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Pandora handheld approaches full production next month, never gave up hope
Remember the Pandora? Back when the likes of the PS Vita and the Nintendo 3DS remained conceptual sketches in top secret bunkers, this open-source handheld paired up a clamshell form factor with analogue game controls, a QWERTY keyboard and a dream. It's been a slow-burning dream; last time we heard from the OpenPandora project, it had managed a limited (premium-priced) run, with manufacturing hobbled by problems. But, like its namesake, there was always hope and fans of the platform ponied up around half a million euros to bring the four-year-old project back to life. It's now set to go into full production next month with a new manufacturer, but unfortunately the same specs. While the 4.3-inch 800 x 480 touchscreen sparkled a few years earlier, it's now being supplanted by what we're getting on our smartphones. However, those tempted by an open source OS, a battery life of over ten hours and a very faithful fanbase, can stake their claim to one at the source below. We've got our fingers crossed for you. Update: The creators got in touch to add that these incoming Pandoras will have 512MB of RAM, and a revised verions of the OMAP3. The processor can also be overclocked to 800MHz -- apparently enough to run PSX titles, emulator fans.
World's smallest Donkey Kong cabinet delivers authentic arcade experience for tiny fingers (video)
This, friends, is a work of art. Above is a stunning, fully-functional recreation of the original Donkey Kong arcade cabinet -- and it's only 8.25 inches tall. The accomplished modder Bender posted his handiwork on the Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum and it's sure to wow even the most cynical of folks. At the heart of this build is a hacked up GamePark GP2X Wiz running MAME, but it's the attention to detail, including the printed vinyl decals and light-up marquee, that really pull this (supposedly world's smallest) 1/8 scale project together. Check out the gallery below and the pair of lengthy demo videos after the break. En garde Mr. Heck! %Gallery-122811% [Thanks, Brian]
GamePark's GP2X Caanoo handheld hits this August, picks up where the Wiz left off (video)
While we're not sure just how we missed it, it seems GamePark was at E3 2010 in force, with a brand-new Linux gaming portable called the Caanoo. Though it's got the same 533MHz ARM9 processor as its wizardly predecessor, GamePark's doubled the memory to 128MB, and added a dedicated 3D GPU to power the larger 3.5-inch touchscreen. Throwback Sega-like buttons and a joystick take the place of those touchy D-pads, and there's new accelerometer and vibration functions for a modicum of enhanced control. When you're not loading open-source games, the system supports the usual array of photos and music as well as DivX, XviD and MPEG4 videos, and the company claims an official SDK and app store are on the way if you want to roll additional software yourself. Shame you'll have to use a WiFi dongle to download anything. The company expects to ship August 15 for $150 to importers like Play-Asia, making it viable competition for the lumbering Pandora. Find videos of the Caanoo in action after the break, and more at GamePark's official Facebook page.
Pandora handheld now shipping: first mass-produced unit unboxed, world somehow survives
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Pandora_handheld_now_shipping'; The open-source Pandora handheld has had a long and arduous time to market, but the days of delay are apparently at an end. You gaze upon the very first Pandora off the assembly line -- the fruit of over two years labor -- and project leaders are presently shipping out the rest of the first completed batch, with scores if not hundreds already on the way. GP32X forum mod X68000 got this unit for his help in construction, which means you can see Pandora's box literally opened at our source link (har har). Puns not your thing? Spot a batch of handhelds at the soldering station instead, right after the break. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
GP2X gaming handheld modded with D-pad, PSP batteries (video)
These days, it's the Pandora making waves in the world of handheld emulation, but GamePark's GP2X could arguably be credited with starting the whole phenomenon. John Grayson recently decided that the original simply wasn't keeping up with the times, however, and decided to swap out a joystick for a more traditional D-pad. Moreover, he yanked those weak AA batteries and shoehorned a pair of PSP Li-ion cells in there instead, boosting his SNES play time to just over four hours on a full charge. Thankfully for you, neither tweak seems all that difficult to implement, and the sub-10 minute clip waiting after the break does a rather outstanding job of giving you the play-by-play. So yeah, scram!
