Virtual PS3 on a PC???

[Tsmit42]

Last night I was thinking about how I was going to setup my new apartment. I plan to get a 30" LCD-TV for my bedroom to use as a HDTV and computer monitor. I also plan to get a 50" DLP-Projection TV for my main viewing of movies, etc.

The setup seemed fine at first but I started to wonder about where I would hook my ps3 up at. For playing games, watching movies, and listening to music the 50" is a no-brainer. However, I also want to use the PS3 to do some programming, video editing, music editing, etc., but I can not imagine doing that on a 50" tv on a couch. So I started to think about how I could solve this problem without buying 2 PS3s.

My first solution would be to get a long VGA/HDMI cable and running it from the ps3 positioned by the 50" to the bedroom. The VGA cable would run $80 bucks and I don't know how the quality would be, and a 100' HDMI cable would be much more expensive. The VGA solution would also need to have a sound cable running with it as well. The HDMI solution is out the window since I would be better just buying another PS3, so the VGA solution seemed to be the way to go.

The solution seemed fine, then I started to think about how I could control the console. Bluetooth is not very reliable through walls and solid structures. I will try this solution first(since it would be preferrable and I could play the ps3 on either tv), but doubt it will work.

Okay enough of my rambling, I will get to the topic at hand.

I remember a while back I was using a program that would display the screen from one computer onto another with a rather crappy video feed. I was thinking that the PS3 could take this to another level with its 1Gbps networking. This would work with the Linux OS and take the final image, use 1 SPE to quickly compress the image to fit into the 1Gbps stream and send it over the network. The program on the PS3 linux would hide the mouse on its screen so you would not have double mouse. The computer that you are on would only need to decode the rather low processor intensive compression(since we don't need/want a very efficent codec) and display the pixel to the screen and send the mouse/keyboard actions to the ps3.

The main problem would be the increased latency, which I don't know how bad it would be. It would be worst than a native soluion but maybe it will not be too bad.

So the questions to the people that has worked with this sort of technology iare;

1) Do you think something like this would be possible, if not why???

2) I know it is possible to do with video, but can you send audio the same way as well?

3) How big is a 720p final image uncompressed?

 

[jvd]

I also want to use the PS3 to do some programming, video editing, music editing, etc

Perhaps the best course of action is waiting to see if the ps3 will allow you to do these things .

Now how about you get a spliter . Plug the ps3 into it and run the wire from one screen and then to the other . Hopefully the wireless controllers will work through walls (the wave birds will depending on the wall )

Would solve alot of problems . However its clearly to early to plan these thigns as many things are uknown

 

[Tsmit42]

I also want to use the PS3 to do some programming, video editing, music editing, etc

Perhaps the best course of action is waiting to see if the ps3 will allow you to do these things .

Now how about you get a spliter . Plug the ps3 into it and run the wire from one screen and then to the other . Hopefully the wireless controllers will work through walls (the wave birds will depending on the wall )

Would solve alot of problems . However its clearly to early to plan these thigns as many things are uknown

Well with the PS3 able to run Linux, it's giving that the ps3 will be able to perform these functions. The spliter and cable would cost a bundle compared to a 100' network cable. But these is besides the point. I am looking at the technical aspect of it all.

 

[jvd]

its not a given as we don't know what form of linux will be used . Or what sony will do interms of security and other things to prevent viruses and other dangrous things from getting on the systems .

Sony can use thier own version of linux that allows and restricts certian things from running .


also u don't need a spliter . Just get a switch box like they sell at gamestop. However get a box that has 1 input and 2 or more outputs . Thus your not spliting the image your only changing the cables its being sent to . I can't imagine it being more than 20-40$

 

[Tsmit42]

its not a given as we don't know what form of linux will be used . Or what sony will do interms of security and other things to prevent viruses and other dangrous things from getting on the systems .

Sony can use thier own version of linux that allows and restricts certian things from running .

Okay all fine and dandy. So lets just look at this as hypothetically as if the ps3 could perform the functions, ok?

 

[pegisys]

1. I think you are expecting to much from a ps3, and even if it did do things like video editing, sound editing and programming would still be easier on a pc.

2. audio will be easy, but I would look into streaming it from a pc to a receiver, they sell all kinds of cheap devices to do this they may work with the ps3 aswell.

3. a 1280X720 bitmap is 2.63MB, I don't know if that will be the same as an uncompress video frame though

for what you want you can buy 2 ps3's or a ps3 and a pc with linux and mythtv, you may be able to share files between the two

 

[Tsmit42]

1. I think you are expecting to much from a ps3, and even if it did do things like video editing, sound editing and programming would still be easier on a pc.

2. audio will be easy, but I would look into streaming it from a pc to a receiver, they sell all kinds of cheap devices to do this they may work with the ps3 aswell.

3. a 1280X720 bitmap is 2.63MB, I don't know if that will be the same as an uncompress video frame though

for what you want you can buy 2 ps3's or a ps3 and a pc with linux and mythtv, you may be able to share files between the two

1. Well I appreciate your concern, but you cannot program for a cell processor on a pc. Also, using the huge fp processing of the cell for video processing is a bit interesting than using a $600 processor that is less capable.

2. Well I was looking not to run many cable all over the place.

3. Thanks.

I know I can buy 2 ps3s but that is $300-400 more, much more than a $10 cable and some software. However, what is this mythtv you speak of?

 

[scificube]

What about that remote reciever thing Sony is supposed to sell...some sort or remote video device...couldn't you use that?

 

[Tsmit42]

What about that remote reciever thing Sony is supposed to sell...some sort or remote video device...couldn't you use that?

Do you have a link to it? I have never heard of it before, maybe that would solve the problem.

 

[one]

If PS3 runs Linux, why not just use X server or VNC, or even ssh if you prefer a dumb terminal?

 

[scificube]

What about that remote reciever thing Sony is supposed to sell...some sort or remote video device...couldn't you use that?

Do you have a link to it? I have never heard of it before, maybe that would solve the problem.

Nope. Sorry.

I learned about it here though. IIRC the demo of 1000 vid streams on the PS3 is related to this device.

I'm sorry if I'm wrong about this in advance.

...should research before I speak.

 

[Tsmit42]

If PS3 runs Linux, why not just use X server or VNC, or even ssh if you prefer a dumb terminal?

That is what I wanted to know, if the ps3 could be efficently used to run a program like VNC. VNC as it exist today probably don't take advantage of the cell architecture. So do you think a program or spinoff of VNC could be used on PS3? It seems like it would not be that hard?

 

[one]

If PS3 runs Linux, why not just use X server or VNC, or even ssh if you prefer a dumb terminal?

That is what I wanted to know, if the ps3 could be efficently used to run a program like VNC. VNC as it exist today probably don't take advantage of the cell architecture. So do you think a program or spinoff of VNC could be used on PS3? It seems like it would not be that hard?

Sorry for redundant post, hadn't read the latter part of your first post well.
Then your first project on PS3 Linux may be SPE-optimization of Remote FrameBuffer protocol in an Open Source VNC program, or you can expect someone else do it in due time...