Device Profile: Gamepark GPX2-F100

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(Jul. 28, 2005)

Korean handheld vendor Gamepark has announced a new portable media player and gaming device based on embedded Linux. The GPX2-F100 features dual ARM9 processors, USB 2.0, a 3.5-inch color LCD, media playback software, and support for both native and emulated games. A Linux SDK (software development kit) will be available when the device ships, Gamepark says.

The GPX2-F100 will be a Linux version of Gamepark's GP32

Gamepark has not touted its earlier GP32 (pictured at right) as a Linux-based device, and that device likely runs a simple RTOS. The GP32 has a single ARM9 processor, 512KB of ROM, and 8MB of RAM. It also has a 300MHz radio that can be used to create multiplayer gaming networks with other GP32 owners. And, it supports MP3 playback and has some video playback capabilities. The GP32 is available at street prices under $200.

The new GPX2-F100 has dual ARM9 cores, according to Gamepark, along with 64MB of NAND Flash and 32MB of RAM. Its 3.5-inch QVGA (320x240) TFT LCD supports 170K colors. Hardware controls include a fourway controller on the right and a small thumb joystick on the left. I/O ports include a stereo headphone port and a USB 2.0 client port that Gamepark says supports 500Mbps file transfers (about 62MB/sec). The device also includes a top-mounted SD card slot.

The GPX2-F100 has a top-mounted SD card slot, and what appears to be a clever drop bumper on the bottom

Like the GP32, the GPX2-F100 is powered by two AA batteries. And while Gamepark claims 12 hours of battery life for the GP32, they say the new model lasts even longer -- up to eight hours, when playing video, and up to 14 hours, when playing music with the LCD off.

Gamepark says it will encourage game authors to port their work to the GPX2-F100 by publishing a software development kit. The planned SDK will support Linux and Windows (Cygwin) hosts. It will support the SDL (simple direct library) for accelerated 2D graphics, and will include libraries for graphics, sound, and hardware I/O, as well as a "basic" library, the company says.

Gamepark says that in addition to native games, the GPX2-F100's Linux environment enables it to run a variety of game emulators, including MAME, SNES, Genesis, and PC Engine.

The GPX2-F100 has a sleek, modern look

Additional claimed features include:

Video playback
- Playback of movies up to 720 x 480, at framerates up to 30fps
- MPEG, MPEG4, Dvix 3.11,4x,5x, XVID, WMV Playback
- Max bit rates up to 1,178Kbps
- Claimed eight hours of video playback time
- Supports captions through Microsoft's SAMI (synchronized accessible media interchange, or *.smi files, are basically Microsoft's answer to RealPlayer's *.smil or "smile" files)
Audio playback
- 16-bit DAC supports bitrates from 8- to 48-kbps (slightly better than CD quality)
- Claimed 20Hz - 20kHz response
- 100mw amplifier, built-in speakers, and stereo headphone jack
- Supports MP3, WMA, OGG files up to 384kbps
- Software EQ with normal, classic, rock, jazz, and pop settings
Photo viewer
- Photo "enlargement, abridgment is available from 320x240 up to 1024x768," Gamepark says
- Image rotation in 90-degree increments
- Supports JPG, BMP, PCX, and GIF file formats
Text viewer/ebook reader
- Comes with electronic dictionary
Firmware upgrade mechanism

Availability

Gamepark's website offers no indication of when the GPX2-F100 might become available.

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