Wiz! Finally Starts To Arrive

Wiz! Finally Arrives!
Apologies for not posting this update for the Wiz! - but here goes:

The Wiz! is now officially available, as of earlier this month - Looks like it beat the Pandora by about at least 1 month, its all good though.

First Review

I'm still awaiting my Wiz! to arrive, but there are some reviews on the internet already, here are a few english language reviews of the Wiz!, enjoy:

http://play-asia-rulez.blogspot.com/2009/05/gp2x-wiz-review-ready-to-rock.html

Wiz! YouTube Videos
If that does not wet your tastebuds, click on the YouTube Videos below for some more Wiz! fun:

Wiz! Official Trailer

Wiz! Booting Up

Wiz! Quake II

Wiz! built-in games on the Wiz!

Wiz! running MegaDrive Emulator

Wiz! running Neo-Geo Pocket Emulator

Wiz! running MAME

Yet Another Wiz! video

Wiz! File Archive
A Wiz! file archive to get all your Wiz software files has been created here:
http://archive.gp2xwiz.de/cgi-bin/cfiles.cgi

Emulators already out for the Wiz:
CPS2 - http://archive.gp2xwiz.de/cgi-bin/cfiles.cgi?0,0,0,0,71,36
MAME - http://archive.gp2xwiz.de/cgi-bin/cfiles.cgi?0,0,0,0,73,22
MASTER SYSTEM/GAME GEAR - http://archive.gp2xwiz.de/cgi-bin/cfiles.cgi?0,0,0,0,71,50 NES - http://www.gadget4linux.com/uploadcenter/c...d55a43187e1f931
NEO-GEO CD - http://archive.gp2xwiz.de/cgi-bin/cfiles.cgi?0,0,0,0,71,35
SNES - http://archive.gp2xwiz.de/cgi-bin/cfiles.cgi?0,0,0,0,71,37
VECTREX - http://archive.gp2xwiz.de/cgi-bin/cfiles.cgi?0,0,0,0,71,42

Firmaware v1.0 has been released get it from here: http://archive.gp2xwiz.de/cgi-bin/cfiles.cgi?0,0,0,0,42,44

New Pandora Video

The YouTube video above was posted by Craigx on the GP32x forums

New Keymat & Quake 3 Pandora Video

We're Getting There

More updates from the OpenPandora team. From the pictures above and the previous posts about keymat's it appears all the components are coming together, just the final mass production boards to finish off, here is the list of remaining tasks for the project:

• Build a test device and check if everything is okay
• Create mould of final case (can be done once the case fits, takes 30 - 35 days)
• CE / FCC testing (can be done once the prototype case is here)
• Stability testing (this will be fun)
• Mass Production
• Test the boards
• SHIP THEM!

I expect by the end of the week, some cool videos will appear of the final prototype devices.

More Keymat Pictures

Faith has posted this update to the keymat's for the Pandora. This time with the shiny top epoxy coating applied. The images just make you want to scream Yeah Baby pandora's going to Rock!

Keymats Arrive!

Faith posted the picture of the Pandora keymats on the OpenPandora.org blog yesterday. Don't they just look cool. Bear in mind the Keymats still need the shiny top coatings to be applied to them.

By my reckoning the outstanding tasks left (from EvilDragons list) before the Pandora starts to ship should be:

Build a test device and check if everything is okay (should be later on this week)

Create the keymat mould (takes 20 - 25 days) - I reckon this is complete as the keymats have arrived

Design the final keyboard layout (needs to be finished when the mould is ready) - Done

Create mould of final case (can be done once the case fits, takes 30 - 35 days) - The last time the GP32x forums were up, there were suggestions to some of this work being completed.

CE / FCC testing (can be done once the prototype case is here)

Mass Production testrun for the final boards

Stability testing

Wait for the last remaining pieces for mass production

Mass Production

Test the boards

SHIP THEM!

May Update - Transparent Case Arrives

Faith has posted these pictures of the final clear case (clear so stress testing can be done) on the GP32x forums.

Looks like we still have some way to go with the final case, Faith received the transparent case from CNC manaufacturer last week, it should now be in transit to MWeston who should do final testing of case some time next week.

For those of you trying access the GP32x forums, be warned they are under re-construction, and may be out of action for another week yet!

I think there is still some way to go before we are there with the final unit ready for CE/FCC testing, hopefully it will be soon and production then taking place sometime late June 2009, with delivery in July/August 2009 (can't see it happening before then).

June 2009 Release Date

Evil Dragon has just posted this update on the GP32 forum suggesting the production release date for the Pandora as June 2009:

'Our current plan is to build a half dozen prototypes for rev3 by the end of April or first week of May (depending on how far the devs get with the software).Michael will test them thoroughly with a new kernel from Notaz/DJWillis.

The tests will mainly be to make sure the boards were manufactured properly (since they will be from the company who will provide production quantities) and to make sure they were soldered properly. So basically, our final hardware test will start soon!

We're trying to make sure we can build up to the first 500 units in May (at most).

The next 3500 should be finished in June. The transparent case should arrive within the next few days. After that, we can finally start the moulding process!It does seem like the best date we will have cases is the end of May.

After they arrive, we can finally start shipping, as the boards will be ready at that time.Some things can and will be done in parallel, so that that stuff will be ready when the Pandora is finished:-

Get carry cases manufactured- Do CE and FCC (CE will be done with one of those Rev3 Boards, FCC can't be done before we have the first final unit)'

Battery Covering Revealed

EvilDragon posted the image of the battery covering above on the GP32x forums. The battery covering will be the black plastic coating applied to the Pandora battery with the saftey instructions as shown above.

Hey at least its been CE tested already!

More Updates

Two blog updates from the Open Pandora team already this week!!

The first was from Evil Dragon - on the status of testing the device -sounds like a delay - but from his related forum updates, I don't think it will be a big delay, just a 1-2 weeks at most:

"Well, anyways, back to Pandora stuff. I received three new ribbon cables from Michael on last Monday but didn't have time until today to rebuild my Pandora devboard and put it into the case.

But, it works now. So (except for the keymat I'm still missing), I also got working board in a case now.

I hope I'll find some time making a nice little HD video with Quake 3 and some other new emulator (you'll like it) during the next days. You will also get to see a more finger-friendly matchbox-theme I designed.

Give me some time, though, still got a lot of work in real life.Now, onto some other issue you already heard on the boards:

The case.You've seen it and you read it, it fits quite good (better than we expected) - but not PERFECT. There is SOME stuff to be fixed, but nothing that major.We don't want to deliver a non-perfect case to you, though (and I'm sure you all agree), so we'll work on it for the next few days.

I'll also post the final keymap for you soon, so stay tuned - and thanks a lot for being so patient"

The second update came from CraigX, a quite funny look at the Pandora in action:

First Video of Assembled Pandora