Official blog: What's to expect
February 24, 2010
We all want news, and many of us are waiting with baited breath. So, when we have a bunch of news at once, we can wonder. Is this really good news, or are we just hoping? Well, we have some news from the Official blog. I hope everyone is as excited as I am.
EvilDragon
Chinese New Year holidays are over – work has begun at the factory!
We are in daily contact with them, so here is a brief roadmap of what should happen when:
At the moment, the machines are maintained, cleaned and prepared to go into normal production run again. Production will start during the next days, probably on Monday. Then lots of Pandora cases should be spit out each day
While they do this, we try to make them another Silkscreen sample and send us a picture of it (not the whole sample) within this week. If it’s fine, we’ll use the silkscreen – if not, we’ll just go with plain cases, to not waste anymore time.As for the OS, the devs are really working hard on it right now (despite not having time, as they have so much things to do in real life).
It will surely not be the most polished OS ever released yet, but if you want a polished OS, go get an Apple (and miss all the fun we’ll all have by enhancing the Pandora OS together!)So, what can you expect, what will not work, where are tweaks needed?
What does work:
* The desktop fully works. It’s like a normal PC desktop. You have your file manager, your windows, your apps, etc.
* PND system is working. You can simply copy games onto your SD Card, put it into your Pandora – and PLAY!
* Apps: Installed apps do work fine so far. That includes Midori, Abiword, Orage, Pidgin, XChat, etc.
* Audio Playing: XMMS working fine.
* Movie Playing: Working… but has some issues (see below)
* USB Devices: You can connect USB Sticks, harddisks, mice, keyboard, etc. Normal things run out of the box.
* TV Out: The TV Out cable works fine, SVHS only for the moment though (see below)
* Power Saving Mode: Yep, it’s included and does work. At the moment, it should last for about 50 hours, not too long, but there might be a lot more components which could be switched off to save more power. Good enough to leave your Pandora lying around for a few hours without having to reboot it.
* LED Warning (Blinking) on low battery with automatic shutdown when the battery status becomes critical.
* Keyboard, us nub as mouse, touchscreen, everything working.What issues are there?
* The biggest issue: WiFi is still work in progress. The driver works, without using SDIO it was slow (about 1200kbps), DJWillis is working on it, but it’s time consuming. It MIGHT be ready when the Pandora ships, but it might be WiFi will still take a bit longer. Maybe some devs want to help out here once they get a Pandora in their hands
* There’s no software audio mixer yet. This means you can only use the volume wheel. No big deal if you’re just listening to music or playing games, but multiple sounds at once will not work yet. Also, the equalizer isn’t yet working.
* Some apps have to be optimized for the small screen: Fullscreen apps like Midori, Abiword, etc. do look fine. Some stuff however (XFCE4 Settings, etc.) are using windows bigger than 800×480. They are completely usable, but you have to move the windows around to access all buttons.
* Movieplayer: While basic movie playing works, it does not use any hardware accelerations yet. DVD Quality xvid videos do play fine, but H264 is too much without hardware acceleration. Also, in windowed mode the videos are playing before the menus. Watching movies in fullscreen mode works nicely. Things should be way better when hardware support is included
* There is a lot to tweak and optimize here and there. Bootup speed can be increased, more themes (fingerfriendly ones?) could be created, some minor issues like the normal logout of Ubuntu-Netbook-Launcher doesn’t work (you need to use a menu entry), etc. Nothing serious that makes the unit not usable, but there are a lot of things that can be improved within the next months!So, except for WiFi, all things do work well so far but can be optimized a lot.
Please don’t expect to have perfectly working games and emulators on day 1 – adopting to a new system will take some time and except for some core OS developers, nobody has a Pandora yet. Once delivered, games should start to pop up and become optimized pretty fast!Some of that stuff might be fixed until first release – let’s hope for WiFi!
So, thanks to ED, we have some good news, but more to the point: some honest and fair news.
We are lucky the hardware is that late, because the software wouldn’t have been ready at all 2 years ago
Nah, it’s like an end of term project. No one finishes their stuff early. Just doesn’t happen. It’s probably even breaking the laws of physics or something to even expect the software to be ready before the hardware that uses it…
at least not in the linux world
see: http://xkcd.com/644/
Transparency is a good thing! Thanks for the honest news ED, I cannot wait!!!!
+1 for transparency.
Looking forward to finding out what doesn’t work and then installing the fixes as they come on line.
Exciting times!
Wifi speed doesnt bother me. I have ADSL and my max speed is 750kbps.
