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[Wax Free Vanilla]

 

[StarscreamLSU]

But... but... but... the buttons and d-pad are switched!! It can't be a knock-off!!!

 

[Wario64]

LONDON, 16th September 2005 – Gizmondo Europe Ltd subsidiary of Jacksonville, Florida-based Tiger Telematics Inc (other OTC, TGTL) today addressed media speculation that the widescreen model in the Gizmondo range is now developed, following the publishing of unofficial prototype photographs.
The WiFi and GSM Voice-enabled Gizmondo Widescreen had been kept under wraps as part of a multimillion-dollar R&D project. It was developed as a key component of an ongoing product roadmap that currently includes plans for a number of different devices, all of which feature the unique combined functionality of games, music, movies, messaging, a digital camera and GPS technology.
The new Widescreen device will compliment the current Gizmondo, due to launch shortly in North America, and give entertainment-hungry consumers more choice in terms of specification and feature sets, as well as an upgrade path - which will be detailed prior to the projected release in the second quarter of 2006.
As its name entails, the Widescreen has a larger 4” razor-sharp display. The Processor’s power and memory are increased to power a suite of new onboard applications serviced via WiFi (WLAN 802.11b/g), Bluetooth 2, and tri-band GSM technology, making it the most powerfully connected handheld entertainment device available. WiFi expands the multiplayer and interconnectivity possibilities for all Gizmondo owners.
Steve Carroll, CTO, Tiger Telematics, says: “We’re dramatically increasing the processor power to above 500MHz on this Widescreen model and significantly escalating the amount of memory. Although the 3D graphics accelerator used in the Gizmondo is the current best of breed, this next generation takes us visually into a new dimension.”
The new model specification includes:

GSM voice telephony
Handsfree speakerphone
Voice control using voice recognition software
LCD TFT screen 4.0” 480 x 272 pixels
Upgraded 3D graphics chip
Analogue TV out
500MHz (min) processor
Onboard RAM
Onboard flash
SD flash card reader, externally accessible
Transflash card reader for user upgradeable flash memory
GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900MHz or 850/1800/1900MHz tri-band
USB 2.0 OTG
High sensitivity GPS receiver with assist capability
Two analogue joysticks
3.5 Ah Li-Ion ‘smart’ battery
2 mega pixel auto focus camera with LED flash
Stereo speakers
Bluetooth class 2
WLAN 802.11b/g
Wired stereo headset/mic
Remote control pod for wired headset

Additional features:
SMS/MMS/IM receive and send
Email client
Satellite Navigation
Audio and video playback
Vibration mode
‘Flight Mode’ – games operational but radio services switched off
Approved for sale initially in USA followed by Europe
Temperature range 0ºC - 55ºC
Windows CE 5.0 operating system and DRM 10
.NET compact framework 2.0
SD card and Transflash interfaces
USB OTG interface for synchronisation to a PC and connecting to a USB memory device
MP3/WMA/HE-AAC audio playback, MPEG-4/H.264/WMV video playback with hardware acceleration
High level 3D games
Smart ADDs™
Downloadable screen 2D & 3D ‘skins’ for personalisation/market positioning
Bluetooth support for telephony (Headset/Handsfree), gaming, stereo headset (AV)
Carl Freer, co-founder and Chairman, Tiger Telematics, added; “The convergence technology category is similar to that of cell phones where a one-size-fits all approach does not work. Our long-term objective is to provide a range of entertainment and messaging devices that cater to different entertainment desires. Widescreen will favourably compare to Sony PSP but with even more power and features. Also, ensuring backwards compatibility and a clear upgrade path for future models is an integral part of our multi-product roadmap. A personal favourite feature is the TV/Video out connection which will enable you to play your favourite games on your TV, using the Gizmondo Widescreen like a console joypad.”
The new widescreen model and its new features will be unveiled at January’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, giving attendees the chance to try the new hardware out first hand.





PSP AM FUCKED TOTAL


HUAHAUHUHAA

 

[truffleshuffle83]

have they started selling the original gizmondo yet??? i have yet to see one in person. im waiting for that magic day to come where i can completely make fun of a person who has one in the same fashion i do those people who have ngages :lol

 

[Lazy8s]

So they did upgrade the processors too in this new model. Wonder if it's using an MBX solution now.

 

[Fuzzy]

Analogue TV out

The PSP should've had that also.

 

[SantaC]

what a joke Gizmondo is. That design sure ripped PSP straight off.

