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PENIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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{{distinguish2|[[Gizmodo]], the technology blog}} |
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{{Infobox CVG system |
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| logo = [[File:Gizmondo Logo.jpg|150px]] |
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| image = [[Image:Gizmondo Handheld.jpg|250px]] |
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| caption = The Gizmondo handheld video game unit. British and United States coins included for scale |
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| manufacturer = [[Tiger Telematics]] |
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| type = [[Handheld game console]] |
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| generation = [[History of video game consoles (seventh generation)|Seventh generation era]] |
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| Released = 19 March 2005 |
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| Discontinued = February, 2006 |
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| CPU = [[ARM9]] S3C2440 processor at 400 MHz |
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| media = [[Secure Digital|SD]], [[Multimedia Card|MMC]] |
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| onlineservice = [[GPRS]] |
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| unitssold = Less than 25,000 <small>(as of 30 July 2007)</small><ref name="gamepro">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/125748.shtml |title=The 10 Worst-Selling Handhelds of All Time |accessdate=2008-01-17 |author=Blake Snow |publisher=[[GamePro]].com |date=2007-07-30}}</ref> |
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| topgame = ''[[Sticky Balls]]'' |
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}} |
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The '''Gizmondo''' is a handheld gaming console which was released by [[Tiger Telematics]] in [[March 2005]].<ref name="launch">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4361847.stm |title=Gizmondo gadget hits the shelves |publisher=[[BBC News Online]] |date=2005-03-19 |accessdate=2007-11-23}}</ref> It has [[General Packet Radio Service|GPRS]] and [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] technology. The electronics design was undertaken by [[Plextek Limited]]<ref>[http://www.plextek.co.uk/news/newsarchive/news88.htm Plextek wins industry award for work on mobile entertainment device] 2004-10-01, retrieved 2009-07-03</ref> and the industrial design by [[Rick Dickinson]]. |
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The Gizmondo sold poorly, and by February 2006 the company discontinued the device and was forced into [[bankruptcy]].<ref>[http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/news.phtml/2432/3456/gizmondo-liquidation-europe-games-console.phtml Pocket-Lint: Gizmondo Europe goes into liquidation]</ref> In 2008, founder and CEO [[Carl Freer]] announced that he had reached an agreement with the liquidators, and planned to re-launch Gizmondo <ref name="relaunch">({{cite web |url=http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/05/13/gizmondo_delayed_again/ | title = Gizmondo console revamp 'on track' for Q4 launch, claims boss}}) {{cite news |url=http://www.realtid.se/ArticlePages/200711/13/20071113094753_Realtid421/20071113094753_Realtid421.dbp.asp|title=Carl Freer startar om Gizmondo |publisher=[[Realtid]].se |date=2007-11-13 | language = Swedish }} ({{cite web |url=http://sandberghans.blogspot.com/2008/01/carl-freer-starts-over-with-gizmondo.html |title=English translation: Carl Freer Promises to Resurrect Gizmondo}})</ref> as Gizmondo 2.<ref name=hs>{{cite web | url=http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/20/surprise-no-new-gizmondo-for-2008/ | title=Surprise!!! No new Gizmondo for 2008 | author=Joseph Flatley | date=2008-12-20 | accessdate=2008-12-02 | publisher=Engadget}}</ref> |
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Gizmondo was overshadowed by the involvement of one of its executives, [[Stefan Eriksson]], in [[organized crime]].<ref name="mafia">{{cite news |url=http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,718447,00.html |title=Direktörerna har fått långa fängelsestraff |language=Swedish |publisher=[[Aftonbladet]] |date=2005-10-24 |accessdate=2007-11-23}}</ref><ref name="mafiagamespot">{{cite news |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/show_blog_entry.php?topic_id=23885183 |title=Rumor: Gizmondo execs with ties to the Swedish mafia have resigned |publisher=[[Gamespot]] |date=2005-10-26 |accessdate=2007-11-23}}</ref> |
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== Release == |
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=== United Kingdom === |
