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IBM's Next Cell Processor is Dead in the Water

Paul Lilly — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:50 -0600

Talk of the technology behind the PlayStation 3 console always turns to the Cell processor, an innovative chip architecture which, in the PS3, contains essentially 9 processors on single chip (one PowerPC chip and eight Synergistic Processing Elements, or SPEs). And up until now, there was no reason to believe Sony wouldn't once again go with a Cell processor in its PlayStation 4 console, but there now lingers some doubt if the chip truly is "dead in the water, as David Turek, IBM's VP of Deep Computing, supposedly said.

The quote comes from German webiste Heise Online, which goes on to claim that the planned successor to the current chip, which is slated to have two PowerPC processors and 32 SPEs, is no longer going to be released.

What exactly that means isn't entirely clear at the moment. So far, there's no evidence that IBM is halting development on Cell processors, only that the specifically planned successor has been canned. If we're to take a glass half-full approach, that could mean the PS4 will utilize an even more power Cell processor, though it's far to early to tell.

Image Credit: dlb-network.com

Rumor: Sony to Port Firefox to the PS3

Ryan Whitwam — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:33:48 -0600

Firefox is a force to be reckoned with in the desktop browser space. But could the Mozilla foundation be looking to port it to the PS3? Playstation Insider claims that Sony and Mozilla are in talks to do just that. "We recently received a tip from a source very close to Sony who says that they have been in talks with Mozilla lately about possibly porting Firefox over to the PS3," said Playstation Insider’s Dustin Rudzinski.

It’s no secret that the Playstation’s current browser is nothing to write home about. So access to a “real” browser would be a real treat for PS3 owners. The tipster didn’t know if any deal had actually been struck, but what a pleasant firmware update that would be. So PS3 owners, if you had Firefox on the console, would you actually use it to browse?

CryEngine 3 Now in the Hands of Third-Party Developers

Nathan Grayson — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:34:15 -0500

CryEngine 3's officially ready for third-party consumption, and Crytek's released a new trailer to celebrate. Despite Crytek's jaunt into console land, the trailer's still bonkers beautiful. Don't believe us? See for yourself. Or, if you'd rather read about the feast your eyes are gearing up to scarf down, look at this:

“CryENGINE 3 also introduces CryENGINE 3 Live Create™,” reads the press release. “It allows developers to work with a single editor, but see and play the results in real-time on PC, PS3 and Xbox360, hooked up to a single dev PC. The engine takes care of the conversion and optimization of assets in real-time; enables instant, cross-platform changes to any part of game creation and as a result materially increases the speed, quality and significantly reduces the risk of multiplatform development.”

Granted, everyone and their ITT Tech professor is developing cross-platform games these days, but we still think this has the potential to radically alter the triple-A game development scene. Less muss and fuss over the eccentricities of other videogame platforms (*cough*PS3*cough*) could lead to faster development cycles. And developers might also end up saving a buck or two here, which is never a bad thing. This is all just speculation on our part, though.

Would any game developers in the audience care to enlighten us?

10 Awesome Linux Applications for Your PlayStation 3

Chris Comiskey — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:30:00 -0500

So you’ve installed that shiny Ubuntu distro onto your PlayStation 3 and finagled a couple of cool applications to boot. And yet, there’s still a lot of empty real estate on that newly formatted hard drive, and you’re no doubt pondering what else you can load up on your now living room-friendly PC. Turns out, there are literally thousands of options available; but the task of sorting through the seemingly endless lists and testing each and every app to see if it suits your tastes and jives with the PS3 can be a daunting task. But luckily for you, we’ve done exactly that; we rolled up our sleeves, burned the midnight oil, and muscled the necessary digital elbow grease to whittle down the Ubuntu archives to the top 10 absolute keepers. So what are you waiting for? Plug in your PS3’s keyboard and mouse, fire up Jaunty Jackalope, and read onward to get cracking.

