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In a lot of the cases I've seen, just running 'strings' on the binary promptly dumps clear copyright notices for busybox or whatever ... or they didn't strip symbols and all the function names are still in there. Often it seems manufacturers, especially asian ones where the culture is to take "free" things and improve them, just think "yeah whatever it's free" and ignore the GPL. They don't usually try to obfuscate that they've done this because they don't regard it as wrong to begin with. This was the case with the original GP2X: the developers honestly didn't understand that yes, they really had to provide source for kernel changes. After this was gently explained to them they fixed the problem pretty quickly.

GP32 (gamepark - a handheld game console) was hacked.

lol what? The GP32 and its successor, the GP2X, are designed to run homebrew, emulators etc with 100% raw hardware access out of the box. That's pretty much the entire point of them, given the scarcity of commercial titles.

I'm kinda sick of the vaporware.. I often fly 13 hour trips (non-stop) on a plane with no power outlets (not even in business class, or so they tell me!).. If I take 4 sets of rechargeable batteries my GP2X will last me 12 hours, but playing games and watching movies is not getting work done.

At least in the mobile market there is an open platform where everyone can participate

http://www.gp2x.com/

Or just add a touchscreen to this
http://www.gp2x.com/
Dual cpus, runs linux, 64mb ram, takes sd and works with pal and ntsc

Don't bother. Just buy a GP2X It already does most of that, and it's portable!

Or get a GP2X and have a handheld that's designed to be hacked, uses SD cards (SDHC support is being worked on...) and runs Linux!

And a PSX emulator is being worked on right now. (See PSX4GP2X

I'm holding out for Trolltech's Greenphone. It runs Linux, and the point is openness... you can recompile the kernel if you want! Paired with KDE 4, I think it's going to blow the iPhone out of the water... at least for people that want a useful, hackable mini-computer and not a $3000 status symbol.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking until I read the Greenphone FAQ:

Q. Is Greenphone a commercial mobile phone?

A. Greenphone is not intended as an end-user's primary cell phone. Greenphone offers a development environment that is equivalent to a GSM/GPRS mobile phone with the capability to re-flash the applications memory. Using the Greenphone SDK, developers can create and modify applications then use the Greenphone to test and demonstrate their software's performance in a real-world hardware constrained environment. The device complies with GCF requirements, and inserting a SIM card obtained from a GSM network operator should safely enable basic phone functionality.

I would love to have one of these... if I could use it as my main cell phone. Until then, I'll just hack around on my GP2X. However, as far as buying a Greenphone goes, put your money where your mouth is.

that's fine and dandy and obviously you didn't use much of Office's features.

humm...so not able to run Quickbook that every accounts use is because you care about quality. how disconnect are you from reality?

and it's a piece of shit compare to Exhcange.

so the world is according to you now and if you didn't see it used. it must mean shit, right?

this is even more retarded. so don't fucking play on Xbox live

then and do you even remeber what we are arguing about? the OP said everything MS put out are craps. how about Xbox?

it put MS on the map within only two generation and it even outsold Wii.

Where's the OSS game console that was so buzzed during dotcom era?

I find iPod to be restrictive and have features misaligned with my needs so the price is too high for what it does give me.
I find Microsoft to be repulsive.
So, no need for an iPlod killer here, I've already got my sight set on better options (http://gp2x.com/product/product.asp comes to mind).

You might be more interested in http://www.gp2x.com/. Nice piece of hardware, open source and so. Plenty of emulators. Enjoy yourself.

I like brackets.

I thought the de-facto open handheld was the GP2X http://www.gp2x.com/.

It comes with linux onboard. You can download devkits for windows and linux using sdl and c/c++, with OpenGL optional. When you are done with your game, you copy it over using secure digital cards, or usb thumb drives. Homebrew development is actively encouraged by official contests, with cash prizes for the best entries.

Just thought you might like to know: GPH are no longer violationg the GPL.

Just thought you might like to know: GPH are no longer violationg the GPL.

Or buy a GP2x. Although the DS is better if you want to play current games rather than just use it for emulation/homebrew.

Oh, and for those too lazy to google: http://www.gp2x.com/
This isn't the site I originally remember, but its the same device.

Have you ever heard of Google? It's this great search tool for the World Wide Web. http://www.gp2x.com/

Maybe they'd get more support if articles like this posted a little more information. I DON'T KNOW WHAT GP2X IS!

My friend calls it a "Linux Gameboy". It's a handhead game device that takes SD cards and play homebrew games and roms. It also plays movies and shows pictures, and whatever else people can make it do.

Links: http://www.gp2x.com/ http://wiki.gp2x.org/

Someone feel free to name a console that has sold worse in its first 5-6 months.

