Review: GP2X Wiz

Last week we brought you a brief report that to our editorial office we received a new handheld game console GP2X Wiz. All week we have tested it extensively, and today we bring you the first in the Czech Republic (and possibly the world) a detailed review. Find it in addition to the many pages of text and dozens of photographs and several videos. GP2X Wiz is the first handheld console with a modern AMOLED display, it is filled with powerful hardware, especially enchanted fans of emulators. You can have tens of thousands games in the console, think back on the legends that move the gaming industry ...

Many photos and video you can see in the Czech version of this review. The Czech version is divided into 6 parts, links you will see at the begin of the Czech review. I know, that my English is not perfect, I apologize for that.

Design

Front page GP2X Wiz is dominated by the display, we will talk about it later. On the left of the display is operating joypad, underneath is the menu button on either returning to the menu, or perform the same function as before has button "Start". On the right of the display are four "action" buttons, are also located similar to the joypad cross, but fortunately they are completely separate. In the first draft GP2X should be all linked together. Below these buttons there is even one with the label "Select", you might know it from previous models. Implementation of the function again depends on the specific game / application.

Joypad can be pressed not only to the four basic directions, but also diagonally. If you press on center, the roughly millimeter reduced, but still, you can gently move the thumb to control its movements, without any problems with him, you can rotate (some kind of pivot).

On the upper side you will find two more "action" buttons, for the finger of left and right hand. Next to the left button is the microphone hole, a little farther away, in the middle of the upper side, is a memory card slot for SDHC. Button to turn GP2S Wiz on / off is located on the left side. Press down to turn on or turn off the console, up serving as a keyguard and lock display (for example, if you have a console in your pocket, when used as a music player). When the console is turned on, next to the button lights up blue LED, when connected to PC / charging light is red.

When you look at the bottom side, there you will find buttons too. There are two, are used to control volume. In the middle of the bottom side is a special connector to which you connect supplied USB cable. Find and use the various accessories, in the future is planned, for example, Wi-Fi module. On the right side of the bottom side is a classic 3,5 mm jack adapter, which allows you to connect any headphones. and finally we'll have left, there is only a hole for the strap.

Display

GP2X Wiz is the first handheld console, which boasts modern AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) display. What is different from the conventional TFT? They are thinner, do not need a backlight, and excel in ultra clear and contrasting views. In addition, the color black is actually black with them, even in total darkness. The advantage is also significantly less energy consumption. The disadvantage is that the display of the power to see in direct sunlight, the LCD display but are also quite a problem.

The display has a diagonal measurement of 2.8 inches and the resolution of 320 x 240 points. At this size the display so it's just, most emulated games well in higher resolution were not running. A widescreen display (which has a PSP) would be unnecessary, in the past, all the games made for 4:3 aspect ratio image.

Touch screen is a layer of resistance, therefore, uses a similar technology, as most PDAs. The display is another layer that responds to touch pen, or your finger. If you look closely and you notice that the layer in contact a little buckle, which is due to the resistive technology. Display with capacitive technology are, however, harder and more resistant, for example Apple iPhone.

In settings you can choose from four possible intensities brightness display, automatic regulation is not implemented.

Touch pen is hard to loose, its holder is located in the body of the device. But it snaps, does not tend to spontaneously fall.

In several discussion forums appeared first experience of some owners and developers, who complained to the so-called "screen tearing". AMOLED display, which the manufacturer, was originally designed for use at altitude, which corresponds to its framebuffer. In its application to the width occurs in some situations, whereas in refresh display first refresh part of the diagonal, and then under the section. It is a matter of milliseconds, but it shows as a small tearing. I noticed that in some games in PicoDrive or MAME4ALL, where it was a faster scrolling (for example game Aladdin). The manufacturer knows it, and he response by message, that if the producers of games / applications for the GP2X Wiz wants to avoid, they should use the rendering using OpenGLES. It is necessary to rewrite program code. But "Screen tearing" is not any major problem, or maybe it do not, it certainly is not a problem of all games / applications.

