Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 for PS3 Announced

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the some-people-seem-to-care dept.

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."

10 of 142 comments (clear)

  1. seems sketchy by Aurisor · · Score: 4, Interesting

    As I remember, Yellow Dog Linux was one of the better linux distros for macs back when they were still on the PowerPC platform. Now that the PowerPC platform is pretty much defunct, I can't help but think that them moving to a:

    - Unreleased gaming console
    - which has been much-maligned for its excessively high price
    - and huge production delays
    - on a new processor architecture
    - using a WM that's not even out of CVS

    seems like biting off more than they can chew, and smacks a bit of desperation.

    Don't get me wrong, I think it's possible, and once I get a PS3 (once the prices get down to sane levels) I think it'll be a neat product to play with...but I'm just glad I don't own any stock in terrasoft :)

    1. Re:seems sketchy by Blakey+Rat · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I agree. Part of me says, "well, that kind of makes sense seeing as they want to stay together as a group and keep doing work..." but a bigger part of me says, "why not just make the next release the last release, and concentrate their talents into some other distro?

      Or, even better, make a distro that still concentrates on Apple hardware, but Intel hardware instead of PPC hardware?

      Either way, moving to PS3 strikes me as a dead-end. It's been a full year and change, and nobody's figured out how to run custom code on Xbox 360 yet... what makes them think PS3 will be any easier? (For that matter, Xbox 360 has PPC CPUs also and is cheaper, why not try for that goal?)

      --
      Comment of the year
    2. Re:seems sketchy by jmorris42 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      > Either way, moving to PS3 strikes me as a dead-end. It's been a full year and change, and nobody's figured
      > out how to run custom code on Xbox 360 yet... what makes them think PS3 will be any easier.

      Well since they are announcing a product I'd say Terrasoft (and Terrasoft has a record of real product releases, i.e they ain't the Phantom Console) actually has PS3 prerelease hardware up mostly running. It would also be a fairly safe assumption that Sony is OK with it because they could shut em down pretty easy if they wanted to.

      Since the BD-ROM is THE big selling point of PS3 it would be daft if they tried releasing a distro that couldn't see it, perhaps this time Sony is actually going to allow Linux to run unmolested. WIth a proper TPCA implementation that would be possible while still locking games down hard.

      Imagine the PS3 running Firefox and OO.o and talking to a wide range of USB devices, including printers, cameras and MP3 players. I just hope Sony imagined it.

      --
      Democrat delenda est
  2. Using the joypad?! by Rik+Sweeney · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but:

    Are they mad? How the hell are you going to be able to send an email or write a program using the joypad? That'll take ages! Madness, sheer madness...

    --
    Summation 2
    1. Re:Using the joypad?! by MBCook · · Score: 4, Interesting

      <sarcasm>Yeah, it's not like the PS3 has USB ports.

      Just like the PS2 didn't have USB ports.</sarcasm>

      Seriously though, while anyone with a brain would use a USB mouse and keyboard, I'd love to see them make a joypad only interface just for the fun of it. I've got to say this whole thing is interesting, although it certainly doesn't make the $600 price tag any easier to swallow.

      --
      Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  3. Possible Uses... by cfulmer · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Hmmm... MythTV front-end?

    Having a widely-distributed set-top box capable of running Linux could open up all sorts of interesting projects.

  4. Re:Yellow Dog by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Well, considering Yellow Dog was developed as a PowerPC distro based on Red Hat, it all kinda makes sense.

    --
    This guy's the limit!
  5. Re:PSP Homebrew by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Sony had its own linux distribution on PS2 (even if they only did a limited run of it), specifically for homebrew

    Correct me if I'm wrong but sony never gave away all the information needed to fully utilize the hardware. I won't be excited until I know that will happen this time around. (And STILL won't actually be excited until the systems are available used.)

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  6. Re:PSP Homebrew by SQLz · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Sony is pushing PS3 homebrew development big time. They are building an entire community around Linux PS3 development. This is not normal Sony behavior for sure but, its in their best interest to do so. They are HEAVY Linux in the office ($1 to Microsoft is an investment into Microsoft) and basically, it revolves around the idea that the PS3 is going to be more of a personal computer / home entertainment / gaming box. At E3, Sony exec Izumu Kawabishi said "Because we have plans for having Linux on board the PS3 we also recognise Linux programming activities and we'de like to see various individuals participate in content creation for the PS3". The advantage is that more people will understand the architecture and create cool software for it. Its going to be sweet.

  7. Re:The PS3 Details From What We Know So Far by Spruitje · · Score: 2, Interesting


    The only problem is that 256MB is not enough to do much of anything. I mean, you can websurf or read email, but you need minimum 512MB to make a credible desktop system.


    Well, you aren't right.
    256 mb is enough to run a lot of apps on it.
    Most home servers run perfectly with linux and 128 mb.
    So, 256 mb should be enough for most tasks.
    Second, there is a rumor that sony will be installing linux on the HD with a lot of development tools so you can build your own games.
    Third, with linux on it it will also be possible to run MOL on it.
    And fourth, if there is enough demand for more memory in the PS3 sony will come with a system with more memory.
    It's all market driven.
    Maybe, there is a DIMM slot for extra memory onboard (who knows).
    What i've heard is that there will be a PS3 version with a multinorm tv-tuner and a larger harddrive on which you can store video (PVR function) and burn the video on blueray recordables.
    What sony knows is that the PS3 as a mediahub is the future, something microsoft completely missed with their xbox 360.
    And if sony offers this PS3 with larger harddrive, more memory, multinorm tv-tuner (and support for DVB-T, DVB-C and DVB-S) and a blueray recorder I will gladly pay up to 899 euro for it.
    To replace my PVR, DVD player and even my CD player.