Slashdot Mirror
Android Applications Soon To Run On MIPS32 Chips
OrangHutan writes "Google's Android software source code has been offered up for those looking to create applications on MIPS32 chips, which are different from Intel's x86 architecture and used by companies such as Cisco (in its Linksys devices), Motorola (set-top boxes) and Sony (DVD players). MIPS Technologies made the announcement on Monday and is giving 'software developers an early access program for customers, which will give them access to MIPS engineers and specific hardware and software optimizations.' The article goes on to say that MIPS made waves at the 'Computex electronics exhibition in Taipei by showing off a home media player and a 10.4-inch LCD with a built-in computer both running Android. They were among the first non-phones to be seen running the Google-developed OS.'"
Before I could run Android on all my old SGI boxes that are collecting dust?
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
MIPS32 is different than x86? WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME!!@!@!>!@!!!!1!
Do you even lift?
These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.
Its true, just bing "Android Fridge".
Pass the kool aid, Marvin, cos I for one submit to our new robotic overlords.
x86? Android phones are ARM, aren't they, not x86? It's all linux kernel so it's ported to hell and back, I can't see this being a problem and wonder why is isn't already done.
Hmm. Interesting
Surfing the web with my toaster is all the closer! Can't wait til the microwave gets a virus and starts spamming government sites. Soon the meat compartment in my fridge will hold spam and will spam me with ads that it thinks I'll want... The future's so bright...
http://www.beanleafpress.com
The Sony PSP firmware uses digital signatures to reject unapproved applications, including all applications developed by students and hobbyists. Jailbreaks are fragile, often not working on the new firmware version installed on a new retail system or the new firmware version installed by a game. How would Android help?
As a regular slashdot reader and geek I otherwise really wouldn't know what MIPS32 means. Maybe I should post another how-do-I-do-my-job question for `ask slashdot'? I'll fit right in!
Did you actually just try to use 'bing' as a verb like google?
What a total fucking loser!
The 2F, which is currently the version shipping in cheap laptops, is fabbed on a very old process technology (two generations behind the Atom) but still manages to give decent performance per Watt. It will be interesting to see how quickly the Chinese catch up with the fabrication technology and how they improve the design in the next few years. It's also worth noting that the 3 series has a load of extra instructions that make it easy to emulate x86 and the published benchmarks show x86 code running in QEMU on the pre-release chips runs at around 70% of the speed of native MIPS code. Even if it's only 50%, that's probably enough for a lot of legacy apps.
I am TheRaven on Soylent News
Hopefully, since Android uses a java-like VM scheme, application would "just work" independently of the underlying hardware.
-- Sig down
you still have to port the VM and its subsystems. Just working is a bit over optimistic in my personal experience of switch architectures. Some one had to put in a fair bit of effort to make it happen.
“Common sense is not so common.” — Voltaire
This was done out of necessity. There are thousands of new devices coming out of Asia that are MIPS32 and tens of thousands already available. Not only are they handheld phones, smartbooks, netbooks, notebooks, and there are game systems like the Dingoo A320.
There are even desktop home computers. In China, the intention is that the indiginouos Loongson CPU, also known as Godson or Dragon CPU, would supplant Intel/Microsoft systems in China. Loongson is a MIPS32 chip.
Kriston
If not, the flash memory pins could be accessed directly. How else would any OS get loaded in the first place?
The memory is programmed and then soldered down. Good luck desoldering surface mount memory, reprogramming it, and resoldering it.
The only thing that would screw you is if the OS was loaded on to something read only such as ROM or flash with some kind of security bit that prevent any changes at all. But that would be a very bad design idea (have to get the software perfect before manufacturing release)
Some games for Nintendo DS were recalled due to programming defects and replaced. For appliances like routers, field patching is a convenience, not a necessity.
Android never ran on x86.
But it will. Read about a coming Acer laptop that dual-boots Android and Windows XP.
I'm growing tired of hearing about android when they only have one phone available in the US. how about no more android news until they release a new phone. deal? ok thanks