Uzebox - retro homebrew game console
polycounter lvl 18
Click here, you dopes
"The Uzebox is a retro-minimalist homebrew game console. It is based on an AVR 8-bit general purpose microcontroller made by Atmel. The particularity of the system is that it's based on an interrupt driven kernel and has no frame buffer. Functions such as video sync generation, tile rendering and music mixing is done realtime by a background task so games can easily be developed in C. The design goal was to be as simple as possible yet have good enough sound and graphics while leaving enough resources to implement interesting games. Emphasis was put on making it easy and fun to assemble and program for any hobbyists. The final design contains only two chips: an ATmega644 and an AD725 RGB-to-NTSC converter."
I might build one since I love inhaling solder fumes so much
"The Uzebox is a retro-minimalist homebrew game console. It is based on an AVR 8-bit general purpose microcontroller made by Atmel. The particularity of the system is that it's based on an interrupt driven kernel and has no frame buffer. Functions such as video sync generation, tile rendering and music mixing is done realtime by a background task so games can easily be developed in C. The design goal was to be as simple as possible yet have good enough sound and graphics while leaving enough resources to implement interesting games. Emphasis was put on making it easy and fun to assemble and program for any hobbyists. The final design contains only two chips: an ATmega644 and an AD725 RGB-to-NTSC converter."
I might build one since I love inhaling solder fumes so much
Replies
Yet I get MUCH more exited about this:
www.openpandora.org
(and didn't star trek TNG have video touch interfaces?)
That would be absurd.. Touch screen is a mouse replacement.. nothing more.
and thats even debatable.
But I agree in general. I've tried the iPhone's default keyboard, and it was just horrible as it, without any feedback.
I'd also have to disagree. I can type very very quickly with the iphone keyboard, and even with just an audio response (haptic is not possible because the vibration lasts too long) it's enough feedback to feel comfortable.
I type about 10 ~ 20 mails on it a day, some of them long winded and rambling. (I blame my train journey. ) No discomfort at all.
As for the mouse issue, I've not used a mouse in 5 years. Granted a "minority report" style interface is not going to benefit anyone, but touch and stylus for accuracy, is perfectly acceptable.
Virtual keyboards are definitely the way it's going, jump on board or get outta the way!
If that pandora thing runs amiga games, I'm sold
It's predecessor the GP2X runs Amiga games pretty well already (but has other issues). But with the OpenPandora it will be a save bet.
About the keyboard, well the clamshell design leaves the space, so otherwise it would be just unused.
And for applications where you don't want the onscreen keyboard obstruct large parts of the screen it is definitly useful.
It wouldn't be unused, I dont mean put the keyboard on the top screen when required, I mean go DS style and have the keybaord area be another touch screen.
You avoid localisation issues since the keyboard can be ANYTHING it needs to be.
P.S.: The official successor of the GP2X has been just annouced too:
http://www.gp32x.com/board/index.php?showtopic=43721&st=0&p=639446&#entry639446
The "Wiz", which is basicly an updated GP2X with some nice additions and some strange design choices (well that korean company was always known for being a bit strange).
But it doesn't seem like a bad thing either, depending on the price point.
EEK!