That’s quite speedy compared to my pitiful 512kbps.
thats still pretty impressive compared to my 1.6kb/s …
Really? That’s slower than Dial-up.
Im sitting in Tokyo with a 1Gbit connection.(seriously) But it really doesnt matter if the Pandora is a little slow here, since we use SD cards for filetransfer…
Thanks Ed.
Finally we are nearing the end of this chapter.
From the forums
—————
emil10001 said:
So, what was the rest of the TV-out status? It says “(see below)” but there isn’t really anything about it below. Vimacs hinted at a user configurable resolution (even if only via the cli), do we have any details on that?
EvilDragon said:
Whoops, forgot about that
Via command line, you can set up any res you want. I’d probably make a quick GUI which allows standard PAL / NTSC, Overscan / No Overscan. Maybe even with custom resolutions
However, only SVHS is currently working, as for some unknown reason, the guys who did the driver for it made this setting not dynamically configurable, but fixed in the kernel.
So to switch between SVHS and Composite, you’d need to change the kernel.
We’ll probably move that config setting outside of the kernel so this can be switched on-the-fly, but for the moment, it’s SVHS
He corrected himself on GP32X, SVHS should read S-Video
Thanks for that. Let’s not forget that no matter how great he sounds in English, it’s not his first language, and he can mistype a term now and again.
I have no idea what it means by changing the kernel, but I would need to use composite to use my video cable, so that’s not going to be possible for awhile then? Or you have to do something funky to get it to work (for the most part I only need composite as it would be rare for me to need S-video)
If anyone can make this a little easier to understand, I thank you.
Poem58: just buy an svideo->composite adapter. it won’t look QUITE as good as native composite but it will be very very close. They cost like $1 most places. it’s just a passive adapter. Just use that until composite works natively. trust me it will look fine, I use them all the time.
Kinda defeats the purpose of having the composite on the cable though…lol You say from most places, like what, It’s not like they carry them at Wall*Mart. And you can’t buy breath of air from Radio Shack for $1.
Best price I see online is nearly $4 with over $8 shipping. NO WAY. Besides, I’m more interested in why it doesn’t work and what he meant by using a different kernel. Since I eventually (hopefully sooner than later) replace this old barely working set with something new, then I’d end up using S-video at home. But I still would like to know if this is something fixable and we will have it function fully or if you have to do something complicated when you need to switch it. Besides there’s part of me that feel’s I’ve spent enough, I don’t wanna go buy adapters to do what it is supposed to. I just want to understand why it doesn’t work and make sure it will someday.
the part that configures what output to use is hardcoded into the driver, which is in the kernel, so to change it currently you’d need a different kernel with just that hardcoded value changed
The outputs both will get a signal but when its configured to use S-video the composite output will look a bit odd
Just to add a little extra info… if someone does build such a kernel, using it *should* be as simple as installing a package and then rebooting the Pandora.
Or you could build one:
http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/svideo2cvideo.html
Being really, really cheap all you need is some wiring (butchering a piece of CAT5 ethernet cable works), an RCA connector and the 470pF capacitor.
To connect to the S-video connector, simply strip a piece of the wiring on one end and plug it into the holes. Simple, no soldering required.
Twist the wires together for connections. The toughest part would be the RCA connecter if it doesnt have any wiring already.
Finally isolate and bind everything with electrical tape and it should work nice, at least meanwhile the software is patched (if it isn’t already before Pandora ships).
Once again, not really interested in adapters, just want to know if this is something they can eventually fix or if there is going to be something that prevents this from working properly. I’m not going to build anything or buy anything extra. Unless there is some reason this is not fixable. Is this just a matter of time before it gets worked out or a complication that will likely cause you to have to choose one or the other. Cause if we were able to fix it, by choosing to use a different firmware, I would just switch as I can use the composite everywhere I go, but only the S-video, when I visit my Parents currently.
it’s not a big deal right now just a curiosity.
Kinda like it seems funny that ED was posting to the forum from a pre-production Pandora wih bad wifi drivers that worked faster than the new on that they currently use. I know that should eventually be fixed as is been kinda explained that it will.
Just want to be reassured this problem is fixable to switch outputs like we were told it would do or if there is a reason that won’t happen now. That’s all.
Yes, it will get fixed. It’s just very slow & difficult for a couple of guys to do in their spare time.
Gruso, I’m not in a hurry or anything, I was just concerned because they didn’t say anything about it being easy or hard to anything. it just seems anymore that when they DON’T say much is when you have to be concerned and the fact that they have to basically have a completely different firmware to do it makes it sound like something that may cause problems later.
heck, who knows it could be fixed in a week or in 6 months it may be determined it can’t be switched, I just wanted to know if anyone knew enough to know if it should be a problem.
eventually we’ll find out.