Last.FM

If you’re at all serious about home media, you probably have a badass audio system hooked up to your entertainment center. And let’s face it; the best PC speakers out there just can’t compare to the flagships that make up a home theater’s THX configuration. So it’s only natural that you prefer listening to music outside of the setup sitting beside your main computer. Enter Last.FM. It serves as an always-on background radio station, catered and tweaked to stream random audio tracks precisely suited to your personal tastes. Here’s how to grab it:

Open up FireFox and punch in www.last.fm

Next, travel to Applications => Add/Remove Programs. Ensure “All” is selected in the upper left hand corner of the titles column, and also that the “Show” menu reads as “All Available Applications.” In the search field, type out “Last FM” (minus the quotation marks), and then make sure you tick a checkmark to the left of the name.

Then press “Apply Changes.”

(Note: All applications included inside our list will be installed in the exact same way. Simply follow the same instructions above and substitute the corresponding application name in the search field.)

After Last.Fm has installed, you’ll be prompted to fill out some information. Hit “Next” from the beginning, and then enter your user name and password when prompted.

Now hit “Finish” to close the setup.

Navigate back to Applications=>Sound and Video=>Last.FM

At this point, all you have to do is enter a tag or an artist to get the gears moving, crank the volume, and enjoy the music.

Audio CD Extractor

Streaming radio stations with randomized songs are great, but sometimes you just want to kick back your feet, reminisce, and dust off your ancient CD collection (hey, Steppenwolf had some great tracks, after all). But one thing your PS3 is not is a 10-disc CD changer. What to do? Easy. Download Audio CD Extractor and rip all those golden oldies straight to Ubuntu’s default music folder. Find your way back to the Add/Remove section, and throw the app onto Ubuntu.

Once you’ve installed the program, go to Applications=>Sound and Video=>Audio CD Extractor. Now, just slide in your favorite CD, check off each track you’d like to rip, and then hit “Extract.”

Let the program run for a few minutes and you’ll be on your way to tipping back brewskis to a stored digital copy of Magic Carpet Ride in no time flat.

Twitux

Why should twittering be limited to your handheld or primary PC? You’ve already got a mouse and a keyboard in your capable hands anyways- might as well put them to good use and let the world know what wacky hijacks are transpiring under your roof at this very moment. Who says geeks aren’t social? But first we need to acquire the vehicle for our literary public ramblings, so go ahead and install it per the previous instructions and then look to the text below.

After the install, navigate to Applications=>Internet=>Twitux. Log in and connect via the embedded menu.

Now you’re all ready to catch up with your buds, stalk some celebs, and do some typin’ of your own… within the limits of 140 characters of course.

KQ

You liked playing Nintendo. And you know you liked playing the original Final Fantasy. If you didn’t like those things, you’re either hopelessly deprived, or sadly out of touch with the awesomeness that was the 8-bit era. But whether you’re a diehard retro aficionado or a born-again gamer ready to embrace the evolution of the consoles’ past, it’s not too late! KQ is a strangely addicting RPG that more or less clones the gameplay from the first edition of an iconic series. If you loved Final Fantasy or Dragon Warrior, but you’re yearning for some new material along the same veins, you’ll adore KQ and its tongue-in-cheek subtle humor. The sound can become a little wonky at times, but it’s a time-killer regardless. Install the app and then continue below.

To run the game, journey to Applications=>Games=>KQ.

Once loaded, press “F1” to get a list of the controls and settings, and get ready for some serious old-school RPG action.

CheckGmail

You have a Gmail account, right? (If not, you really should get one). Just because you’re relaxing or eating a snack within eye-shot of your dormant TV doesn’t mean you should go uniformed of important messages like upcoming TF2 practice sessions. CheckGmail is a useful tool that informs automatically of any new arrivals to your online inbox. Best of all: it’s unobtrusive, elegant, and a cinch to use, just as anything Gmail-related should be. It also looks great on a big-screen LCD. When a new message pops in, a gentle reminder flashes on the screen, notifying you that rather than eating that hamburger, you really should be logging into the TF2 match server as a medic about now. After the usual installation steps, follow along downward.

