How would you like a PSP that would support not only games, pictures, music and video but also e-books and the ability to snag free emulators including MAME for most older gaming systems on the open source Linux OS? Oh yeah, all of the above for only $179?
The Gamepark GP2X is a new dual core (ARM920T Host Processor – ARM940T Video Coprocessor) gaming machine running on Linux and encouraging anyone to develop emulators, games, applications, practically anything for this device.
The machine comes with dual cpu cores, 64mb ram, 64mb NAND flash memory, SD card compatible slot, USB 2.0 connection, 3.5″ TFT LCD screen and TV-out. Also, the devices supports playback of most codecs such as MPEG, MPEG4, DivX 3.11, 4x, 5x, XVID, WMV, MP3, OGG, WMA, JPG, BMP, PCX, GIF and others. Also, support for e-book, games and a built-in electronic dictionary are built-in to the device. Also, the GP2X runs off regular two AAs batteries so a six pack will allow you to game, watch movies or listen to music the entire plane trip from the US to Hong Kong (one of the few places you’ll be able to get the GP2X in Q1 2006).
This handheld device is built on the Linux OS and users and developers are encouraged to hack and develop new software for the Gamepark GP2X. Currently software for the device is fairly minimal but growing. There’s even a Developer’s WIKI.
Even though the device is not available in the US, you can purchase online (well, pre-order as the GP2X won’t ship until Q1 2006) from lik-sang.com. The first series of the GP2X has been released in the UK and Korea so far.
So, the geeks at GfG are wondering… have consumers finally got feed up with proprietary systems such as the PSP and want the freedom an open-source system such as the GP2X provides?