Just read on the forum, it looks like they are going to change the whole way its done. So it sounds like the way they do it now, it would NOT have worked well, but they do have a future fix in mind. If I understood that right, so see I’m both patient and happy.
Anyone know the status of anything on the Pandora as it relates to actually using it as a gaming device? I know there is that website out there that lists all the emulators in development… but wondering if anyone has any information past ‘working state’ or ‘work in progress’ or whatever couple works they use to describe them.
:sealofquality:
Sure: A lot of basic ports do exist already (Hatari, UAE, UAE4ALL, PicoDrive, SNES9x, Vice, SuperTux, Kronos, ScummVM, etc.).
Most do run fullspeed (except for UAE, which needs to be set to FS2 ro run fullspeed).
They’re quickports, so don’t feature nice menus perfectly suited for a handheld (i.e. UAE has a settings menu that is bigger than the Pandora Screen, etc.), but they are all usable and do work fine. They will be optimized (for sure), but it’s a good start to keep you guys busy
Oh man… Finally I might be able to contribute something when I get my grubby hackers fingers on a Pandora
But seriously it all sounds gooooood LOL. I might just get it in time for my birthday!!!
PS Has anyone heard of an OPIE app called OPIESH? The basic concept was to provide GUI interface to CLI commands. Maybe my first project
So case production starts monday 1st of march or did he mean monday just gone??
He means Monday – march 1st – possibly.
considering the post is from today, yes.
I’m sure many people out there are hoping the silk screening isn’t quite right so that they just go with them plain.
It would look pretty good plain, though it’d be nice to have the ’1st batch’ logo silk screened at least- just so we know we’re special over the next batches
Agreed! Please someone start a poll and lets stop the evil silk-screening (cosmetics aside, we all know it’s just going to add unnecessary delays anyways).
Excuse my ignorance, but in the absence of Wi-Fi, is there any way one without an SD reader on his computer can move apps, updates, etc. onto the Pandora?
Appreciate your insights here.
USB-stick should work! I think
Any plug and play device media storage hardware I think
Ah, of course! Crisis averted!
They also make pretty cheap SD card readers that look like a (biggish) USB stick. Plug it into and USB port on your computer, and copy files to the card. Might be worth having.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223088
I thought it was going to be possible to use the pandora itself as a card reader via usb.
I don’t see any reason why that wouldn’t be possible.
OK, this is negligible, but bothersome to me, so I will vent here:
Boot times will be *improved* or *decreased* with further optimization. If they get *increased* that’s a bad thing.
Yes… but the Boot ‘speed’ will be ‘increased’… and that’s what he said.
HA! Well, in this case he can use it correctly. I’ll get him next time!
well if you want to catch him out he should have said ‘bated’ breath in the first sentence, but I think that is far from useful
Damn it! My copy-edit fu is /weak/ today.
When we get firefox (or fennec)?
Here you go:
http://www.angstrom-distribution.org/repo/?pkgname=firefox <- firefox… download and run
About the lack of a software audio mixer: what about Alsa’s dmix?
cant help but thinking why wifi isnt working on a gadget that was supposed to be launched like two years ago.
did they change the wifi-reciever along the way or something?
Hey EvilDragon ?
If I give you back my Pandora will you buy me an iPhone ?
I actually discover that I don’t give a f_ck playing SNES games with the Pandora. I thought it would be a top device but you guys mostly talking about emulation.
It’s clear for me that even if I had a Bluetooth GPS/Webcam/Microphone on this thing it will never work. You already having difficulties with the built-in Wifi so tweaking generic GPS drivers with my minimal Linux knowledge is impossible for me.
That’s why you just get someone else to program them for you.
The Pandora is basically an emulation device with media and internet capabilities, much like the iPhone. The only difference is the iPhone doesn’t have hardware controls, and lacks emulation (without jailbreaking it). It is a bit faster, though.
Wow. Just wow. People with no computer skills or brains should stay away from this device imho. Atlest as a first batcher.
Well, since they didn’t ship yet, you can just cancel your order and try to not post such stuff? I mean, you know you can cancel and get a refund…
@Mash: You won’t have much to worry about once people have this in their hands.
Moxie said it best:
http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?/topic/52209-eds-status-on-the-pandora-os-disheartening/page__st__40__p__820004&#entry820004
I’m not much different to you, I can’t fix these things myself either. But I’m not concerned, because I know what this community is capable of. It’s what keeps me excited about the Pandora day by day. That probably just seems like a bunch of fluffy words, but I assure you it’s more than just blind faith.