Click Applications=>Internet=>CheckGmail. Once the app launches, fill in your user name and password. Leave the external commands as they are, and hit “OK.”

CheckGmail will run by default in your taskbar. Configure it to check for email as often as you like, from every five minutes to every hour.

GFTP

If there’s one thing Ubuntu and Linux in general have trouble doing, it’s playing nice network-wise with Windows PCs. In fact, creating a shared folder from Ubuntu to Vista over a wireless connection can be a flat-out nightmare. This can be doubly frustrating if you’d like to swap over existing large media files to your PS3, and you don’t have an enormous backup USB storage solution. However, if you have the option of an FTP alternative, GFTP flies in to the rescue. It more or less copies the functionality and features of Filezilla (which, unfortunately, isn’t compatible with Ubuntu PPC). Still, GFTP is the next best thing. Its transfers are speedy and reliable, and it’s relatively straightforward to operate. Install it and follow below.

Mosey on over to Applications=>Internet=>GFTP. Once GFTP opens up, just fill in the domain name or FTP IP address, your user name and your password, and hit enter. After that, it’s as easy as dragging and dropping.

ScummVM and Beneath a Steel Sky

Sam and Max notwithstanding, the PC’s adventure gaming realm is all but dead. Sadly, the genre went before its time. But that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate its life by reliving the classics that once populated the spectrum, and ScummVM is the means to do so. But the app will do little good standing all by its huddled lonesome, so we’ve joined another app that goes together with ScummVM like peanut butter and jelly: Beneath a Steel Sky- one of the pinnacles of the point-and-click adventure medium. Best of all: both of these apps are available for download absolutely free. Trust us, if you fancy yourself a PC gamer, this is an experience you can’t miss (especially on the big screen). Yeah- it’s a classic, so the graphics may not be up to par with that of, say, Crysis, but the gripping narrative yanks Prophet’s fancy nano-suit down around his ankles and calls him Susan. If you enjoy an interactive graphical story and some brilliant puzzles, it just doesn’t come much better than Beneath a Steel Sky. So follow those install steps, taking special note to check off BOTH apps after first searching for ScummVM in the application repositories, and then continue on below.

Go to Applications=>Games=>Beneath a Steel Sky

Note: There’s no need to run ScummVM before launching the game, as Ubuntu already does so automatically.

The controls are fairly basic: right click to examine, left click to interact and move about. To bring up your character’s inventory and in-game menu, hover the mouse pointer on the upper top edge of the screen. And that’s really all there is to it. Now you’re prepared to show your dinner guests what REAL geeks consider classic gaming.

Jokosher

We’ve recommended a few audio-related apps already, and for good reason: everything just sounds better on home speakers, even if they’re the middle of the road variety. But what to do with all those musical tracks sitting on Ubuntu just begging to be mashed together and harassed? Wouldn’t it be nice to edit a long group of singular clips on the robust size of a lavish 46-inch flat screen? In walks Jokosher, a brawny audio editor that contains a plethora of options to tinker with and explore. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Jokosher is just the right fit. Nab it by reading the installation steps mentioned in the beginning of the list; then afterwards, cast your eyes below.

To open the app, meander your mouse icon over to Applications=>Sound and Video=>Jokosher

Click “Create New Project,” and give the project a name, and press “OK.”

If you’ve tangled with Audacity once or twice, Jokosher should feel eerily familiar. But if you’re still left scratching your head, check out the official site’s user manual located here.

AllTray

AllTray is one of the most elementary apps on this list, but it’s also one of the handiest. The concept is straightforward: you open AllTray, a small pointer takes the place of your mouse, you click on any open window, and then the program or file gets docked into your taskbar as a tray icon, while still remaining 100 percent active (albeit mostly hidden). While it seems rudimentary at first, we found ourselves using this little gem over and over, especially when running multiple programs in concert with each other and wishing to avoid the opened visual clutter and annoyances of minimized horizontal columns. Install the app, and then read below to run it.

