Hey, I just posted another Interview that I filmed with EvilDragon where he talks about the Wiz as well:
http://techvideoblog.com/ifa/gamepark-hold...iz-at-ifa-2008/
Sorry about the sound quality on the Pandora interview. I'm a wireless microphone newbie, or perhaps something was interfering with the wireless microphone..
I think the Pandora project does sound pretty amazing in the way that such an advanced hardware project can be designed by a few talented hardware and software people around the world using Gmail and the Invision Power Board, all that based on the newest and best ARM and DSP processor ever made, that's not even released in any other hardware other then the Archos 5 and the Beagle Board of course.
I have an Archos 5 right here that has this Cortex processor, which I am reviewing and posting some videos of at my other website
http://archosfans.com/2008/09/05/archos-5-...he-hdmi-output/
Of course the Archos is a more video and "Internet Media Tablet" centric device, and the Archos is closed source proprietary Linux (which supports all kinds of DRM including Microsoft DRM, Macrovision, HDCP.. not many embedded Linux devices do that I guess) though, I wonder if Archos uses the same Neon 3D accelerator as in the Pandora, and thus I wonder if Archos could release a software update for their device which would be able to play Quake3 and emulate N64 and perhaps even Dreamcast as well. Though if Archos does it, they would probably have to release a "legal" video games emulator system, where you have to pay for using roms only if the games publisher even allows you to pay for it. But still, I think it would be fair to pay a fair price for games, such as $1 per game per day for N64, Dreamcast, OpenGL kind of games and $0.50 per game per day for NES, SNES, Gameboy and other simple 2D games. With ceiling of payments per game after which you don't have to pay anymore per day until there eventually comes updates for the games such as new levels or new features (imagine Nintendo releasing an online multiplayer mode for Mario Kart SNES).. There could perhaps also be game subscriptions that would give unlimited access to thousands of games for a flat monthly fee such as $5 or $10 per month.
The Archos would then I imagine also possibly have a Gamepad Dock accessory to plug on their proprietary docking connector, which would add buttons on each sides of its screen.
I think game publishers should have somekind of pressure to allow legal licencing of their old games on other hardware. And this environment would also enable a homebrew and Linux based gaming industry. Just like the Open Handset Alliance, games should be legally allowed to be run on any hardware. Game publishers shouldn't be allowed to force you to use only their own hardware to play their games.
None of this about the Archos doing gaming and emulation is official, it's just my speculation. Why the Archos might be cool also for this, it's got a 1.8" or a 2.5" hard drive built in, thus up to 500GB of built-in storage. That's enough space for a lot of games, and it's got HDMI output, a 5" touchscreen and built-in HSDPA.
