GP2X-community system dubbed Pandora?

The tips have been flowing in hot and heavy on this one, so we felt it only fair to pass along the latest rumblings in the world of GP2X to you. We first got word that a new emulation monster could be coming from the GP2X community back in September, and if late breaking mockups and specification lists are to be believed, that system is indeed Pandora. Notably, the product seen above is purported to feature a keyboard (obviously), 4.3-inch 800 x 480 resolution touchscreen and built-in WiFi (802.11b/g) -- all inclusions that were previously mentioned -- along with an ARM Cortex A8 CPU, OpenGL ES 2.0-compliant 3D hardware, dual SDHC expansion slots, TV output and USB connectivity. Unfortunately, we know nothing more than that at the moment, as dates / pricing still remain a mystery, but if Pandora does prove to be more than a figment of someone's imagination, we're betting it'll be worth the wait.

Update: Looks like the price is set at around $320, while the release should happen in March or April.

[Thanks, Stern and Craig]
Read - Open Pandora
Read - Pandora Wiki

[wootman @ Jan 26th 2008 4:04PM]

the reason they have not decided on a price (officially) is because of all the possible overhead.
also thats just a render from a while ago, remember the original DS/psp's and how different they look now? if you dont, the DS was retro and the PSP was completely flat.

[erik @ Dec 20th 2007 8:14PM]

FTW!

[Shane @ Dec 20th 2007 11:02PM]

I wonder who the first to open Pandora's box will be...

[BigD145 @ Dec 20th 2007 8:15PM]

You needs big hands for such a thing.

[atomicthumbs @ Dec 20th 2007 10:24PM]

No:

http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?s=&showtopic=39711&view=findpost&p=573026

[austin @ Dec 20th 2007 8:22PM]

all that stuff up there is all good and nice but what does it do?

[David W. @ Dec 20th 2007 10:01PM]

Whatever you want it to do!!!! That's what makes it so amazing, people can make whatever software they want for it!!!

[austin @ Dec 20th 2007 10:36PM]

so its a pc?
iphone?
android?

[iofthestorm @ Dec 20th 2007 11:48PM]

It's a linux based portable PC/handheld designed primarily to emulate older systems (this one might even go up to N64) and play homebrew games. It's also got wifi and a keyboard, so people might end up making some nice productivity software for it too.

[jwtrooper @ Dec 20th 2007 8:27PM]

It's the Ultra-ultra portable Eeee PC! I want one!

[Isaac @ Dec 20th 2007 8:28PM]

Is it bad I have never herd of this thing before?

[atomicthumbs @ Dec 20th 2007 11:16PM]

Considering that there hasn't really been any advertising (other than the one post on Engadget in September), no.

[wells @ Dec 20th 2007 8:42PM]

GAH! Just a day or so into this new picture based comment system and I've already seen my first nekkid old man on here!!? How am i supposed to browse this site at work while eating lunch?

[BatteryAcid @ Dec 20th 2007 11:09PM]

Haha - thats me! I couldn't think of a good avatar so I googled my name. Is it really that bad?

I agree with jwtrouper, it seems like a scaled eee pc but with better graphics. The GP2X sounds powerful but the mockup looks very cluttered. I liked the last generation design. Is a keyboard really necessary?

[wells @ Dec 21st 2007 8:59AM]

Actually, no, lol, it was on some other post.

[insertAlias @ Dec 21st 2007 9:53AM]

I actually saw a goatse avatar yesterday...not kidding....*shudders*

[rutsy5 @ Dec 20th 2007 9:10PM]

this thing is (purportedly) gonna run linux, emulate N64 and other early systems, support fusion, and be generally beast

[iofthestorm @ Dec 20th 2007 9:15PM]

Wow, it must have a ton of horsepower to do that. I think I'd probably still rather go with an HTC WM phone or an upcoming Android phone with a keykboard because I'm starting to notice that having a lot of things in your pocket is hard, even with cargo pants.

[hemmy @ Dec 20th 2007 9:14PM]

What's under the hood sounds nice, but the mockup is fuggly.

[iofthestorm @ Dec 20th 2007 9:16PM]

Yeah, looks like a cheap knockoff of the DS Lite with a keyboard. A black version would be better because white DS Lites get really dirty.