Technical parameters

The GP2X Wiz is hidden and modern hardware, judge for yourself:

• Chipset - MagicEyes Pollux System-on-a-Chip
• Processor - 533 MHz ARM9, 3D accelerator
• Internal NAND Flash memory - 1 GB
• RAM - 64 MB SDRAM
• Operating System - Linux
• External memory - SDHC memory card
• PC Connectivity - USB 2.0
• Power - Battery Li-Pol 2000 mAh
• Display - AMOLED 320 x 240 pixels, 2.8 inches

We tested the console GP2X Wiz, that has firmware version 0.7.1 of 14.5.2009.

Memory cards

At the top of the GP2X Wiz is a slot for SDHC memory card, the card supports up to 32 gigabytes. I tried Delkin memory card with a capacity of 16 GB, console has no problems with it, and immediately I could use it.

Connection with PC

To connect to the PC you must use the supplied USB cable, which is ended by a special connector, which you connect it into port at the bottom of the console. The connector has LED, if you do not have a GP2X Wiz connected LED light green, after the connection turns red. Connected console is seen as other disk. But first you need to select on the display, whether you want to see the internal memory or memory card.

The speed of copying data - internal memory GP2X Wiz - reading: 3.1 MB / s
The speed of copying data - internal memory GP2X Wiz - writing: 177 KB / s

Battery, charging

GP2X Wiz is equipped with a fairly large internal Li-Pol battery with a capacity of 2.000 mAh. The battery is hidden under the back cover is removable, just need to unscrew the back cover, it holds two very small screws. Previous GP2X power for use AA batteries, but they should in this case, only bigger this likeable little console. For charging AA batteries you need a good external charger for charging GP2X Wiz you just attached the USB cable. Get ready that the charging via USB is very slow, especially when you have the console turned on. To charge empty battery we need about 5 hours (console turned off), whe was turned on, it was more than 10 hours, the ideal is to have the console to charge overnight. For shorter charging time shoud be solution to purchase classic charger, that has a USB port on the output, it would connect the cable from the Wiz. The solution I have seen in the past with some smart mobile phones, the charger gives more power, charging should be noticeably faster.

And as for how long GP2X Wiz can be turned on? The battery status icon is located in the upper right corner of display. It is not linear, but the remaining energy shows step. Once you have the minimum value, add a notice in the form of messages on the display, GP2X Wiz will not "die" in hand, such as GP2X F-100. The energy saving is possible - reduce the brightness of the display, or set up automatic shutdown screen, it is suitable mainly for listening to music.

During testing, we have fully charged battery, it was empty after 4 hours and 35 minutes, it was when playing games in the emulator PicoDrive, processor set to 400 MHz and the maximum brightness of the display.

The battery can be replaced quite easily, but you must also carry with a spare battery a small cross screwdriver. Pleased me, that after removing the battery and re-deployment was not necessary to again set the date and time, console him for some time remember.

Menu Structure

The GP2X Wiz is a control menu prepared much better than previous models, relates to the design and practical aspects. Navigating the menus is lightning fast, individual items are opened immediately after the confirmation, sandglass never see. Its structure is as follows:

• Wiz games
• Built-in games
• Flash games
• Entertainment
• Video
• Flash
• Music
• Photo
• Comics
• E-Book
• Tools
• Calendar
• World Clock
• Calculator
• Timer
• Recorder
• Launcher
• Settings
• Autorun
• Brightness
• Screen Of Time
• Keytone Volume
• USB Host
• Information
• Clock
• T-Mode
• Calibration

To the menu Wiz Games and Built-In Games, you can add a link to your selected game or application, in the previous models GP2X it was not possible. Just in the root directory of "games" to create "ini" file with exactly the structure, where you type the name of the game, the path to the boot file and the path to the icon. He is an example of one game:

[info] name = "Animatch" path = "/ animatch / animatch.gpe" icon = "/ animatch / animatch.png"

For such a game then you have almost instant access. And how to run the game or application in the event that you do not want to create a link to it? In the menu is Launcher icon, you can easily browse through the directory structure - then just select "GPE" file and press it to confirm it will be run. Unfortunately, the launcher does not allow to put a link to the game / application to the above-mentioned menu, you must create it manually on the computer.

