O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: Wii

  • Developer launches Patreon project to finance native port of Linux for M1 Macs

    This could turn into something interesting.

    Developer Hector Martin, also known as “marcan,” on Monday launched a Patreon account to fund his solo work on a Linux port for the new Apple Silicon Macs.

    Per Martin, the new M1-power Macs are capable of running Linux, but creating a working port is a major undertaking for a single developer. While Martin claims he’s up to the job, he’s asking for financial backing to make it a full-time job, which is where the Patreon comes in.

    Martin’s tech credentials with open source code is impressive, and includes projects involving Nintendo’s Wii console to more recent Linux ports for Sony’s PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. The Patreon’s goal, according to the developer, is to massage Linux on M1 Macs “to the point where it is not merely a tech demo, but is actually an OS you would want to use on a daily driver device.”

    While it’s debatable as to whether the operating system can run on Apple Silicon, legendary developer Linus Torvalds has said he would “absolutely love” to own an M1-powered Mac if it ran Linux, but is uncertain such a premise is feasible.

    “The main problem with the M1 for me is the GPU and other devices around it, because that’s likely what would hold me off using it because it wouldn’t have any Linux support unless Apple opens up,” Torvalds commented last week.

    Martin has stated that creating a custom GPU bundle would be a major hurdle, as would writing code for effective power management.

    “Running Linux on things is easy, but making it work well is hard,” Martin says in the Patreon description. “Drivers need to be written for all devices. The driver for the completely custom Apple GPU is the most complicated component, which is necessary to have a good desktop experience. Power management needs to work well too, for your battery life to be reasonable.”

    The Patreon tiers range from $3 to $48 per month, and include perks such as the ability to vote on the development of upcoming features, patron-only livestreams and more. Martin has estimated that he’ll need about $4,000 a month to finance the project, with 100 percent of his Stage One Goal being met, and 39 percent of his Stage Two Goal (not having to take on freelance work) having been attained as of this writing.

    Martin has also stated that he plans to collaborate with other developers and “anyone else who wants to contribute.”

    A timeline for completion has not been released.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider, Patreon, Real World Technologies, and ZDNet

  • Netflix to add multi-user profiles to subscriber accounts

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    This may cut down on some potential arguments in the future.

    Per AppleInsider, Netflix on Thursday rolled out a long-awaited feature to its iOS and Apple TV apps, allowing subscribers to maintain separate profiles for individual users sharing one account.

    Subscribers will be able to add up to five profiles for each account they own. Profiles will receive unique personalized suggestions based on viewing habits and ratings.

    More importantly, those individual accounts will each have their own Instant Queue and Recently Watched lists. For example, parents will no longer have to share a queue with their children, or even spouses with each other, if they so choose.

    Each personal profile can also be attached to a different Facebook account, allowing for personalized suggestions from that individual’s friends on the social networking site.

    Netflix has promised that the new user profiles will roll out to iPad, iPhone and Apple TV “over the next few days.” Other devices set to receive support in the immediate future are Sony’s PlayStation 3, Microsoft’s Xbox 360, and newer Smart TV and Blu-ray players. Support for Nintendo Wii and Android has been promised to arrive “soon.”

    User profiles first began appearing on the Apple TV set-top box earlier this week as part of a test run. That roll-out coincidentally happened after the launch of a new Apple TV software beta, leading some to incorrectly assume the two were related. Current Apple TV owners will receive the feature without needing to run a pre-release beta.

    Competition in the mobile streaming space is heating up, with Google’s newly released US$35 Chromecast dongle offering users the ability to stream content from an iPhone or Android device directly to their TV. While less fully featured than the Apple TV, the device is available at about a third of the price.

    The price of a refurbished Apple TV direct from Apple also hit a new low this week, and is now available for just US$75, knocking 25 percent off the cost of a new model. A new Apple TV software update, expected to arrive this fall, will also give users the ability to purchase music directly from the device.

    Stay tuned for additional details and if you try this new Netflix account feature and have any feedback to offer, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

  • Rumor: Apple TV could be renamed iTV, drop 1080p support and gain apps

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    It’s the rumors that keep life interesting.

    Per a continuing rumor on Engadget, sources have stated that the Apple TV’s product name will be changed to “iTV” while also dropping support for 1080p video output to standardize on 720p HDTV.

    The current articles indicates that the next generation Apple TV will move from a scaled down Mac running Front Row software to an iOS device that works like a screen-less iPod touch.

    Apple’s chief executive Steve Jobs originally introduced the device (a few months before it shipped) under the iTV name while noting that the company was still looking for a permanent name. Apple TV was subsequently released as Apple announced the iPhone in early 2007.

    Since then, Apple has built up the iTunes App Store for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad devices but left Apple TV to sit in maintenance mode, collecting few features and never getting an official SDK of its own that would enable third parties to extend its features.

    By converting Apple TV into an iOS device, the company could erect a third new wing of apps in iTunes. The popularity of iPad (which has collected a portfolio of over 20,000 apps in just a few months) suggests tremendous potential for a TV-oriented iOS product.

    Apple’s ability to rapidly muscle into the market for portable gaming could similarly be repeated by giving existing App Store developers the ability to quickly port and optimize many of their existing games to work on HDTV sets, providing a very cheap alternative to more serious console gaming devices.

    If released alongside iPod touch 4 expected next month, Apple could decisively leverage the current excitement surrounding iPad to inhale lots of HDTV users during the holiday season at a time when the growth of the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PS3, and Nintendo Wii are all maturing.

