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).

[Kyle @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:38PM]

It's coming, and it will change your world forever. I CANT WAIITTT

[Quantumphysics @ Mar 24th 2009 7:32AM]

I wish Microsoft would build one of these capable of playing games on Xbox Live.

[Lars @ Mar 26th 2009 1:33PM]

I've been dying to get my hands on one of these. I was thinking of buying a netbook for ultra-portable computing... but heck, I could use Pandora and it'll be a good gaming device too!

[hemmy @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:39PM]

The delays hurt it a bit, but it still seems promising.

[birder @ Mar 24th 2009 8:43AM]

Delay is a bit of a misnomer. They weren't anywhere near ready to release last Nov/Dec. It was a complete fabrication to get funding. I've been following along because when it is finally released and lives up to the demos, it's going to get one amazing device.

However, they aren't near ready even now and it's nothing to do with supply problems. They've barely finalized the keyboard, have a number of certifications to go through. There has been a long list of work that's been going on these last 4 months that in no way would have been done when they offered pre-orders. All those Pandora blog updates clearly show this and makes the idea that this is somehow slightly delayed inaccurate. Their ship date was completely unrealistic.

I'd say August is the earliest Pandora release date.

[you @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:41PM]

video would have been alot better without the music.

[Josh Ladella @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:42PM]

"Pandora" and "Music genome" go hand in hand in my mind

I still can't think of this gadget without thinking of Daft Punk

[d889 @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:47PM]

so true

[atomicthumbs @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:56PM]

the Pandora does everything the DS and PSP do except harder, better, faster, and stronger

[zamir.evan @ Mar 24th 2009 1:59PM]

Yeah, I think they're going to be sued or asked to change the name.

[JohnTitor @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:43PM]

They did a pretty good job with this considering they aren't even a real company, let alone one as big as Sony/Nintendo/Apple

[atomicthumbs @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:57PM]

I beg to differ. OpenPandora Ltd, the company behind the Pandora, is in fact a real corporation.

[Patriks7 @ Mar 24th 2009 2:17AM]

But do they introduce a new gaming console/handheld every other year?

[TareX @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:46PM]

I just bought a DS lite off ebay. I can't resist after seeing the beauty that was GTA Chinatown wars.

The next handheld I buy would be a next-gen PSP (hopefully with a touchscreen for RTS games, and a 2nd analogue for FPS games). Till then, I'm holding off.

[atomicthumbs @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:58PM]

For a replacement for the next-gen PSP, you might want to buy a Pandora. It's got a touchscreen and analog nubs.

[TareX @ Mar 24th 2009 12:04AM]

Sorry, as good as it is, I need something with the big game developers behind it. PSOne games and others won't do it for me. I'm waiting for the PSP2 for the next-gen handheld gaming experience as a whole...

[The Fresh Panda @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:53PM]

Man I want this so bad, but I just payed for new tablet pc which comes this week. And then I have to buy $200 in upgrades, accessories, and software. But then again I don't need this for anything but n64 emulation, I mean I already have a dedicated mp3, a dedicated video player, a psp and a ultraportable, I don't think the n64 alone is worth $300 bucks do you>?

[atomicthumbs @ Mar 24th 2009 12:01AM]

You don't really need any accessories except an SD card, there aren't any upgrades, and almost all of the software will be free.

[glenskey @ Mar 24th 2009 12:08AM]

you forgot speech marks

accessories i "have" to buy... :')

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 24th 2009 12:09AM]

shiiiit, any time for a girlfriend?

[Kyle @ Mar 24th 2009 12:11AM]

Pretty sure he was talking about his laptop...

[cb88 @ Mar 24th 2009 12:11AM]

There is also the remote possibility that it will be able to emulate some less intesive dreamcast games see here : http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?showtopic=47027 definitely not fullspeed yet but there is potential

The entire point of this device it that it does all that... and more you don't need the dedicated devices the pandora should even boast at least 20+ hours of mp3 with the LCD off considering it will run at 100% cpu usage with LCD at max for 8.5 hours (those are the numbers for the dev boards anyway)

[Frogboy @ Mar 24th 2009 10:21AM]

By the time Pandora actually comes out, you'll have had a chance to save up for it. I wouldn't expect it to be available to anyone who didn't repreorder until around Christmas time.