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Gizmondo was released in the [[UK]] on 19 March 2005, initially priced at £229. Units enabled with "Smart Adds" had a reduced [[RRP]] of £129. The Gizmondo was available from the Gizmondo flagship store on [[London]]'s [[Regent Street]], via Gizmondo's online shop, and other highstreet and online retailers (such as [[Argos (retailer)|Argos]], [[Dixons (UK)|Dixons]], [[Currys]], [[John Lewis (department store)|John Lewis]] among others), although it was never clear how many units were actually introduced into those retail channels. |
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=== United States === |
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In the [[US]], the Gizmondo launched on October 22, 2005. Retail price was [[American Dollar|$400]] for a unit without Smart Adds, or $229 for a Smart Adds enabled device. It was available only through Gizmondo’s website or at one of several kiosks located in [[shopping malls]]. However, only 8 of the planned 14 [[game]]s were ever released in the US, along with no CoPilot GPS software, though the [[software]] was sold on the [[United Kingdom|British]] site for a week or two. There was little to no [[advertising]], and some of their advertising was even put in magazines of [[Nintendo Power]] ([[Nintendo]]'s official magazine). Plans to distribute the handheld through other retailers never materialized. |
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== Games == |
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{{main|List of Gizmondo games}} |
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The Gizmondo launched with a line-up of fourteen titles, including a port of [[Electronic Arts|EA]]'s [[FIFA Football 2005]] and [[SSX 3]], and [[SCi]]'s [[Richard Burns Rally]]. A further thirty titles were known to have been in development for the system, but all were canceled before their release due to Tiger Telematics' bankruptcy. |
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[[File:GizmondoMM.jpg|thumb|left|Gizmondo Main Menu Screen]] |
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== Smart Adds == |
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The Smart Adds system was intended as a way for consumers to subsidize part of the [[cost]] of the unit. A Smart Adds-enabled Gizmondo cost less ([[Pound Sterling|£129]]/[[American Dollar|$229]]), but would display [[advertisements]] on the Gizmondo's screen at random intervals when the user entered the [[Home]] screen on the device. These advertisements would be downloaded via the device's [[GPRS]] data connection<ref name=smad1>{{Cite web |last=Caie |
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|first=Martin |title=In-service advertising reduces price of Gizmondo |url=http://old.gameplanet.co.nz/mag.dyn/News/9223.html |accessdate=01/06/2009}}</ref>, and would be [[behavioral targeting|targeted]] based on data inputted to the device. A maximum of three ads would be shown per day. Some ads would include special offers in the form of vouchers or barcodes, and some would utilize the device's [[GPS]] system to direct users to the nearest store carrying the advertised product<ref name=smadvid>{{cite video |title=Gizmondo - all about smart ads |url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVc6e1mCa1c}}</ref>. |
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However, the Smart Adds service was never activated, and users who paid the reduced price for a Smart Adds-enabled device did not receive any advertisements through their device. |
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== Technical specifications == |
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[[File:Sticky Balls.jpg|thumb|right|An example of a Gizmondo game cover]] |
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* Display: 72 mm (2.8 inch) TFT [[Display device|screen]] |
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* Resolution: 320 [[pixels]] × 240 pixels |
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* CPU: [[Samsung]] ARM9 processor running at 400 [[MHz]] |
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* Graphics: nVidia GeForce 3D 4500 128-bit 3D Graphics accelerator, maximum of 65,536 colors |
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* RAM: [[RAM|64 MB]] |
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* Sound: Built-in [[Loudspeaker|speaker]] |
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* Communication: [[Bluetooth]] class 2 for [[multiplayer]] gaming, [[GSM]] tri-band |
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* Ports: [[Stereo]] headset socket, Mini-[[USB]] client, [[SD]] flash card reader |
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* Power: [[Removable battery]] |
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* Temperature Range: 32°F to 130°F (0°C to 55°C) |
