Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 for PS3 Announced

News for nerds writes "Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 is slated for release mid-November with support for the Sony PS3 first, and support for the former Apple PowerPC product line to follow. Any updates required to support the Apple PowerPC systems following the release for PS3 will be made available via a free download."

Comments

Re:Yes, Linux is free.

[Rude Turnip]

Unless you're paying for packaging, documentation, support, etc.

The PS3 Details From What We Know So Far

[RichardMarks]

Correct me if any of this is wrong...

I assume the Yellow Dog Linux system will be installed on each harddrive - along with a BluRay system disc for people who need/want to reinstall. I remember someone from Sony saying something along those lines last year.

Full set of PS3 devtools included with each PS3 for homebrew.

The PS3 has full support for USB keyboard and mouse and other standard input devices.

The PS3 will be able to drive a standard monitor at 1080p - 1920 × 1080 rez.

Don't know if there will be two different boot options - or perhaps they will be using some of the OS virtualization stuff Cell supports.

Online gaming will be free - only MMORPGs will be charging.

There will be an online movie/music store.

You will be able to buy/download PS1/PS2 to your PS3 harddrive and play them.

You will be able to buy/download PSP games to your PS3 harddrive and play them on your PSP.

There is stuff where you will be able to stream content wirelessly from your PS3 to your PSP.

1080p games - the list of 1080p native PS3 games seems to keep growing everyday - I think there are about six just for launch and about 10 - 15 I've read about.

1080p BluRay movies

HDMI connector on both versions of the PS3

Full backwards compatibility with PS1 games through software emulation.

Full backwards compatibility with PS2 games through hardware emulation - PS2 chips in every PS3.

You can replace the harddrive with any laptop drive.

Keep hearing about DLNA compliance and people being excited about that - not sure why yet

All that for 499 in the US. Wow.

Also I remember talk of future PS3 versions with more RAM or multiple Cell chips are something Sony is planning. I would die for a dual or quad Cell based system with a couple gigs of RAM running Linux for my desktop.

Re:The PS3 Details From What We Know So Far

[RichardMarks]

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/16/sony-to-support- homebrew-with-linux-on-ps3/

"according SCE network system development manager Izumi Kawanishi, the console will ship with a built-in Linux OS, complete with compilers and other tools. It would seem that Sony is indeed inviting homebrew enthusiasts to develop basic applications and game content."

Re:The PS3 Details From What We Know So Far

[poot_rootbeer]

Correct me in turn if any of this is wrong...

Full set of PS3 devtools included with each PS3 for homebrew.

Unlikely. Enabling end-users to do homebrew is anathema to the Sony business plan, Net-Yaroze and PS2 Linux notwithstanding.

The PS3 has full support for USB keyboard and mouse and other standard input devices.

PS3 supports the USB standard. Whether drivers for keyboards and mice will be available is unknown.

You will be able to buy/download PS1/PS2 to your PS3 harddrive and play them.

PS1 possibly, PS2 unlikely. The DVD-based games are too big for most people to consider downloading.

You will be able to buy/download PSP games to your PS3 harddrive and play them on your PSP.
There is stuff where you will be able to stream content wirelessly from your PS3 to your PSP.

Technically possible, although the risk of being another Gamecube/Gameboy Advance Link Cable debacle is pretty high. A consumer shouldn't need to own a PS3 to get the most out of his PSP, or vice versa.

1080p games - the list of 1080p native PS3 games seems to keep growing everyday

Apart from tech demos, I'm not aware of more than one or two PS3 titles that will run in native 1080p.

HDMI connector on both versions of the PS3

Only on the $599 model, last I heard. No HDMI on the $499er.

Full backwards compatibility with PS1 games through software emulation.

Hardware, not software. The PS3 contains the PS2 chipset, which in turn contains the PS1 chipset.

You can replace the harddrive with any laptop drive.

Probably no technical barriers to doing that, but I doubt Sony will officially support any drive they haven't sold you themselves.

I would die for a dual or quad Cell based system with a couple gigs of RAM running Linux for my desktop.

You probably would have to die for such a machine, because Sony's not going to subsidize such a beast with hopes of getting it into your living room.

Re:The PS3 Details From What We Know So Far

[Anonymous Coward]

What was the point of your post?

Almost every single item you wrote about you are not only wrong but have to have been actively avoiding any gaming news for over a year.

HDMI is in the 499 version - confirmed almost a month ago.
The PS3 is designed for and full supports store bought harddrive upgrades - known since last E3 straight from Sony.
PS1 emulation has been software only since about midway through the PS2's life.
And PS1/PS2/PSP game downloads were just revealed last week.

Re:seems sketchy

[gEvil (beta)]

Now that the PowerPC platform is pretty much defunct...

You might want to let IBM know about that. It seems that they didn't get the memo.

Re:PSP Homebrew

[Anonymous Coward]

Sony had its own linux distribution on PS2 (even if they only did a limited run of it), specifically for homebrew, prior to that they had Net Yaroze on the original Playstation. So PSP is actually the system deviating from the norm here. The reason PSP hasn't had one? I don't know. But the constant firmware updates are to patch holes in the main PSP OS, which if left exposed, could offer avenues for piracy. Offering Linux on PS3 does not in and of itself make the PS3's 'Game OS' any less secure - there'll be updates to that OS, but that's living in a seperate world to Linux, and is irrelevant as far as Linux is concerned.

Re:seems sketchy

[bWareiWare.co.uk]

That would be the same PowerPC architecture that the PS3 uses then. The OS runs on the PowerPC derived PPE, the SPE are no use to an OS. All the OS can do is expose them is some useful way to userspace.

Sony are sinking some serious PR money into Terra Soft (the makers of Yellow Dog Linux) to develop some "PS3 based supercomputers":

http://www.cbronline.com/article_news.asp?guid=773 06D92-BC68-4133-B226-23636E116221

- Unreleased gaming console
The CELL was never going to be only for gaming consoles. YDL will be used on several of the biggest supercomputers in the world in a couple of years, not to mention a bucket load of IBM blade servers.

- which has been much-maligned for its excessively high price
No one ever said hi-end computing would be cheap.

- and huge production delays
Yes, but they are backed by Sony, they will already have their shipments earmarked.

- on a new processor architecture
Which is a derivative of the one they are the leading Linux experts on, and is likely to be a very major market in the coming years.

- using a WM that's not even out of CVS
Their core market is servers so this is totally irrelevant. I suppose they just wanted something flashy for the expos. (you don't get more flashy then a WM that can bring a 2Gb dual core gaming rig to its knees running xterm!)

Also, the PS3 supercomputer...

[Otter]

I've been grumbling for days about my submisisons on this being overlooked, but Terra Soft isn't just making the OS, they and Sony are building a PS3-based cluster.

You may now return to your regularly scheduled news about Jack Thompson and SCO.

Re:PSP Homebrew

[badboy_tw2002]

They don't really have a choice considering MS is allowing development with full HW access on the Xbox later this year through its XNA program. Having homebrew done on their terms means even less legitimacy for such things as mod chips, and control over things like copyright protection. 3rd party homebrew systems won't get much support because, hey, they already give it to you right out of the box. I don't see this as an issue though - this is a good thing, and hopefully both programs will be succesful enough that console development will open up even further in the future. Listen up Nintendo!