[tekdroid @ Mar 23rd 2009 11:59PM]

Great to see after all this time.
I was initially surprised as to why the battery cover wasn't put back on after inserting the battery but got over it soon after :p

The fiddly start-up lets us know it ain't no DS; it's for geeks.
Still, looking good...though the case looks a little rough to me. I hope it succeeds financially for them and I hope they get some of the unwashed masses using the product, personally. Only by doing this will the folks at Sony and Nintendo sit up and take notice.

With first impressions, they count... and this video probably should have been made better from the start. Detailed description of the hardware from all angles, describing the features and device, then ripping into some gaming. Remember, you're not just trying to get those that know about you interested, you are trying to get others that don't know what you're about informed, too...(at least I presume they are).

Otherwise, good stuff.

[Kyle @ Mar 24th 2009 12:12AM]

There's a more detailed video coming soon, but the devs have been fantastic about showing every little tiny thing that happens. This is, infact, sort of a boring video but it shows us everything is working great.

[cb88 @ Mar 24th 2009 12:22AM]

unlike the larger companies OpenPandora does relatively frequent updates and often videos of progress what you see here is the final shape of the pandora but not the color since it is still a CNC prototype the final unit is supposed to be black and made with an injection molded process

also OpenPandora is a community the devs actually talk back to us and in general its just sheer awesomeness so kindly take a second loog at the video and realise that what you see here is not some flash over hyped/commercialised device but a device that speaks for itself it doesn't need a fancy flash site or super duper professional videos

first impressions do count.. mine is dang!! its running openarena 2x as fast as my 2004 PC through a graphics wrapper that makes it slower!!!

[Chip @ Mar 24th 2009 2:12PM]

This video wasn't meant to be a press release. It was just made for the people who preordered to see the first fully functional prototype. It's not a bad thing that it's been picked up by Engadget, Gizmodo, etc, but all the complaints about how "unprofessional" the video looks are a bit ridiculous since it wasn't MEANT to be professional. As the notes on the Youtube page indicate, a professionally produced video will be made in the coming days.

[ishism @ Mar 24th 2009 12:02AM]

I had preordered one but had to get my money back to pay some bills. I already have a hacked PSP. I will probably end up getting a netbook instead. And then just wait for a powerful phone that will do what the openpandora claims it will do.

[ishism @ Mar 24th 2009 12:05AM]

Maybe even buy a NDS. My friend's kid has one and it looks pretty cool.

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 24th 2009 12:14AM]

What kind of game can you play? im not really into old emulator... can it play older pc games like Morrowind? or some psx love?

[fischju @ Mar 24th 2009 1:53AM]

DC emulator is WIP
It maybe technically capable of N64, but nobody is working on one
PSX is working nearly flawlessly
-- just about everything before PSX --
Old DOS games in Dosbox, no Morrowind
DS emulator is speculative, as the open source one has horrible compatibility.
There will be a WindowsCE port, those games may work eventually.
Homebrew and other open source games, maybe some commercial development

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 24th 2009 2:17AM]

thanks for the reply!!

[Ravnos @ Mar 24th 2009 9:26AM]

Older PC games that have had source releases or their engines reverse engineered can be considered possible on this device. The hardware is fairly capable, the problems with getting those games to run are similar to the problems with getting them to run on an x86 Linux machine.

[Boards of Canada @ Mar 24th 2009 12:24AM]

Ho... and I just wanna say the ENGADGET AWARDS results are totally ridiculous. I will not tell why, its obvious.

[Decoy @ Mar 24th 2009 7:53PM]

If they had a category for Linux Distro of the year, somehow the iPod Classic would win it.

[Varuna @ Mar 24th 2009 12:28AM]

Sorry but thats Quake 1 not 3..