 

[123rl]

LOL...I'm surprised they don't call it the BSB or something :lol

 

[Kseutron]

TONS of features, wow........


but yeah, gizmondo games are gonna suck anyway...

 

[kaching]

Wonder if it's using an MBX solution now.

I hope somebody does, one of these days. For your sake.

 

[----]

I gotta say that hardware is looking pretty fucking hot. It's probably way too expensive though considering it has everything and the kitchen sink thrown in for good measure. I'd put this device in the Neo-Geo/3DO territory.

 

[belgurdo]

This would make for an awesome Rev controller instead...






...

 

[radioheadrule83]

Fuck, that actually sounds pretty awesome...

its a shame that consumers won't take it up likely and developers won't support it because they'll project that to be the case. Like some kind of fucked up chicken and egg debacle.

 

[Ruzbeh]

It's amazing how many expensive things they put in it, and still use cheap plastic.

 

[retardboy]

wtfreak? ripped psp off? it's a freaken handheld. you have to put a screen in the middle and controls on the side. wtf else did you think they were gonna do? sure it's a widescreen but we already knew that. you're acting as if how they designed it is ripped from the psp... if you say that then the psp is a gba rippoff.

 

[fse]

Hopefully its easy to hack.

 

[Wario64]

wtfreak? ripped psp off? it's a freaken handheld. you have to put a screen in the middle and controls on the side. wtf else did you think they were gonna do? sure it's a widescreen but we already knew that. you're acting as if how they designed it is ripped from the psp... if you say that then the psp is a gba rippoff.

you mean them re-releasing gizmondo in widescreen (where the old model wasn't widescreen to begin with) isn't ripping off the PSP? come on


they went from this:

to this:

 

[bishoptl]

Hopefully its easy to hack.

Yep. Save me buying another PSP to run 2.0 software on so I can keep my homebrew.

 

[garrickk]

Yep. Save me buying another PSP to run 2.0 software on so I can keep my homebrew.

Why would you need to hack it? It's running an open operating system.

 

[Lazy8s]

MBX isn't in need of a contract. The size of the mobile market dwarfs home consoles and PCs into niche existences, and MBX is ubiquitous among the new wave of 3D chips. It's far and away the most successful graphics processor architecture of all time and will ship more in one year than a PlayStation or Game Boy graphics processor would sell in their entire lifetime: hundreds of millions of chips annually.

 

[svenuce]

I think the widescreen looks kind of sexy. The hardware actually sounds pretty powerful, even with off the shelf parts.

 

[TranceVibrator]

Looks like a pirate PSP

 

[Mr Mike]

I like that "High level 3D games" is a feature of the device.

Because it sure wasn't a feature of the last one!

 

[Raistlin]

So for emulation ... this should be at least as good as PSP?

If they hack this, I'll get one and forget about the 1.5 PSP.



Cheap media + TV out = PERFECT EMULATOR!!!

 

[Tarazet]

Jesus, when I read they were making a widescreen Gizmondo I thought that was an Onion article. They're actually doing this? I bet a lot of people within Tiger are keeping their nooses on the ready.

 

[Diablos]

Why do they even try? I mean seriously? Why? Do they enjoy wasting their money? Is that fun to them?

 

[Agent X]

That device actually looks really good. It's much more visually appealing--though I have no idea how ergonomics are. The original model might be very comfortable (I wouldn't know, I've never held one), but aesthetically it looks clunky and clumsy.

But, I'll say what I said before in this post a few days ago: This is a rather bad time to announce any intentions of redesgining the unit for a wider screen. Now people who haven't yet bought the system might decide that they'd rather wait for the "improved" model instead. Osborne Computer Corporation did something similar with premature product announcements back in the early 1980s and it sank the company.

Really, I mean this unit seems so much better (not just aesthetically, but in technical specifications too) that if I had stashed away a wad of cash towards an original model Gizmondo, I wouldn't even bother getting it now. I really can't see how anyone could, knowing what's coming around the corner. I don't know how much this new version is going to cost, but the original model isn't exactly a bargain-rack impulse buy; unless this was selling for significantly more money, then this would make the original model obsolete in a jiffy.

If I was running the show at Tiger Telematics, I'd figure that now that the cat's out of the bag, it would be best to simply cancel next month's US launch right now, and put it on hold for a few months until the new model is ready...and just launch with that instead. There's absolutely no point in releasing the old model now.