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Linux-running Pandora game handheld nears completion (Neoseeker)
There is a brief update on the status of the Linux-based Pandora handheld gaming system over at Neoseeker. The first 3000 units have sold out and the system is undergoing final regulatory testing. Eventually, it will sell for $330. "The Pandora is about the size of PSP (with dimensions of 83mm by 140mm). It has a 600MHz ARM Cortex CPU, and a 800x480 display capable of OpenGL and 16.7 million different colors. A small qwerty keyboard, a touchscreen, and dual analogue controls will help you game, or use your Pandora for non-gaming: with Wifi, Bluetooth and a USB 2.0 host you'll be able to do a great deal with this game system.
[...]
Did we mention the Pandora runs on Linux? It runs a variation of Angstrom-Linux and is designed to be able to handle emulators (such as for the C64, NES and other older systems) in addition to being able to run Linux games such as Quake 3, and browsers such as Firefox."
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Linux-running Pandora game handheld nears completion (Neoseeker) Posted Jan 5, 2010 8:07 UTC (Tue) by Los__D (guest, #15263) [Link]
Except for the USB host and the analogue controllers, it sounds exactly like the specs of the Nokia N900.
Linux-running Pandora game handheld nears completion (Neoseeker) Posted Jan 5, 2010 9:19 UTC (Tue) by ibisum (guest, #59406) [Link]
Nokia N900: A phone.
Pandora: A games machine.
The specs might be similar, but the comparison is moot. Pandora is designed by gamers, for gamers.
Linux-running Pandora game handheld nears completion (Neoseeker) Posted Jan 5, 2010 14:40 UTC (Tue) by Tuna-Fish (subscriber, #61751) [Link]
The significance of the similarity is that you can write a well-optimized
game that works on both.
Linux-running Pandora game handheld nears completion (Neoseeker) Posted Jan 5, 2010 15:01 UTC (Tue) by ibisum (guest, #59406) [Link]
.. assuming that your game doesn't need/require superlative control in the form of gamepads and USB support ..
Linux-running Pandora game handheld nears completion (Neoseeker) Posted Jan 5, 2010 17:03 UTC (Tue) by drag (subscriber, #31333) [Link] Yes... The major difference between it and the N900 is form factor.The Pandora offers USB host capabilities, much more removable storage options, game pad, clamshell design, etc. N900 offers slide out keyboard, convenient microphone and telephony speaker, and much more radio capabilities. ------------- As far as a game designed to run on both.. it is certainly possible, but the UI would have to probably be specifically modified for each device; unless you restrict the game buttons to a small amount of keyboard keys and the touch screen. ------------- It is too bad that Pandora has taken so long to get out. If they got it out on time the hardware specs would of been fantastic. Nowadays the OMAP3 platform is pretty much mainstream and it's going to be outclassed by hardware used in devices like the 'Nexus One'. Things seem to be moving at a rapid clip. But it is still pretty neat.
Linux-running Pandora game handheld nears completion (Neoseeker) Posted Jan 5, 2010 15:57 UTC (Tue) by tor (guest, #4684) [Link]
It's much more like a souped-up N800 than a N900.
It's like the N800 in that it's got two full-size (externally available) SDHC-compatible slots (unlike the internal, pretty much useless microSD in the N900). It's like the N800 in that it's got a bigger screen: N900: 3.5", N800: 4.13", Pandora: 4.3" It's like the N800 in that there's no SIM (phone capability). It's like the N800 in that it's got a D-PAD It's unlike the N900 in that it doesn't have 32GB built-in flash (it's got 512MB NAND though, 4 times the N800 and twice the N900.) It's unlike the N900 in that it doesn't have a built-in GPS chip (the one in the N900 isn't very good anyway). And it has a keyboard (bigger than the N900 one), plus (as you point out) lots of extra buttons and controllers, and the two USB slots. Unlike any of them it doesn't have an FM receiver (unless there's one hidden in the BT chip, as it turned out to be with the Nokias. Unlikely though.) So, it's a bit like if you start with an N800, then upgrade to the CPU of the N900, adding keyboard and controllers, and keep the rest. Disclaimer: I own both the N800, the N900, and I've pre-ordered a Pandora.
Linux-running Pandora game handheld nears completion (Neoseeker) Posted Jan 5, 2010 23:46 UTC (Tue) by jzbiciak (✭ supporter ✭, #5246) [Link]
Given that they're powered by the same (or nearly the same) OMAP chip, color me unsurprised.
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