multiplayer with the Thumby Link cable if your friends also have the handy keychain.