Gizmondo Widescreen Announced: PSP Killer?? 500 Mhz CPU

[JayPatel]

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9843/gizwsbacksmall2uv.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/9139/gizwsfrontsmall9ou.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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.

[jerryhussain]

Looks good spec wise what about the support ? Sony will still have better support & DS having the best of these three.

[taro-chan]

a cellphone is more useful then portable umd player... but ya.. software?

[Emancipated]

So it's just a portable media player, sans video games? That bites.

They need to integrate more features into these portables to entice the market.

[XXXG-00W0]

May be it can also act as cellphone? It is because it said it use GSM and I don't think it will only use it for SMS.

[JayPatel]

So it's just a portable media player, sans video games? That bites.

They need to integrate more features into these portables to entice the market.

no, its a full blown device ala PSP. the old gizmondo had a nvidia graphics chip, this one has an upgraded 3d core in it as well as a beefed up CPU. support wise its probably going have a short shelf life. who knows, maybe it can end up emulating the PSP... :)

[c h u d]

if - or I mean when - it's hacked, it would have a beautiful emu scene I'm sure.

[x86asm]

Funny, the LCD has the exact same dimensions in pixels as the PSP which would suggest the PSP is using a standard LCD screen. I personally dont think this thing will kill PSP, you must not forget that although the main CPU in this thing is faster than the PSP the PSP has 2 (yes 2!! CPU cores). One is for games and the other is for the multimedia component (H. 264, MP3, etc.).

Also the PSP has a realtively powerful audio processor. I seriously doubt this thing will be able to emulate the PSP (fully).

[sfu_lifer]

IMO, I wouldn't call the H.264 a separate core. More like a specialized function like the altivec units. The PSP also doesn't have much of a GPU. There is an official Sony emulator for P4 units ;).
I doubt this can emulate the PSP but hm, DS all the way down is definitely possible. Now if we can only get the homebrew community into this so they can do the necessary emulator ports this gizmondo would never lack in games :D
I love the fact they didn't cripple the H.264 support unlike Sony.
Anyone know if this is like a PDA with touchscreen (like the first Gizmondo)?
I wonder why they're even putting out the crappy old Gizmondo. They should just wait for these and put these beauties out.
I'm already lusting after it. I wonder how much this will be. If they can put it out at $399 Cdn, i'm definitely interested. Might just sell the PSP at that pricepoint since all I play on the PSP anyways are emulators and movies.

[CanadianCool]

this thing sounds like it's going to be expensive

[Draff]

IMO, I wouldn't call the H.264 a separate core. More like a specialized function like the altivec units. The PSP also doesn't have much of a GPU. There is an official Sony emulator for P4 units ;).
I doubt this can emulate the PSP but hm, DS all the way down is definitely possible. Now if we can only get the homebrew community into this so they can do the necessary emulator ports this gizmondo would never lack in games :D
I love the fact they didn't cripple the H.264 support unlike Sony.
Anyone know if this is like a PDA with touchscreen (like the first Gizmondo)?
I wonder why they're even putting out the crappy old Gizmondo. They should just wait for these and put these beauties out.
I'm already lusting after it. I wonder how much this will be. If they can put it out at $399 Cdn, i'm definitely interested. Might just sell the PSP at that pricepoint since all I play on the PSP anyways are emulators and movies.

DS? How would you emulate the touch screen?

[jordan23]

this is the next n-gage.

[DJXP]

looks ugly, but featurewise it may have a chance. I guess it really depends what it can do after/if its hacked.

The video out thing is cool, its one of the first things I wished the psp had.

[Fantaz]

Yeah, this thing is a joke. It's going to fail miserably.