iriver's G10 WiBro gamer reborn as the Postdata G100

iriver's G10 / Wing handheld game console has been a pretty serious flame-out for the company -- while the concept of an 8GB 4-inch touchscreen handheld that rocked wireless multiplayer features over WiBro and WiFi seemed like a winner, endless delays eventually resulted in the device falling off the radar, and eventually just falling off the company's plans. It looks like the G10 is about to get another go-around, however, as Postdata (iriver's development partner on the G10) is showing off a revised played called the G100 at the WiMAX World conference. The G100 features a 4.3-inch touchscreen, WiMAX, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a slightly modified keypad. No word on availability, but at this point Postdata's way ahead of the game by just showing off actual devices.

[Thanks, Brian]

[DVD eh? @ Sep 29th 2007 10:17AM]

Don't tase me WiBro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[melloncollie @ Sep 29th 2007 10:41AM]

You're an idiot.

[imacmatt09 @ Sep 29th 2007 10:31AM]

If it had a keyboard it would be everything the iphone that i would buy.

[^^ @ Sep 29th 2007 10:32AM]

It looks like a nice handheld game console for the MMOG addicts.

[Michael @ Sep 29th 2007 11:51AM]

Wow, this looks pretty cool. Well see what happens. Step in the right direction though.

The perfect handheld PMP/Phone would include (at least for me):

1. a 3.5 / 4 inch touchscreen
2. one of those new slim 80gig Toshiba hard drives
3. a well designed operating system and GUI
4. wi-fi / bluetooth (A2DP) / 3G
5. a mobile firefox web broswer, similar to the mobile safari web browser
6. a slide out gamepad like this would be super cool. Or at least one that could attach on.
7. MP4, H.264, Xvid, WMV, MP3, AAC, WAV, WMA, Audible, JPEG, PNG, file compatibility
8. A syncing program for organizing content, syncing content, ringtones, automatically downloading podcasts, and so on, but not required to be used. Something compelling enough that people want to use even if they don't own the handheld.
9. GSM/CDMA compatibility (or a different model for each where all but the phone radio remains the same)
10. ability to be used as an external hard drive.
11. removeable battery
12. full sized SDHC slot
13. aluminum and glass would be awesome (these really are the best material for a device like this)
14. Physical volume rocker, play/pause, skip forward/backward and silence buttons
15. Open API for third party GUI and Application development.

[Alex @ Sep 29th 2007 4:04PM]

That Would Be A Godly Device!!!!!!

[Shane @ Sep 29th 2007 4:31PM]

A potentially amazing device indeed if it could have all of those features at once...

Ah but the real question is how much would you be willing to PAY for such a device? There are those out there who would say "That couldn't possibly cost more than a few hundred dollars..."

With all of that tech in one device it could easily get very expensive very quickly.

It makes perfect sense (and there are devices that have come CLOSE) but for some reason nobody has hit on this magic combination. The only reason I can think of would be cost...Certainly the technology is there by now...

I suppose other reasons might be size, power consumption, etc but those can be overcome with clever engineering...Which would of course add to the cost...

[Alex @ Sep 29th 2007 4:41PM]

To Shane:

Very True

[charlie @ Sep 29th 2007 1:19PM]

looks like a design from space 1999. I think that ridged edge will make it uncomfortable for long gaming sessions, horrible joypad buttons too.

[melloncollie @ Sep 29th 2007 2:33PM]

Very mature.

[DVD eh melloncolliefag @ Sep 29th 2007 2:51PM]

>melloncollie @ Sep 29th 2007 2:33PM
>Very mature.

YOU started it dipshit.

[melloncollie @ Sep 29th 2007 5:07PM]

Because of that stupid taser reference.
It wasn't funny at all.
Especially what happened to him.

[Shane @ Sep 29th 2007 4:34PM]

Alright little troll...Go crawl back under your rock now...

[chefgon_ign @ Sep 29th 2007 5:12PM]

In the end it doesn't really matter. You can make the most amazing handheld gaming hardware in the world, but as a newcomer to the gaming hardware market you will never end up with any worthwhile games.

Outside of Microsoft, Sega, or Apple.. I don't think any company in this world would be able to realistically enter the handheld gaming hardware market with any level of success.

[rutsy5 @ Sep 29th 2007 7:58PM]

well, if it has any emulators (nes etc), thats all taken care of for ya! its like a low-power version of the various GP2X models, some of which which can do PSX, NES, N64, gameboy, etc. owners can download games they already own (fair use ftw!). There are tons of systems similarish to this already; many companies have not only entered into, but are solely producers of hand-held gaming consoles

[Jonathan @ Sep 30th 2007 3:11PM]

N-Gage sold over 2 million units. I don't think that's that bad. The games, towards the end of it's lifecycle, received extremely positive reviews as well.

I think it's possible to enter the market, just everyone who's tried hasn't done it well. Nokia didn't get their act together until it was to late. Tapwave Zodiac asked for to much money to play what were essentially palm os games. Gizmondo was a scam. I'm sure a lesser known company could come along and make an impact if they have good games from the beginning.

[JeffDM @ Sep 29th 2007 11:41PM]

What does it weigh? What are the dimensions? Is it going to be an inch thick? It looks like you might need cargo pants or a man-purse to carry that thing around.

[Raven @ Nov 5th 2007 1:05AM]

i actually like the original keypad/buttons better
although i have to agree that iriver has many times lacked the coverage it needed from bad marketing management