Found this on ZDNet
PlayStation 3 may run on Linux
John Lui, CNET Asia
CNet Asia
April 02, 2003, 11:44 BST
Tell us your opinion
Engineers from Sony and BMW are looking at embedded Linux for use in future
products, according to the Linux Technology Group
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.
