Android arcade
With Android Arcade, the senior editor of Android Central Android Myrick takes a deep weekly dive in retro games, emulation, pocket computers and everything else.
In ancient times, I used to continue the most powerful devices on which I could get my hands. This is always the case in some cases, but not with regard to new Android pocket computers that are published.
There are several reasons why you do not see pocket computers coming out with the Snapdragon 8 Elite, or even Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 from last year. The most obvious reason is the cost, because these chips are simply more expensive, which was going to put even more out of reach computers.
Another reason has everything to do with compatibility, because not all developers rush to buy a device with the last chip. More often than not, it will take months before an emulator is updated to provide any type of specific optimizations to the SOC. This is where Linux enters to save the day.
Compatibility is the key to emulation
I am not a developer, but I must imagine that even if a new chip was built on the same fabulous as the previous generation, this will not necessarily be the case with a new GPU. Without forgetting if it is an entirely new platform, as was the case with the Elite Snapdragon 8, which went to a 3 nm process from the 4 nm process of 8 Gen 3.
This means that your best bet for performance, stability and compatibility is a device powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Like luck, a trio of Android Android was based on this chip, and they just got an upgrade that I never really expected.
Before continuing, let me reiterate that I am not a developer, so I cannot explain the ins and outs with great details. With this away, let’s talk about the last construction of Rocknix And how it is now available on the Ayn Odin 2, Odin 2 and Odin 2 portal.
Linux comes to Android pocket computers
First of all, Rocknix is a personalized firmware based on Linux which is flashed on a microSD card. Once done, there is another file called “LINUX ABL MANAGER“It must be flashed on the device, which allows you to” start “from the microSD card instead of internal storage. It may seem intimidating, but it is really not so bad if you thoroughly follow the steps.
From there, it involves inserting the microSD card, restarting in the start -up charger and selecting “Boot to Alt Source”. A few minutes later, and you now have a Linux execution game game as opposed to Android.
You may be wondering if there is actually a reason for which you would like to do it, in addition to assigning your interior handler. To which I would answer: “Yes, and in fact, there are several.”
No doubt, the most exciting, for me at least, is the possibility of playing Xbox games on Android. And no, I don’t want to say with the help of Winlorator or Xbox Cloud Gaming. I mean you imitate Xbox games on these pocket computers using the XEMU popular emulator.
Earlier this year, you could have included the emulation of PS3 via RPCS3. However, this is no longer as much an obstacle thanks to the RPCSX-IU-Android. But for what it is worth, RPCS3 is also available on Rocknix, so you don’t have to go back and forth between him and Android for PS3 games.
The other major reason in favor of Rocknix, once again for me, is Portmaster support. It is a platform available on many retro pocket computers, because almost all depend on the personalized firmware based on Linux.
Portmaster is incredible
But what is Portmaster?
According to the websiteIt is described as “a simple graphical interface tool designed to facilitate the download and installation of play ports for Linux portable devices”. Basically, this comes down to being a way for you to download, install and update games that have been initially published for Linux or Windows on Linux -based Pocket Computers.
Think about it as a version of the Play Store, but just for many older games that were not available on pocket computers or phones. When writing these lines, Portmaster exceeded the title bar of 1,000, currently with 1,051 games available.
There are games that you can just download right away and start playing, like ApotrisA Tetris type game. But there are also games that require a little more to operate them, because you will have to have an original copy of the game in order to transfer certain files.
Once these files are in place, he left for shopping! Some of the most popular games include Stardew Valley, Half-Life, GTA: Vice City, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge and Balatro. Some of these games have already been worn on Android and are available on the Play Store. However, there are a few other games that you will not find anywhere else, or there is absolute pain to try to set up.
An exciting moments are there, with the right devices
All this may seem useless for some, because you can do it the majority with Android. In addition, you have the advantage of installing several emulators, as well as Winlator and Switch emulation. Two things that are not available natively with Rocknix.
But if you have one of these pocket computers and the time to tinker, I recommend that you take Rocknix for a turn. And if you don’t like it, no harm, no fault, because the firmware is installed on the microSD card and does nothing to the Android system. Just turn off the device, remove the card and start in Android without a hitch.
I hope a day when Android pocket computers get the most powerful processor, with support for the Linux and personalized driver. Unfortunately, I do not think it will materialize, but if there is one thing that the emulation community has proven, it is that Everything is possible.
