Wii running Linux/

[ninzel]

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/10/08/1754219&from=rss
http://saruwatari-wii.blogspot.com/2006/07/software-in-wii.html


This was news to me. I thought some people might want to know if you are into hacking and getting linux to work on Wii.

 

[one]

Posts at Slashdot seem to suggest otherwise. I can't find the source of the rumor, either.

 

[ninzel]

I was hoping someone could confirm or deny this.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

That Wii is running on a Linux kernal isn't surprising. You need some sort of OS to glue the machine together and Linux is free yet versatile. Actually getting Linux on there is possible if Nintendo allow homebrew, but that's doesn't seem likely. My guess is no Linux OS at the user level, and all the user will see of it is whatever front-end Nintendo provide, which will be upgradeable like the other systems.

 

[[maven]]

This is pure rumor (and one that in my estimation could not be further from the truth), in particular as Linux is a rather bad fit for the needs of the Wii.
Of course Linux could (and probably will) be made to run on the Wii, but I strongly doubt that a company with so much of an "open" history as Nintendo suddenly embraces Linux and the GPL implications.

 

[sfried]

This is pure rumor (and one that in my estimation could not be further from the truth), in particular as Linux is a rather bad fit for the needs of the Wii.
Of course Linux could (and probably will) be made to run on the Wii, but I strongly doubt that a company with so much of an "open" history as Nintendo suddenly embraces Linux and the GPL implications.

Well, we never know untill we get out hands on one. For all we know "API" is just their fancy term for "Linux loading Wii software."

 

[Farid]

What rumors you're talking about, folks?

This is my blog about Nintendo Wii insider information. I guess you can consider them rumors, but I promise I have connection with Nintendo.

The guy promises that it's the truth, only the truth! Who are we to doubt him, I say.



Now, more seriously, as Shifty pointed out, it's not completely insane to imagine that the Wii OS uses the Linux Kernel, or any other *nix kernel. Now, as Shifty also implied, that doesn't mean mean much from a end user perspective. Even for the enthusiast crowd.

 

[digitalwanderer]

Where did you get that quote from Vy? It's priceless!

 

[StefanS]

Where did you get that quote from Vy? It's priceless!

From the about blurb of the blog, linked above which is probably the source of the rumour.

 

[Zaphod]

That Wii is running on a Linux kernal isn't surprising. You need some sort of OS to glue the machine together and Linux is free yet versatile.

I find that unlikely due to the GPL. Perhaps a BSD variant.

 

[Rolf N]

Posts at Slashdot seem to suggest otherwise. I can't find the source of the rumor, either.

It's actually right there:
"Wii is the first system from Nintendo that we can continue to be involved in (via operating system updates) after the customer buys it. This means that Wii will greatly expand and diversify the ways in which people will enjoy games in the future"

When those effin' eejits see "operating system updates" something inside their heads goes *pling*, their vision gets all blurry, and they'd swear that they just read "Linux".