182 replies to this topic

[foft]

Are there any good threads/pages with beginners tips?

I found the tip for moving windows offscreen (hold shift and then use stylus to drag from anywhere) so I could set up the network. Then I was next scuppered by Midori not working on appstore - doh! So I've downloaded the firefox pnd on the PC and copied it to the SD. It doesn't seem to do anything and clicking on it doesn't do anything... I thought these things were magically scanned for?

Before the 'search nazis' get me, I will. I'm just bouncing because I finally got this and want to play/try some stuff!

Edit: The FAQ lies 'Any PND files on either of the SD cards will be automatically detected and shown in the menu.'... Run PND does nothing. What's the trick? Me wanna play some stuff!

Edit2: Create a folder on the SD card called pandora and in that create another folder either called desktop or menu. Then put the PND in that! Obvious when you've found the answer:-) Next step - how does control work? Ctrl C in terminal does not work...

Edit3: Putting it into pandora/menu/firefox.pnd didn't work. What's the next thing to try?

Edit4: Found it - just being blind, ignore Edit3! Under Network/Firefox Webbrowser. I was looking for something shorter...

Edit5: Why does pndnotifyd take so much CPU?

Edit6: I like what hotfix 2 is installing. Though I wonder if its already installed since this was built well after that was released...

Edit7: Right, got some emulators on. Looks like they prompt with a dialog for ROMs so they can be put anywhere. Here goes...

Edit8: Eeek, horrible crackly sound - now where is that fix I saw on the forum the other day...

Edit9: http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?/topic/53974-bad-sound-quality/page__st__150__p__876296&#entry876296. Now if only I could figure out how to quit picodrive! I pressed every button!

Edit10: Still can't stop this - I'm guessing picodrive beta does not have a menu to select another rom or quit. Since I haven't set up sshd yet have to switch off the pandora I guess...

Edit11: Well Snes and Picodrive are cool. Still can't change ROM in Picodrive. Think its "Select" to do so and my button is broken:-( I tried to reconfigure it to another button but can't see how to confirm the changes. Esc quits the control configuration menu. Can't find which key to confirm them though! Also tried Quake3. Runs pretty smoothly mostly. Though the nubs frequently seem to get confused and refuse to let me move at all. Also they seem to be so ultra-sensitive I can't control it... Anyway very cool to have this on a handheld - remember it struggling horribly back in the day on my Voodoo Banshee!

Edit12: Anyone done a build of Atari800?

Edit13: Well its going back for a working keymat to fix ctrl/select. Will do update 14 through 512 shortly!

Edited by foft, 22 June 2010 - 09:29 PM.

[mali]

^ http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?/forum/83-i-need-help-pandora/

[foft]

^ http://www.gp32x.com...d-help-pandora/

:-P

[skeezix]

Pndnotifyd should take very little CPU - when you insert/eject sd it'll chug for a second, but oherwise it barely does anything

I'll have to profile it again, been awhile

jeffphone

[foft]

Pndnotifyd should take very little CPU - when you insert/eject sd it'll chug for a second, but oherwise it barely does anything

It kept popping up on top (10-30%), several minutes after inserting an sd card. Thought it might be an expensive periodic poll. I checked this before installing the hotfix.

[skeezix]

My guess would be a deluge of dbus events being grepped. It needs a whole new nonsuck dubs client routine put in

Jeffphone

[Unfathomable Depths]

Woo hoo! First post from my Pandora!

I'll post a review in a day or so.

[mali]

^ Congrats, dude

[Tripmonkey_uk]

Woo hoo! First post from my Pandora!

I'll post a review in a day or so.

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice!

Let me know how the testing goes with your W.I.P games UD

[Unfathomable Depths]

Ok. Had it for a day, here's my first thoughts:

Build quality - very good indeed. I have the screen bevel thing that's been talked about but I seriously doubt I'd have noticed it if it hadn't been mentioned. It's quite weighty for its size and the finish is really nice. Stylus goes in with a satisfying click. Only thing that's annoyed me is the battery cover sticker. It's peeling off and leaves a bit sort of doubled back on itself a couple of millimetres wide. Sounds innocuous but it means closing the battery lid can be a bit fiddly as it gets in the way. I'd peel it off the battery but for some reason I don't want to

Screen - crystal clear. I've noticed some ghosting on a couple of games (Sensi Soccer for one) but nothing that serious.