[Gihan @ Dec 20th 2007 9:20PM]

I think I just had a happy explosion in my pants.

[ace_spades @ Dec 20th 2007 9:45PM]

it's going to be a failure. no one will open the packaging.




(Pandora's box for all you idiots out there)

[atomicthumbs @ Dec 20th 2007 10:46PM]

Except now the only thing that's left in the box is hope.

What a bitch; I wanted a Cthulhu. Maybe I'm mixing stories, though.

[argor @ Dec 20th 2007 9:40PM]

look at http://openpandora.ca/ you like it

[Mars @ Dec 20th 2007 10:05PM]

i took a look at the pics in your link, the black looks way better.... but i did notice that it came with no "z" ( see black and red pics) but they did have to y keys hahah

[steve @ Dec 20th 2007 9:49PM]

im likin it
i might actually try to buy this

[ChrisMizzleInfo @ Dec 20th 2007 10:19PM]

It seems cool, but i can't honestly see how using this would be comfortable at all. The keys are just everywhere, and why two d-pads and two ps2-like toggles (is that the right word?) I think this could be boiled down to be something way simpler and cleaner. This thing looks shoddy.

[iofthestorm @ Dec 20th 2007 11:53PM]

Umm, there's only one D-Pad and I suppose dual analogs are nice for emulating PS1, which this can do. Although dual analogs are optional on PS1 I guess since it didn't start out with any analogs. The positioning is a bit awkward and looks like it could get clumsy though, perhaps a slideout keyboard would be better.

[Stern @ Dec 20th 2007 10:23PM]

Alright, so some updates: The device will be black (and supposedly any color you want). It looks big, but Craig has said that it is small enough that a child could use it comfortably. Also, this is just a render to show the general design, and I'm sure that the actual device will be slicker and generally better looking.

[atomicthumbs @ Dec 20th 2007 10:23PM]

CraigIX (the man in charge) says that it's actually smaller than the GP2X. There are more renders on http://openpandora.ca. I'm guessing that's MWeston (the hardware designer)'s site.

Here:

http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?s=&showtopic=39711&view=findpost&p=573026

And here's the forum for it:

http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?showforum=61


PS: Yes, I am the atomicthumbs who maintains and starterd the wiki.

[atomicthumbs @ Dec 20th 2007 10:25PM]

gah, started

[Stern @ Dec 20th 2007 10:25PM]

Oh, and in terms of power, it's possible that it will be equal to or more powerful than a GameCube.

[Dhomas @ Dec 20th 2007 10:40PM]

Why no internal bluetooth? A2DP would have made this the perfect device. As it stands, it is just one feature shy of perfection...

[atomicthumbs @ Dec 20th 2007 10:49PM]

Because bluetooth would take up too much power/space/time/money for a feature that not many people would use, according to CraigIX and MWeston.

I wouldn't use it.

[Stern @ Dec 20th 2007 10:54PM]

Also, it has USB and is running Linux, so you can just plug in a USB Bluetooth dongle and Voila! you've got Bluetooth.

[Slippy Lane @ Mar 30th 2008 3:11PM]

Stern - except for the fact that the USB ports aren't powered, so to go with a USB Bluetooth dongle, you need a USB mini-hub and battery pack to power it.

Still, I expect either GamePark or a third party will soon enough build Bluetooth and Wi-fi adapters to go in the gp2x's EXT port (if such devices aren't already out there).

[gzeusmants @ Dec 20th 2007 11:04PM]

I call fake.
Nothing EvilDragon has ever been involved with have ever turned into anything of any value.
generally they're physically impossible, if not that, mathematically, if not that, financially, if not that, outside his understanding in general. He's a pathological liar and attention junkie.
Most people he associates with are careful trolls, and other unsavoury types. I could randomly pick theoretically compatible hardware and pretend I know how to assemble it, too. Want a mock-up? Sure. Give me 1 day with some wood and another with Gimp.

Fake.

Show me a video of one working, on batteries, from switch on to running an application and I'll doubt it less.

[atomicthumbs @ Dec 20th 2007 11:10PM]

Which EvilDragon are you talking about?

[gzeusmants @ Dec 20th 2007 11:18PM]

There's more than one? I if it's the one I'm thinking of, he posted the same BS on Sega-16 and one other forum which I can't remember...it was dedicated to modification and RGB. In any case, I scanned the net to see if I could fin any reason to believe it was another E.D.
I found evidence to the contrary, and posted something similar on the older postings.

