PlayStation 3 may run on Linux
Published: 02 Apr 2003 11:44 BST
Pop open the bonnet of the next-generation Sony PlayStation game console or a BMW 745i sedan and you may well see Linux inside, said a member of the group promoting the growth of the open-source operating system.
Sam Greenblatt, a senior vice-president with Computer Associates (CA) and chief architect of its Linux Technology Group, told CNETAsia that Sony and BMW engineers were looking at switching to Linux.
"Embedded Linux free, is easy to deploy and has interoperability and backwards-compatibility standards," he said, explaining the appeal of the software. It also opens up opportunities for hardware makers to add advanced features as well as new avenues for game developers create and distribute software, he said.
Embedded Linux is a small-footprint version of the desktop and server operating system. It has been created for consumer devices and is promoted by the Embedded Linux Consortium. CA is a member and has developed over 60 software packages for Linux environments.
Today, enthusiasts can buy a Sony kit for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) that enables it to run Linux. Sony officials have said they are testing groups of Linux-powered PS2s hooked up in grids in an effort to boost processing speed.
The next version of the console, due in 2005, may run embedded Linux natively, said Greenblatt.
Embedded Linux's native ability to multi-task and handle multiple users lends itself to networked gaming. Linux consoles with a hard drive can store downloaded games, allowing for subscription-based usage, he said.
Recent moves by the consortium to establish guidelines that ensure greater uniformity should stop the fragmentation that can occur in open-source software, where each developer is allowed to make changes to the underlying structure of the operating system, he said.
In addition, he said that engineers at German vehicle maker BMW are also looking at embedded Linux to run the iDrive computer in the 745i sedan. The iDrive system was created to bring all car management systems under central "single-knob" control, but has gained notoriety for its glitches. It uses Microsoft's Windows CE operating system, a rival of embedded Linux.
Many blame poor application coding, but others say the fault lies with the operating system itself.
"Theoretically, Beemer drivers can adjust anything, move forward and not take their eyes off the road. But that assumes that iDrive is working," said Greenblatt.
"The work has progressed to look at Linux. I cannot speak for BMW but they are actively working on a more robust solution based on Linux, according to their engineers," he said.
Elsewhere, NEC and Sony sell Linux-based consumer electronics devices such as personal video recorders, while Motorola plans to use Linux for the majority of its mobile phones. IBM is working on using Linux for handheld computers.
Despite the enthusiasm shown for embedded Linux from some quarters, several developers are finding it hard to make a profit. Recently, one of them, Embedix, was bought up by Motorola.
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