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| Manufacturer | OpenPandora GmbH |
|---|---|
| Type | Handheldgaming computer |
| Released | May 2010; 15 years ago (2010-05) |
| Operating system | ÅngströmLinux custom edition |
| CPU | OMAP 3530 (600+MHzCortex-A8 (32-bit) and 430 MHzTMS320C64x+,Neon & TRADESIMD instruction set[1] |
| Memory | 256MB low powerDDR-333 |
| Storage | DualSDHC slots, 512 MB internalNAND, USB external storage |
| Graphics | PowerVR SGX 530 at 110 MHz |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi,USB 2.0,Bluetooth |
| Predecessor | GP2X (unofficial) |
| Successor | DragonBox Pyra[2] |
| Website | boards |
ThePandora is ahandheldgaming computer developed and produced by OpenPandora, which is made up of former distributors and community members of theGP32 andGP2X handhelds. Originally released in 2010, it was designed to take advantage of existingfree and open-source software and to be a target forhomebrew development. The Pandora runsLinux and uses anARM processor. Until 2013, multiple batches of slightly updated Pandora variants were produced. In 2014, development of a redesigned and upgraded successor,[3] namedDragonBox Pyra, began.[4]
Development of the Pandora began when Craig Rothwell, Fatih Kilic, Michael Mrozek and (later) Michael Weston teamed up and planned a portable system that would excel in the areas where they thought theGP32 andGP2X systems (fromGame Park andGamePark Holdings respectively) were flawed.[5][6] The Pandora was designed based on ideas and suggestions contributed by GP32X forum members, with the goal of creating the ultimate open source handheld device.[7] When announcing the system, the designers of Pandora stated that it would be more powerful than any handheldvideo game console that had yet existed.[1]
The final case and keymat design was made by Dave Cancilier[8] (DaveC), who was known on the forums for custom hardware modifications.[9]
In February 2008 the Pandora wiki had already been created; as of 2014, it contains a thousand pages and is translated with theMediaWiki Translate extension.[10]
The initial development and setup costs were funded through acrowdfunding approach where early supporters provided enough money to support a production run,[11] and when the console made it into production, each supporter would receive the device they paid for (what actually ended up happening due tocost overruns is that the early supporters received devices as later sales recouped the initial investment costs). OpenPandora began taking payments on September 30, 2008[5][12] and began shipping to customers on May 21, 2010.[13][14] In late 2011, after production problems, OpenPandora shifted its production from Texas to Germany, delaying production,[15] and the device was upgraded from 256 MB to 512 MB RAM.[16]
As of September 3, 2012, 4600 units had been shipped and 400 early supporters were still waiting to receive a console,[17] as these pre-orders are only fulfilled when sales to new customers are made.[18] Since June 2012, a new 1 GHz model has been made available in limited amounts during the summer 2012. Due to the shortage of previous 600 MHz chips, this new model has become the de facto standard in 2013.
In March 2013, the pre-order queue of the German OpenPandoraGmbH company (owned by Michael Mrozek aka EvilDragon) was finally cleared.[19] The remaining pre-order queue of the UK OpenPandora Ltd. company (owned by Craig Rothwell) turned out to be significantly larger than originally reported, and the UK company has requested to be struck off.[20] This means that the original pre-orderers at the UK company are unlikely to ever get their unit from the UK company. Also because of this, buyers have lost their money. Although there is no legal connection between the two companies, the German OpenPandora GmbH company is trying to help those UK customers by offering them significant discounts (if they decide to buy a unit from the German company instead of waiting for the UK company) and by organizing community donations to get them peer-funded units.[21]
As of December 2, 2013, about 6000 units have been shipped.[22] On November 19, 2013, it was announced that production of the final Pandora batch had begun.[23] About 7500 Pandoras have been made and sold altogether between 2010 and 2014, with further production made impossible due to shortage ofWi-Fi chips.[24]
In 2014, the OpenPandora project opened the hardware design files to the community, making the OpenPandora a type ofopen source hardware.[25][26]
Speculation and discussion about a successor to the Pandora began on theOpenPandora boards. Features and a demo prototype were announced at FOSDEM 2014. The project is namedDragonBox Pyra.
