269 replies to this topic

[LTStone]

This might be a good thing, There will now be a void and there is obviously a need/want for open source consoles so I'm sure something will rise from the ashes and be better yet. Some of these companies GPH, Dingoo etc have been around for awhile and just have not learned from past mistakes maybe someone else will..
I love my Wiz and Cannoo but after the final firmware udated GPH was pretty much dead to me.. Its the guys like Pickle, Hardyx, Rodolfo ,etc who really matter to me.

Edited by LTStone, 12 September 2011 - 06:52 PM.

[Remy]

Reviewing the conversation, I'm not really sure how it could be misinterpreted. As Simon is the front-man/lead-guy/whatever of the software side of the Caanoo and GPH, I figure when he says the team has been "retired", I think its safe to assume that firmware and software development have stopped at GPH, though I wouldn't assume that means production as well.

I'm not sure what impact that's going to have on the community as it stands today; I see from the openhandhelds site that people are still producing software for devices as far back as the GP2X, so I doubt that GPH letting go of the Caanoo (or even shutting down entirely) is going to have that big an impact on Caanoo development. It's not like the community ever turned to GPH for software anyway.

It is worrisome on the level of that one-year garauntee, though, as the device has only been out for a year...

On another note, this post has been here for only 12 hours or so, and has garnered over 30 relies. I suppose this place isn't so dead after all...

[sebt3]

I suppose this place isn't so dead after all...

quiet doesnt mean dead, it just mean quiet

[Exophase]

Reviewing the conversation, I'm not really sure how it could be misinterpreted. As Simon is the front-man/lead-guy/whatever of the software side of the Caanoo and GPH, I figure when he says the team has been "retired", I think its safe to assume that firmware and software development have stopped at GPH, though I wouldn't assume that means production as well.

I'm not sure what impact that's going to have on the community as it stands today; I see from the openhandhelds site that people are still producing software for devices as far back as the GP2X, so I doubt that GPH letting go of the Caanoo (or even shutting down entirely) is going to have that big an impact on Caanoo development. It's not like the community ever turned to GPH for software anyway.

It is worrisome on the level of that one-year garauntee, though, as the device has only been out for a year...

On another note, this post has been here for only 12 hours or so, and has garnered over 30 relies. I suppose this place isn't so dead after all...

On the other hand, if GPH is no longer doing any new development entirely (and not just software development) there won't be a successor to the Caanoo. This is the impression I'm getting, and echoes what I've heard from others for a while now.

[ruffnutts]

Well just because there closing or whatever I will still play my caanoo

[fusion_power]

why GPH is Close?
- Caanoo is to expensiv not much solds.
- Smartphones like Apple/Android com over the Markt,
thats reason no one buy the Caanoo.

for now there is no Offcial statement from GPH.

Caanoo to expencive? Can't imagine what they mean, compared to the Pandora, a Caanoo costs nearly nothing. 115€ available in EDs shop for example. Not even a Nintendo DSi can match with this price. I also doubt that crappy Touchscreen-only-Smartphones are a match to real gaming controls. Gaming Handhelds and Smartphones are no competitors imho, or do iPhones affect PSP and NDS sales in big style and vice versa?
How much Caanoo had been sold worldwide by the way? I don't know any numbers.

Yeah it does. There arnt very many devices out there that focus on being open. Even though GPH screwed up in the design and marketing of the caanoo they still were developing open source systems.
Hopefully OP has success in Germany, otherwise open source handhelds scene is looking bleak.

I also hope that OP has success with the new production and that much more Pandoras are produced. But at the end, it is the Software, that makes Hardware successful. Open Pandora really needs much more coders that do stuff for the Console, commercial games could be also an option. Of course, the Coders should HAVE a Pandora to code on, which is the main Problem at the Moment. All this "blind coding" without a Pandora is some kind of impressive Art but not the best solution imho.
I imagine some really big, exclussive Games that instantly sell thousands of Pandoras, I know it is unlikely but I dream about games, that make Millions of People desperate want a Pandora because it is the only Device they can play the Game on.

Edited by fusion_power, 12 September 2011 - 09:55 PM.

[Luo=-_]

Well... I still believe in the potential of people who develop software for the Caanoo. In fact, much more, than the GPH that the best that has been done so far to release the 1.0.6 firmware that allowed overclocking.

If the GPH have pride and want to see their former customers happy, make available the code for the development of Caanoo openly. Would be at least a form of consolation for those who believed in the platform...

Luo=-_

[BlackCurtain]

I will probably still be developing for the Caanoo for many years to come. I see a long lifespan and big potential in it.

[EvilDragon]

First, this is old news for some (like Pickle and myself).
I knew about this for three months, as that was the time when Simon left my office.
It was planned he stays at my office for two years or more, but it only lasted for 6 months.

GPH is NOT dead.
However, their gaming devices (most properly) are.

GPH split the gaming company into its own company which is now working on software and FunGP.
The Caanoo is still available and can still be bought from GPH.
They are currently NOT planning to build a new handheld, as the Caanoo didn't sell too well.

It's a shame in my opinion - they could've done it right if thy just listened to the community a bit more.

Some of you might know GPH invited me last year to show me their latest new handheld, the Caanoo.
Most of the time I was talking to Tony back then.
Once I've seen the Caanoo, I told them right away that selling it will be hard.

While the Analog stick is nice, it does only make sense if there are games supporting it.
The LCD Bezel was there at that time as well and I told them to fix that as well...
And the biggest issue for me was: It was about as fast as a WIZ, but not compatible.
And the price was too high.

