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The Basics

What is Pandora

Pandora is a pocket-sized gaming PC. It is a gaming platform, a UMPC, a PMP, a MID, and many more trendy acronyms as well.

What can it do?

At the moment it can't do anything. It's not finished yet. Here's what it should be able to do when it is done:

• Play many open source games ported from other computing platforms
• Play some Homebrew games developed specifically for the Pandora.
• Run emulators
• Browse the internet
• Run chat / IM clients
• Play music and video files
• View images
• View and edit text documents
• Most tasks you can do on a regular PC will be possible on Pandora to some extent

Who is making it?

The primary developers are Craig "Craigix" Rothwell, Michael "MWeston" Weston, and Michael "EvilDragon" Mrozek. However, there are dozens of other GP32X community members who are involved with both hardware and software aspects of the project.

Are those guys part of Game Park / GamePark Holdings?

[Game Park] (the Korean company which made the [GP32]) and [GamePark Holdings] (the Korean company that made the [GP2X]) have nothing to do with the Pandora project. Several of the lead developers are regional distributors for the GP32 and GP2X handhelds, but they are not subsidiaries of those manufacturers. The Pandora project is partially inspired by the open source handhelds that came before it - the GP32 and GP2X - but takes the hardware and software to the next logical level. There is also overlap in the developer and user communities for the Pandora, GP32, and GP2x (the official Pandora forums are currently hosted on the GP32X boards).

How does the Pandora compare to the GP2X?

Very favorably. Rough estimates put the Pandora CPU at about 3x as powerful as the GP2X.[1] Here are a few additional ways in which the Pandora improves upon the GP2X:

• More RAM, internal storage, and removable storage options
• Possibility of emulating more advanced consoles (N64, NDS)
• Better emulation of already supported consoles (SNES,PS1)
• Significantly better 3D hardware and software support
• Larger, higher resolution display (with touch screen)
• 2-3x battery life[2] with included internal rechargeable battery
• Wifi
• Bluetooth
• QWERTY Keyboard and analog controls

Do you really expect it to compete with the PSP / DS / eeePC / etc?

No, we don't. Pandora is very different than anything currently available. It is designed to serve a niche market of hobbyists and retro/indie gamers. We are aware that much of the general public will not need or appreciate Pandora's feature set. It is more portable than a UMPC or eeePC, and it has far superior gaming controls. Pandora is much more powerful than a PSP or DS, and with it's high resolution screen and qwerty keypad is more capable of general computing activities. These features come at the expense of a higher cost than commercial gaming handhelds and a steeper learning curve than traditional ultra mobile PCs. Not everybody will be willing to make the trade off and try something new.

Where can I buy a Pandora?

You can't just yet. The first test run of ~100 units is currently shipping to known developers only.[3] Once those units have been fully tested and all bugs have been worked out, there will be a production run of ~3000 units. The preorder date is the 30th of September, the Pandora will start shipping at the end of November.

Only 3000?! What if they sell out?

Then they will make more. The devices must be manufactured in large batches. Depending on how well the first batch sells, the second batch may be larger. It has been stated that there may be "some delay" between the 1st and 2nd batches. Nobody knows exactly how long that delay might be. If you're especially concerned about getting a Pandora from the first batch, then your best bet is to pre-order the 30th of September.

What Colors will be available?

Pandora will only be available in black for now. Future editions, if they exist, may be available in different colors.

Hardware Questions

Why does the system look like it does?

The Pandora project has been a group effort from the beginning. The hardware development team designed Pandora based on specifications requested by potential users. The main physical features - qwerty keyboard, dual analog pads, clamshell design, pocketable size - were considered important by most of the community. The physical appearance of Pandora is a result of getting all the necessary hardware into a pocket sized device while keeping the cost reasonable. Many other layouts were considered, but the final design is the best possible solution.

Why doesn't the LCD touchscreen flip / rotate for a "tablet" mode?

This is actually a patented idea. Pandora could not have a hinge which either flipped all the way back or rotated without substantially increasing the cost (licensing fees) or risking a patent infringement lawsuit.

Why don't you use a slide out keyboard like the Nokia N810?

This is also patented. A lot of the good ideas are.

Why does it have a keyboard at all?

Many people think Pandora is a gaming / emulation device only, but this is not true. It was designed from early on to be a multifunction palmtop computer / UMPC as well as a gaming handheld. Many desirable applications require a keyboard and the general consensus was that an on-screen keyboard wasn't good enough.

Why does Pandora only have 128MB of RAM? Is that enough?