Dpad and buttons - excellent. Best Dpad I've ever used! Well done DaveC! ABXY buttons are fine. Shoulder buttons are fine.

Keyboard - mines is a bit stiff but I assume this will wear in with use. Layout takes a bit of getting used to but not an issue.

Nubs - very sensitive but usable in place of the stylus once you get used to. My right nub acts up sometimes but rotating it and pushing it up/down/left/right and releasing it sorts it out. Played a bit of F-Zero X on the N64 and it was ok once you got used to the sensitivity. I think there is a way to make them less sensitive - not looked into that yet.

Default software - basic but that's how I'd want it - I like to pick my own software

Wifi - slow. Not to the point of unusable but slow. Not speed tested it yet. Feels around the 80-100kb mark.

Speakers - not bad at all! For such small speakers they are clear and usable for listening to MP3s in the background.

I'm totally addicted to UAE4ALL. Spent last night playing Speedball2, Sensi Soccer, Supercars2, Turrican2 and Stunt Car Racer. Full speed for all, as far as I can tell, with a little stuttering sound at some places in some games.

Overall I'm really pleased with my Pandora. So glad I pre-ordered early.
Congrats to the OP team - lovely piece of kit And the potential of this thing is immense.

And now to coding....

[urjaman]

Hi,

posting from the pandora

i'll write more later

[Bosbeetle]

I got a pandora now with a working volume wheel.

Having had two pandoras I have to praise the PND system its soooo nice to just put in an SD card and have all programs with highscores preferences etc. back 23 thumbs up

[teppic]

Got it!
At work and charging (my pandora, not me), but it's sitting here and waiting for me

[YOULOVEBADMEAT]

After lurking for a loooong time I thought I'd drop my two penneth in since my Pandora turned up yesterday!

I'm your basic basic end user. I know nothing of linux or such things and the thought of cracking the case open terrifies me. I just love retro games and messing around with stuff I don't really understand. I used to have a GP32 until my flat was broken into and it got stolen, since then I've avoided upgrading to a GP2X in the (long) wait for the pandora.

So, it really is pretty. Case looks great. Sleek, simple and a great size. Anyone following the production closely knew that it wasn't going to be 100% perfect, here's the niggles with my unit:

• A noticable gap when the lid is closed (more gap on the left hand side, making it look a bit warped from certain angles), but not too off putting.

• The shoulder buttons. The right is so low down that it barely registers a click, the left one seems normal but requires such a hefty click that it's quite uncomfortable to use. They both 'work' in a fashion but I think I'll be avoiding prolonged use. Maybe it just needs a whack.

• The volume control has a chunk missing out of it when turned to full volume, but it's only cosmetic.

Generally, the nubs caused me lots of frustation and huffing and puffing (much to the annoyance of my missus). The left one really does seem to have a mind of its own. Followed all the advice I could find, but what seemed to solve it is lots of circular motions until they calm down and get their bearings. Now and again they just go mad and refuse to move in the direction I want, resulting in more circular actions. But when they work, they're fantastic to use.

It's a joy to play though, a bit fiddly getting the emulators to work, but that's half the fun. Dpad and buttons are a joy to use!

Screen is hmmm 'spongeyer' that I was expecting. Put me off a bit at first, but now I'm used to it I'm very happy. Nice and responsive.

Can't get the wifi to connect to my home network, but I think that's me being a dumbass. It finds it, but doesn't connect.

Anyway, well done Team, was worth the wait. Thrashed through some 3wonders on Mame on my bus ride to work today. Very satisfying!

[Prometheus]

Hi and welcome, YOULOVEBADMEAT. Two thoughts for you, if I may.

1: Have you read about the magical nub-calibration raindance? If not, what you have to do is this: Centre the nubs before powering the unit on, then push them up, let them return to the centre, push them down, let them return to the centre, push them left, let them return to the centre, push them right, and let them return to the centre. It works every time - they're designed to be always-on, but with the sleep mode not quite there yet, this means that they need calibrating at boot-up, for now.

2: You may want to post about your WiFi issue in the "I need help" section with a bit more detail (i.e., exactly what happens, what you've tried, what sort of router you're using), and see if someone can suggest anything.

Also, squee, Three Wonders is excellent - you have good taste! But now the burning question: Midnight Wanderers, Chariot, or Don't Pull?

Edited by Prometheus, 24 June 2010 - 07:15 PM.