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The Portable Linux Based GP2X is Here
An anonymous reader writes "Today sees the opening of the Official GP2X Site where you can see the new console from Gamepark.com, who last brought you the GP32 a fantastic console for homebrew developers. This console is a major step up with Dual 200Mhz cpus and is basically a Portable Linux handheld that can easily do ports like Quake, Doom and Emulators like Mame. Its Open Source SDK gives all amateur and commercial Developers the ablity to release software on a brand new console like the old Amiga/Commodore 64 days. More screenshots of the GP2X can be found at GP2x news."
The description page is quite very short. Is the controller analogic ?
Also, there is no wifi ? That would be a great feature.
I am curious how open the hardware is to the developers. Could one conceivably replace the dashboard (for lack of a better term) with a port of, say, Xbox Media Center? I would be hard pressed to find a better application for that software, besides Xbox of course.
I am picturing filling a 1gb card with a couple movies and music, and jumping on a 3 hour flight. I imagine games will also come in SD format.
I'm a minister!
seems in some ways a downgrade.
they went from a 4inch screen to a 3.5 inch one. screen res went down and they took out the wireless.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/metricmusic
This makes the PSP look like a C64 when compred to the GP2X. Can the PSP play Quake? Well, sure, it's got Wireless, but you can't really program for the PSP as it's not a well known architecture or OS, whereas the GP2X's Linux means virtually anyone can program it. Basically, the GP2X is a potable PC.
-- There are 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, And those who don't.
I'm a bit miffed on the resolution of the device. The big bold text claims 720x480, while the specs say 320x480. I am going to guess that it's the latter, as 720 on a 3" screen would be a really expensive lcd.
I'm a minister!
You buy this and can play a lot of (admittedly "old") games on it, I'd love to take Sam 'n' Max on a plane journey! This clearly isn't aimed at the kid who "wants something cool to play with", it's for people who know that this really is something cool to play with/work with/develop for. I have a friend who is really into the previous console and I believe has one of these pre-ordered, he makes them sound very cool and useful. However, personally I'd probably rather have a PSP. I can play most of these games on my PC after all.
What crack are you smoking? I've been using SD cards with Linux for years. If you don't have a device that uses the security features (nearly all of them), then it just works like any other flash device would.
It might be possible to lock content on an SD card so that it wasn't accessible from Linux, but one you purchased blank and formatted yourself isn't going to give you any problems.
We presented our device and business plan to a large Korean company. They invited GamePark to see it. They copied our description and device except for an ARM processor instead of the 1gHz AMD we used, because the Korean company makes ARM processors under license. If you send me your email offline, mine is in my sig, I'll forward it to someone who can send you more details.
gsm@mendelson.com Jerusalem Israel
Where can I find details?
Some questions that arise: Is that 'USB2' port just a cardreader for the SD card, in which case I'll probably leave it on the shelf, or is it a full USB2 host port that I can connect (externally powered) keyboards/mice/hard drives/... to?
Can it supply any power?
What's the power consumption idle with screen on, idle with screen off, idle with external screen on, playing mp3, or playing movies?
What does 'ebook' mean?
html, lit, rbf, pdf, ...
Can it show encrypted .lit et al?
Mention has been made of wireless using a wireless SD card, which is pretty useless if you've got to swap it for your storage.
Is there any likelyhood of an enhanced model with wifi?
How much ROM/RAM is there?
Is there a URL for the SDK, before buying?
Gamepark just doesn't STEAL your access to your own hardware.
"homebrew" is a red herring. other manufacturers block access to your property through legal and technical means.
arbitrary code execution = "the right to read". that's the logical conclusion.
over the next 2-3 decades, DRM/Insidious Computing will creep its way through society (it's international) and will become more and more generally accepted.
enjoy these carefree days because your children won't be able to, not without paying a per-fee for everything.
want to take a picture of the run-down Statue of Liberty? sure, that'll be 20 bucks err credits. (why print worthless money when you can have worthless electronic credits instead).
being in the Eye of the Storm, it's hard to see where you are or where you're headed.
enjoy your DRM/Insidious lifestyle... unless you keep fighting back.
in the words of John Connor " there's no fate but what we make for ourselves". if you like having these artificial restrictions, then just keep it up. if on the other hand, you are reasonable, intelligent and have a lick of sense, you'll oppose it in all its forms.
no one is even remotely going to tell you that in the coming years we'll get LESS DRM. no, it will ONLY INCREASE. that is certain unless we fight those greedy sons of bitches who want to turn back the tide of property rights to the feudal age.
the most important first step is simply being mindful of the implications. it's virtually impossible to avoid DRM/Insidious Restrictions in this modern age unless you happen to live in a cave. so for now, enjoy the gadgets/computers/music/videos you already own. to deny geeks shiny electronic things is heresy and punishable by death. but i merely ask that you keep these matters in your immediate consciousness. when you buy that next gadget/shiny thing/etc try to remember what you are owed and what you are really getting through legal and technical restrictions imposed on you by the manufacturers.
that's the first step. knowledge and education is key. so pass on some information you have gathered from online resources to your friends and family. you don't have to sell it to them, just help them become aware of the sitauation a little bit more than they are. god knows the mainstream media won't tell them why DRM and Insidious Computing are not in their benefit.
http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/
http://www.drmadness.com/
remember, ALL DRM is about preventing the owner of the property in question from exercising their rights and preventing full access to what they legally and ethically own.
Science : Proprietary , Knowledge : Open Source