I saw a YouTube video about a physical media cartridge player made by The Stock Pot. πŸ”₯

After a few small adjustments, I made my own. πŸ€“

The cartridges contain NFC chips that trigger automations when inserted into the player.

Play Apple TV+ or Netflix shows, start Apple Music playlists, activate home automation scenes, you name it!

#3DPrinting #Apple

Quick demo!

#3DPrinting #Apple

I modified the cartridges so the labels are inset below the surface to prevent them from scratching.

The labels are printed on sticker sheets, then laminated with a plastic top layer, then cut and stuck onto the case.

#3DPrinting #Apple

@Bas what reads the NFC tags out of interest? Do you basically have an old iPhone in there or something? πŸ˜‚

@keir No, an ESP32-S3 microcontroller + NFC reader. πŸ€“

You can find the full details here:
https://www.thestockpot.net/videos/cartrdgeplayer

VHS was better...Hear me out. β€” The Stock Pot

It all begins with an idea.

The Stock Pot
@Bas ahh amazing, thanks! I can see myself making this setup πŸ‘€
@Bas just put in an order with one of my friends who's got a 3D printer 😁
Just curious, do you know if it would work with Plex? I'm guessing if I grab the relevant URL's from the Plex web app or whatever then it should probably be ok but just thought i'd see whether it's something you'd tried or not πŸ˜„
@Bas also now just thinking, i wonder if there's a way to do it for games on my gaming pc as well πŸ˜„

@keir I don't use Plex much myself, but it's totally possible!

There's even an Plex example on the blogpost of the original maker (under "Media Playback Examples"):
https://www.thestockpot.net/videos/cartrdgeplayer

Same goes for games. If you have some way of opening them via an external source, it's possible to trigger them with the NFC-tags.

VHS was better...Hear me out. β€” The Stock Pot

It all begins with an idea.

The Stock Pot
@Bas bwahahaha amazing, thank you!
@Bas have you released your modified cartridges per chance? Like the inset idea and look
@mikhailbot Not yet. I will try to do that later.
@Bas this is so cool!! They look so professional 🀩
ESPHome Cartridge Player by The Stock Pot | Download free STL model | Printables.com

A little ESPHome device to stoke my physical media nostalgia! | Download free 3D printable STL models

Printables.com

Watch the video by The Stock Pot here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhhwn7OA_xY

And read his blogpost with building instructions here:
https://www.thestockpot.net/videos/cartrdgeplayer

VHS Was Better… Hear Me Out

YouTube

My modified version of the cartridges for the Cartridge Player are now available as a free download at #Makerworld! πŸ”₯

πŸ‘‰ https://makerworld.com/nl/models/1571988-cartridge-for-cartridge-player

They include an inset for sticker labels and some other tweaks.

#3DPrinting #Apple

@Bas Is there a guide on how you created the sticker labels? What did you use to make them?

@konfluenzpunkt Not really. I designed the labels with @Sketch, then printed them on glossy sticker photo paper, then put a layer of self-adhesive book covering foil over it as a protective layer.

After that I cut them out and rounded the corners with a 4mm corner punch.

@Bas Where's the insanely well produced (but sponsored by Betterhelp) youtube video going along with this and the for pay only access to the models?

@schwa The models are free actually.πŸ˜…

You can find them on Printables:
https://www.printables.com/model/1337649-esphome-cartridge-player

I modified mine a bit, but they are mostly the same.

ESPHome Cartridge Player by The Stock Pot | Download free STL model | Printables.com

A little ESPHome device to stoke my physical media nostalgia! | Download free 3D printable STL models

Printables.com
@Bas I just watched that vid! Looks really satisfying. Now a display case for the cartridges?
@Bas the production quality of the videos is insane, especially when you consider that the first released video had this quality already, even tho he hadn’t any subscribers yet. It’s one of my new favorite channels.
@wkneppers True! His videos are great!
@Bas As cool as this looks, isn't this just all the hassle of physical media without any of the benefits?
@pmunch Yes it is. But... it looks cool. πŸ˜›
@Bas Haha, can't argue with that
@Bas that’s very cool!
@Bas @nikhil he’s such an awesome creator!
@Bas I wonder if you could do a slim-line version with cards instead of cartridges? πŸ€”