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Sony Starts a Standards War Over Wireless USB
Stony Stevenson alerts us to news out of CES that Sony has kick-started another standards war, this time over wireless USB. Ars notes that Sony "[never was] one to settle for an open standard when the opportunity to push a proprietary alternative presents itself." Sony's TransferJet technology uses low-power UWB at very short distances to transfer data at a nominal 520 Mbps. Almost every other large technology company — including Intel, Microsoft, HP, and Samsung — has embraced the W-USB standard, which promises transfer speeds of 480 Mbps at distances up to 3 meters, vs. TransfeJet's 3 centimeters.
Which is why they continue to add codecs that are generally used for non-commercial media, right? You can install Linux on it using a menu item which is specifically for that purpose, but the menu item ended up there because they were paying attention to other things. It was "easier" for them to support alternative operating systems, and to support customers that upgrade the hard drive themselves. They're not focused on the non-BluRay aspects, so they accidentally continue to add code that makes the system more open....
Right...
Benefit is that it is much more difficult for your device to be accessed maliciously. I can see a definite advantage in a system where you know that you must have such proximity to be able to effect data transfer. This is a good thing, since it requires intent before access can happen. Got a new device, and want to transfer your address book to it? No problem: just put the devices side by side and sync. Don't want anyone to be able to access your address book (yes, I'm talking to you, Paris)? Don't put your device alongside another device.
This is a GOOD idea.
Call me old fashioned, but I like a dump to be as memorable as it is devastating - Bender
If I remember correctly, some people were saying that sony only added the linux feature so that it be could considered a personal computer which is taxed differently in the EU.
You mad
Considering their announcement that the PS3 now costs under $400 to manufacture, you're probably right there. But that doesn't imply they're going to make the system less open. Their fancy graphics chip is still only accessible to licensees, and they seem to think that is sufficient for them to milk cash out of developers. It *is* sufficient.
The PS3 seems to me to be more born of learning the lessons of their failings with the PSP, and not of their focus on BluRay.