It's not really an OS per se - **It's actually a heavy transplant and modification of Miyoo's stock OS with a lot of community-maintained apps**, specifically built around the instant Game Switcher menu. **A lot of Onion's implementations also exist on other linux handhelds**, usually with connectivity options, up-to-date RetroArch versions (Achievements are packaged within RetroArch), EmulationStation frontend for game artwork scraping and custom themes, etc. **They exist mostly to boost a lot of good UI designs of the Miyoo and work around the shortcomings behind them.**
Ultimately, **Onion's standout feature is the Game Switcher menu** which I wish were used more on other similar systems, even though other handhelds' EmulationStation+RetroArch users typically can go by with a "recent" list and autosave menus.
Actually I want this OS to be taught in history books, in computer OS UI design text books, and make it to be the world's most installed OS of all time, like a full monopoly of linux distro space, and make sure that smartphones will become a fad like minidiscs while handhelds with OnionOS last till the end of human civilization. I want supercomputers to run OnionOS. I want actual ONIONS to be able to run OnionOS.
This is my dream. I do fine with batocera, it has allowed me to play retro stuff on a TV with Bluetooth remotes and gave new life to an old 2009 laptop. But man, do I wish I could slap Onion on it.
I kinda just wish there were more Miyoo-like simplistic snappy grid-based ES menus and the Game Switcher as a more intuitive "recent" list than the "recent" list.
Due to chipsets and hardware, the developers would have to port it over which is a lot of work when they are often still busy working on devices it's already on. Sometimes it's not possible with some SoCs but the big factor as far as I'm aware is a handheld company's willingness to share source code and the (chip manufacturer's willingness) with the community developers. Without source code, things get tougher.
I have always felt that the handheld companies should support community developers more than they do. Without CFWs a lot of these devices would have never been popular. The V1 Miyoo Mini when it first came out was a mess.
Most of the CFWs, the work is publicly shared too so anyone interested in putting in some work and doing their own ports is almost always possible.
Short answer: yes. Longer answer chipset and other hardware. It’s like getting a new MacBook Pro and complaining that you can’t install windows XP on it.
Edited:typo
on the Android defense side.... They do make Emulation Station for Android now. Change the loader to ES and you can make it just a emulation front end... Works awesome and makes it just like a dedicated console.
I don't know how to do any of that stuff on android... and not that I got a miyoo I can finally be happy with an OS I like. JUst a shame all these other handhelds are just trash now (to me).
There are some form of ports to eg. Anbernic devices called Garlic OS. As for Android you can customize it as much as you want and install anything you want. Neither Onion nor any other "OS" compares to Android in this regard.
I think Android even got EmuDeck installer of its own which should make emulation easier than ever. Can't confirm if that's the case on Android but on Steam Deck it's awesome.
It's not really an OS per se - **It's actually a heavy transplant and modification of Miyoo's stock OS with a lot of community-maintained apps**, specifically built around the instant Game Switcher menu. **A lot of Onion's implementations also exist on other linux handhelds**, usually with connectivity options, up-to-date RetroArch versions (Achievements are packaged within RetroArch), EmulationStation frontend for game artwork scraping and custom themes, etc. **They exist mostly to boost a lot of good UI designs of the Miyoo and work around the shortcomings behind them.** Ultimately, **Onion's standout feature is the Game Switcher menu** which I wish were used more on other similar systems, even though other handhelds' EmulationStation+RetroArch users typically can go by with a "recent" list and autosave menus.
And yes, I wish OnionOS could be an alternative to Batocera for PCs.
Actually I want this OS to be taught in history books, in computer OS UI design text books, and make it to be the world's most installed OS of all time, like a full monopoly of linux distro space, and make sure that smartphones will become a fad like minidiscs while handhelds with OnionOS last till the end of human civilization. I want supercomputers to run OnionOS. I want actual ONIONS to be able to run OnionOS.
This is my dream. I do fine with batocera, it has allowed me to play retro stuff on a TV with Bluetooth remotes and gave new life to an old 2009 laptop. But man, do I wish I could slap Onion on it.
I kinda just wish there were more Miyoo-like simplistic snappy grid-based ES menus and the Game Switcher as a more intuitive "recent" list than the "recent" list.
This is the correct answer.
Due to chipsets and hardware, the developers would have to port it over which is a lot of work when they are often still busy working on devices it's already on. Sometimes it's not possible with some SoCs but the big factor as far as I'm aware is a handheld company's willingness to share source code and the (chip manufacturer's willingness) with the community developers. Without source code, things get tougher. I have always felt that the handheld companies should support community developers more than they do. Without CFWs a lot of these devices would have never been popular. The V1 Miyoo Mini when it first came out was a mess. Most of the CFWs, the work is publicly shared too so anyone interested in putting in some work and doing their own ports is almost always possible.
Hey now, Miyoo totally supports OnionOS by * checks notes * adding an OnionOS skin to their default firmware?
Lol. Yeah ...
Short answer: yes. Longer answer chipset and other hardware. It’s like getting a new MacBook Pro and complaining that you can’t install windows XP on it. Edited:typo
XP lmaoooo
on the Android defense side.... They do make Emulation Station for Android now. Change the loader to ES and you can make it just a emulation front end... Works awesome and makes it just like a dedicated console.
I don't know how to do any of that stuff on android... and not that I got a miyoo I can finally be happy with an OS I like. JUst a shame all these other handhelds are just trash now (to me).
The OS is like a key and the hardware a lock. You have to shape the key for the lock or it won't work.
Professional programmer here and this is a great metaphor.
Yeah I took a term of assembly, not a pro but enough to understand 😂
There are some form of ports to eg. Anbernic devices called Garlic OS. As for Android you can customize it as much as you want and install anything you want. Neither Onion nor any other "OS" compares to Android in this regard. I think Android even got EmuDeck installer of its own which should make emulation easier than ever. Can't confirm if that's the case on Android but on Steam Deck it's awesome.