[PW @ Mar 24th 2009 12:37AM]

The article says the -follow up- video will be Quake 3. And it will. ;-)

[Wyatt @ Mar 24th 2009 12:41AM]

What band is that playing in this video?

[PW @ Mar 24th 2009 12:56AM]

Pet Shop Boys.

[Frostblade10 @ Mar 24th 2009 12:35AM]

1:13 wtf touch screen????? 8D

[Phoenix @ Mar 24th 2009 5:54AM]

We've always known it had a touchscreen...

[CleverEndeavor @ Mar 24th 2009 12:47AM]

I'm surprised this haven't been asked yet,
But will it run Crysis?

[fischju @ Mar 24th 2009 12:51AM]

The original nullDC authors (the dreamcast emulator) are doing a port for the Pandora, it's running at half speed in game on the beagleboard right now. Might have a few games playable in a couple of months when the Pandoras go out.

[Tristan King @ Mar 24th 2009 1:18AM]

If my exchange rate was better I would be getting one

[Noah @ Mar 24th 2009 1:59AM]

This is a really cool device, perfect for people who want to play home-brew and emulators (obviously). I think its kind of a shame that not too long after this is released, the PSP2 and NDS2 will be out (I'm thinking ~2011), offering far greater power. Its too bad those can't be more open-minded towards open-source.

[DarkLight @ Mar 24th 2009 3:35AM]

Greater power? LOL

Really doubt so... The Pandora is state-of-the-art hardware wise

The only thing you win is commercial games... But the open-source games/emulators are good enough for me.

[Benjiro @ Mar 24th 2009 4:52AM]

[quote]The Pandora is state-of-the-art hardware wise[/quote]

I beg to differ.

In Q3 you can expect the 45nm version off the OMAP that the Pandora uses. With the difference:
a) 20% faster cpu
b) 75% faster gpu
c) 25% less power drain

At this moment it still looks like the release will be mid 05/2009 and the final customers off the first batch around 06/2009 ( with any luck ).

In other words, by the time that all the customers have there Pandora, it will already be a generation behind the "state of the art" hardware. Thats the problem when it already took +-7 months between the initial ordering, and the not yet finished product.

Things that still need to be done:

** Done ** # CNC prototype Done!
# Completion of factory mold for keymat
** Done ** # Finalize keyboard layout Done!
# Completion of factory mold for case
# CE/FCC testing
# Mass production test run
# Stability testing
# Arrival of last bits and pieces for production
# Commence mass production
# Commence final testing
# Start shipping

A case mold take 30 to 35 days.
CE/FCC testing is going to take at minimum 5 days to 30 days.
...
Even if some things can be done in parallel, they still are at minimum 40 to 50 days off before the actually mass production.

[PW @ Mar 24th 2009 5:17AM]

Benjiro, what you have to remember is that just because TI have announced more powerful OMAPs, doesn't mean they're going to be in any products in the near future. Pandora incorporated the OMAP3530 into its design not long after TI released it. A couple of years later, Pandora is close to release. Other products can now be built around the higher spec OMAP - but you're looking at one, maybe two years before those products hit the shelves.

Other products of note using the OMAP3530 are the Beagleboard (a bare bones developer board) and the OSWALD (an Oregon State University educational project). The Beagleboard is not yet using the revised 256MB RAM + 512MB NAND configuration that Pandora is using. The OSWALD is even more niche than the others, and still in the early stages of development. Both are great projects, neither are anything for Pandora to be concerned about.

No other gaming handheld will have the processing power of Pandora, not this year, probably not next year. The OMAP3530 might not be TI's latest product, but in the consumer market, it is indeed cutting edge.

[eolair @ Mar 24th 2009 9:28AM]

The 45nm OMAP3630 will not be availble for sale in Q3. Q3 is just a limited sample run. You can expect it to be availble for the market some time in late 2010. The Pandora can't be delayed that long.

[Will @ Mar 24th 2009 2:25AM]

I am so getting a second-run OpenPandora.

Emulators, DOS, and ScummVM games here I come!