The Pandora is designed to be a handheld game console with high-endpersonal digital assistant (PDA) abilities, but may also be run as a low-power full-featured Linux desktop. The system by default comes with aLinux-basedOS based onÅngström.[27]
The interface is custom themed to fit the small form factor and touchscreen, analogue joystick, and keyboard-based inputs available. Users can install and run their own desktop environment if they choose. Users may even install other Linux distributions likeUbuntu[28] orGentoo[29] themselves. It is also possible to run Android (gingerbread) through a PND package on the Ångström distribution, but it needs overclocking to perform flawlessly.
One of Pandora's major intended uses is forhomebrew gaming and for the emulation of older computer systems and video game consoles, which is possible through efficient use of the resources made available by theTexas InstrumentsOMAP 3530system on a chip (SoC). The Pandora developers have already shown working emulators forDreamcast (Dreamcast emulator was never released),PlayStation,Nintendo 64,[30]Amiga,SNES,Atari Jaguar andSega Mega Drive software,[31] and the Pandora is thought by its developers to have the potential to emulate most if not all machines older than the Dreamcast.[32]
For software and video games where source code is available (seeList of commercial video games with available source code), instead of emulation,source ports were created for the Pandora; notable examples areJagged Alliance 2[33][34] andHomeworld.[35][36]
The device is also intended for use as a portable media playback device with a storage capacity of up to 128 GB of data (64 GB SDXC cards) across two SD memory card slots.[37]
The Pandora uses standardlibraries such asOpenGL ES andSDL which are freely available, allowing anyone who wishes the ability to develop for the system. Many developers from the GP2x community have publicly stated that they will be developing applications for the new system.[citation needed]
The Pandora is compatible withDebian packages built for theARM architecture usingAPT. AGit repository offers the latest kernel source.[38]
Lists on the community-maintained Pandora Wiki keep track of new software releases.[39][40] Most, but not all, Pandora software is uploaded to either thePandora Apps, thePandora File Archive orPandora Repo websites. The Pandora File Archive existed first and is run by Michael Mrozek. Pandora Apps was launched by Craig Rothwell in May 2010, and is designed for viewing on the Pandora's smaller screen resolution.
The Pandora Repo (yet unnamed) was developed by a member of the community with help from the community. Its use has been adopted quickly as it tends to have the latest software releases first, as it doesn't require developers to enter any details about the application being uploaded—instead, these are automatically acquired from the application itself.
The Pandora Repo is also the first that uses the community createdREPO specifications[41] which allows native clients to get applications from the pandora repo without actually visiting the website (much akin toSynaptic package manager).
The Pandora community is also notable for the development of tools required to achieve several successfulstatic recompilations of complex binary software to the Pandora platform.[42][43] For instance, in 2014 anARM architecture version of the 1998video gameStarCraft was generated by static recompilation from the originalx86 version.[44][45][46] In 2015, a similar port ofDiablo II followed.[47][48]
There are several Pandora variants.[49]
Specifications:[50]
Based on Pandora Classic with these changes:
Based on Pandora Classic/Rebirth with these changes:
TheDragonbox Pyra is thespiritual successor of the OpenPandora device, and shares some of the original Pandora team members. The Pyra is designed and developed in close connection with the OpenPandora community, including their feedback and experience with Pandora. The OpenPandora GmbH, residing in Germany, organizes design, prototyping, and production in Europe (Greece and Germany).[citation needed]
The project entered prototyping stage in 2015.Pre-orders began on 1 May 2016, with a final release date still undefined.[57] In August 2020, the first production model had been shipped, but only to developers, as the software wasn't ready.[58][59]
Othersingle-board computers usingOMAP 3530 series processors include OSWALD[60] developed byOregon State University students forcomputer science education,Beagle Board,IGEPv2,Touch Book, andGumstix Overo series. The cancelledGizmondo 2 was to be a potential commercial competitor of Pandora.
GPD Win can also run Linux.
[...] released port of HomeworldSDL. [...]enables your Pandora to experience the excellent work done by the guys at HomeworldSDL.
The "no source, no port" rule is not completely true, you can get something similar (but not the same) as a port through static recompilation. Similar stuff was done several times by M-HT for some DOS games. The game was also converted for Android with somewhat similar approach.
This is statically recompiled Windows executable, that was recompiled to ARM and bundled with ARM version of wine.
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