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* Multimedia: [[MPEG]] 4 video playback, ability to play back [[MP3]], [[WAV]] and [[MIDI]] files via [[Windows Media Player 9]] |
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* [[JPEG]] [[camera]] |
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* Removable [[SIM card]] |
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* GPS tracking application |
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* GPS mapping application |
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* [[GPRS]] Class 10 |
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* [[SMS]] |
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* [[MMS]] receive and send |
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* [[WAP]] 2.0 |
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* [[Polyphonic]] [[ring tones]] |
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* [[Flight mode]] |
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== Gizmondo widescreen == |
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Tiger Telematics planned to release a widescreen Gizmondo in [[2006]]. It was intended to have a larger screen and upgrades like [[Wi-Fi]] and TV-out support. The widescreen Gizmondo was announced just a few weeks before the [[US]] launch of the Gizmondo, possibly prompting some potential customers to not buy the Gizmondo, and instead wait for the improved model, in an example of the [[Osborne effect]].<ref name="widescreen">{{cite news |url=http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/17/widescreen-gizmondo-specs-and-pics/ |title=Widescreen Gizmondo specs and pics |publisher=[[Engadget]] |date=2005-09-17 |accessdate=2007-11-23 }}</ref> |
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== Gizmondo 2 == |
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Former Gizmondo director [[Carl Freer]] announced in early 2008 his intention to relaunch the Gizmondo console; The Gizmondo 2. |
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The original planned launch date was [[May 2008]]<ref name="giz2-announce">{{cite web |url=http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/carl-freer-im-going-to-resurrect-gizmondo/ |title=Carl Freer:"I m going to resurrect Gizmondo" -- indeed he is |publisher=[[Engadget]] |date=2008-01-24 |accessdate=2009-07-09}}</ref>, but this was quickly pushed back to [[November 2008]]<ref name="giz2-ljungman">{{cite web |url=http://sandberghans.blogspot.com/2008/02/carl-freer-gizmondo-arrives-late-2008.html |title=Carl Freer: Gizmondo Arrives Late 2008 |date=2008-02-18 |accessdate=2009-07-09}}</ref>, along with details of a new company, Media Power, behind the launch, headed by Carl Freer and his Swedish partner [[Mikael Ljungman]] with development apparently proceeding according to the new schedule until at least September,<ref name="giz2-nov08">{{cite web |url=http://sandberghans.blogspot.com/2008/09/more-to-come-gizmondo-2.html |title=The Nordic Link: Gizmondo 2 Is Here - Sales start in November/December |date=2008-09-10 |accessdate=2009-07-09}}</ref> and by [[December 2008]], the console had still not appeared, and another announcement was made about a complete redesign as a Windows CE or Google Android powered smart phone.<ref name="giz2-smartphone">{{cite web |url=http://www.techradar.com/news/portable-devices/gizmondo-2-turns-into-a-smartphone-496745 |title=Gizmondo 2 turns into a smartphone |date=2008-12-22 |accessdate=2009-07-09}}</ref>. |
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Since then, the Media Power website has gone offline, co-founder Mikael Ljungman has been arrested and accused of serious fraud<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cphpost.dk/news/crime/45916-bagger-points-finger-at-swedish-partner.html |title=Bagger Points Finger At Swedish Partner |publisher=[[Copenhagen Post]] |date=2009-06-10 |accessdate=2009-07-09}}</ref>, and nothing more has been announced about the console or smart phone. |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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* {{dmoz|Games/Video_Games/Console_Platforms/Gizmondo}} |
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* [http://www.gizmondohomeworld.com Gizmondo Home World] |
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* [http://www.gizmondoforums.com Gizmondo Forums] |
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{{dedicated video game handheld consoles}} |
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[[Category:Gizmondo]] |
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[[Category:Hybrid handheld game consoles]] |
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[[Category:2005 introductions]] |
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[[Category:Future products]] |
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