I thought it will be hard to sell...

The ones who already own a WIZ would have no need to buy the Caanoo, as it didn't bring much improvement.
This is especially bad as a lot of devs would not get the new system, and as the Caanoo was not compatible with the WIZ, there wouldn't be much development happening at the beginning...
As the WIZ was available cheaper and had more software as well, the Caanoo had a very hard start.

Within the last few months, the Caanoo started to sell better. More software is available now.

It really is a nice system.

I only wished GPH would've showed me the system upfront :/
When they showed it, they couldn't change it anymore. It was finalized.

I am really sad GPH doesn't release a new system.
I would've loved it to continue to work with them.

I don't think the marked for OpenSource handhelds is over - I just do think that GPH did a bad move with the Caanoo.
It should've either had better specs than the WIZ OR be a new version of the WIZ, 100% compatible.
Then it would've sold way better and would've opened the way to a new, improved handheld from them.
They have the experience of how to design and create a nicely designed handheld and have the team for a reliable mass production.
Something we were missing when we started with the Pandora.

Well, as some might know, I've now taken on the task to move the Pandora production to Germany and make it more organized and reliable.
I hope I can manage to do so.

Maybe I could afford to create a new OpenHandheld next year, with a GP2X/WIZ/Caanoo formfactor.
Maybe with the same hardware as the Pandora, to make games compatible?

While the Pandora is nice, I'm sure there are users who'd rather want a cheaper handheld without WiFi and the keyboard with that classic formfactor.

If that happens, it wouldn't happen before next year.

Until then, I'll continue to also sell the Caanoo.
It's a nice system for a good price, has a lot of good software already.

[Orion4874]

Thanks for the info ED, a smaller and cheaper Pandora handheld actually sounds like a good idea. How 'bout calling it the "Pandora Micro" or something similar. At any rate it seems a big chunk of the open source scene is now resting on your shoulders! God knows the Dingoo scene isn't looking too good, there's a different handheld each week and they mostly go unsupported.

I am disappointed that GPH is leaving the hardware arena but is there any chance that some of the employees will splinter off and start a new company? Like GPH did with GamePark? I hope something happens, I always liked all the GPH consoles including the GP32.

Now, is there any way to get some of those translated games on FunGP........ please?

Edited by Orion4874, 13 September 2011 - 01:46 AM.

[jlenoconel]

FUUUCK! I just typed a long ass reply to this topic and I wasn't "logged in." Anyway, what I basically said was the lack of deadzones in emulators, like OhBoy and the new Neo Geo Pocket one, was what was ultimately stopping me from really being completely happy with my Caanoo. I probably won't buy another open source handheld and stick with a hackable Nintendo or Sony handheld from now on because of these issues. Like I said when I tried to post this before, I'm not blaming the homebrew community on this board, but I just think the general lack of support for Caanoo is its downfall. I still love my Caanoo for the emulators that I do have that work properly, but believe that more could have been done to perfect certain emulators. That's all I think.

Oh and if anyone could let me know if deadzones will ever be implemented into Ohboy and Neo Geo Pocket emulator I will be happy

Edited by jlenoconel, 13 September 2011 - 01:29 AM.

[LTStone]

Thanks for the info ED, a smaller and cheaper Pandora handheld actually sounds like a good idea. How 'bout calling it the "Pandora Micro" or something similar. At any rate it seems a big chunk of the open source scene is now resting on your shoulders! God knows the Dingoo scene isn't looking too good, there's a different handheld each week and they mostly go unsupported.

I am disappointed that GPH is leaving the hardware arena but is there any chance that so of the employees will splinter off any start a new company? Like GPH did with GamePark? I hope something happens, I always liked all the GPH consoles including the GP32.

Now, is there any way to get some of those translated games on FunGP........ please?

As for the Dingoo, We will see OpenDingux beta has been released and it still has great community, so we will see..

[Argtrak]

...
Well, as some might know, I've now taken on the task to move the Pandora production to Germany and make it more organized and reliable.
I hope I can manage to do so.

Maybe I could afford to create a new OpenHandheld next year, with a GP2X/WIZ/Caanoo formfactor.
Maybe with the same hardware as the Pandora, to make games compatible?

While the Pandora is nice, I'm sure there are users who'd rather want a cheaper handheld without WiFi and the keyboard with that classic formfactor.

If that happens, it wouldn't happen before next year.
...

It's sad concerning GPH. More players in the arena means more options and more motivation to innovate and distinguish yourself from the rest. This goes for open-source as well as proprietary closed stuff.

As for the possibility of a cheaper handheld without wifi/keyboard, may I strongly suggest you keep the USB host port? (and standard sized if possible at all) Doing so would keep the door open to those who want to use it with external controllers and/or keyboard+mouse. (Think USB hub with wifi/bluetooth dongle, etc)

[EvilDragon]

Well, it's WAY too early to just think about something like that... first production needs to be reliable and enough money needs to be made for such projects, so it won't be before April / May next year before I could even start something like that.

But I'd really like to have something with such a form factor...

[Darkknight512]

It is sad that GPH made some mistakes and now has to pay for it, but it seems this might be a major opening for OpenPandora, I do agree however that the Pandora in its current state is too complex for the audience the GP2x was made for but a Pandora Micro might be just the thing, it could just run the Minimenu and have the keyboard removed.

Sounds pretty good to me actually.