Go to Applications=>Accessories=>AllTray

From here, click on any open window, dock, repeat.

Look to the upper right hand corner of your screen to see the new icon associated with your freshly docked app. It’s that easy.

Have any other Linux/Ubuntu apps that you use on your PlayStation 3? Share your favorites in the comments section below!

How-To: Install Ubuntu and Linux Apps on Your PlayStation 3

Chris Comiskey — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0500

If you're only using your $500 PlayStation 3 for console gaming, you're missing out on half of its hidden versatility: the ability to upgrade into a fully functional PC! Inside that shiny plastic shell resides some decent computing silicon, just waiting to be released from its undeserved console shackles. And while Windows Vista and OSX are no-goes due to legal issues, there's no reason at all not to dual boot into a perfectly serviceable Linux platform when the need arises.

The installation process is fairly straightforward, and the hard drive is easily upgradeable if you don't mind spending a little extra cash on the side. And while Ubuntu for PlayStation has a few functional limitations, you can find myriad excellent applications for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own living room, including VLC for encoded video playback, Amarok to blast your digital music library, and some classic SNES emulation software that you can play using your PS3's Sixaxis or Dualshock controller. This guide will show you how to do all of the above, so let's get started!

What you need:

•    A PlayStation 3
•    A PC with a CD/DVD burner and burning software
•    Kboot and Ubuntu 8.10 .ISO image (Bundled)
•    A USB keyboard and mouse, or a wireless keyboard and mouse
•    An external USB hard drive or USB thumb drive for data backup
•    A router with an active Internet connection

Optional

•    A 120GB or greater 2.5” 5,200rpm SATA notebook hard drive
•    A small Philips Head screwdriver and a small Flat Head screwdriver
•    A wireless router
•    A CATVe Ethernet Cable (for ease of overall installation during setup)

Time: 4.5 hours

Step 1: Download and Burn the Ubuntu / Kboot Package

Naturally, this entire process starts with locating and burning the Linux distro itself. Log in to your existing home PC and grab the PS3 Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex ISO from Ubuntu.com. After the download has competed, burn the ISO image to a blank disk. (If you don't have a standard program to do this, numerous free options exist, such as IMGBurn or Infra Recorder.

Once the ISO disc has been created, set it aside, and move on to the next step. If you have trouble with a failed Ubuntu install later in the process (usually a result of one or more corrupted files), consider slowing the burn speeds of your ISO to 32x or 24x. We’re shooting for reliability here, not speed.

Step 2: Backup System-Critical Files

Save that PS3 data! Even if you don't plan on upgrading your PS3's HDD, you'll still have to reformat and repartition the existing drive, and all game saves and stored content such as music will be deleted. Don't worry about your PS3 account info and profile data though: that's all bundled on a separate flash drive along with the PS3's native operating system, called XMB. Also, games purchased from the PS Store online may be downloaded again for free.

To save your current data, do the following: start your PS3 without a game or movie disc to boot into XMB. From here, navigate to 'Settings' → 'System Settings'→'Backup Utility.'

Select 'Backup Utility' and then hit 'Backup,' and finally confirm 'Yes.'

Select the actual device you plan on storing the data on (such as a flash disk or external hard drive), and let the console run through the backup process.

Step 3: Install a New Hard Drive (Optional)

NOTE: the PS3 will only accept 2.5” SATA 5200rpm hard drives, not IDE or 7200rpm.

An 'upgrade' to 80GB of storage might sound elite to the console crowd, but we as PC enthusiasts know better. A true HDD upgrade is one that puts hair on your chest, like a 320GB model. Even better: swapping the PS3's hard disc is easy. Here's how to make the change: unplug the power cable and any HDMI / accessory cables from the PS3. Locate and remove the plastic cover on the bottom / side of the console (a small flat head screw driver works well to pop the cover off).

Remove the HDD retainer cage by taking out the middle screw and gently pulling on the clasp. Remove the four mounting screws from the sides of the cage and take out the old drive from the holster.

