Pandora

Hardware theme

A Linux based portable game console & UMPC developed by former distributors & community members of the GP32 & GP2X handhelds.

Manufacturer: OpenPandora.
Resolution: 800x480x16.7 million colors
Memory: 256MB DDR-333 SDRAM
CPU:600 MHz OMAP3530 ARM Cortex-A8 (32-Bit, little-endian ARM)
CPU:430 MHz TMS320C64x+ DSP Core
CPU:NEON (coprocessor)
CPU:TRADE SIMD (coprocessor)
GPU:PowerVR SGX 530 at 110 MHz (OpenGL ES & SDL optimized)
Storage capacity: Dual SDHC slots (64GB Maximum), 512 MB internal NAND, USB external drives, dual SDIO external drives
Sales: 4000 (as of 2009-07-03)

At launch, the unit could install all Debian ARM (little-endian) game packages. Which would have placed it just under to the GameBoy compatible systems (NintendoDS. GameBoy Advance, GameBoy Color) for number of available launch titles. But since the unit also launched with PlayStation, Amiga, Super NES, Atari Jaguar, & Sega Mega Drive emulators, it technically had the biggest launch library in history.

Full Specs
  • Texas Instruments OMAP3530 System-on-Chip with Cortex-A8 at 600MHz
  • 256MB DDR-333 SDRAM
  • 512MB NAND FLASH memory
  • IVA2+ audio and video processor (based on the TMS320C64x+ DSP Core at 430MHz) using Texas Instruments's DaVinci technology
  • ARM Cortex-A8 superscalar microprocessor core
  • PowerVR SGX 530 (110 MHz) OpenGL ES 2.0 compliant 3D hardware
  • Integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
  • Integrated Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (3Mbit/s) (Class 2, +4dBm)
  • 800x480 resolution touchscreen LCD, 4.3" widescreen, 16.7 million colors (300 cd/m2 brightness, 450:1 contrast ratio)
  • Dual analog nubs; 15mm diameter, concave, 2.5mm travel from center
  • Full gamepad controls plus shoulder buttons
  • Dual SDHC card slots (currently supporting up to 32GB of storage each, supports SDIO)
  • Headphone output up to 150mW/channel into 16 ohms, 99dB SNR
  • TV output (composite and S-Video)
  • Internal microphone plus ability to connect external microphone through headset
  • 43 button QWERTY and numeric keypad
  • USB 2.0 OTG port (480Mb/s) with capability to charge the Pandora
  • USB 2.0 HOST port (480Mb/s) capable of providing standard 500mA current to attached devices
  • Externally accessible UART for hardware hacking and debugging
  • Brick prevention with integrated bootloader for safe code experimentation
  • Runs the Linux kernel (2.6.x)
  • 4000mAH rechargeable lithium polymer battery
  • Estimated 8.5-10+ hour battery life for games, 10+ hour battery life for video and general applications, and theoretically 100+ hours for music playback (with backlight off and maximum power management)
  • Dimensions: 140x83x27mm (5.51x3.27x1.06 in)
  • Weight: 335g

Parent group

UVL: Platform/Operating System Limitation

Games by year

The first Pandora video game was released in 2003.