A stealth-mode startup is readying a Linux-based handheld gaming device with WiFi, USB, and a 4.3-inch 800x480 touchscreen. The "Pandora," headquartered at OpenPandora.org for now, runs Linux on a next-generation ARM SoC with integrated OpenGL 2.0 compliant graphics processor. Powered by a lithium-ion battery, Pandora measures 5.5 x 3.3 x 1.1 inches -- slightly smaller than Nintendo"s DS Lite, or GamePark Holdings"s Linux-based GP2X player, from which it arguably evolved. In terms of processing power, its designers claim Pandora will compare to Nintendo"s GameCube, a non-mobile gaming platform.
OpenPandora.org was launched last year by "CraigIX" and "EvilDragon," both members of Gamepark Holdings"s GP2X gaming community. The two launched the site and began working on Pandora after GamePark Holdings released its second-generation handheld gaming platform, the GP2X F-200. Thus, the Pandora appears to be positioned as a more powerful successor to the GP2X, a leading (and one of the only) Linux-based game platforms. Since few games are available for native Linux, GP2X supports a variety of game emulators, including MAME, SNES, Genesis, and PC Engine. This lets users enjoy a variety of game titles originally written for other platforms. Pandora will initially offer full-speed PlayStation 1 emulation, says the group, with N64 emulation planned in a later release.