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So, you're about to write your own drivers for a for the buttons you're planing to use?

What I'm thinking is that I've been using far less quality of material for my vacuum forms, I can pretty much tell from you pictures. I think that's it, I better get some better materials.

Let me know if you do end up doing that, seems some people have already laid dibs, but I have a lot of experience in the N8X0 scene, the GP2X and the Pandora scene, got a lot of stuff I would love to try out on the SmartQ 5. In case they do not release an English version for a while, I could whip up a simple script to install other language packs. Even with english, you would have an edge over other sellers if you could, say, provide them with Korean or Japanese language packs installed at little labor to you. ]

Drop me an email.

SmartQ tells me that they already have USB gamepad drivers, so it is just a case of hooking up buttons and mapping functions to them. And yes, the materials you use are a large part of it. Also, get some Bondo. Vac forming is fun, but I always end up doing a bit of touch up work.

@Admin: Sending in just a bit.

SmartQ tells me that they already have USB gamepad drivers, so it is just a case of hooking up buttons and mapping functions to them. And yes, the materials you use are a large part of it. Also, get some Bondo. Vac forming is fun, but I always end up doing a bit of touch up work. ]


Did SmartQ say that they will be releasing their own gamepad or they will release drivers for generic gamepads to work on it?

SmartQ actually has a gamepad, but it is a non-standard RF interface that no other devices I know of use... It is the one built for the SmartQ T5 II that looks like a PSX pad, if you want some pics, I can go off and find some. Unfortunately, it will not work with the Q5/7; Seems sketchy to release a branded controller and only have it work with one device.

The SmartQ website claims that the Q5 already has support for generic gamepads, which does not surprise me, as the drivers for USB Host on that SOC are very easy to implement. In fact, the unofficial port of Mer that is being tested right now already has USB host support!

It should be interesting to see where this goes, SmartQ is planning on a gaming PMP later this year, it is looking like they might actually have 3 devices using the same core, but with different cases, buttons, and screen size; So even though it started out seeming as if they were just moving on to new devices without fixing bugs, I think they want to get all 3 devices out, and have the firmware updates apply to all of them, so that they can focus on one platorm, but get the benefits of catering to 3 different markets. Very efficient, in my opinion.

Admin, I sent you an email, did you get it?

Mer is looking good on this thing, just needs a few more drivers and it will be stable enough to use!

I will have an official English version on Monday (Beijing time). I was told they are still working out a few bugs so it isn't the final release but he would send me one early as I am already in China. When the final English firmware comes out I guess it ought to be easy to upgrade. I will probably be here to ask for assistance and if anyone wants to help me run this thing through its paces I would appreciate it. I have been using Ubuntu on the desktop for a couple of years but I don't know a whole lot about embedded devices (read:nothing).

Just got it. runs a bit slow on some apps. OS seems to be just a pared down ubuntu with LXDE. makes for some small text to read. the browser is Midori and so far i can't get it to accept cookies so i can't check email, view my igoogle homepage etc...

about to start running it through its paces. will post back. hope someone is reading. let me know or i may need to find another thread.

wondering how well mer runs by comparison and if it is worth switching.

how do you find the build quality of it?

the build quality is ok. not flimsy at all. touchscreen is fine, screen looks good. i was getting jealous of my colleagues who all have ipod touches. well, it certainly isn't in that league at all. but if i can get an appropriate OS on there i will be very happy with the device. I think the sluggishness must be the OS. i don't know how well it has been optimized for the device but it looks like a pretty typical ubuntu with lxde (pud linux) install, which didn't run all that brilliantly on my old p3 either. haven't tried the bluetooth yet and i was expecting the usb port to be a regular usb port (to plug stuff into it, not to plug it into other stuff) so i don't know if i can attach other devices to it. wifi is working fine at home. i will try it at work and see how it roams around a school, connecting to various locations. tried to install xournal and some other stuff but haven't been able to locate any new repos to add. none of the deb files i downloaded worked. all had missing dependencies.

feels pretty nice in the hand. anything specific you want me to try?