Seat the new drive back inside the holster and refasten the 4 mounting screws. Slide in the entire unit back into the PS3 until the whole assembly locks firmly into place (but don't be a gorilla and over-do it; a minor push should suffice). Tighten the last screw back down and lock the black cover back over the opening. And you're done. The PS3 will now automatically format the new drive when powered on and boot back into XMB when completed.

Step 4: Prepare and Install Ubuntu

Now it's time to get Ubuntu up and running (even if your PS3 has just formatted your new HDD, you must still follow this step). First off, the default PS3 Wi-Fi Internet connection has been known to cause errors with the Ubuntu installation program. To avoid any road bumps, it's best to plug in a standard Ethernet cable from your personal router directly into your PS3 console.

Find your way back to the root of XMB and navigate to the following: 'Settings'→'System Settings'→'Format Utility'

Select 'Format Utility.' Enter 'Yes' when prompted. From the partition menu, select 'Custom.' Now select 'Allot 10GB to Other OS.'

Highlight and enable 'Quick Format.' Make sure not to power off the PS3 while the format occurs. After the process is finished, press the X button to restart the system.

Now that we have 10GB alloted for the Ubuntu portion, it's time to insert the burned ISO disc. Go ahead and plug in your keyboard and mouse into the console at this point. After doing so, navigate to 'Settings' → 'System Settings' → 'Install Other OS.'

After the system has scanned the ISO, highlight and select 'Start.' The PS3 will pre-scan the Ubuntu installation, but it won't actually launch it. To do that, you'll need to got to 'Settings'→'System Settings' → 'Default System.'

Change the default setting of 'PS3' to 'Other OS.' Select 'Restart,' when prompted. The PlayStation 3 will turn off for a few seconds and then reboot. Don't panic: when the system restarts there might be a small delay until you start seeing the Linux gears turn.

Let the data compile until the final line eventually ends with 'Kboot,' and a nice friendly blinking cursor.

If at any time the install gets stuck, or if your overweight cat accidentally stumbles over the PS3's power cord killing your setup, it's not the end of the world. Just shut down the PS3 and when you restart, hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until you hear a second 'beep.' Release the button and you'll be forwarded to XMB where you can start the journey again.

Continuing on from the cursor on your screen next to Kboot: If you're utilizing an old-school CRT TV, type 'Install.' However, If you've moved past 1998 and you're running an HD TV, you'll want to take note of your monitor's best native resolution and type out the following string and hit enter:

install video=ps3fb:mode:X

where X is one of the following values: 1,2,3,4 or 5. Refer to the below chart for the correct setting:

1: 480i
2:480p
3: 720p
4: 1080i
5: 1080p

Therefore, if you have a 1080p TV, the text should look like this: install video=ps3fb:mode:5

After you've started the setup, you'll be asked a few questions as the install progresses. Here are our suggested answers.

If possible, choose 'Ethernet' as primary over wireless. If running an Ethernet cable from your router to the PS3 is totally out of the question, then go ahead and highlight wireless instead. Be aware, however, that Ubuntu isn't the best of friends with WPA encryption, and this might confuse the installer and result in an error. A WEP key is a better bet.

Give yourself a network host name. Or, if your imagination has run hopelessly dry, you can just use the default 'Ubuntu' and hit 'Continue.'

When asked whether or not to enable Serial ATA RAID, select 'Yes.'

To tell the OS how to partition the hard disc, select the first option 'Guided – use entire disk,' and then continue.

Give your new Ubuntu sector a login name and a password.

When asked whether or not to setup an encrypted file directory, enter 'No.'

Leave the Http: Proxy field blank when prompted and continue.

The main software installation will now begin. This is the long leg of the journey, and can take upwards of 45 to 60 minutes, but luckily, it shouldn't require any input on your end. For some setups, you might notice that the progress meter gets stuck around 6%, but give it about 15 minutes and it should soldier onward. If you instead receive an error message, or if the 6% stays in place for over an hour (as it did with us the first go around), you probably have a corrupted ISO disk and you'll need to re-burn the ISO file at a slower speed.