Pandora handheld looking less like vaporware with each passing day
Two years ago this month, the open-source Pandora handheld missed its first ship date. To their credit, the GP2X community had a working dev board, but the handheld's DS Lite-like case was nowhere to be found, and things have generally progressed at a glacial pace ever since. However, in February, a spark of hope arrived in the form of dev units, and this week, it appears the last lingering snags are finally being undone. The above image is a pair of honest-to-goodness mass produced Pandoras with painted, hopefully final cases; and at the official Pandora blog, the team reports that it now has fully functioning drivers for every component, has resumed production on the mainboards, and intends to ship both cases and boards to the UK soon for final assembly. Everything seems to be finally coming together. At this point, it would take a disaster of biblical proportions -- say, a volcanic eruption -- to stop Pandora buyers from lifting lids later this year. [Thanks, Andy]
Video: GP2X emulation goes down on T-Mobile G1
We never really pegged the HTC-sourced T-Mobile G1 as a hardcore gaming handheld, but obviously it handles the stresses of Ghosts 'N Goblins and Samurai Showdown admirably. Have a peek at a "pre-alpha" demonstration video just past the break, and feel free to let your hopes and expectations reach new heights.
GamePark GP2X Wiz gaming handheld now available, for real
There's been a few false starts, and some newfound competition from upstart Pandora, but it looks like GamePark's GP2X Wiz gaming handheld is now finally, officially available. As promised earlier, it'll set you back a fairly reasonable $179, which'll get you a 533MHz ARM9 processor-based handheld that's capable of running a handful of official games and a whole boatload of unofficial games, not to mention some applications from the app store that's slated for launch this summer. All set to add one more handheld to your collection? Then hit up the link below to get your order in.[Thanks, Conrad]
GamePark Wiz app store coming this summer
We heard murmurings of a possible app store for GamePark's Wiz open source handheld back when we first laid our hands on it, but now it's officially on its way. GamePark Holdings' awesomely-named Game Contents Open Store is now set to open in August, allowing all users to produce and download homebrewed apps and games for the Wiz. The SDK is currently in development, and there aren't any further details beyond that, but we'll keep our eyes peeled for you.
Complete, nearly finalized Pandora gets shown off on video
Poor Pandora. It looks like the shock of actually being nearly finished has turned it stark white. The little trooper was still able to make it through its latest demo video though, and it looks to be running better than ever, with it sailing through Quake at the handheld's native 800 x 480 resolution and at a full 60 fps. Just as importantly, the d-pad, nubs, action buttons, and keypad are all now apparently in their final or nearly final states and seemingly up to their all-purpose tasks, as are the all-important blinkin' LED lights. Head on past the break for the full show, and keep your eye out for a promised follow-up video (including some Quake 3 action).
Pandora runs Angstrom, still in hiding
You might not have received your Pandora yet, but certainly you'll be happy to know that the Open Pandora team has got Angstrom up and running on the open source device. Remember a couple months back, when someone got Ubuntu running on a Pandora devboard? Prepare to relive all of the stylus-poking excitement as the developer fires up Firefox and rocks out to GIMP, all in a show-stopping YouTube video. Just keep in mind that, like the device itself, this is still a work-in-progress, with all sorts of tweaking and customizing yet to come. So check out the video if you're curious -- just don't ask us where your handheld is.
Pandora pre-orders extended through the weekend
Procrastinating? Lazy? Living on the streets? Forgot to set your alarm and slept through the week? Well, you're in luck: the Pandora pre-order page will continue to accept your orders through Sunday, and production will be increased beyond the initial 3,000 units to meet the demand. So what are you waiting for? You already blew your first shot -- and this is will be your last chance to catch the open-source sensation this year. Go on, get! [Thanks, Andrari S.]
Pandora pre-orders go live
We still don't really believe it, but the Pandora pre-order page is now live and accepting orders for the open-source gaming handheld. Only 3,000 units are being delivered this time around, so you'd better act fast -- $329 is all it takes to be a part of history, kids.
