Gamecube Linux Port Announced, In Progress 258
NiteStar writes "A group of people from the homebrew scene and Xbox Linux have now started a new project to port Linux to the Nintendo Gamecube. A small preview version has already been released, it's a small application that draws Tux the penguin on the GameCube screen. The roadmap explains a small client will run on the Gamecube, so the 'GameCube could be used as a desktop computer, which stores its data on a server on the network. The GameCube has a CPU that is powerful enough to decode common multimedia data like MPEG-4/DivX and MP3. It can serve as a display unit for content stored on a server'."
Legal implications? (Score:4, Interesting)
As cool as these things are to play around with, they aren't worth sullying the GNU/Linux name... especially with the SCO situation looming. Does anybody know if this sort of concern is present with this code?
more wasted work (Score:0, Interesting)
It's just a geek thingy no? It's like a virus: install linux on everything. Don't get me wrong, I do like linux, but don't see the beneficts of running it inside a console being that a GC or a PS2 or whatever...
BZFlag (Score:4, Interesting)
Nice Media station (Score:5, Interesting)
No hard drive for easy locale storage. And may not be as simple as flipping a switch to boot from linux or from the default enviorment (i'm not sure how they're overriding the default start up)
but for gc owners a nice addition to it's funconality. The ability to stream music, and / or video via a silent (and micro) computer. No real fan noise in the background when listening to music, and a much better video out quality than S-Video on the typical video card.
While this is neat and all .. (Score:4, Interesting)
I just can't see it working as a cheap thin client, due to all the (extra) needed accessories, like keyboard, mouse, etc. XBOX would probably be much better for this, due to DVD + HDD.
And as for the multimedia terminal, I'd personally rather have one machine that does it all; acts as tv recorder, multimedia player, storage server and even all that in silence, so it can stand next to the TV. Again the XBOX would most likely be better for this.
Having said that, I think it's a neat project. If I was a kernel monkey, I'd probably spend some time on it too. I also love messing around with new projects myself. I'm not trying to troll (honestly!:), just expressing my concerns/views on the project.
Re:Legal implications? (Score:4, Interesting)
(And to prevent followup questions, no, it's not enough that the GC BIOS encryption is hacked to allow playing of games off mini-DVDr. It was on the Xbox, but Nintendo has additional security measures)
What's the VGA output like? (Score:3, Interesting)
Good vga output would make it a nifty little diskless terminal (the proper name for a "small client desktop computer which stores its data on a server on the network").
Some operating systems [bell-labs.com] were designed from the ground up to have diskless graphical terminals, even on serial lines.
Re:I hope Nintendo has more decency than Microsoft (Score:3, Interesting)
So the *real* question, in my mind, is: How we can steer things as society fragments between those who can "own" property, and those who are only able to "use" property?
Open source is one crucial part of helping prevent this fragmentation, along with creative-commons licensing of media (creativecommons.org), and perhaps organized educational campaigns to consumers letting them know what they are giving up in exchange for opening that shrink-wrapped EULA-laden widget.
But when corporate interests are intent on herding consumers into "Terms-of-Use" based agreements which prevent a consumer from actually owning something, what is the best way to combat this?
Re:And this will be useful because? (Score:3, Interesting)
You mean why not just buy an Xbox and give Microsoft money?
They allegedly "lose" money on every Xbox sold, but all that really means is that the boxes sell for less than they cost to make. But the thing is, the box has already been made, so Microsoft has already felt the cost. If I buy one, all I do is help reduce that cost.
So I decided to screw Microsoft over and buy a 'Cube.
This hack does sound like too much of a hassle for too little reward, though.
Re:Legal implications? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Legal implications? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Legal implications? (Score:3, Interesting)
Any type of GameCube Linux won't be very useful without being able to access the disc drive. So far, there hasn't been any progress on making discs that can be read by it. You pretty much have to have a DVD manufacturing factory to do it.
Re:I hope Nintendo has more decency than Microsoft (Score:2, Interesting)
I agree wholeheartedly. I have thought for a long time that once I buy something, it is mine to do with as I please. This also relates to MS' EULA. They say they are selling a license, which I never signed and I believe shrink wrap and click through are highly unenforcible, but in that license they state that they take no responsibility for damage caused by their product nor for its useability for the purpose intended. Therefore, what the hell are they selling?!?
If I install it on one or 12 computers in my home, for MY use, how does it affect them? I would not buy 12 copies of Windows and I can only really use one PC at a time. But that's not really the point, I don't use their software since it is not fit for the purpose that they sell it for.
As far as music goes, if I but the CD or cassette, I feel I have the right to listen to that music in perpetuity in any format I convert it into. When I was a kid, my dad had a reel-to-reel tape player. The player had excellent sound. He had recorded several LP albums to tape and had enough music to run several hours without changing records or flipping sides. I could listen to the Beatles, Tom Jones and Elvis for hours on end until I memorized those songs. Now you can do the same thing with your computer, but you can have all of your media stored and available at an instant and it takes up less space. I have 40GB of MY music ripped from CD. I own over 200 CDs, but its a pain to find the one I want. The kids kept getting into them and getting them out of alphabetic order.
I'm not sure where I'm going on this, but I just had to get it off my chest. I bought it, now stay out of my house.
Re:And this will be useful because? (Score:1, Interesting)
But wait! (Score:3, Interesting)
Sadly, none of these bootloaders are open source or GPL'd.
Re:Next Gen... (Score:1, Interesting)
I hate to disappoint you, but there's a lot of geeks that prefer working on orginal and useful stuff.
Those who can, create, those who can't, port.