Once the installation has finished, go ahead and set your system clock when prompted. After that, you'll be asked to remove the install disk. Do so, and then click enter. Enter your user name and password into the following splash screen, and presto: you're now surfing Ubuntu Intrepid Ibex from the cozy confines of your gigantic plush beanbag.

Step 5: A Few Handy Tips

The terminal is your friend, especially for app installations. To open it, go to 'Application' → 'Accessories' → 'Terminal.'

By default, the Ubuntu / Kboot loader will setup PCM audio, which is an audio codec suitable for most HDMI and Optical connections. We were able to get sound right from the get-go using both an HDMI cable connected to an LCD's integrated speakers as well as an optical cable hitched into a Dolby Digital external receiver. Just make sure Ubuntu's sound isn't muted; to check, double-click the speaker icon in the upper right-hand corner of the desktop and make sure the duo sliders are raised midway up the level bar, not on the very bottom.

To immediately enable multimedia codecs (MP3, etc.) go to the terminal and type this string, and then hit enter:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Firefox comes pre-bundled. Use it!

In case you missed it: to boot back into XMB, shut down the PS3 from within Ubuntu. Once the console has powered off completely, hold down the power button for about 10 seconds until you hear a second beep. Release the power button and you'll be forwarded to the PS3's primary OS. Conversely, to load up Ubuntu, just follow the prior instructions on changing the PS3 default OS, and then hit 'Enter' after the text screen loads.

Step 6: Install a Few Living Room-Friendly Apps

So you've got that fresh copy of Ubuntu just sitting there, begging for some action. Not sure where to start program-wise? Feeling a little lost on how to maximize your distro inside the entertainment room atmosphere? We've got you covered. Here are some great apps to help you on your way.

AmaroK

Amarok is a Linux customized and tweaked fully-featured digital music player. A great choice for turning your house into a certifiable digital music funk-factory (complete with an embedded visual album cover plugin). The perfect addition to any 7.1 surround THX system just itching to rock out. Here's how to install and use it.

First, make sure you're connected to the Internet, and open up a terminal. From here, type out the following line and press enter:

sudo apt-get install amarok

Let the process complete and then go to 'Applications' → 'Sound and Video' → 'Amarok' to start the player. The initial setup screen should launch. Go ahead and click 'Next.' Since you probably don't have any music folders allocated yet, simply select the top box to include all of the options, and click 'Next' again.

When given the option for a database setup, make sure the drop-down menu is set to 'SQ-Lite,' and then continue to 'Finish.' Amarok will now be ready.

To open up a music file, go to 'Playlist' → 'Add Media.' From here, just navigate to your music directory (or wherever your audio files are located) and press 'OK.' Your selection will now be added to the playlist. Do note that Amarok might be sluggish for the first 5 minutes when loading. After that though, it should work fine.

Binge on SNES9X Super Nintendo Emulation and Set Up Your Sixaxis/Dualshock Controller

Admit it. You used to play console games all the time. Especially the SNES. Sure, you can assert that the PS3 you're currently using was a dedicated Blu-ray player before Ubuntu, but we know better. Bottom line: there's no point in avoiding your console gaming roots (misguided as they are), so why not embrace your nostalgic heritage instead? Fire up this emulation app with a few tips on running your wireless controller in conjunction, and jump back into the classic 16 bit days of ye olde Mario Kart.

First things first: a retro emulator is of little use with a mouse and keyboard. WASD is fantastic for Quake. It sucks for side-scrollers. Let's get that PS3 controller back in action.

Download this file to the desktop. Double-click the folder when finished and select 'Extract Files.' You should now see two package icons. Double-click the icon that reads: 'bluez-sixaxis-bin_powerpc.deb' and let it install.

Once it's finished, close the dialogue screen and double-click the next icon, which should be titled: 'bluez-sixaxis_rc1.1_all.deb.' Allow this file to finish setting up as well, and then like the other, close the screen at the end. You don't need your Sixaxis or Dualshock yet, so leave them powered off for now.