The OMAP3530 SoC which powers the Pandora is currently only available with 128MB of RAM. This is built into the chip. It is not replaceable or expandable. All of the major software developers have stated that 128MB will be more than enough for all tasks for which Pandora is suitable. The PSP only has 32MB RAM and it certainly doesn't have any problem with high-end games. Other handheld computing platforms like the Nokia N8x0 tablets and the iPhone also have only 128MB RAM, and it has certainly not limited them in any way.

Why doesn't it have WiMax / GPS / accelerometers / etc?

We had to draw the line somewhere. Adding any more features would have increased the price. Luckily Pandora has a fully functional USB host port, bluetooth, two SD slots with SDIO capability, and a serial UART for adding whatever additional widgets you want. Solder pads were designed into the PCB for "hacking" in extra internal hardware.

What kind of battery will it have?

Pandora will have a 4000mAh Lithium Polymer battery. Batteries will be user-replaceable and spares will be sold by Pandora retailers. 5000mAh extended batteries may also be available.[4] Pricing has not been announced.

How long will the battery last?

Current estimates are around 10 hours for basic applications.[5] Actual battery runtime will vary based on the the software being run and peripherals in use.

What about the power supply?

The Pandora is expected to come with a switching power supply with a standard cord socket which should function on 110V and 240V systems. It is not known if there is a plan to supply localized power plug cables.

Will it be able to run from the AC Adaptor alone, without a battery connected

No, due to the design of the OMAP chipset it requires a battery to be connected. [6]

Will I be able to use USB and SDIO accessories with my Pandora?

There would not be much point to having a USB host port if you couldn't. Any USB or SDIO device should work with Pandora, as long as drivers are available. Standard mass storage devices (USB memory sticks, keyboards, gamepads, external hard drives, etc.) should work fine out of the box. Many devices like GPS receivers, EVDO modems and cameras should be compatible, but not necessarily all makes and models. There will be a list of known-working devices on this wiki as soon as there are Pandoras to test them on.

Will there be any special accessories for Pandora?

Possibly. The lead developers are currently entertaining the possibility.[7]

Will there be RTC, IrDA, RS-232?

There will be RTC and RS-232 (CMOS level), but no IrDA.[8]

Will Pandora have 'sleep' or 'hibernate' modes?

Yes. Pandora will support both suspend-to-RAM (sleep) and suspend-to-disk (hibernate) modes. Entering these power saving modes will be controlled by software can can be configured to happen when you press the power switch, close the lid, or only on command.

Can I return my Pandora if I have dead pixels?

It has been stated[9] that if the LCD contains noticeable dead pixels, they would replace the device.

Will any changes be made to the Pandora hardware after the initial batch of 3000?

There is no intention to change anything between batches. Any changes made will be small and only out of necessity.[10]

How many keypresses can it detect at once?

It can detect two "regular" keys being pressed at once[11]. However, this restriction does not apply to the game controls, or the central "Menu" keys.

Does it have a microphone? Where is it placed?

Yes it does. The microphone is up in the right hinge hump in between the 9 and 0 buttons. It can be used with the lid open or closed since it has the hole facing up and slightly in toward the user (somewhat like the power LED).[12]

Emulation Questions

Which consoles and computer systems will Pandora emulate?

Pandora has the technical capability to emulate nearly any video game console up to and including the PSX. The system should also have no trouble with most 8 and 16 bit home computer systems. Please be aware that while the Pandora has the capability to emulate dozens of game and computer systems, the necessary emulation software will need to be ported to the Pandora platform for each system. See the emulators page for more details.

Will Pandora be able to emulate the Nintendo64?

Maybe. The N64 is a difficult system to emulate. It is possible, with much effort, that a N64 emulator could be ported well enough to run some games at playable speed. This will probably not happen any time soon and may not happen at all.

What about the Nintendo DS?

Definitely not in the near term. It is possible that there will eventually be a DS emulator for Pandora, but there are major obstacles to overcome. DS emulation is still in early development on x86 (PC), and the most advanced projects are highly optimized for that platform. Even in cases where the source is available, it would take a lot of work and optimization to get something running on Pandora. In other words, don't hold your breath.

Will Pandora be able to emulate the Sega Dreamcast / Anything recent?

No. Anything newer / more advanced than the Playstation that is not otherwise mentioned here is not likely to ever be emulated on Pandora in a useful manner. However, some developers believe it will be posible to emulate Dreamcast with dynamic recompilation at decent speed. [13]

What sort of PC games will Pandora be able to play under emulation?

