GammaOS Core First Look: RGB30 Renewed!

Salutations to friends and other fans!

I'm Mikhailov from Team Retrogue, a group that enjoys vintage video games and the gadgets that play them.

This week, Gamma Squeeze released a beta version of GammaOS Core for several RockChip devices accessible on his Patreon website. To provide preliminary feedback, I installed the beta on my Powkiddy RGB30. The beta has transformed and revitalized the RGB30, and I now utilize it much more. I am particularly thrilled about a few features of GammaOS Core, which I will highlight in this blog.

Retroarch Pre-Configured

RetroArch can be challenging to set up and configure, but the GammaOS core eliminates all the uncertainty. The well-known emulation program comes preinstalled, with all hotkeys set up and cores downloaded.

GammaOS Core will identify your second SD card as an external SD card if it already has a ROM configured. In a few minutes, you can play games using RetroArch as your front end.

Additionally, Gamma tuned a few of the cores for you. Try the Game Boy Advance. You won't be let down.

Plain Launcher

A streamlined variant of Android that runs on devices without a touchscreen is called GammaOS Core. The difficulty of configuring Android handhelds without a touchscreen is well-known to those who once had Retroid Pocket 2 handhelds.

Fortunately, this operating system has a Plain Launcher that is very easy to use with the buttons on the Powkiddy RGB30.

The files app and the system's onboard controls can also control the keyboard design. Installing some suitable apps wasn't difficult at all.

Holding down the power button allows you to adjust settings like screen brightness, return to the home screen, and terminate background apps that may slow down the system.

ES-DE Compatible

You can sideload Emulation Station Desktop Edition if you want something other than RetroArch. It functions exactly as it should. You may download themes and scrape Boxart on any Android smartphone. Nevertheless, I encountered several problems using ES-DE on a less powerful handheld.

Sometimes, scraping box art causes the gadget to run heated and freeze. It is crucial to scrape box art one system at a time. Considering that MinUI could be loaded on mobile devices like these, I decided on a MinUI-based theme, which may be counterproductive. But I like it, and I can change whenever I want to.

Aurora Store and Standalone Emulators

I downloaded Drastic from the Aurora Store on the Powkiddy RGB30. Apart from actual hardware, Drastic is the best way to experience the Nintendo DS. I needed an external mouse to set everything up, but once I had one, I set the pointer down to R2 and assigned a virtual stylus to the bottom screen. I could simulate playing DS games on a 1:1 screen with virtual touch controls in this method.

I'm excited to see what the experience will be like when I try PPSSPP next.

Closing Thoughts

Although it has several faults, this operating system is quite feature-rich for an early version. The device ran a little warm, and it did freeze on me a few times. But thanks to The Gamma Squeeze's diligence, I am thoroughly enjoying my Powkiddy RGB30. The experience has made me eager for more betas and the actual release of GammaOS core.