SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
Atari will crowdfund an "Ataribox" console this fall, but it can do much more than play old Atari games:
Atari released more details about its Ataribox game console today, disclosing for the first time that the machine will run Linux on an Advanced Micro Devices processor and cost $250 to $300.
In an exclusive interview last week with GamesBeat, Ataribox creator and general manager Feargal Mac (short for Mac Conuladh) said Atari will begin a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo this fall and launch the Ataribox in the spring of 2018. The Ataribox will launch with a large back catalog of the publisher's classic games. The idea is to create a box that makes people feel nostalgic about the past, but it's also capable of running the independent games they want to play today, like Minecraft or Terraria.
The new box will have an AMD custom processor with Radeon graphics. It will run the Linux operating system, with a user interface it's customizing for TVs. Mac said that the machine will run PC games, but it will also be capable of doing streaming, running apps, browsing the web, and playing music. As far as games go, the machine will run the kind of games that a mid-range PC can do today, but it won't run Triple-A games that require high-end PC performance.
[...] "People are used to the flexibility of a PC, but most connected TV devices have closed systems and content stores," he said. "We wanted to create a killer TV product where people can game, stream and browse with as much freedom as possible, including accessing pre-owned games from other content providers."
So it's a PC that comes preloaded with Pong, Asteroids, and presumably E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Who needs this?
Also at PCWorld, BGR, Gizmodo, and Techpowerup.
It seems whoever owns the Atari name [takyon: Atari, SA] is going to cash in with a new Linux and AMD based "console". I guess Hollywood is not the only one that can drag up old properties and wring the blood from them. Might make a decent Steambox, I suppose. Also, wouldn't be complete without crowdfunding!
(Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Wednesday September 27 2017, @06:33PM (16 children)
While on the tpoic of nostalgia - can anyone point me to an RF to HDMI-solution?
I really would like to keep enjoying my consoles, the issue are those with RF out only (have an RCA/SCART to HDMI converter, so an RF to RCA would work as well)
And I want it standalone, I don't mind building my own circuits if needed - but I do have an issue with the "use a vcr"-approach (VCRs are getting harder to come by)
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 27 2017, @06:40PM
Have you checked at RadioShack?
(Score: 2) by edIII on Wednesday September 27 2017, @07:15PM (1 child)
VCRs are hard to come by?
Computer store next door has a thrift section with two brand new Jaz disks and an actual working Jaz drive. Not to mention three VCRs sitting underneath a shelf. Goodwill always has a VCR. Like always. No idea on how to create your converter, but I know there are a couple of people here that could flat out design one for you.
Just curious, but which consoles do you have that are RF only? I'm assuming they predate Nintendo because it has RCA outputs. IIRC, my Atari 2600 did have coax. I thought it did at least.
Technically, lunchtime is at any moment. It's just a wave function.
(Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Thursday September 28 2017, @01:23AM
Since I'm bordeting on hypochondria I refuse second hand, and even in junk surplus stores I havn't seen a VCR in years (they ran out there before in conventional stores - the wonders of a good recycling sysyem)
And what devices I have thar are RF only - well, yes, I do have an Atari 2600, havn't taken a real close look at the C64 or VIC20 (current TV handles RF - I'm planning for when ot dies in 10-15 years), have a few oddballs [mixed bag of old industrial machines, videocameras, innards of an arcade-machine...].
(Score: 1) by Yaa101 on Wednesday September 27 2017, @07:56PM (4 children)
How about google?: https://www.google.com/search?q=RF+to+HDMI [google.com]
No comment...
(Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Thursday September 28 2017, @01:34AM (3 children)
Sure, if it wouldn't also match "digital coaxial", or "HDMI to RF" or "HDMI to RCA" (gotta love when searchengine returns more stuff you didn't searcg for than what you search for).
The few relevant hits are in the 100usd+p&p and almost always carries with them a few unwanted designchoices, but even so... It should be a simple circuit to convert RF to at least RCA (I saw lots of such drawings back in the late 90s, can't find 'em today)
(Score: 1) by Yaa101 on Thursday September 28 2017, @02:34AM (2 children)
Maybe you need to look for rf to s-video?
No comment...
(Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Thursday September 28 2017, @03:29PM (1 child)
Somehow that had completly escaped me and yielded lots of useful ideas, thanks.
(Score: 1) by Yaa101 on Thursday September 28 2017, @11:08PM
You're welcome...
No comment...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 27 2017, @08:05PM (1 child)
You'd be looking for an RF demodulator. After having a gander around, it looks like that would be in the ballpark of $100. (Make sure it's for NTSC or PAL or SECAM depending on your region rather than ATSC or DVB)
That said, have you considered modding in composite video? That should be relatively straightforward for nearly any machine that shipped with coax output, and would give a much cleaner signal.
(Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Thursday September 28 2017, @01:37AM
I'd rather just build/buy one box than having to mod about a dozen machines. (Also, I'm not a fan of cracking open old consoles).
Yeah, when DVB appeared pretty much all analouge disappeared, and here the change to DVB for TV happened quite a while ago.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday September 27 2017, @08:26PM (1 child)
I have several RF-to-VGA converters, they are ~10 euros, you can connect them to VGA-HDMI if you want, but I guess there are RF-to-HDMI converters too. Try to search for external tv tuner.
(Score: 2) by Aiwendil on Thursday September 28 2017, @01:25AM
Happen to have a make/model or similar on those? Would be a very useful startpoint.
I have VGA to HDMI (and vice versa) around already.
(Score: 3, Informative) by RamiK on Wednesday September 27 2017, @09:11PM
You'd really want to clean the signal at the source: http://etim.net.au/2600rgb/ [etim.net.au] as mentioned here: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/262209-what-is-this-witchcraft-heresy-2600-switching-power-supply-modification/ [atariage.com]
Look up youtube for the reviews.
compiling...
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday September 28 2017, @02:57PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 28 2017, @05:02PM
There's always the do-it-yourself route. xD http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-an-RF-adapter/ [instructables.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 28 2017, @05:29PM
There's also this https://www.amazon.com/Converter-Analog-Receiver-Full-without/dp/B06XP2VSTD/ [amazon.com]