Pandora

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The Pandora.

Overview

The Pandora is a unique combination of gaming console and pocket computer.

It is the spiritual successor to other handheld consoles such as the GP32 and GP2X. There is currently no other device that has dedicated gaming controls, two analog nubs and a QWERTY keyboard.

It was developed as a gaming device not just to run games made just for it but also to emulate older systems. From home consoles like the Atari 2600, NES, SNES, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis and Neo Geo to handheld consoles like the Game Gear, Game Boy (and color/advance) to traditional arcade cabinet games. It can also emulate entire computer systems, from the Commodore 64 and Amiga to old Apple Macintosh computers or a PC with DOS.

The Pandora can do all of this because it is a tiny computer running a custom distribution of Linux based on The Ångström Distribution. Because it runs Linux, the Pandora isn't just a console but a complete desktop computer with access to tens of thousands of Linux programs.

From classic gaming, listening to music, watching movies, program development or surfing the web to just reading or writing texts, the Pandora has a lot to offer.

Our FAQ has more detailed information.

Visit the Pandora website for ordering information.

Specifications

A render of the Pandora.

Core Hardware

• Texas Instruments OMAP3530 SoC

• PowerVR SGX GPU

• 512MB DDR SDRAM.

• 512MB internal flash memory (NAND)

• 140 x 83 x 27 mm

• 320g (0.739 lbs).

Hardware documentation has detailed hardware specifications.

Display

• 4.3-inch (93.6 x 56.2 mm), 800x480 widescreen (5:3), touchscreen TFT-LCD. [1]

• Brightness: 300 cd/m², Contrast ratio: 450:1, Response time: tr+tf=30ms. [2]

• TV-out included in hardware, A/V-OUT Port (similar in appearance to a large USB OTG port) has Composite and S-Video outputs and 3.5mm headphone output and microphone input.
  • Separate TV-out signals, picture-in-picture capabilities. [3]

• Powerful 2D and 3D hardware acceleration, see above. [4]

Sound

• Has a high-quality audio DAC and an ADC.

• A pair of stereo speakers are built into the sides of the display.

• Volume Control Wheel.

• Built-in microphone. [5]

Input

• Buttons, keyboard, microphone, and touchscreen. [6]

• Directional pad (D-pad). [7]

• Two real, custom-designed, plastic analog nubs.

• QWERTY keyboard (cellphone-like, but larger). [8]

Connectivity

• 802.11b/g (Wi-Fi) included.

• Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (3Mbps). [9]

• USB
  • Fully powered (500 mA) standard-A USB host port.
  • USB OTG mini-AB port.
  • You can use anything that has the appropriate drivers. [10] Some devices need to first go through a powered USB hub.

• RS-232 included, but a level converter is needed for the UART. [11]

• Two SDIO-capable SDHC/SDXC slots.

Power

• Lithium-polymer battery, ~4000mAh.

• Up to 10-14 hours battery life under reasonable load, 8.5 hours under max CPU load, ~17 hours playing music with the display off (source) (up to 100 hours claimed to be possible with further optimization [12])

• Can charge through an AC adapter or USB. [13]

• Advanced power management capabilities: only need to set a max clock speed; when the CPU is not doing anything it automatically HALTs and does nothing to save power. [14]

• Suspend to RAM or suspend to disk functionality is being developed. This will give longer battery life and faster start up. See Power modes.

Pictures

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  Rendering

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  Size

More Information

• Pandora history