Hackers Get Linux Running On a PlayStation 4 (engadget.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Two years after the PlayStation 4 was released, and two weeks after it was jailbroken, a group of hackers has now successfully installed Linux on it. "...it appears that the fail0verflow team utilized a WebKit bug similar to the one recently documented by GitHub user CTurt and then took things up a notch. CTurt's workaround focuses on the PlayStation 4's Webkit browser, which is tricked into freeing processes from the core of the console's operating system by an improvised webpage. The PS4 is powered by Sony's Orbis OS, which is based on a Unix-like software called FreeBSD. With a route into the console's system, fail0verflow then identified weaknesses in the PlayStation 4's GPU. It specifically called out engineers from semiconductor company Marvell, accusing them of 'smoking some real good stuff' when they designed the PlayStation 4's southbridge chip."

Comments

Please let me informate you

[jabberw0k]

One software, two softwares, right? One hardware, two hardwares. One information, two informations. One firmware, two firmwares. Right? And when you correct someone ("it is one PIECE of software, or one PIECE of firmware"), the response is "English is a changing language" NO. Pardon me whilst I go eat some toasts.

Re:Okay

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

Microsoft don't hate Linux anymore.

Actually, they do.

Oh, sure, the "official" stance is that Linux and MS are the "bestest friends evar!1!", but the company and the employees still hate Linux. They see it as a threat and they wish it would die. They are not Linux-friendly and they trash-talk it whenever the subject comes up. Ask me how I know.

Re:A UNIX like system?

[unixisc]

Yeah, but FreeBSD is based on and built upon that. I don't doubt that FreeBSD would pass that test suite. But unless and until someone runs it and it gets that certification, it IS more accurate to call it UNIX like

Re:Okay

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

How do you know ?

I've been looking around Azure recently, and it's absolutely full of linux.

Yes, they have Linux distros as some of the choices, but so what? They only do this because some of their clients insist on Linux. It's no different than going to a Toyota dealer and buying a Honda Accord off their trade-in lot. Sure, they'll sell it to you, but they'd rather sell you a Toyota and will do everything in their power to sell you one rather than an the Accord.

Trust me, I work with these people and they really, truly do not like Linux or anything about it. They'll make it available to you in order to make money through Azure (which isn't half bad, actually) but they'd much, much rather that you use one of their canned Windows images.