Caanoo
ManufacturerGamePark Holdings
TypeHandheld game console
Release date
  • SK|EU: August 16, 2010
Introductory price$150
DiscontinuedSeptember 2011
MediaSD / SDHC card
Operating systemLinux based
System on a chipMagicEyes Pollux VR3520F
CPU533 MHz Host ARM9
Memory128MB (SDRAM)
Graphics3D capable
SoundWolfson Microelectronics WM1800
PredecessorGP2X Wiz

The GP2X Caanoo, more commonly known as Caanoo, stylized CAANOO, is an open source, Linux-based handheld video game console and portable media player developed by the South Korean company GamePark Holdings. It was released on August 16, 2010 in South Korea and were also sold throughout Europe. It is the successor to the GP2X Wiz, and was showcased at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010.[1] The device's launch price was about US$150, which didn't reach any retail stores in North America.

The Caanoo is not a direct competitor of handheld consoles like Nintendo DS or PlayStation Portable, but rather an alternative open source device. Because of that, any software that is compatible can be run without the need of creating custom firmware or other homebrew applications. This is the last open-source gaming device by GamePark Holdings, as they ceased production and development of gaming hardware to focus solely on software.[2]

Hardware

Specifications

  • SoC (System on a Chip): MagicEyes Pollux VR3520F
  • CPU: ARM926EJ 533 MHz embedded on SoC (architecture version ARMv5TEJ)
  • GPU: 3D hardware[3] engine embedded on SoC (OpenGL ES 1.1 support)
  • 3D performance: 133M Texel/s and 1,33M Polygon/s
  • main RAM: 128 Mbytes[4] DDR SDRAM 133 MHz (peak memory bandwidth: 533 Mbytes/s)
  • video buffer: about 16 Mbytes of main RAM are reserved for the video/texture information
  • Operating System: Linux based[5]
  • Flash memory: None (128 Mbytes reserved to the OS)
  • Connection to PC: USB 2.0 High Speed through EXT Port
  • USB Host: USB 1.1 standard socket
  • Supports SD / SDHC memory cards (up to 32 Gigabytes)
  • Accelerometer[6]
  • Vibration Motor[6]
  • High precision analog stick
  • Display: 3.5 inch OLED[7] 320×240 pixel (resistive touchscreen)
  • Stereo audio DAC: Wolfson Microelectronics WM1800
  • Embedded Microphone and stereo Loudspeakers
  • Power: Internal 1850mAh Lithium Polymer Battery (approx. 5/6 hours game/video playback)
  • Dimensions : 146 by 70 by 18.5 millimetres (5.75 in × 2.76 in × 0.73 in)
  • Weight : 136 grams (4.8 oz)
  • WiFi via adapter (USB dongle – Purchased separately)
  • Colors: Black/Blue, White

NB: the CPU embedded on Pollux has a good tolerance to overclocking (until 750 MHz the system shouldn't have problems, just a shorter battery autonomy.)

Not all CPU/SoC are created equal and these results are theoretical. Some may not be able to push much past stock frequency. Overclocking will vary between each Caanoo.

Games/Applications

The Caanoo had only four commercial retail games:[8]

  • Asura Cross
  • Propis
  • Rhythmos
  • Wiz Party

The Caanoo can run several applications that emulate consoles[9] or computer systems, such as DrPocketSnes for the Super NES, GnGEO for the Neo-Geo, Hu-Go for the PC Engine, PCSX ReArmed for original PlayStation games, MAME4all for arcade games and Picodrive for the Mega Drive/Genesis and its add-ons, as well as freeware homebrew games/applications. These applications are created by the community itself and not by the manufacturers. Most, if not all of this software can be found at OpenHandhelds, a community-driven website.

Gamepark Holdings also had a website focused on downloadable content named FunGP. It sold commercial Caanoo and Wiz games, as well as some retro Arcade games. It has since ceased operations.

Caanoo is not compatible[10] with software built for previous GPH devices (such as the GP2X Wiz) without an application to allow it to do so. A compatibility layer named Ginge allows for most software to be compatible, and most applications have already been ported.


Multimedia capability

The Caanoo is a video player, an audio player, photo viewer and E-Book reader.

Video

  • Container files: AVI
  • Video formats: DivX, XviD, MPEG4
  • Audio formats: MP3, WAV
  • Maximum Resolution: 640×480 pixel
  • Maximum Frame Rate: 30 frame/s
  • Maximum Video Bitrate: 2500kbit/s
  • Maximum Audio Bitrate: 384kbit/s
  • Captions: SMI

Audio

  • Audio formats: MP3, Ogg Vorbis, WAV
  • Channels: Stereo
  • Frequency Range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
  • Power output: ?
  • Sample Resolution/Rate: 16bit/8–48 kHz, in 8bit/22 kHz

Photos

E-Books

  • Supports txt files, it can also read pdf format through various apps.

External TV output

The SoC Pollux embeds (besides to the primary LCD controller) an NTSC/PAL encoder with internal DAC to manage an external analog video signal (CVBS output: 720×480 or 720×576 pixel interlaced, respectively 60/50 Hz vertical sync and 15 kHz horizontal sync).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Engadget article about Caanoo presentation at E3 2010
  2. ↑ "Forum discussion on GamePark Holding's change of plans". Archived from the original on 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  3. ↑ "GamePark's GP2X Caanoo handheld hits this August, picks up where the Wiz left off (video)". Engadget. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "Achievement unlocked: Four open consoles for homebrew gamers | Opensource.com". opensource.com. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  5. ↑ Biggs, John (23 August 2011). "An Old-Style Arcade in Your Hands". Gadgetwise Blog. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  6. 1 2 Willington, Ray (12 July 2010). "GamePark GP2X Caanoo Open Source Handheld Debuts". HotHardware. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  7. ↑ "Caanoo Emulator Review: Great Hardware, So-So Software | TIME.com". 9 June 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-06-09. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  8. ↑ "Hardcore Gaming 101: History of Korean Gaming". Archived from the original on 2013-01-15.
  9. ↑ Cutlack, Gary (February 2013). "Retro handhelds". Stuff. 167: 93. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  10. ↑ "Caanoo emulation support discussion". Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
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