We won't know for sure until there is an actual DOSBox port to try out. Current guestimates put Pandora's DOS capabilities in the low to mid 386 range.[14]

Can't I use Wine and run Windows games?

Wine is not an Emulator, it's a wrapper for the Windows system libraries - it requires an x86 processor to actually run.

Wouldn't this result in legal action because of the emulation?

No more than an ordinary PC, UMPC, laptop, or GP2X would.

Software Questions

What OS will Pandora use?

Pandora will run a customized build of Linux. It may be based on the Debian ARMEL flavor, but it will definitely be highly optimized.[15]

This comment was added 2008-09-16: The open Zaurus distro (OpenZaurus) morphed into Ångström and it's build system evolved into Open Embedded. We derive our current filesystem from Ångström with lots of custom Pandora buildrules and string the whole lot together with Open Embedded.[16]

In the videos it looks like DOS...

That's a Linux command line - the original MK0 devboards were released to the developers before a GUI was available.

What will the GUI be like?

The UI has not been decided on yet, but a basic UI is expected to be an updated version of GMenu. Whatever UI ships with Pandora, you can be sure that alternatives (including full windowed desktop GUIs) will be made available.

What software will run on Pandora out of the box?

That depends on what has been written / ported when you buy one. It is assumed (though not confirmed) that Pandora will ship with basic apps like a web browser, text editor, and media player. Check the Planned Projects thread on the forums for an idea of what else you might be able to expect.

Will there be some sort of package manager?

Yes. The specifics are not yet finalized, but there will be an easy package-based software installation system.[17]

Will Firefox work on the Pandora? What about extensions?

Firefox 3 should be easy to port. Extensions (such as AdBlock) should "just work" automatically, since they don't actually contain compiled code (they're a mix of javascript and xml data) - of course this is assuming the plugin developer hasn't been naughty and made major assumptions...

Will Pandora support Flash streaming video or applications?

The Official Flash player is not open source, but Adobe has opened up the Flash standards and dropped licensing fees for developers[18], there is a very good chance that Pandora will have Flash support eventually, probably through a port of Gnash

Also, there are scripts for Firefox (such as VLCtube) which replaces flash video players with regular video plugins or exposes the actual video URL to download. Such scripts can be easily modified to use any native video player.

Will I be able to access files shared on my PC from the Pandora?

It might not be included "out of the box", but Samba (an application that "emulates" the Windows file sharing system) should be easy to port to the Pandora, which would allow you to browse your Windows shares as if your machine is just another windows PC (it works both ways, so you could create a shared "drop" folder on the Pandora too)

Will I be able to connect to the internet over my cell phone with the Pandora?

The process of connecting a cellular phone to another device to be used as a cellular modem is called tethering. The Pandora will be capable of tethering over USB or over Bluetooth. You must have a phone that is capable of tethering, and you must have a service plan that allows internet access. Note that the act of tethering will probably violate your service agreement unless you're paying extra for a tethering plan. If your provider discovers you are tethering your phone without paying for the plan, you could get hit with extra charges. The method for enabling tethering on any given phone varies by model. Instructions for most models can be found on Howard Forums.

Can I write software for Pandora?

I don't know, can you? Pandora will definitely be compatible with SDL and OpenGL 2.0 ES libraries. There will likely be libraries for Python and other languages as well.

Will it be possible to write software directly on the Pandora itself?

There is no reason why not. Certainly it will be easy to get GCC running directly for writing C/C++ code. Python doesn't need a compiler, so should just run, assuming the interpreter has been ported.

A fully blown IDE would take more work, but plenty of open source IDEs exist, so could in theory be ported.

Will Pandora have XXXX application?

Maybe. I suggest you search the official forums to see if anybody is working on the application you want.

Nobody is working on XXXX application! What do I do?

The first thing you should do is make sure it can be ported. Use the portability flowchart to determine if a port of the software is possible. Next, check to see if a similar application is under development. If it looks like the program is portable, just be patient. There are literally hundreds of games and applications that would be desireable on the Pandora, and only so many people who are capable of making them happen. Most devs already have plans for their first projects, so just sit tight and wait for somebody to pick it up.

Logo Questions

I want to make cool fan art! Where can I get the logo?

A fan-made version of the logo is available for non-commercial use.

What font is "Pandora" written in?

No one knows. Craigix has stated on the forums that he believes it is drawn.

Doesn't that look a lot like the SGI logo?

The old box logo previously used by SiliconGraphics before their redesign does bear a resemblance. However, their old logo was always 3D, showing the back edges of the box, and the lines folded in a different manner than the ones used in the Pandora logo.