    The shift toward a smaller, cheaper device that uses network streaming rather than Apple TV’s hard drive for local storage also likely necessitates using the same video output of iPhone 4 and iPad, which is 1024×768 (or perhaps the very similar 720p HDTV resolution).

    Apple sells HD content in iTunes as 720p. Higher resolution 1080p is an alternative HD standard, but video experts note that the difference in resolution is not visible to users at a normal TV viewing distance unless the screen is larger than 55″.

    For Apple’s mass market users, a cheaper device that streams easy to buy and view HDTV content makes far more sense than the current Apple TV, which requires syncing with a local iTunes system or downloadable storage for rentals.

    Such a device would seem to necessitate HDMI output, rather than the VGA output currently offered by iPhone 4 and iPad, as few HDTV sets or video projectors still support VGA-style inputs.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available and if you have any predictions with what will happen with the Apple TV, feel free to share them with the rest of the class…

  • E3 2010: The Nintendo press conference gallery

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    With E3 in full swing, it’s time to check in with some pictures of the event, specifically the shots from Nintendo’s press conference yesterday.

    So, without further ado, the first gallery:

    Killing time with trivia…

    If you were wondering where you were…

    Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime takes the stage.

    Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto demoes the new Zelda: Skyward Sword with his own sword and shield.

    The new Zelda in action.

    Mario Sports Mix gets underway during the Nintendo event.

    Perfect for World Cup season…

    Some images, they're just iconic…

    Reggie Fils-Aime introduces Golden Sun for the Nintendo DS

    The new Goldeneye 007, as greeted by a roaring auditorium.

    Ok, this might be more iconic than Mario…

    Nintendo executives unveil Epic Mickey for the Nintendo Wii.

    Epic Mickey in action at the Nintendo press conference on Tuesday.

    Let's face it: you can't hate Kirby.

    The first images of the new Metroid: Other M title.

    The first images of the Nintendo 3DS handheld.

    The first gameplay footage of Kid Icarus: Uprising.

    A battle sequence from Kid Icarus: Uprising

  • E3 2010: Into the breach

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    By Joshua Simmons

    E3 Day 1 Conference Impressions:

    Nintendo:
    This was clearly the year of the Nintendo come back after several previous lackluster E3 presentations. There were no vitality sensors, no fashion runway games for DS, and no Wii Music. What we did get started with a bang when Shigeru Miyamoto himself came out on stage to debut the new Zelda Wii title, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Using motion plus technology, Miyamoto demonstrated the possibilities of sword and shield play as well as several new items at Link’s disposal. The two most unique items would have to have been the beetle launcher, which sent a controllable beetle flying off of Link’s arm to collect far off items, and the whip, capable of cutting grass and grabbing items. As if a new Zelda wasn’t enough, we also got Mario Sports Mix, Epic Mickey, Golden Sun Dark Dawn for DS, a new Wii Kirby, and more footage of Metroid Other M. It was clear that Nintendo intended to deliver to its core demographic today and they did just that. Big surprises were also in store with a Goldeneye remake exclusive for Wii starring all previous Bonds, as well as a new retro remake of Donkey Kong Country.

    Nintendo’s biggest gun this E3 was the much anticipated 3DS unveil, and it did not disappoint. Although, we in the audience were unable to get a sense of the much touted “No glasses” 3D tech, we did get an understanding of the handheld’s power with a glimpse at the surprise announcement, Kid Icarus. Other 3DS features included two front facing cameras for taking 3D photos, 3D effect adjustment dial, an analog stick, and the ability to play 3D movies on the device. Nintendo’s E3 2010 press conference was very impressive, and I’m sure hardcore Nintendo fans worldwide are quite satisfied.

    Sony:
    Although the surprises were in few this year, the Sony conference managed to consistently deliver exciting new prospects for the future with their lineup. They kicked things off with a special look at two Killzone 3 levels, presented in 3D to the audience which was met with hollering and cheering as Sev leaped to the air in a jet pack. The visuals were fantastic, and the game really conveyed the potential for Sony’s 3D tech. We also got news of several titles that will include 3D in the future such as Gran Turismo 5, Mortal Kombat, EyePet and more. Shifting from 3D to the Playstation Move, we were treated to a premiere demo of Sorcery. Sorcery uses the Move controller to guide a young apprentice through a castle as he battles goblins by flicking the Move to send spells from his wand. The 1:1 tracking of the Move was impressive as the wizard’s arm accurately reflected what the player was doing; it also demonstrated different movements to achieve varying abilities. We were also treated to a demo of Tiger Woods 2011, also used impressive tracking to register the player’s movement as he would swing the club.

    After a surprise, and hilarious, appearance by Kevin Butler, Sony shifted the conference to the games. Although it was pleasant to see Little Big Planet 2 demonstrated for the audience, the biggest announcement came in the form of Portal 2 for Playstation 3. However, I personally was the most excited when the grand finale of today’s event turned out to be the unveiling of Twisted Metal for Playstation 3. Typically, we only get these kind of unveils in the form of a teaser, or small clip, but after driving out onto the stage in a replica Sweet Tooth truck, we were treated to a live demo of the game’s multiplayer modes.

    These two conferences have left me quite excited for the year to come in gaming, and I’ll be sure to write deeper impressions in the days to come as I get to try out all the great games shown today in person on the show floor!