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Wii Will Have an Updatable Linux OS

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the penguin-with-a-wand dept.

eldavojohn writes "There's bits and pieces of information floating around that revolve around Iwata Asks interviews on Nintendo's website. What I found interesting was the tidbit about the updatable operating system: 'Wii is the first system from Nintendo that we can continue to be involved in (via operating system updates) after the customer buys it. This means that Wii will greatly expand and diversify the ways in which people will enjoy games in the future.' The Wii is reported to operate on top of a proprietary form of the Linux kernel, although there are already efforts to make a GNU/Linux for the console. So, the answer to the age old question is that it already runs Linux."

2 of 330 comments (clear)

  1. Re:"proprietary form of the Linux kernel"? by epi314 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    One possibility is that it might only run versions signed by Nintendo.
    This is a loophole that GNU GPL version 3 is meant to prevent.

  2. where does it mention Linux? by anon101 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Where exactly in the Iwata Asks article does it say it runs on a proprietery version of the Linux kernel?
    Infact where does it mention the Wii runs Linux on it at all?

    I think I found the story, thanks google. And it says that its a rumor from one of the designers who said:
    "Wii will have Linux as operating system with proprietary GUI and applications based on commonly open source for Linux programs."

    Since when did "GUI applications" count as in the kernel?

    Story found on:
    http://wii.qj.net/Wii-Will-Use-Linux-as-Operating- System-with-Proprietary-GUI-/pg/49/aid/60531

    Another quote direct from the so called "insider"
    but the final system in closed and will allow only signed code etc and will be very secure, even though it's technically compatible with a world of already existing software
    I bet Nintendo are thanking their lucky stars that GPLv3 isn't out and that Linus Torvalds prefers v2 anyway, isn't there going to be something in it about locking out modified versions?

    I am skeptical about this guy, but make up your own mind,
    Orriginal blog post about Nintendo Wii having Linux on it: http://saruwatari-wii.blogspot.com/2006/07/softwar e-in-wii.html

    If anyon can find a quote about a proprietery kernel please post a reply, :D