Pandora versions - how many were there really?

[Grench]

So, chasing a question sideways through the Wiki and the FAQ pages I wasn't able to find a definitive answer. I know that there were several different versions of the Pandora. Some had visible differentiation, some didn't.

The main three:
Classic 600Mhz 256 RAM & 512 NAND
Rebirth 600Mhz 512 RAM & 512 NAND
1Ghz 1000Mhz 512 RAM & 512 NAND

However, there was rumored to be a -very- short run of Pandoras with a spec bump on one of the components. I can't recall if it was on the RAM or on the NAND or other. I understood that these were sold as regular Pandoras and the component was later activated via an OS update. Do those Unicorn Units have a name or did I just coin one? Can anyone validate the existence of these? Does anyone active on the forum have one?

There were different system board productions & revisions, screens and display cables through the product lifespan. I'm not sure we could document all of those.

Were there any other sub-categories or oddities?

 

[ingoreis]

Unicorn Units?

Wow i am very interrested as Pandora Collector.
Did not heared anything of that.

I know that a very few GHZ Units can run stable with 1,3 GHZ and a higher Sysspeed.
Did you mean them?

that these were sold as regular Pandoras and the component was later activated via an OS update

Never heard of that..maybe you are thinking about the Wifi Chip?
Yes the Wifi Chip in the Pandora is exactly the Same like in the HTC-Dream and we got many many Updates and fixes in the Past on that Wifi Driver.
(Thanks to Notaz and his Patience and hard Work for us here)

Or do you mean Special Editions like mine Golden Pandora?

or maybe the Retro Style one Pandora?

BTW..

I gave this Blue Special Pandora to EvilDragon on the Gamescom as a big Thank you
Ptitseb got something Special from me too...a very very fast 2000x Speed SD Card for compiling Things for us

 

[Swordfish II]

There were a few that had more NAND if I remember correctly

 

[EvilDragon]

Yep, about 80 or so have 1GB NAND.

Sent from my XT1650-03 using Tapatalk

 

[notaz]

Right.

 

[rygD]

Yep, about 80 or so have 1GB NAND.

Sent from my XT1650-03 using Tapatalk

Were these Unicorns all 1GHz? If so, maybe any that are stable with a high overclock should be called Pegasus. Or maybe that will be the P3*.


*I know we have stuck with direct lineage so far, and my study of Greek mythical figures doesn't come across those much, so I would need to consult my books for a better fit, even if it doesn't start with P.

 

[Grench]

Yep, about 80 or so have 1GB NAND.

Sent from my XT1650-03 using Tapatalk

It's a great Easter Egg for those who got them. I suspect you may have missed an opportunity though. The collectors and spec chasers would have paid $100+ more for the 'special 1Ghz & 1GB edition'. If one of these ever hits Ebay, I'm curious what it could/would go for. It doesn't add much for capability - but it sure would be great nerd credentials.

So - what do YOU call the 80 or so Pandoras with 1GB NAND? They should get a note in the Wiki - complete with how to determine if a unit is one (See Notaz post above).

Were there any other 'intentionally odd' Pandoras? (other than one-off colors & aesthetics)

The Pyra is going to so eclipse the Pandora in capabilities - all versions.
Roughly 8x the CPU, 30x the NAND, 4-8x the RAM, more USB, etc...

 

[rygD]

He doesn't call them anything different, so I think you named em.

 

[EvilDragon]

No special.name for them. I also have no clue who got them (except the one notaz has)

Sent from my XT1650-03 using Tapatalk

 

[ckblackm]

and now everyone goes and check's theirs.... (darn it.)

 

[elw3]

I think older firmware versions dont show this extra nand. So these who never update their pandora wont ever find out.

I gave this Blue Special Pandora to EvilDragon on the Gamescom as a big Thank you
Ptitseb got something Special from me too...a very very fast 2000x Speed SD Card for compiling Things for us

Phew... helloooooo Santa. I want a cleaning bot for christmas.
[doublepost=1504776191,1504775817][/doublepost]Hey do the TV editions count as version too?

 

[levi]

Unless dmesg simply doesn't know about the 1GB models of NAND, and somehow miscategorises them as 512MB versions in old firmware, this dmesg test will still show differences between 512MB versions and 1GB versions.

FWIW, my GHz Pandora positively identifies it's got 512MB of NAND on the latest firmware. Mine came in late 2012, IIRC.

 

[elw3]

Are you expecting normal users to use dmesg? I meant its not shown in the file manager.

 

[rygD]

Are you expecting normal users to use dmesg?

Um...yes? Maybe I am confused.

 

[Grench]

I seem to recall that there were some Pandora boards released as 'set top boards' - maybe something that was sold without a display? What was different on those? Was there anything different to do with the charging circuit? Is there a method to identify them?

I have a Pandora board that exhibits odd-ish power behavior. It does not recognize the battery or power via the mini USB port. When plugged in with a Pandora barrel jack connector it turns on and boots. It then claims that the power source is a battery at 81% regardless of whether there is a battery in it or not. I'm wondering if I may have gotten ahold of a 'set top' Pandora system board or some other permutation?

 

[PowerGod]

When plugged in with a Pandora barrel jack connector it turns on and boots. It then claims that the power source is a battery at 81% regardless of whether there is a battery in it or not.

Both my Pandoras acted at the same way, but one was a Rebirth from Craig and the other a 1Ghz from ED (a year after)

 

[EvilDragon]

I seem to recall that there were some Pandora boards released as 'set top boards' - maybe something that was sold without a display? What was different on those? Was there anything different to do with the charging circuit? Is there a method to identify them?

They had a broken LCD Connector - that's the only difference. They're normal Pandoras without a lid.

I have a Pandora board that exhibits odd-ish power behavior. It does not recognize the battery or power via the mini USB port. When plugged in with a Pandora barrel jack connector it turns on and boots. It then claims that the power source is a battery at 81% regardless of whether there is a battery in it or not. I'm wondering if I may have gotten ahold of a 'set top' Pandora system board or some other permutation?

The Mini USB Port doesn't work for power until the unit has booted up.

The charger always reports 81% if it doesn't recognize the battery properly.

So it seems your Pandora doesn't find the battery and therefore it also doesn't boot with the Mini USB powered.

Could be the charger chip or the battery that's broken here.

 

[Grench]

They had a broken LCD Connector - that's the only difference. They're normal Pandoras without a lid.



The Mini USB Port doesn't work for power until the unit has booted up.

The charger always reports 81% if it doesn't recognize the battery properly.

So it seems your Pandora doesn't find the battery and therefore it also doesn't boot with the Mini USB powered.

Could be the charger chip or the battery that's broken here.

I tried with a brand new battery, so I'm inclined to think it is the charger chip as the LCD connector connected and is working fine - on AC main. Good to understand what is up with it though and why it behaves as it does. It will simply have to be an AC only Pandora.

Thank you!
[doublepost=1510865111,1510864952][/doublepost]

Both my Pandoras acted at the same way, but one was a Rebirth from Craig and the other a 1Ghz from ED (a year after)

This is a 1Ghz board that I picked up second-hand. Frankly, I'm thrilled that it mostly works. Were you ever able to get either of those running?

 

[rygD]

What kills the charger chip?