NVIDIA Open Sources SHIELD's Operating System

hypnosec writes "NVidia has now open-sourced the operating system that powers the gaming console to encourage its modification and further development. Powered by NVidia's homegrown Tegra 4 processor, the console runs Android, which shouldn't surprise many as the company moves ahead with its open-sourcing intentions. The GPU company has said that the SHIELD is an 'open gaming platform' that allows for 'an open ecosystem,' enabling developers to develop content as well as applications that takes advantage of the underlying hardware and which can be enjoyed on bigger displays as well as mobile screen." Playing with it isn't without risks (like potentially voiding the warranty), but NVIDIA's blog post says they're also providing a recovery image to fall back to.

Comments

Nick Fury was unavailable for comment

[Chris Mattern]

Also, there is currently no word if HYDRA's OS will also be open sourced.

Re:Nick Fury was unavailable for comment

[NoNonAlphaCharsHere]

Ever see the David Hasselhoff made-for-TV Nick Fury: Agent of Shield? (unintentionally) Funniest. Movie. Evar.

Seriously, wear Depends if you ever watch it, you're going to need them.

What exactly have they opened?

[fuzzyfuzzyfungus]

Isn't the 'shield' device running a GPL2 linux kernel (about which they have no legal choice on openness), some apache licensed Android components (dalvik, bionic, etc.) and a big Nvidia GPU driver blob?

It's nice of them to not be assholes about the bootloader just for spite (though I have to imagine that voiding the warranty of any device with an unlocked bootloader might not fly in jurisdictions where 'consumer protection' isn't a joke...); but what exactly are they 'opening'? Linux is GPL, Android is apache (and so could include proprietary modifications; but deviations from 'mainstream' Android aren't exactly a good thing), and the real meat of the device is a huge binary GPU driver, which Nvidia has no intention of opening.

Re:What exactly have they opened?

[jonwil]

Actually, NVIDIA have made moves towards opening up parts of the Tegra driver stack with plans to open source more going forward.

Re:What exactly have they opened?

[Bradmont]

Really? I'd love to read more about that.

Re:What exactly have they opened?

[NoNonAlphaCharsHere]

Yesterday's story was about how Qualcomm were being assholes just for spite about releasing the big GPU driver blobs for the bootloader for the new Nexus 7.

Re:What exactly have they opened?

[Desler]

You're welcome.

Re:What exactly have they opened?

[RMingin]

You know, I still wish the Linux Nvidia driver was fully open source, but they done a exceptional job of making large parts of the binary blob's support open and documented. This means while you still have a large blob acting as a black box, the inputs and outputs are at least well documented, and the supporting semi-open bits are often modifiable into working while you wait for a driver update to support new open tech XYZ. Specifically, most new xorg versions and kernel versions can be made to work with a few patches to the compilable parts of the blob's support, and Nvidia has been good about moving as much out of the blob as they can, without complicating their work or offending BS IP laws.

They get a big black mark for obfuscating the hell out of the open nv 2D-only driver, though. While they may be contributing nearly all the code, that doesn't make it ethically acceptable to obfuscate and encode the source till it's functionally unusable.

Really?

[TheSkepticalOptimist]

Is it because nobody is buying it, or even talking about it?

Re:Really?

[Anonymous Coward]

I bought it. it's actually an awesome piece of kit. great emulator support, plays nearly every game on steam, and is an awesome media streamer. Works great with my plex server. I couldn't be happier

Re:Nice idea

[Samantha Wright]

Nothing that couldn't be served better by dismantling the thing and taking out the chip, probably.

Voiding the warranty?

[adolf]

Seriously. Stop saying that playing with software somehow invalidates a warranty on the hardware. That is simply not how things work in the Unites States, so please just STOP SAYING THAT.

(All replies not taking the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act into consideration will be cheerfully ignored under the presumption of idiocy on the part of the respondent.)

Re:Voiding the warranty?

[DogDude]

YOU'RE RIGHT. If a manufacturer decides not to honor the warranty on the hardware, you're free to get an attorney to sue them in order to get your money back on the gadget you paid for. GOOD LUCK.

Re:Voiding the warranty?

[Jaysyn]

No lawyer needed in small claims court.