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.
posted July 12th 2010 5:53AM
at least its better that a psp
@xdeiri
Laughable, you go ahead and buy these. I'll keep my PSP thank you.
@xdeiri
Please don't start with the "open source" crap. One has games, is very much hackable, and is available on ebay for cheaper, while the other has no games (no half decent games by half decent companies at least), has a square screen and will be quickly forgotten.
I like the nub, but that's about it. Why do ppl bother making this stuff?
@TareG
Android is the same Linux, but with other GUI. Ubuntu is Linux too and it becomes more and more popular.
So, just shut up and don't harras open source. Nobody will hack it. Hack it for what? For nothing.
@TareG
So you have a PSP with stock official firmware and a bunch of first hand games?
GamePark are usually made and used by hobbyist, the kind of people that like that..."open source crap"
Sony can take a some pointers from this see how well they did with PSP go
@themadman wow...you guys seem uninformed. GPH handhelds arent KIRF, they are actually pretty decent but definitely for the hobbyist. Since i am more interested in older roms this system holds alot more appeal to me then the psp. i have used psp for roms in the past and generally its not a bad choice but it just would be better to have a dedicated portable for it.
anyway, i guess what im saying is that id get one.
@xdeiri No it's not. At 533 MHz it's still less powerful than PSP (2x333MHz) at 3.5 inches it's got a smaller screen and probably a lower resolution, it has less buttons, wifi isnt built in, and like it's predecessors will never get any licensed games and it's homebrew scene wont even come close to what PSP has.
Open source or not, there are more hacked PSPs out there than this will ever sell, even combined with it's predecessors.
@ACEdotcom
have to agree with you , people commenting dont seem to understand what this is going to used for which is playing roms, people saying the screen crap, dont seem to get the point , its used for emulation , having a widescreen would be pointless and stupid.
I do wish it had a d-pad like my dingoo , but i heard its a proper anolog stick unlike on the old gp2x and on the psp.
@Extinction
link plz no speaking out of a roof plz its one 333mhz cpu and developer can only use 222 mhz so no to you this is more powerful, and fuck psp crap games this beast can run all emulators.
GamePark's GP2X Caanoo handheld picks up where the nGage dropped off
@saelboat
How awesome would it be if they had a "case" that fit around your cell phone screen that would provide high quality physical buttons. I'm picturing my Evo screen wrapped by this case. :)
I sure hope they meant so spell 'Extream" that way in the first video.
@TheSpoonyBard
"to" not "so" :p
6th!!! WOOOOOOOOO
Wow, WiFi dongle! And they call it a 2010 extreme online console? Rubbish!
i wonder how long it'll take for a company to release an android device with this sort of form factor and market it has a gaming device - i think it could actually be a hit
@mrqs
Or just release more EPIC 4G like qwerty keyboards with a nub on the left instead of laptop-esque direction keys (which can't work the way they would on a laptop)
@mrqs like an HTC nGage? no thank you.
@mrqs http://www.hardkernel.com/
Odroid ships with android. Or you could just install android on something, your call.
Blah. I'll keep my Pandora. Gamepark Holdings doesn't seem to be getting it; the Wiz didn't do very well compared to the GP2X, and I bet this won't either.
@atomicthumbs
Also, this isn't really competition for the Pandora any more than a Honda Accord is competition for an Audi R8.
@atomicthumbs
Actually more like a cheap Daewoo (with few features) to a mid-priced Toyota with many features.
So basically it has a bunch of built-in emulators?
I'll keep my N900 thank you very much :)
@max3000
Where does it say the emulators are built in?
The fact that it's a usb host, and running linux is the best part. I'm sure quite a few folks that are going to the "Computer security" convention in Vegas in a couple weeks will love this part.
yeah this is so dated the idea seems futile, shame :(
OH SH- where was I, the pre release model render wasn't as beautiful as this. Also is it just me or do you think the Atari Lynx looking at it in that dark grey and orange/tan?
psp with crappier graphics and roms
wifi dongle = fail... nice platform though,
i didn't know Sony's kamikazes reached engadget. oh snap
This could be so awesome if it ran Android.
@idogis1 Give it time, it probably will.
Vibrator Motor! This is one for the girls!
I like the idea of this thing, but when it comes down to it, a modern high-end cell phone has more power, a better screen and better connectivity. And it's something that you carry around with you all the time, and on-contract, it's price is about what this
The only thing missing is the buttons and D-pad. When the hell will any of the phone makers realize that integrating some physical buttons onto a fast Android phone will net them a ton of sales from gamers that don't want to carry around a 2nd device.
@Hazdaz
Sadly even a lot of the slide-out keyboards seem to now go for cursor keys instead of joy-buttons. Shame.
@HKCally
:(
I know and I just don't get it. A keyboard (or even just a few buttons and a D-pad) would probably be one of the easiest features to implement in a modern phone... especially when you consider a high-end screen probably costs a pretty penny. Same deal with a high-end CPU, GPU. A couple of buttons cost almost nothing.
What?! No reference to the TapWave Zodiac? or Nokia's NGage? I've got my sourpuss face on now.
@grumpyOldMan probably because they're dead as history
When there are Nintendo and Sony ruling the market, why the hell anyone need another product that has nothing special to offer..gay.
Not sure what that first video was about. There was mention of a console, Linux, and extreme things, and now I have this sudden urge to listen to techno.
Well, I suppose this has a chance to succeed in the right market. That market isn't here in the US, though.
The expression on the girl’s face in the last video at 1:06 pretty much sums up the general reception. I can totally imagine what she must have been thinking: “Wait, did he just say TWO games? And what the fuck was that about a Wifi dongle!? Is he serious??”
This looks like a viable replacement for my Dingoo, a system with pretty good potential as an emulators-only handheld but they pretty much failed to deliver a working SNES or Genesis emulator.
@Elranzer PSP has had really good working ones for years. Where have you been besides trolling digg?
Gamepark went back to the joystick? I'll pass. I'd rather take a Wiz.
I guess you could use one of those wifi SD cards?
Still a massive fail not having it built in.
Oh, and touchscreeners: stop pretending you know anything about old school. I don't care how brilliant an emulator runs on Android or iOS, it'll stick suck without real buttons.
G-sensor? My girlfriend has one of those, it's hard to find though.
The CPU has not been updated, that was the thing that bothered me in the first place, before I realized the Wifi connection has to be done with a huge dongle! WTF??
Will they never learn about the mistakes from the past?
The Caanoo has (or could have) potential, but it is missing some important features.
Ok, back to Pandora.....
'lumbering Pandora'? Perhaps the release cycle but the Pandora is a good way ahead of this and the Wiz (same SoC) in raw power. I'd perhaps call the Pandora slower in comparison to some of these Cortex A9 multi-core phones and other devices coming out, but not in comparison to this device.
Well how could I not buy one? Apparently it's "extream".
I love to buy handhelds where the marketing says it is Extream!