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Linux for Home Electronics

Posted by michael on from the it's-just-better-with-the-penguin dept.

ives writes "Matsushita (Panasonic) and Sony are going to develop a Linux platform for digital home electronic devices. The nice thing is that they want to release the jointly developed source code for this project under the GPL. The press release mentions open source, the GPL and even Richard Stallman :^)."

8 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While the Sony's have lived in the modern world for awhile, and have gotten it, as well as being on both sides of it, Matsuhita electric is perhaps the most traditional and conservitive of Japanese companies. I have known these people (Matsushita) for much of my life, from some of their board members down. This is an organization so steeped in it's own traditions and dogma (yes, they really do have a "250 year" business plan, and never make fun of the founders light bulb socket :), with engineering departments so conservitivily organized, that for them to support open development of GPL software is really much like the Pope encouraging contraction!

    1. Re:Wow by krisguy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It makes good business sense to use GPL-ed software when you want to devise a new product.

      1. Low cost or no cost.
      2. If you give geeks a chance to play with it, they can start to tell regular people how it works, why they should get it, etc.
      3. Since most "regular" people don't care or don't want to know why it works the way it does, if the people who care why it works (geeks), show others that it just works, others will be inclined to buy that product.

      The moral: Most people will buy something if it simply works. Sony and Panasonic are letting us make sure it works before they mass-release.

      Great strategy for the companies and I get to fullfil my hacker tendancies!

      --
      I'm a hamker. Hams, hackers, same ethos, different medium. == 73 de KB0STG
  2. Cold down here. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hell really is freezing over. Please send us some hot coffee down here asap.

  3. I'm already cringing... by tmark · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm already cringing at what I *know* is going to happen. They're going to release some stuff - exactly what they're obligated to - under the GPL. But other stuff - say DRM - will certainly NOT be under the GPL. Then there's going to be such a hoopla and whining in forums such as this one even though these companies have done exactly what they're obligated to. "They should give back to the community", etc, ad nauseum, and some people will be wondering why, if the open/free software implies some sort of larger obligation to a community, why these weren't written into the licenses.

  4. Makes sense... by mshiltonj · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you want to sell the hardware, give the software away for free.

    You hear that, Intel?

    --
    Software Wars
  5. And how would this help me with home electronics?? by SwedishChef · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I got so carried away with my own rhetoric that I neglected to tie it in to home electronics so here goes:

    Thirty years ago anyone who understood electronics theory and vacuum tubes could fix any home electronic device. Simply understanding how electronic circuits worked meant that a tech could move from one device to another. And manufacturers didn't have to design a new theory for each device, they just wired up the vacuum tubes in new ways which were still understandable. All a tech had to do was look at the schematic diagram, apply a few standard tools (oscilloscope, VTVM, signal injector, etc.) and he (or she) could make it work.

    So if Sony uses Linux in its latest widget and you understand Linux, you'll understand how your widget works and how to get the most out of your widget. Plus, since Sony didn't have to design a brand new widget-operating-system, you will either be able to buy it cheaper than the Samsung widget or it will do more... or both. And if your widget breaks you won't have to buy a new one, you can just flash the bios and make it just like new.

    So putting widely known operating systems into devices saves money for both the manufacturer and the consumer. This makes us all happier and a few of us wealthier. If you learn Linux, and Linux is the OS they put in all these devices, you have a better chance of joining that few. :)

    --
    No one ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke!
  6. Re:Good by Greedo · · Score: 5, Funny

    There is a joke about your tooth being rooted in here, I'm sure ...

    --
    Tuus crepidae innexilis sunt.
  7. Put your tinfoil cap on by smiff · · Score: 5, Insightful
    I'm already cringing at what I *know* is going to happen. They're going to release some stuff - exactly what they're obligated to - under the GPL. But other stuff - say DRM - will certainly NOT be under the GPL.

    You aren't cringing enough. They don't need to keep DRM code closed source. They will simply design the system so it won't run unsigned code. If you make one tiny improvement to the code and recompile, it won't work. You will have no choice but to use Sony/Panasonic code.

    If you find a security hole, you will have to wait for the vendor to fix it. If you want to create software for the system, you will have to get the vendor's permission. In essense, it defeats the whole point of Open Source (putting you control, letting you improve the system, letting you fix the bugs, etc.).

    Of course I'm just speculating. It's possible they'll release the system without DRM, but coming from Sony, I seriously doubt it.