5624 replies to this topic

[teggun]

This discussion is freakin' ridiculous. It's a handheld, not a PVR, and it's not like you're going to have some enormous hard drive on it, it'll be an SD card. If you want to set up bluetooth remotes and struggle to get drivers working and rig up a USB HDD and all this other crap.... do it on your own time. Projects like this get ruined by trying to be a jack of all trades and turning out a master of none.... I think the Gizmondo is one of the best examples of this. Next someone will suggest using this thing to make breakfast....

Agreed, I thought the craiginator was intended to be a portable gaming machine, with multimedia features, not a home entertainment system?

Gaming should be a priority, the limit for me is the QWERTY keyboard- I would be wary about including this, the buttons would have to be tiny and pretty difficult to use as additional gaming buttons- granted it would have a many benefits for surfing the internet etc. But it'll be pretty difficult to implement effectively and usefully on such a small device.

[Dubya']

Most posters here don't know the first thing about general-purpose mobile OS's. Accordingly, their opinions on what a craigulator OS should look like are worth less than two electrons.

Before you hit reply to flame me on that, please consider first whether that applies to you. If you haven't been involved with other mobile linux OSes, you don't have a clue about the issues that have been dealt with over and over again.

Wow! I'm sure I will love any UI that you develop for this device. Seriously.

It's probably unnecessary, but in my case at least, I've just been suggesting nice UI models that might be copied at some point in the future. Steal from the best, then improve. Rather than reinventing the wheel, it's best to steal the look and feel of a polished and popular product (all together now). Take advantage of their many millions of dollars worth of usability testing.

[A_SN]

...

ooooh i do now see why some people call you a skinhead (looking at your picture on the left)

no wonder

lol no, Orkie does and that's because he saw me on MySpace with pretty short hair so he thinks I'm a hooligan

... when did Craig or the others guarantee RTC? I don't remember them ever responding to anyone's posts about it.

Many moons ago! In the other thread iirc. The OMAP 3430 has a RTC, doesn't it? (after all, it's a SoC designed for cell phones, so why shouldn't it?)

[Dubya']

when people try to make the thing sound like its going to cater to every joe-schmoe on the block what do you expect.

I agree. This device shouldn't be targeted at Joe or Jane Schmoe. After all, they only comprise about 75% of the human population of this planet (and I think I'm being conservative). They should aim for, oh, I don't know, say a GP2X user sized market.

VoIP see here we go again...

Yes, VoIP has been discussed before including what needs to be ported to allow it. However, I was surprised to find nothing anywhere about a mic input on the device. I guess I should just assume that the seriously smart people designing this wouldn't omit a mic input on such a powerful multimedia device. Assumed...

me personally I could care less what it looks like...

Same here, it will blow everything else away regardless.

[jpic3yk]

regardless of what the craig is intended for, people are always going to be using it for other stuff. When the xbox was hacked people used it as a media center and all sorts of things microsoft never intended it to be used for. As long as the craig is flexible (usb host, etc.) It could do very well.
Keep in mind that the gp2x was marketed as a movie player, mp3 player etc. and did pretty good.

[atomicthumbs]

Craig has already said that it will have a microphone.

[MWeston]

RTC = yes!
IrDA = no
Bluetooth = no, but maybe some day if demand is high and we can keep the cost down
Microphone = yes
RS-232 = yes (well, it is CMOS levels, need external converter so actually this is just a UART controller)


Heat your coffee and maybe fry an egg = yes (USB Host can source 500mA @ 5V so you can do it but your battery life will take a hit!)


Uart could be used for development purposes and maybe adding your own remote controller using IR detectors.

The USB Host port is going to have all kinds of versatility since it is powered so the sky is the limit as long as we can get drivers.

[prairiefire]

Now, then, if you think that a great number of people are going to be willing to pay over $300 for a strictly gaming device that mainly plays emulators and homebrew, then you're sadly mistaken!

I guess we'll see sometime next year won't we?

Craig has already said no bluetooth built in so I don't really see the need for this argument (whole bluetooth argument, both sides of it)

The best part about this whole thread is how it matches the one when the iPod was first released (or shortly before) and people were discussing the inevitable success/fail they felt was going to happen. I hardly see why anyone can 'know' what specifically will make this succeed or fail.

*eats popcorn*

[funtasticguy]

RTC = yes!
IrDA = no
Bluetooth = no, but maybe some day if demand is high and we can keep the cost down
Microphone = yes
RS-232 = yes (well, it is CMOS levels, need external converter so actually this is just a UART controller)


Heat your coffee and maybe fry an egg = yes (USB Host can source 500mA @ 5V so you can do it but your battery life will take a hit!)


Uart could be used for development purposes and maybe adding your own remote controller using IR detectors.

The USB Host port is going to have all kinds of versatility since it is powered so the sky is the limit as long as we can get drivers.

This sounds more encouraging! Thanks for updating us!

Now, then, if you think that a great number of people are going to be willing to pay over $300 for a strictly gaming device that mainly plays emulators and homebrew, then you're sadly mistaken!

