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Handheld Gaming / Media-player Gadget Runs Linux
An anonymous reader writes "LinuxDevices has profiled a new portable game- and media-player based on embedded Linux. The GPX2-F100 features dual ARM9 processors, USB 2.0, a 3.5-inch color LCD, and support for both native and emulated games. A Linux SDK (software development kit) will be available when the device ships. Hmmm... I wonder how hard it'll be to get GPE and OPIE running on it?"
Consumers want their consoles to have open development platforms whether they know it or not. Imagine the kinds of things people would have done with the PSP right now if Sony actually allowed it. It's understandable why they don't: they make money off of games sales that go through them, whereas some indie developer selling games off his website would get them nothing. The sad truth is that you'll never get such a nice piece of hardware as the PSP for a good price with an open development platform. This device looks nice, but it's missing WiFi. Instead it has a radio that only communicates with other units. I'm sure the other PSP specs are better than this device as well, but it'll be interesting to see what people can do with it when it comes out since they won't have to waste time working around firmware upgrades and the like.
Looks as though the games for this thing will be based around SDL. With a bit of luck, we might see games developed for this being ported to Linux. The only thing stopping me from ditching windows completly is games.
The specs do look very impressive too. Over 8 hours of video playback is far better than a PSP, plus it supports Xvid, so I can rip my DVDs to an SD card for when I'm on the train.
Just hope it gets a european release.
"I realise this is not a very popular opinion but it's the truth, and there for needs to be said" -Bill Hicks
I almost bought a PSP this weekend after reading that Sony had released firmware with a browser. What stopped me was the price of 1GB memory stick at > $100. There is no way I will pay that when 1GB memory keys, CF, and SD exist at 1/2 that price.
This device is close except for the screen size and what sounds like a proprietary wireless setup. Why are they not using 802.11?
Oh well, I will keep looking and waiting...
"I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
Well, if it's the same horrible job that Open Zaurus has done getting them done working on the Zaurus, why bother?
Seriously. When OZ posts packages that "just need a little work" in order to run on their latest version, what chance is there of having ANY interest from the greater public, i.e. those people whose use is going to be necessary to move OZ from an interesting toy to something with mass acceptance?
And no, this isn't a flame or a troll. It's a statement of fact. However, when I posted much the same thoughts on the OZ mailing list, I was attacked with such vitriol you'd have thought I was buggering the pope. And I've been using Linux in exhibits for a lot of years. OZ is simply not ready for prime time. And neither, sadly, I think, will be any port to this device.
Because PortalPlayer knows that if they piss Apple off bad enough Apple can either buy them or develop their own in house solution. And if you don't think Apple has this kind of software talent then you haven't been paying attention to the fact that they've been keeping MacOSX running on multiple hardware platforms for years in case they wanted to change.
cheap labor conservatives - they want to keep you hungry enough to be thankful for minimum wage.