Lindows CEO Funds XBox Hacking Contest
Kai writes "PCWorld.com recently posted an article on how Lindows CEO Michael Robertson is funding the 'Linux on XBox Hacking Challenge'. He was previously annonymous donor who donated $200,000 to the project. His donation will be split in to two prizes, one to who completes part A of the challenge, and the other to the who completes part B. Part A, running Linux on the XBox, has already been completed, but Part B, running Linux on XBox with no hardware modifications has yet to be completed. Part A of the challenge can be downloaded from Sourceforge." Without a bios change, it seems like part B might be a bit tricky. T. adds: Tricky, but not hopeless. Eric C. writes "The Neo Project recently updated its client so users can use free processor cycles to try and crack the private key that Microsoft uses to sign Xbox software."
I guess they sourceforgot to check their posts before submitting them to the front page.
The way it works is, once the hardware is hackable without any physical modification, Lindows Company buys mass quantities of Xboxes from Wallmart for $199/unit, loads Lindows OS on it, and sells it to consumers for a new low price of $59 dollars at the same Walmart chain.
Sure, they will take a loss of about $140 dollars, but they're counting on the royalty fees from Click'N'Game warehouse with such titles as:
Tux Racer Ultra
Totally Real Tournament 2003
Beyond Tetris eXtreme
Revamped version of Minesweeper in 3d
...and finally, gnuCash.
.NET .. but that's just a rumor iirc.
The most important feature in the upcoming Lindows XBOX of course would be the ability of users to CHANGE THE WALLPAPER and Play Music on it (MP3). Just think of the possibilities. This revolutionary "box" will change the way people experience mediocrity.
Insiders tell me that Lindows, headed by genious Michael Robertson, is moving full scale ahead with this new business plan, plus more. And something about Colonizing Planet Mars and training chimps to be able to write clean C#, server side code for web applications in
Mr. Robertson's project is indeed important, but am I the only one having trouble using vi with a gamepad?
And New Jersey.
-
ping -f 255.255.255.255 # if only
The guy funding the Linux XBOX project is a direct competitor of MS. Kinda cheapens the whole thing, duddn't it?
:)
:)
Who else do you think would sponsor such contest?
Frankly I was a bit shock to know that the man behind is not Larry Ellison.