GP2X

There is a program for Linux called Cedega (formerly known as WineX), which is a proprietary fork of Wine, which is an application to run Windows programs under Linux/BSD by translating parts of the Windows and DirectX API to the Linux API. Transgaming, the company supporting Cedega, added Direct3D support, and some other enhancements specifically for gaming, and tries to support the latest releases of Windows games. With this application, Linux gamers, a good chunk of the Linux population (at least I think it is) can play the latest games without dual-booting into Micro$**t Winblow$; unfortunately, there are some catches.

First, Cedega is NOT open-source (parts of it are released under the Alladin Public License, which is more shared source) and a subscription costs $5 per month (with an initial minimum subscription of 3 months).

The second problem is that Cedega is trying to support resource intensive applications, so they are constantly changing their supported API to 'optimize' their program. As a result, games that worked with older versions of WineX/Cedega might not work with newer versions, so you may have to install multiple copies to run the games you want.

The third, and VERY IRRITATING, flaw is that Cedega uses a voting system to determine which games to support. This means that only the popular games (Half Life, WOW, GTA, Elder Scrolls, etc.) will definitely work, and less popular games (Gothic, Gothic II,*insert many games here*) may NEVER work!!

Anyway, Cedega has some annoying flaws, but its MAIN flaw is that it gives developers a good excuse not to do a native Linux port. They may have heard of Cedega, and they assume that their game will be supported under it, so there is no reason to do a native port.

Some people, initially, liked the idea of Wine/WineX/Cedega because it would provide gamers with a way to switch to a 'superior' operating system and still be able to play their Windows games, and game developers would, eventually, see that a vast chunk of their market runs Linux, and they would start releasing native ports. Cedega has *NOT* encouraged games; one could argue that it has hampered game development under Linux (see above). Since most Linux computers can run Windows, game developers will still release games under Windows and just suggest that Linux gamers dualboot. Since most Linux users are not as fanatically anti-MS as they claim to be, most of them will boot into Windows to play their games (which I, myself, do). I hear many people on Linux forums say that they only use Windows for gaming or video-editing (or synth music creation).

Game developers do not want to do more work than is necessary, so they will not do a port if another choice is given. If a Macintosh can run Windows, then game developers will tailor their games to Windows and will not support OSX, "because you can just run Windows for that stuff." As mentioned previously, the MacIntel's ability to run Windows will not attract enough gamers for most game developers to consider OSX as a viable platform, if they have not considered it already.

In conlusion, Windows is far too entrenched in the desktop market to be displaced by anything; to fight it, one should focus on embedded computers (cell phones/PDAs/etc.) where Windows CE is just one OS among many. If you want to support open gaming, buy a GP2X. http://www.gp2x.com/

Sorry for this verbose (and mostly off-topic) rant.

Sure, no wifi, but the rest of it rocks.

If you want a video player without a hard drive, there can be only one solution: GP2X. It's ARM9 powered, has 64MB RAM, USB2, SD, and the aforementioned QVGA-res TFT. It will do about 2500kbps video, which is enough to play your average MPEG4 movie (MPEG 4, Dvix 3.11,4x,5x, and Higher, XVID) without recoding at a lower resolution. It will play back 6 hours of video or 10 hours of audio on two AA batteries - and it takes AAs! That makes me happy. On top of all this, they're only $189.99 so you can afford a big SD card or two for the price of anotherp player :) It runs Linux and they provide SDL. But best of all, it has a composite video output. You can watch it on a TV if you have one handy (and buy or make the funky little cable.) The cable's about $15.

.. is is this one ...

You mean like this?

Well, actually it comes with MPlayer instead of VLC...

[?] digital input for recording. preferably straight to flac, but wav is OK
[?] flac and maybe ogg playback. ogg looks already slated, flac is pretty much a requirement for me
[?] at least 24bit support. sample rates up to 96 KHz would be nice, but 48 is fine
[.] digital and RCA and 1/8" mini headphone outputs
[?] at least 20 gigs of space, more is always welcome
[X] the ability to view a text file
[?] random playback by album, not just by track
[X] good battery life at least 4 hours and easily replaceable batteries or something so I can get another 4 hours of use when I'm not near electricity

You're looking for a digital recorder, not a music player. Why the 24bit support? Are you doing pro audio?

Anyways, I sold my ipod mini and ordered a gp2x. It doesn't come with any storage space whatsoever, but has a CompactFLASH extension port, a TV out, two USB2.0 ports, a serial-like extension port, 1/8" mini headphone output, exchangable AA batteries, and 3.5" LCD screen. It runs Linux natively and it's only $200US.

No, I am not affiliated with them. :)