GamePark Wiz hands-on from Engadget Spanish
We've already seen early pictures and heard a release date for GamePark's newest handheld -- the Wiz -- but now Engadget Spanish has gotten their hands and eyes all over the device, and they've brought back photos to prove it. As you can see from the pics, the portable console will be offered with more than one style of casing, and apparently the company is setting up some type of App Store-like service which will allow users to purchase and download software, as well as share their own homebrew apps. According to our team, it looks like that October 8th street date will be pushed back till sometime in November due to issues with the right control pad (which GamePark is working to correct). Until then, you can just feast your eyes on the gallery below.%Gallery-30998%
Pandora finally (finally!) gets a ship date and price
Be still our hearts! After months upon months (upon months) of waiting, the tight-knit team behind the ultra-potent Pandora gaming handheld has finally divulged the information we've been clamoring for: the ARM Cortex A8-powered device will begin shipping before Christmas 2008 for £199.99 in the UK. The first batch will consist of 3,000 units, and the team is hoping that all of those will be sold out before the first one leaves the dock. There's no word on how costly it'll be for Americans, though we're crossing our fingers that it'll sell for a few bucks less than the $360 we find when simply converting pounds to dollars. [Thanks, Andri]
Gampark's GP2X Wiz handheld now available
We caught a glimpse of GamePark's new Wiz GP2X / GP3X handheld a month or so back, and the homebrew-friendly black-and-red unit is now available. $179 of your American dollars is all it takes to enjoy the 2.8-inch QVGA OLED screen, 533MHz ARM9 processor, 64MB of RAM, 16GB of flash, and 5 hour battery life -- not to mention a Flash 7 player, MPEG4, xViD and DivX compatibility and new games scheduled to hit every month. Dynamism say these'll start shipping on October 8th -- anyone throwing down?[Thanks, Craig]Read - DCEmuRead - Dynamism
Pandora project demoed on video, shows off hardware, Linux, and Quake 2
It looks like the Pandora project is really coming together nicely. EvilDragon has just posted this video on the GP32x boards of a development model up and running. It's pretty exciting stuff if you're a homebrew fan (and we know you are), featuring demos of the device smoothly running emulators like PicoDrive, PSNES, booting up a build of Linux, and even getting its Quake 2 on (at high frame rates and looking crystal clear). It's still going to be awhile before we've actually got our grubby mitts on one of these, but this is certainly doing a good job of whetting our appetites. Watch the video after the break and see for yourself. [Thanks, Chris]
GamePark's GP3X leaked in spy shots, called the 'Wiz'
Apparently, a leaked shot of GamePark's next iteration of the GP2X -- the GP3X (not to be confused with the Pandora project) -- has gone and gotten itself leaked onto the interblogs. According to a post on GP2X News, the new system (which is being called the "Wiz") isn't set in stone, but will contain some form of a system-on-a-chip, and apparently will allow GP2X emulators to run after a bit of recompiling. There's not a whole lot of information available right now, but we'll keep you posted -- in the meantime, enjoy the photo.[Via GP2X News]
Bluetooth a confirmed addition to Pandora
Not much else to say beyond the title of this one -- MWeston has recently confirmed over at the GP32X boards that Bluetooth will indeed be included on the forthcoming Pandora mega-emulator. He noted that BT was added because of an exceptional deal they landed and to "make competing devices look that much less interesting." Right, so what exactly is this bundle of awesomeness competing against exactly? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
TurboGrafx-16 comes to iPhone (unofficially)
Attention "jailbroken" iPhone owners: Touch Arcade reports that it's now perfectly okay to Bonk your wunderphone without having to worry about its purty glass screen cracking. Emulator author ZodTTD (shall we kneel before him?) has ported the nifty TurboGrafx-16 emu, Temper, to iPhone as – wait for it – temper4iphone.Temper was originally developed for the South Korean GamePark 2X handheld and ran ROM- and CD-Based titles designed for NEC's 16-bit system, which was a smash in Japan (as the PC-Engine) but enjoyed modest success in the West under its Turbo-fied moniker. As you can see from the embedded video, the emu is already plenty impressive. Unlike its GP2X counterpart, there's no support (yet) for CD-based game images, but compatibility with TG-16 ROMs (if you don't own the game, don't download em, 'kay?) is said to be high. Like previous emulators ported to iPhone, the retro console's controls are recreated on the touch screen. Apple is expected to launch its "2.0" refresh of the iPhone along with the iPhone App Store in just a couple of weeks, and we'd be jazzed to see a proper Virtual Console-esque suite of "sanctioned" emulators offered for download via the service.[Via TUAW]