[gzeusmants @ Dec 20th 2007 11:14PM]

Wait, this is just a 3D rendering, and it's this ugly?
What?
TRY finding someone with an understanding of how the human hand works or what good design is!
Hideous.

[atomicthumbs @ Dec 20th 2007 11:14PM]

It's going to be smaller than the GP2X, so your assumptions may be wrong. MWeston posted specs on the size:

"Okay, here are the current dimensions so we can dispel the rumors that only giants can play this thing:

Footprint - 140x83x27mm

Each analog nub is 46mm in from the side to the center, with the nub being 15mm in diameter.

The dpad and ABXY buttons are both 16.5mm in from the side to the center."


Also, there may be some design changes before the actual release.

[JohnTitor @ Dec 21st 2007 12:17AM]

so, um, it can play Doom right?

[Stern @ Dec 21st 2007 12:39AM]

It can play Doom. It can play Quake 3. And Playstation (NOT PS2). And N64. (These are all predictions based on console power. There are no programs out yet, but it would be surprising if any of these didn't work at pretty much full speed.)

[charliex @ Dec 21st 2007 1:34AM]

Obviously the best place for all those delicate cables/plugs are right up front.

[Yuglooc @ Dec 21st 2007 6:57AM]

Um, what do you mean the pricing is a mystery? It's right there on he wiki:

Price: 199 GBP(incl. VAT) (approx. $320 (excl. VAT), 286 euros (incl. VAT)

[Jay Vaughan @ Dec 21st 2007 4:20AM]

As a GP2X developer, this is terribly exciting to me, and I seriously can't wait .. the GP2X community is one of the most gung-ho groups of DIY/self-makers around, and the homebrew scene is truly awe-inspiring indeed .. the dynamics of emulators produces so much wonderful value for game-players and computer hobbyists.

So, the question is this: what will you do with it? Well, imagine having a Commodore 64, a Sinclair Spectrum (Timex-1000 to you yanks), an Amstrad CPC, an Atari ST, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, Colecovision Adam, PC-Engine, Sega Genesis/Master System, Sony Playstation, N64 .. heck, even an EDSAC .. in your pocket. Well: you can do that already with the GP2X! So, the new Pandora gives you even more storage and peripheral support (you have to carry around a box full of USB stuff with the GP2X right now if you want to use a mouse with your Atari emu..) and even more processing power, so we'll see other systems come to the emu apps roster when it is released.

As a developer, this is terribly exciting. An open linux machine, hand-held, being designed by the community of its most interested users. I watched the evolution of the GP2X out of the fires of the GP32 (its predecessor, of sorts), and I have always been impressed with how this group gets things done .. so count me in for 3 of these things, and hurry up and get them ready, already! My 5 GP2X's are ready for grandfathering .. ;)

[alexhrose71 @ Dec 21st 2007 9:02AM]

Hmmm if this can perfectly run C64 and Amiga games I'm all over it. Always wanted a portable Commodore.

[entropyman @ Dec 21st 2007 10:01AM]

it is cool and all, but why don't the gp2x guys just say screw it and make it a full umpc with a control console built in (like it is showing)- it is going that direction and you would be able to do more with it- if it was XP compatible with the controls built in (joystick drivers maybe?)I would love to have one as a portable DAW (digital audio workstation) since you could conceivably slave the console controls to ableton through loopback or yoke, and having a little workstation with 2 analog controllers would be really fun.

[Kendall @ Dec 21st 2007 1:03PM]

Why not have a machine, just like this, with TV-out or VGA-out that you can plug in an external keyboard, play games, and use Windows XP so it can be used as a gaming machine with XP game emulators already up and running like Project 64? You won't need to wait about a year for current emulators for this device to work at 100%. Why do they always have to be nearly perfect? Doesn't anyone get it?

[gzeusmants @ Dec 21st 2007 10:01PM]

EeePC 8g.
I'd prefer to hunt around for Linux programs, but that's me.
There is no Linux equivalent to (Kega) Fusion, but Gens is close. Actually the GP2X has the best emulators for Linux! No concern for portability lets them load it up with kernel-version-specific function calls, speciality hardware assembly code...