Media Power CEO shows off new Android-based Gizmondo, looks just like old Gizmondo

The long-rumored resurrection of Gizmondo from the ashes of Stefan Eriksson's bisected Ferrari Enzo is near. Near, that is, if you believe Rich Jenkins, CEO of Media Power, the company behind this rebirth. Jenkins recently showed Swedish journalist Hans Sandberg a box full of pre-production gaming handhelds, all looking suspiciously like old, decidedly post-production units. According to Jenkins the changes are all internal, consisting of new graphics hardware from nVidia and an uprated battery (to be offered as a free upgrade to scorned owners of the original). Pricing is still undetermined but Android is confirmed; owners will have to choose either Google's new hotness or Microsoft's decidedly more tepid Windows CE, but can't have both -- unless they buy two. Release is still set for the end of this year via a "really cool website" hitting the intertubes next month.

[Thomas Walters @ Sep 11th 2008 9:16AM]

No better way of convincing the portable market that it's a wise investment when it looks exactly the same as the joke that was the original Gizmondo.

If you saw that on a shelf, would you drop any kind of cash on it?

[Kristian @ Sep 11th 2008 9:20AM]

Appearance isn't super important to me, but good lord, that thing just looks cheap. I mean, if you're going to try to sell a premium piece of kit at least try to make it look the part. That thing looks like one of those $10 little hand helds that had one game on them from 1992. How that thing will compete with a PSP, DS, or even a WinMo or Android device I have no idea.

[ScOObyDoo @ Sep 11th 2008 9:29AM]

I don't think they are trying to convince consumers to buy them, they are after investors, that is after all how they made their millions the last time.

[Will H. @ Sep 11th 2008 9:49AM]

I agree, I don't understand how anyone could see value in that little piece of junk. I think we all agree this is one big fail waiting to happen.

[dan17 @ Sep 11th 2008 2:19PM]

it looks like the old one to save costs. in a way that is no bad thing as trev said it is comfy to hold (unlike the psp) you can play for hours without your hands falling off. the screen is good quality. it is clear and easy to see. the signal for the texting is stronger than my mobile phone (a nokia) and the gps is good too

the emualtors avalable are verry good (nes,snes ,gameboy advance, mega drive, scummvm and loads more. and just about all are fully playable.

dont forget it is a satnav too. it is the price of a basic tom tom and can run tom tom software. and it is a games console too.

it is a great little handheld and as the games are free 100 quid is all you will pay. it is all unique in the fact it has a camera and can play augmented reallity games.

[Arran @ Sep 13th 2008 6:40AM]

I think even the original owners won't take one. A free one.

No widescreen, analogue and looks very cheap.

Won't sell unless ridiculously under priced / over powered.

[crashMMVII @ Sep 11th 2008 9:35AM]

I was really excited when I heard about the old one...

Now that you can probably get something that does the exact thing in a cheaper (and sexier) package, meh.

[cuban, the paris hilton of tech @ Sep 11th 2008 9:28AM]

DIE ALREADY! seriously...

[riggs @ Sep 11th 2008 9:33AM]

someone shoot their product designer.

[thedesolate1 @ Sep 11th 2008 10:20AM]

I dont know what's uglier the handheld or the dude holding it...

[Todd @ Sep 11th 2008 9:40AM]

I thought the entire staff of Gizmondo got deported for wrecking that Enzo Ferrari?

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 11th 2008 10:10AM]

This may break some kind of record by actually being a worse idea than the original Gizmondo.

[BBaddict @ Sep 11th 2008 10:14AM]

Despite the Android platform, this form factor is very poor to compete with modern mobile devices. It has no wireless interfaces. The screen is from the last century etc. There are already tons of apps for Android (see http://www.android-freeware.org/ and the list of Android Developers Challenge participants) but because of it's square screen very little apps will display on that screen correctly.

[Trevsweb @ Sep 11th 2008 10:16AM]

-_- seriously some commenters here talk out their bums half the time. people who says is looks ridiculous and cheap should go find one and put it to the test its very ergonomic hence the ugliness and the build is superb, not only that its small than some of the other portables so it is acctually portable.

Good on Gizmondo for trying to show the world the actions of greedy investors and management that this device belongs in the world.
I'm glad engadget post this news but i'm not sure having the bitter taste of reading the engadget article is worth it.

