Leapster Explorer
Contents
Project Summary
The Leapster Explorer (like its predecessor the Didj) is a toy produced by Leapfrog marketed as an educational handheld gaming console for kids aged 4-9. Although it has a proprietary graphical front end, it runs a generic Linux distribution on the same ARM9-based processor as the Didj. Console access to the Explorer is achieved using the same method as found on the Didj.
Lots more information on the Didj
Source Code
2011-06-02 Release
LF-Linux-2503-20110602-1237.tar.gz 132MB
LF-OE-545-20110602-1237.tar.gz 340MB
LF-ThirdParty-7594-20110602-1237.tar.gz 20MB
2010-10-26 Release
LF-Linux-8291-20101026-1425.tar.gz 99MB
LF-OE-346-20101026-0945.tar.gz 337MB
LF-ThirdParty-8291-20101025-1623.tar.gzz 20MB
2010-06-10 Release
LF-Linux-6905-20100610-0915.tar.gz 94MB
LF-OE-251-20100614-0852.tar.bz2 320MB
LF-ThirdParty-7299-20100609-1458.tar.gz 20MB
Emulators
Tutorials/How To's
Hacks
- Connect your Leapster Explorer to your television!
- How to Overclock your Explorer
- Changes to your system that will make your life easier
- How to make a NAND cartridge
- Forcing a Firmware Version Update
- Camera Interface
Booting From External Sources
- Testing Kernels via USB Boot
- USB Boot without LFConnect
- Developer mode settings for USB Boot
- UART Booting and Compiling Emerald Boot
- FTDI JTAG How To
- Pollux(LF1000) JTAG Wiggler HowTo
- Using the GPIO subsystem to change boot options
- Cartridge Boot Settings
Networking
Adding Device Drivers and Packages
- Linux Framebuffer Driver
- How to Patch and Build the MMC Drivers
- How to Install OpenEmbedded and Bitbake
- How to Extract Files From the Firmware LFP file
Cross-compilers / Build Environments
- Creating a Kernel Build Scratchbox
- Setting up a Cross Compiler Build Environment and Basic Usage
- An alternate cross compiler, built with crosstool-NG
- RidgeRun Toolchain
Development
- Random Explorer Notes
- Building The Explorer Root File System
- Linux Framebuffer Driver
- Building libSDL
- Building SDL_ttf font library
- Building SDL_image library with jpg and png support
- Building SDL_mixer audio library
- Building tslib
- SDL Resources
Applications
- Play Theora Video files from the LX UI
- Load your own Flash files from the LX UI
- STC (Simple tetris clone using SDL)
- Compile and install mplayer for the explorer
Graphics
Games
Technical Information
Contents of erootfs version 1.0.8.6905
Contents of erootfs version 1.1.46.8291
Contents of erootfs version 1.3.4.2044
More Internal Photos Of the Explorer
CPU
- OEM branded version of the MagicEyes Pollux VF3520F Datasheet
- Marked "LF-1000" - LF-1000 Specifications
- ARM926ejs core
- Same CPU as found in the Didj
- Clocked at 393MHz
RAM
64MB DDR SDRAM - Nanya NT5DS32M16CS-5T
Storage
512KB NOR - SST SST39VF040 (suspected for boot loader and default settings)
512MB NAND - Micron MT29F4G08AAC (for user data)
Display
1x Giantplus GPM824A0
Audio
1x Cirrus Logic CS43L22 audio codec
Networking support
Via USB Gadget Ethernet
Interface types
USB host/device
UART
Physical connectors
- Cartridge socket (providing NAND, SDIO and UART)
- 2x CL245a Low-voltage octal fet bus switch
- Mini USB port
- A proprietary form-factor accessory port for USB camera
- DC Power
- Headphone
- charger socket
Input devices
buttons, Touchscreen/stylus
Linux kernel
2.6.31
Misc
Flash support (via Flash Lite runtime)
OpenGL support
The explorer can use a didj power supply