Make your way to 'Applications' → 'Accessories' → 'Sixaxis-GUI.' From the small pop-up screen, select 'Setup Menu,' and then click 'Setup First Connection.' (You'll want your fully charged controller ready to be turned on at this point).

Press the PS button when prompted, and then hit 'OK.'

After this, close out of the welcome screen and go back to 'Applications' → 'Accessories' → 'Sixaxis-GUI,' and select 'Task Menu.' Click 'Enable Keyboard and Mouse,' and then click 'Fake Joystick,' and hit 'OK.'

All you have to do at this point is select 'Turn Off Sixaxis,' wait about 10 seconds until you're returned to the main menu, and then click 'Connect Sixaxis to PC.' Now your controller is ready to party like it's 1992.

Now let's snag that emulator. Open up a terminal window, being sure to press enter after entering the following text:

sudo apt-get install snes9express snes9x-x

Once the emulator finishes setting up, close the terminal and locate the launcher in 'Applications' → 'Games' → 'Snes9express.' Open up the software and immediately find the 'Controllers' tab. Whatever you do, don't ever configure the Sixaxis or Dualshock to a different set of buttons, that will lead to Ubuntu SNES disaster. All you need to do is select 'Devices' on the right, and then enter the following line beside Pad1 in replacement of the existing data: /dev/input/js0

Go ahead and hit 'Close.'

Now find the 'Sound' tab. Ensure a box is checked next to 'sound,' 'stereo,' 'filters,' and 'thread sound.'

Click the video tab. Here, place a check next to 'scale,' 'high-res,' and 'full screen.' Don't worry about any of the other options

Now go to the 'ROM' tab, click the folder icon near the far right-hand side of the screen, and locate your SNES ROM files

Select the title you wish to play, and then after the directory string is listed in the text box, click 'Power' to start the game. If anything goes wrong, or if you mistakingly tried to finagle your controller to a different scheme, just click the 'Reset' button to undo your custom settings.

VLC Player

VLC is an extremely flexible and stable jack‐of‐all‐trades media player that allows you to view all of your (legally) downloaded movies and personally created film strips. It even covers the often elusive MP4 format as well. It's easy to utilize, but it's rich in functionality. Grab it by reading below.

Open up a terminal and type the following, pressing enter afterwords:

sudo apt-get update

Now, on the next line, type this next string, hitting enter at the end:

sudo apt-get install vlc vlc-plugin-esd mozilla-plugin-vlc

Let the process complete, and then close the terminal. Now go to 'Applications' → 'Sound and Video' → 'VLC Media Player.' When first launched, choose your downloaded album art preference (default to manual download only) and then continue to finish the setup.

To play movies, find the 'Media' tab and then click 'Open File.'

Now use the drop-down menu to search for your movies. When you've found one, just click 'Play,' and VLC will begin your video.

And that's all there is to it. Enjoy!

Ubuntu vs. Xubuntu

While the titles of Ubuntu and Xubuntu are differentiated by a single letter, in reality, these two Linux distros have a few notable differences. Basically, Xubuntu is lighter resource-wise, and some have noted better performance on the PS3 due to the console's rather limited memory bandwidth. But the biggest gap between the two platforms is the window wrapper that runs them (Xubuntu gets its fuel from XFCE, where Ubuntu cruises on raw uncut Gnome). Gnome goes for a cleaner look and a more sparse desktop approach, catered more for the typical user. XFCE shoots more for the higher-end minutia detail-driven crowd.

But it's important to note that while Xubuntu can be a more nimble contender in the modifying and resource arena, Ubuntu enjoys a powerful uppercut with an overall larger application diversity base and a simpler directory experience. Really though, all said and done, it just comes down to personal taste and preference, as many of the big apps like VLC, Skype, etc. are easily attainable for either OS. You can always redo the installation steps at the beginning of this article if you wish to wipe out one for the other on your PS3, so feel free to experiment with both!