[Christian Walters @ Sep 11th 2008 10:37AM]

OOhhhhkay, are you being serious? This was a terrible idea last time, and its terrible now. There is NO market for the Gizmondo now, nor was there one a few years ago. I suppose that you have invested in the Phantom as well eh?

[Gofthick @ Sep 11th 2008 11:01AM]

Prepare to be burned again.

[Jon2309 @ Sep 11th 2008 11:05AM]

@ Christian
OOhhhhkay, have you ever actually used one? Thought not.

[SHoe @ Sep 11th 2008 11:27AM]

@Jon2309: I have used one, and except for the fact that it has 3D hardware, it's pretty much the evil twin of the Tapwave Zodiac, sucking as it does compared to the Zod in virtually every other aspect. Even that 3D hardware doesn't mean anything when there are no games.
I also loved things like needing to be connected to the slow-assed GRPS network just to gain access to certain data ON THE DEVICE - and that means pricey pre-paid access in this case.
The stench of failure was thick enough a few years ago - but why on gods-green-earth are they wanting to release this in 2008?

[Trevsweb @ Sep 11th 2008 11:39AM]

least the Gizmondo came out. the phantom lived up to its name.
i got good use of my gizmondo 1 and hope to enjoy more time with the new version too

[threefingeredlord @ Sep 11th 2008 2:14PM]

I agree with trev - it is in fact very comfortable to hold, and really doesn't seem cheap in person.

[Jonathan Bryce @ Sep 11th 2008 11:06AM]

This could be cool. I think you guys are being too hard on it. It looks kinda kiddy still, but running Android + emulators + [if they're smart] commercial releases, this could be good.

The screen isn't last gen technology as someone posted...it's pretty much the same as the DS screen I believe, in size and quality.

[Dee @ Sep 11th 2008 11:42AM]

It looks the same as the previous one...if you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig!

[Chip @ Sep 11th 2008 12:16PM]

Android may be a decent OS for a phone, but for a handheld gaming system that is supposedly "embracing" the homebrew community, it's terrible. The Android SDK only allows programs written in Google's special flavor of JAVA, and does not allow any access to the hardware. WiMo isn't much better. Unless the Giz developers intend to supply special libraries that allow coders to actually use the new 3D hardware, it might as well not be there.

[Benson @ Sep 15th 2008 11:40AM]

Is there some reason to suppose that OpenGL won't be supported in Android, or that they won't ship a driver for whatever chipset they're using?

To me, it seems like a speculative failure with no supporting facts, and as it conflicts with my intuition, I'm not buying.

[Larry @ Sep 11th 2008 12:40PM]

That CEO a dickhead- how can he sell us that crap in this market or any at that?

[ecco6t9 @ Sep 11th 2008 12:53PM]

Coming from someone who actually owned a Gizmondo there were a few bright spots in the line up.

Point Of Destruction was a really great Shump.

TrailerBlazer had amazing graphics,really great gameplay,and used the built in rumble on the Gizmondo.

Sticky Balls ignore the name and you've got a really great puzzle game.

[TheStupidOne @ Sep 11th 2008 5:31PM]

Actually I have one and it is more comfortable then a PSP due to its roundness and rubberized coating. I am sure the Android OS would make the device quicker to start up and go through menus then the GUI overlay of Windows CE 4.2 in the former.

And aren't you aware that the Gizmondo was designed by Rick Dickinson who also create the case and keys for the ZX Sinclair which didn't exactly excel in looks either but made up for it in ergonomics.

If they really wanted to cash in on the device they should have stuffed RISC OS with a few emulators into it so all the BBC Micro, Archimedes and Sinclair fans would have bought it up, surely making for greater sales in the UK then the last one made worldwide.

Otherwise with the much hyped Android OS, I smell another investing scam in the works. I also agree that this scheme should just go so the Gizmondo homebrewing community can stick with a single platform to work with and the one which I have will finally go up exponentially in value.

[TareX @ Sep 11th 2008 11:32PM]

Hmm... Android seems to attract ugly hardware, so far. Not good.

[Cassini @ Sep 13th 2008 3:08AM]

The Gizmondo again, eh? Ugh. Will this thing ever die?

Ugly device with a goofy name that sounds like a Mexican sock puppet. (Nothing against Mexico, btw).