Pandora's Box

New blog update from EvilDragon :

While the mould for the keymat is currently being produced, we're concentrating on working more on the keyboard layout.
We mostly scrapped out old layout since we had too many important keys missing — so there are no Umlauts or language specific keys on the layout, it's a plain English keyboard with a compose key to do special characters.
That layout is not final yet, it's our current WIP.
It might look weird and mixed up at first sight, but there's one major difference with a standard PC Keyboard: You only use two thumbs for typing on that one, so it's much more important that the most used characters are convenient to reach (which can be a problem when using the Fn Button).

And a new video demonstration of 3D hardware after the jump.

Read more...

Blog, News, Official, Pandora Blog, Video, Drivers, Keyboard

A decision on the keypad appears to be in sight. Quasi-omnipotent scenester Mali has provided this quote from EvilDragon on the gp32x.de forums:

At the moment it looks like Pandora will get a generic(English) keyboard without special characters. But I will offer a German layout for sale(it’ll be 3-5?). There will be Pandoras with preinstalled German keyboard later on.
We are still discussing, but it’ll go in this direction.

Also from ED on the German boards, confirmation that the analogue nubs can be used as a mouse, with the shoulder buttons for left & right click. This was in response to a question about the possibility of mapping Ctrl/AltGr to said buttons:

L and R won’t be usable, because the analogue nubs will be a mouse replacement and so we would like to have L and R as mouse buttons.

A hardware warranty has always been a part of the deal, as required by law of course. But there’s nothing like a recent quote from the horse’s mouth to allay any fears. Oh look, here’s one:

It is indeed one year, but fear not as we will allow you to buy any spare parts you might need in the future too. — craigix

Here are a few snippets for you. This one from Chip isn’t news, but some are unaware so here goes:

It’s [the logo key]tied directly to a GPIO line (all 3 keys in the middle are) instead of the keypad matrix so that it can be used at any time. It will bring up a system menu with things like a task switching menu, system options and shutdown / suspend commands. The “Pandora” key is off the table for repurposing or remapping.

From ED — translated:

If I offer mats ADDITIONALLY, the production won’t be delayed — they don’t have anything todo with Pandora’s production

The factory optimizes the PCB production at the moment, the parts are all there. Production will be ready to go, soon.

Production of the keymats has already begun, the tool is being made now.

Basically we are waiting for the final prototype-cases [expl. CNC]to do stability, CE and FCC tests.

Then we’ll just have to say “Off we go!” and production will begin

From craigix:

Well [the analogue nubs]are totally custom made and designed for the Pandora, they are unique thus if any flaw should be found after say a year we can work to address the fault and improve them.

Community, News, Pandora, Rumor Keyboard, Production, Prototype

Here is a new addition to the blog :

Well... sort of :)
Why? Because yesterday has been the chinese new years day — which means that most of the guys in China are on holidays at the moment.
This might mean a delay of a few days for our CNC case and the keymat, though we're not sure about that yet (we're still talking to the companies about that.)

Some good news: We managed to get WiFi working! Basically, that was the last thing to test on the MK3 board, so the actual board is now ready for the mass production!

Going to bed now, it's 5am here in Germany, worked enough for today, eh? :)

Plus Craig has said that the FDM case should be arriving today, which means we will probably see a prototype Pandora within the next couple of days. And EvilDragon posted this on the German forums:

The key printings are underneath the clear coating. We want to make the printings with glow-in-the-dark paint(currently we discuss this with the company), because they will then glow in the dark a little bit.

Blog, News, Official, Pandora Blog, Keyboard

Moments ago craigix posted this :

Yes it's complete. FDM will be here soon (and we will post photos of that with battery, keypad and all) then the CNC (takes longer).

Fingers crossed for a smooth process.

Hardware, News, Official, Pandora Keyboard, Case, Prototype

Craigx, one of the developers, posted a sample picture  showing the actual firm-topped finish that Pandora will use.

Looks pretty good if you ask me.

Hardware, News, Official, Pandora Keyboard