Nvidia PhysX Makes Its Way to the PS3, Wii

Paul Lilly — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:00:00 -0500

Nvidia has been quite the busy body in the console market as of late. Earlier this week the graphics chip maker announced it had signed a tools and middleware license agreement with Sony to offer its PhysX technology software development kit (SDK) for use on the PlayStation 3 console, and then two days later, made a similar announcement regarding Nintendo's Wii console.

"Nintendo has reshaped the home entertainment and video game market with the success of the Wii console. Adding a PhysX SDK for Wii is key to our cross-platform strategy and integral to the business model for our licensed game developers and publishers,” said Tony Tamasi, senior vice president of content and technology at NVIDIA. “With NVIDIA PhysX technology, developers can easily author more realistic game environments for the evolving demands of a broad class of Wii gamers."

Three months ago, AMD had painted a gloom-and-doom future for Nvidia's PhysX technology, saying "There is no plan for closed and proprietary standards like PhysX. As we have emphasized, with our support for OpenCL and DX11, close and proprietary standards will die."

AMD wasn't just being a wet blanket, as they weren't the only ones to question to closed standards when it comes to in-game physics. This makes Nvidia's latest partnership with two major console makers a particularly interesting one, which could very well end up seeing more widespread PhysX support trickling over to the PC as a result.

Researchers Successfully Spoof SSL Digital Certificates With a Fleet of PS3s

Andy Salisbury — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:11:11 -0600

It looks like MITM attacks aren’t the only things ripping off SSL certificates these days, it looks like Sony’s PS3 is capable of the act as well!

In a recent study conducted with more than 200 PlayStation 3 consoles, researchers were able to create a secure sockets layer certificate for absolutely any web page. The forged certificates were made through a proof-of-concept attack. This particular attack runs by generating millions of possible certificates, and once a pair that contains a special collision in the MD5 hash is found, a legitimate website certificate is requested from one of the authorities that relies on only MD5 to generate signatures. These certificates have been accepted by every major browser.

“This break is major,” stated Karsten Nohl, cryptography expert and researcher at the University of Virginia. “It definitely is the most wide-scale attack, because anything short of patching all browsers in the world to not accept the certificates, there's nothing you can do to prevent it.”

Still, there’s no stated fix for the issue today. Let’s just hope that since the researchers possess the information on how the attack is conducted, they’ll be able to make one soon.

Image Credit: Sony, Ray-Ban Sunglasses (again)

PCGA President: Real Innovation Comes from PC Gaming, Piracy "Ridiculous" Reason to Leave Market

Nathan Grayson — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:06:04 -0600

With pirates closing in on all sides, many publishers abandoned PC gaming's ship as though it were already a potential set for Little Mermaid 9: I Don't Want to Be A Mermaid; I Want to Be A Boat. PC Gaming Alliance president Randy Stude obviously wasn't one of those naysayers, but he does have a few choice words for them.

"If someone wants to leave the PC market [because of piracy], we’ll miss you," he told Gamepolitics. "We’ll watch with admiration as your titles ship in a diluted fashion without a whole lot of game play innovation, at least until you copy the innovation that occurs on the PC. We'll find the great games on PC and we’ll play those."

On top of that, Stude believes PCs and consoles aren't so different from each another, and thinks the two walks of life will end up meeting somewhere down the road.

"The guts of every console should tell you that the capability is there for the PC to act as the central point for all the consoles," he said. "If you bought a PC and as part of that equation you said, Okay, when you’re on the phone with Dell, 'Hey, Dell, on this PC, this new notebook I’m buying, can you make sure it has the PlayStation 4 option built into it?'"

"Well, why not? Why shouldn’t that be the case? [Sony is] certainly not making any money on the hardware. I mean, can’t they create a stable enough environment to specify that if Dell’s going to sell that notebook and say that it’s PlayStation 4 [compatible] that it must have certain ingredients and it must meet certain criteria? Absolutely they could do that."

Four more years! Four more years!