I'm new to this forum, but i read a lot about the Pandora project and really like what you guys did so far. This is an ideal gaming/multi purpose device, but only for the more experienced user i'm afraid. I read about the .PND archives that are plain easy to install simply by copying it, but a novice user won't be able to do so or wouldn't know where to find any games or applications at all.
What Pandora needs to make it a huge hit with the large public, is an easy to use (de)installing/search system for games (and applications, or even music and video for that means) that everyone can use, even a four year old child and even an 80-year old grandma.
Well, i'm quite an experienced user, i started programming on the C64 and still code PHP professionally, but when i would be buying this device (which would probably be happening somewhere this year), i want to use the Pandora merely as a fun device. Not for experimentation or as a mini-laptop, but as a simple game controller with mp3 and avi playback options, the wanna-have travel companion. When i use the Pandora that way, i don't want to spend hours or even days looking around the internet, reading and browsing forums, browsing through huge file archives, etc just to find some fun games or applications i want to have. I want to login, see what's available and have that by the click of a mouse. It doesn't need to be any harder than that, and it shouldn't be.
I also read about the Package Manager system from dflemstr, but that one is more like a file repository for developers and not what i mean, though a system like that could be used as a filling database for what i mean.
What i mean is a simple application, a nice looking, smooth and appealing graphical interface and extremely easy to operate, something like the Wii Shop channel, XBox Live Shop, Apple shop or even a digital dvd rental machine you see in the streets nowadays. Simply start the application, browse around and click on the game or application that you want to install, but also see the games that are already installed and provide the option to deinstall or update (if available). That way everyone, even people with absolutely no technical knowledge, can use this Pandora. This installation system should be implemented in the 'easy' environment from the Pandora, so it's directly in the interface.
In my considerations, this kind of software would make the Pandora open for the masses. Advanced users can use the desktop environment, command lines or whatever they like to operate the system, and all other users can simply click-and-play. In a future stage, besides all free software you might even offer payed games and applications, like the iphone shop, to extend the posibilities and even provide the opportunity for developers to commercially exploit this great platform. I know it's sour for the open-source community, but if software is really good, sometimes it IS worth money and i personally would be willing to pay for value-added software. If everything is available in ONE central easy-to-use environment, that is in my opinion what should give Pandora that last edge of advantage.
What Pandora needs to make it a huge hit with the large public, is an easy to use (de)installing/search system for games (and applications, or even music and video for that means) that everyone can use, even a four year old child and even an 80-year old grandma.
Well, i'm quite an experienced user, i started programming on the C64 and still code PHP professionally, but when i would be buying this device (which would probably be happening somewhere this year), i want to use the Pandora merely as a fun device. Not for experimentation or as a mini-laptop, but as a simple game controller with mp3 and avi playback options, the wanna-have travel companion. When i use the Pandora that way, i don't want to spend hours or even days looking around the internet, reading and browsing forums, browsing through huge file archives, etc just to find some fun games or applications i want to have. I want to login, see what's available and have that by the click of a mouse. It doesn't need to be any harder than that, and it shouldn't be.
I also read about the Package Manager system from dflemstr, but that one is more like a file repository for developers and not what i mean, though a system like that could be used as a filling database for what i mean.
What i mean is a simple application, a nice looking, smooth and appealing graphical interface and extremely easy to operate, something like the Wii Shop channel, XBox Live Shop, Apple shop or even a digital dvd rental machine you see in the streets nowadays. Simply start the application, browse around and click on the game or application that you want to install, but also see the games that are already installed and provide the option to deinstall or update (if available). That way everyone, even people with absolutely no technical knowledge, can use this Pandora. This installation system should be implemented in the 'easy' environment from the Pandora, so it's directly in the interface.
In my considerations, this kind of software would make the Pandora open for the masses. Advanced users can use the desktop environment, command lines or whatever they like to operate the system, and all other users can simply click-and-play. In a future stage, besides all free software you might even offer payed games and applications, like the iphone shop, to extend the posibilities and even provide the opportunity for developers to commercially exploit this great platform. I know it's sour for the open-source community, but if software is really good, sometimes it IS worth money and i personally would be willing to pay for value-added software. If everything is available in ONE central easy-to-use environment, that is in my opinion what should give Pandora that last edge of advantage.