Playing with Sony's Linux-Based Networked Media Player

ZorinLynx writes "A while back, Sony released the NSP-1, a 'Network Storage Player.' It is intended to be a source of video for signage, such as plasma displays in banks, airports, and so on. I got a chance to play with one today. It's Red Hat Linux-based, which seems unusual for Sony! Though pricey at $1995, it's an interesting use of Linux, and could probably be hacked into a nice set-top video jukebox. It has a nice small form factor, as well as ethernet, USB, and video output in various formats, and a PCMCIA slot for removable media."

Comments

Overall, a fun hack.

[fembots]

So where's the "review" on this NSP?

The article is more about trying to log into Red Hat without a password ( BTW is it really that easy?).

Here's my submission

"Playing with Toyota's Civic"

This morning when I was about to go to work, I realized I have locked the car key inside my 1989 Civic, everything was locked and I can't remember where I put the spare key.

Arrgh. After some fiddling with the keyhole, though, I found that I have left the driver side window slightly opened! The gap's big enough to slide a coat hanger in! So I grabbed my trusty coat hanger, made a hook and the opened the door.

The car has a steering wheel, AM/FM radio, few buttons, pedals and seats. I also have a Knoppix CD and some Open Source documents in the glove box. Now I really don't want to sell it especially I can only fetch less than $200! ARRGH!

Re:Overall, a fun hack.

[Anonymous Coward]

Doesn't Honda make the Civic?

Re:Overall, a fun hack.

[ZorinLynx]

Heh. I actually wish I had gotten more time to play with it, but it had to go back where it came from as soon as I "fixed" it.

I was just surprised to find out this thing even existed, and that Sony was using Linux in one of its products. Sony has always come off to me as a company that does everything their own proprietary way, and gives the finger to most open standards. (Memory stick, anyone?)

-Z

Re:Overall, a fun hack.

[William Robinson]

The article is more about trying to log into Red Hat without a password ( BTW is it really that easy?).

Yes.

All you need to do is ...
1. Boot from external device like CD. (If you are using installation CDs, use linux rescue option.)
2. Mount the appropriate HDD partition.
3. chroot it.
4. now use setpass to change the password.

I prefer to set password for setup, which prevents intruders to change booting options. If the intruder can not boot from an external device then it is almmost impossible for him/her to log in.

Re:Overall, a fun hack.

[chaotixx]

Your car is worth way more than $200 dude. Civics made by Toyota are really rare and I bet collectors will pay big bucks for them. If you have an '89 I think it might be one of a kind!

Re:Overall, a fun hack.

[Beryllium Sphere(tm)]

>I prefer to set password for setup, which prevents intruders to change booting options.

That does raise the bar, but every motherboard I've looked at had some way to bypass the BIOS password, and in extreme cases someone with unsupervised physical access could pull out the hard disk and copy it. Not to mention that an attacker could read and write arbitrary memory if the machine has a Firewire port (http://pacsec.jp/advisories.html).

Re:Overall, a fun hack.

[michrech]

This is slashdot. Facts don't matter here. :)

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$1995??

[XanC]

For cryin' out loud! Mod an Xbox, people!

Not the first Sony-Redhat collaboration

[mo]

FYI, the t10000 (Playstation 2 Development Tool) runs a version of redhat. Something ancient like RH4.2 if I'm not mistaken. You don't ssh into it or anything though, but it's web admin allows you to upload rpms to upgrade various subsystems on it.

not suprising...

[Anonymous Coward]

Sony has used Red Hat Linux before. I work in the broadcast industry and I find it interesting that they use linux in a lot of their products. (both Red Hat and Debian) The thing that surprises me though is the price...

When I saw the headline...

[slapout]

..."Playing with Sony's Linux-Based Networked Media Player"...

my first thought was, "Someone's already ported Linux to the Playstation 3!" :-)

This is /. Front page material?

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow, This is more of a page from someones personal diary.

'Dear Diary, I saw NSP-1 today in the halls today. I'm so in love.' XXOOXX

So why not replace the Headline with...

"Sony's NSP-1 Device runs Redhat Linux"
Would be so much simpler and straight to the point. It isnt even for normal use, its to run large plasma screen billboards. (Think Statium's big screen, only higher quaility). I could see something like this to say, run a home entertainment system.. but this? Eh, intersting one liner at best.

How did /this/ get on the front page anyways..

Sony TV

[poppageek]

I bought a Sony 34" widescreen CRT TV. In the documentation was a copy of the GPL. Seems the menu runs Linux. They list the kernel, busybox and about 6 libs. I submitted it as a story but was rejected.

I thought it was interesting as it takes awhile for it to display anything when you first turn it on. I thought the CRT needed to warm up. Maybe it is just Linux booting.

Re:Sony TV

[ZorinLynx]

My 32" CRT TV stays dark for a few seconds and then suddenly turns on. Not sure if it's linux booting, or just a circuit that suppresses the picture until the tube warms up so you never see a dim, blurry image before it's optimally warmed up...

-Z

Pioneer Plasmas Too

[asv108]

On the same note, I recently purchased a Pioneer Plasma TV and found notices for the linux kernel and openssl. Apparently the media box that comes with the display runs on Linux and uses openssl.

Re:There:-)

[MostlyHarmless]

Yay Linux sightings, but: what does it mean if two random slashdot users both saw those seats needing a reboot? Tell them you saw a BSOD instead, and we'll just not take credit for that particular system...