In the menu you can move either with joypad and confirm the choice with button or with a touch pen or a finger (to the icons are great enough). To switch between the SD memory card and internal NAND memory in specific items (such as Video and Music) you will use button Select.

Games, flash games, emulators

The GP2X Wiz are a few preinstalled games. In our case it was the following:

• Animatch
• Myriad
• Snake od Dope
• Space Warments
• Square Tower Defense
• Wiztern

Some of them you can play it on older GP2X consoles, others are new. In addition, during few months Gamepark Holdings will start games / application store FUNGP, similar as AppStore of the Apple iPhone. User can also run Flash games, that can be downloaded from internet. GP2X Wiz can run Flash 8 games, I try some from the Internet and uploaded them to the console, you can control them using either the pen on the touch screen or with joypad and buttons (of course, depends on the game, what method of control is implemented). Not all Flash games but have been so quick to give comfort to play. If you want Flash games appeared in the main menu in Flash Games, you must finish in the internal memory. If you need that will appear in the Entertainment / Flash, you can copy to your memory card.

Games you obviously will not have to buy, thanks to the openness of the operating systém. For the previous models, there is a quantity of quality games, and it is expected that this will be the same among the Wiz. Backward compatibility with previous models GP2X is missing, developers must native games and applications for the Wiz to compile again. This game will just be copied into the console, and then run it. You do not have to undergo any complicated hacking the console, as for example in the case of the Sony Playstation Portable.

At the time of writing this review was available only one other console emulator, PicoDrive that can emulate Sony Mega Drive / Genesis, or even MAME4ALL which emulates arcaded gaming machines. PicoDrive is a great program, support the imposition of positions, etc., it is also ported on other consoles or on mobile phones. All the games I tested run at the best graphics settings to the maximum framerate, I have not even need to clock processor at full power (in the settings is the option processor frequency).

Video GP2X Wiz has a very fast processor, so I assume that the handle without any conversion of DivX in its resolution. The assumption that was wrong but, this video was very choppy. After the reduction at 320 x 240 points were already playing without its problems. Probably to fix with some other firmware version, DivX at full resolution is handled as well as previous models GP2X, which had more than half of lower frequency processor.

Select the button during video playback switch between wide format (Wide) and format across the whole screen (Fullscreen). Supported formats are DivX and XviD. I tried subtitles, but they failed to load, but it is artificial GP2X previous models, so I suppose that should also be able to Wiz.

Music Popular functions of handheld consoles is the music player. This will not disappoint or GP2X Wiz, it handle music in MP3, OGG and WAV format. During playback, the display shows the spectral analyzer that visually reacts to music. From the music player do not expect any miracles, is equipped with only basic functions, such as personally I missed the equalizer.

Photos

GP2X Wiz can display photos in JPG format, PNG, GIF and BMP, photos are automatically decreased so that the entire visible on the screen. You will be then of course you can bring.

Comics

Special photo browser, which can be easily used to read comics.

Electronic books

I tried to upload GP2X Wiz several common formats of electronic books, but only advise you with the format "TXT". You can choose the color of the text, background or font.

Calendar, world time, calculator, timer

Innovation compared to older models are the four new applications. You have to always be at hand a simple calendar, thanks to the world time to see where the number of hours in different cities calculator is suitable for any calculations, and timer will help you measure a time interval.

Recorder

With an integrated microphone GP2X Wiz can be used as a sound recorder, or if you want, recorder. His control is very simple, there are only four buttons - start / stop recording, playback, delete and exit. Recordings are saved in WAV format, the file name is composed of the date and time.

Conclusion

GP2X Wiz is the best gaming console, which is focused on the emulators of older games. With open operating system Linux, each developer can create a new application or game. Around the GP2X console is a huge user base, news went almost every day, virtually all programs and applications are legally free. Gamepark Holdings addition in the coming months plans to open electronic store FUNGP, which offers developers the possibility to easily sell their creations, users will be able to turn comfortably and as easily download to your console GP2X Wiz. This console will be more attractive for developers who do not want to create applications for free, for users this means that it is not lack of quality software. Hardware of handheld console GP2X Wiz is very strong to maintain without any problems on the game market several years. What about you, thinking about the purchase of GP2X Wiz?