I guess we'll see sometime next year won't we?

Craig has already said no bluetooth built in so I don't really see the need for this argument (whole bluetooth argument, both sides of it)

The best part about this whole thread is how it matches the one when the iPod was first released (or shortly before) and people were discussing the inevitable success/fail they felt was going to happen. I hardly see why anyone can 'know' what specifically will make this succeed or fail.

*eats popcorn*

The big difference between the Craiginator and the iPod is that the iPod is made by Apple and Apple already had a large fan base. The Craiginator only has the GP2X and GP32 fan base. Both fan bases have a huge gap between them.

Now, then, the fact that it has recently been stated that it will have a lot of flexibility automatically means that people will probably add more features than its original design and thereby making more appealing to more people. That's encouraging! And trust me, I do want it to succeed!
a

[capnhack]

quick question: have you guys looked into led backlighting for this thing? none of that fancy rgb stuff, just a basic white. i have no idea of the bulk pricing on such components but the heat and power reduction would certainly be welcome.

other than that, it really sounds like it could go far. i dug my gp2x out of a dusty corner a few days ago and was sad to discover that the crappy stick no longer registered left at all, so those analogue.. nipples? are already a major selling point for me.

[Stealth Bagel]

Everyone will want this device for different reasons.... Me, I want something with the robust variety of emulators the gp2x boasted but with good controls, not the awful f100/f200 ones, better battery life and an overall more professional design... good solid PDA functionality so I can carry less devices around (no need to keep my PocketPC with me), MP3 playback (I don't really care about video on a small screen) so with a big enough SD card, I'd likely be able to leave my iPod in my car. If this is too heavy I might still need the iPod jogging though...

Things I don't expect are for it to be amazing for internet use; handheld devices rarely are and if it can get online and be convenient to surf with, well that's a bonus. I'm not going to start making ridiculous claims like that the machine won't sell to anyone if it doesn't act as a DVD player (?!) with a remote control (?!!?!?!) There are lots of people who bought GP32 and GP2X and more people today than ever who surf geeky blogs and buy devices like this just because they're gadget freaks, so the device will have a market besides people who want to play emulators. But don't make it out to be something insanely outlandish.

Example, VOIP-- why would you seriously need this functionality SO BADLY on the go? So you can sit at an internet cafe and bother people around you talking loudly to your family or friends far away? Or for talking to people nearby, why wouldn't you use a cell phone? At home, a landline or your home PC? It just doesn't make much sense at all...

[sandaili]

There are two reasons I am not considering the craiginator. One is the outrageous price tag, something that I believe will keep the dev scene on this thing to a bare minimum. Second is the name, honestly, the craiginator? Are you guys trying to get me to take this system seriously? Why not get a name that shows you are serious? I'm not paying 400 dollars for a system with a name like that, sorry. Oh, and one more thing, there is this line you are approaching, that upon crossing, you enter into the realm of pc. I already have a pc, and I already can play amazing 3d games on it. Making the margin between your home pc and your portable system smaller only seems to hinder the creativity from my point of view. Part of the joy of working on a handheld system is creating handheld games, just taking concepts from consoles and implementing them simply because you would like to emulate them doesn't seem like a good driving factor in determining the development of an open system in my opinion (I say this because that IS what is driving these decisions. I have yet to see a homebrew game for the 2x that felt constrained by the hardware, most of the software falling into that category of being held back by the hardware is emulators). So the hardware isn't being pushed by homebrew games, it is being pushed by homebrew emulators, and while I see these emulators as a godsend for the gp2x, I'm not that disappointed to see that I can't run psx or n64 games, cause honestly I've been enjoying trudging through the stockpiles of homebrewed games and applications for this thing. Maybe you dev's out there are really just dying to get some dedicated 3d hardware or something, but why? If it's gonna raise the price of entry by some 240 dollars, I think I'll just stick to my pc to get my 3d kicks.

One, Craiginator is just the code name, it will have a different name.

Can you walk around with your PC? No.

I don't think the majority of the community here is into homebrew. It's just an added extra, IMO. I think the majority of people here want to run full speed emulators such as Mame and others that currently can not run at full speed, or are not updated. Personally I could care less about emulating 3D.....

And again, what the hell is wrong with prices? So.....let's see. You would spend 240 on it but no more. Imagine this: SAVING UP LONGER FOR SOMETHING. Big fucking deal. I'm tired of all the "I will buy it if it's only this much." Well guess what, you don't really want it at any price then, really. Be honest.

Sandaili

I am going to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for months if that's what it takes to afford the Craiginator. But I don't think I'm going to have to do that.

And I suppose it is only fair us Americans get to pay a larger sum than the Brits for electronics once or twice in our lifetimes. Even if it's not much more

Why can`t the rest of you americans take this sort of attitude that Senor Quack has ?. As has been said, The FULL specs have not been revealed for this machine yet, But people (Mostly the americans on here) continue to moan about the price, When they don`t actually really know what they will be getting for their money. Just give the guys who are developing this machine a chance to reveal more details of the spec before wingeing about the price, Please.

Trooper

I didn't realize it was only Americans bitching...