Well, sure, you can cancel your preorder and try to get an iPhone at that price
Just because you dont have any uderstanding of how to do these things it doesnt mean someone wont find a way to do it simpler. In many situations people postthe exact method to do what is needed in a forum somewhere and all you have to do is copy it. Other times people will simply write an application to do it for you.
You’re obviously not the target audience. So please stop hogging your spot in the line and let some one who will actually appreciate the device get it.
Hmm, so IF they do start making cases on march 1st I wonder how long it’ll take from then till we FINALLY see some finished shipped pandoras out in the wild and I mean to customers not to devs or the press. 4-6 weeks? Guess we’re back to the guessing game again
lol nobody say Two months or 8 weeks!
We’ve moved from 2 Months(tm) to 2 Weeks(tm)
2MoarWeeks to the next step to be completed, not for the whole Panda to be delivered…
My nobodygivesashit guess is 2 weeks for MY case to be done, 2 weeks for MY unit to be assembled, 2 weeks for MY device to reach my doorstep. Guess what? I’ll be abroad by that time, 2 weeks circa.
I like the number 2, it can also look like the Victory sign
I’ve got a Nokia n900 and in many ways it’s also a work in progress. I have faith.
it took microsoft at least 2 years to make a xp REASONABLY stable. so im certain it wont take that long:P
Fuck at this rate it will be july
WiFi is a biggie.. unless I can get a usb ethernet port or something.
Without net connectivity I would be lost.
USB wifi adapters are a good interim solution. Same for USB 3G modems, and Bluetooth tethering to your phone. Obviously you’re not expected to go out and buy extra accessories to fill the gap, but if you own any of this stuff already you won’t be without connectivity. I don’t think it’s going to take long to sort out the wifi issues anyway.
I do wish to take advantage of my WiFi, but in the meantime I’ll use my iDevice
Will openoffice be included?
No, it’s too big to include. There will be some more lightweight stuff on board though, like Abiword and Gnumeric.
not on internal memory but probably in .pnd files for SD cards
A mouse/keyboard question: I remember hearing that the USB port was ONLY USB 2.0 and not backwards compatible, while most mouse/keyboards are usb 1.1, whats going on with this?
You heard right. Most USB ports contain 2 chips; one for USB1.1, and one for USB2.0. Pandora’s USB host port only has the 2.0 component. This can be overcome by using a USB hub, which takes care of the compatibility for you. I bought one of these:
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/smartshare-usb
Pandora’s mini USB port can also act as a host in OTG mode. This allows you to connect USB1.1 devices directly, with some caveats. Detailed information here:
http://pandorawiki.org/USB
Skip to the pics first for a good overview
Gruso, it says the hub you bought was discontinued.
Oh bugger
Who took that photo, Wilt Chamberlain?
Blown away that at the stuff listed with issues…. This is being released way over a year late and this stuff isn’t dialed in better?
Kinda sad…
And please don’t lay that cancel and get a refund crap on me, I would understand the hiccups with a release LAST freaking Christmas, at this point things should be a lot farther along than they are. Please tell me why I am wrong in my thinking.
This happens when there is a delay in a certain part of a project. I’m working on one that had a hold up, and everyone’s effort was focused on trying to fix that one problem that all the other progress was pretty much halted until the problem was resolved.
I’d estimate that there’d be only slightly more issues if it was released a year sooner. Either way these are going away rather quickly and will speed up even more once the batch is out.
Please refer to this post:
http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?/topic/52209-eds-status-on-the-pandora-os-disheartening/page__st__40__p__820004&#entry820004
If it had been released a year ago we would have had a working OS, short on features. It releases now with a fairly polished OS, and a todo list typical of any project. A year from now, there will still be a list – with different items on it. That’s how open source works, there is always ongoing work. There is no “finished”, therefore it’s impossible to release with a “finished” OS.
You can trust this community to speed up progress once they have hardware. Believe me.
Well put gruso
There always is a to-do list, isn’t there? *sigh* 
jeff
I did say that more then half a year ago but then Wifi was not working at all and most of the OS was really RAW.Now i am very pleasant surprise how much is working.I am more surprised by all the already working apps.Wifi is working at a speed i did not really expect anyway so that is good.
The only real disappointment is that the TV out is only working with s-video.Well i am sure this is a priority to fix.The thing that Pandora has been delayed for more ha a year is the biggest disappointment and i am only wondering how much longer it will take to come out with batch two.
If this s also taking months? Well that would be seriously bad.
Throughout the whole time I’ve thought wifi was working but on low bandwith.
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