ScottishGames.biz

Pandora: Today, DS: What? PS4 == PS3

Yes, it is a frankly obscure headline, but it summarises a number of stories which have been circulating in the past few hours, which we know you'll care passionately about...

1.  Pandora is now open for pre-orders

2.  There is no new DS says Nintendo.  What new DS?  Who said that?  Not us!

3.  Sony may use PS3 chips in PS4 (coming 2010 speculation fans!)

4.  Apple still thinks unlocking the iPhone is BAD.  Mostly.

We're opening a book on when Nintendo actually announces what it's just categorically denied...

Pandora - Open For Orders

Pandora, the open-source handheld games device is now open for orders, according to the team behind the development. 

Members of the mailing list group received an e-mail today with a price (£199), a specification (below) and links to some helpful YouTube videos showing various aspects of Pandora's o/s, capabilities and existing software.

Pre-orders actually begin on September 30th (we liked the headline and thought we'd run with it), with shipping beginning in November.  The first manufacturing run will be limited to 3000 units.  The team hope to sell this initial batch out before shipping actually starts.

Take a look at this specification list and tell us you don't want one...

    * ARM Cortex-A8 600Mhz+ CPU running Linux

    * 430-MHz TMS320C64x+ DSP Core

    * PowerVR SGX OpenGL 2.0 ES compliant 3D hardware

    * 800x480 4.3inch 16.7 million colours touchscreen LCD

    * Wifi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth & High Speed USB 2.0 Host

    * Dual SDHC card slots & SVideo TV output

    * Dual Analogue and Digital gaming controls

    * 43 button QWERTY and numeric keypad

    * Around 10+ Hours battery life

    * GUI: gMenu, various X based desktops, Ubuntu etc. or make your own.

You can join the mailing list, find the latest information and check out progress on the official Pandora website.

Pocket Gamer has also run an excellent interview with Craig, project leader for Pandora.

Sexy/Crazy/Cool/Other

Here's something quite new.  The folks behind the criminally undervalued GP2X open-source handheld have a new device hitting the market very soon.

Called the Pandora, it promises a similar open-source heritage - making it an ideal emulator platform, but more or less guaranteeing little or no industry support.

We're excited!  What it may lack in Apple-style gadgetness, it more than makes up for in Geek-cred and sheer usefulness.

Pandora boasts a QWERTY Keyboard, Joypad, Touchscreen and WiFI.  Looks like mini USB, HDSC port/s and TV out.

Oh my!

It's due for release in the next couple of months with a suggested price of around £200.

We may just have to start saving...

A possible EIF candidate perhaps? 

Let us know what you think of Pandora's looks - or lack of - and whether you think this is indeed a sexy beast, or something only Linux freaks will buy so they can continue sneering at Apple users?