I'm an American....and I'm not bitching.

Sandaili

[sandaili]

Surely $320 isn't much at all for most working people is the US anyway? Few days work? Sure it may cut the audience down in the younger members who are asking for it for christmas/birthday or saving, but...

I'd like the Craiginator as planned with all its power. It will be a substantial leap forward in portable, openish, handheld gaming for the first time in years. No I don't count phones or PDAs, I mean things with proper controls! Much more than the GP32-GP2X transition was. I'm actually shocked its so cheap (if it ends up so cheap) given what it is expected to do.

Mark

Well, considering a lot of people here in the US get paid minimum wage of 6.25 to 8.00/hr depending on the state, no, it's not just a couple of days work. But like I said in another post, save up longer....as long as you have to...for something that you want.

Sandaili

For those of us Americans complaining about the price, well that is what we deserve. You voted for a war mongering oil industry president that cares nothing about running up the national debt to record levels to make his cronies rich, and you did it *twice*. Next year when you elect Guiliani it will only get worse. Now you pay the price.

Dude.

Don't lump all Americans into one big mess who voted for Bush. Not everyone did. I didn't. America doesn't really have a choice when it comes to elections. Republicans outnumber democrats, that is all there is to it. This country truly is divided in half by those who hate Bush and those who don't. Please understand that. Just because someone wins an election doesn't mean they won it by a 100% majority or that the ballots even remotely reflect the TRUE America.

Not to get all "paranoid" here but I for one think that when it comes to elections, electric ballot boxes, and the like, there is no way things are not tampered with. It's impossible in this day an age, with the money and connections Bush has.

And let's not forget the other countries around the world with leaders and companies that go hand in hand making money with Bush.

Sandaili

However the longer the "Craiginator" delays the tougher the sell.

Agreed, but the openness of the device will sell to a hardcore audience even if there will something "better" in the market.
Of course the sooner it is launched the more likely it will be a success.

If the first plans of Craig weren't delayed because of all the criticism on the blueprint it could have been a sweet Christmas present.

I really doubt this.

They have already said that it will be a top of the line machine for the next five years, considering what they are putting into it. So, with that said, I want it to take as long as it takes to get it perfect and going. Since it will be top of the line, no matter when it comes out say in six months to a year, it will STILL be top.

Plus, I think a unit will sell on it's own merit. Yeah, they could rush out and sell a bunch in a month or two. But what about testing? Making it great, perfect, etc. GPH gets blamed for bad quality control, bad service, etc. Why is everyone saying that the sooner it comes out, the more likely they are to buy it? Won't that mean that it's less perfect?

They let you know about this to better the unit. I can understand, just from all these posts, why exactly the unit has not had any info come out. Imagine if they gave you a concrete picture, example, whatever. Then when things change, here comes a huge conspiracy theory, or bitching, etc.

I believe that a unit will sell on it's own merit like I said before - people will see what it can do, and even if sales are slow at first - it will be just like the GP2X's - people will ask others what should I buy, what can I do, etc. And then decide for themselves. Just because it's not ready in a month or two, who cares? I just don't understand that logic. "I heard about it and I want it now, otherwise, forget it". If it is as good as everyone says it will be, it will be worth the money, and worth waiting for.....and still be an excellent, top of the line unit.

Sandaili

[MWeston]

quick question: have you guys looked into led backlighting for this thing? none of that fancy rgb stuff, just a basic white. i have no idea of the bulk pricing on such components but the heat and power reduction would certainly be welcome.

What do you mean? for the LCD? the backlighting is LED, draws about 600mW when fully cranked up. It is a very bright and a gorgeous screen so it will be easy to keep it turned down to save battery life.

Do you mean for the QWERTY keypad? That is something we are deciding on and I welcome opinions. Is it necessary? could be costly for a low volume device and draws more power too.

[prairiefire]

Example, VOIP-- why would you seriously need this functionality SO BADLY on the go? So you can sit at an internet cafe and bother people around you talking loudly to your family or friends far away? Or for talking to people nearby, why wouldn't you use a cell phone? At home, a landline or your home PC? It just doesn't make much sense at all...

this point is interesting to me. I'm curious where our other posters are from in this case because in Canada, we get screwed for cell phone usage. If i'm not in my local area, it's a long distance call to receive and long distance to call out if i'm not calling a person within the area i'm currently located. If I am in my local area, any calls made to people outside that area are also a long distance call ($0.25 - $0.30/min! and rounded up to the next minute). It's really easy to rack up $20/month in long distance calls using a cell phone (my sole phone atm) and the reason I have a cell instead of a landline is because when i'm at home I can use VOIP on my computer. Now you don't know everyone's situation about WHERE they would use VOIP, and lets assume that they've justified the usage. From a money perspective, being able to make a free call over one that could cost you a couple of bucks (when considering you might do this often) could be a real asset.

Now, unless i'm mistaken, this should be able to do VOIP assuming that the software is written for it, or say by using gmail via the web on it?

edit: grammar

Edited by prairiefire, 29 November 2007 - 02:53 AM.