PS3MCE (project idea)

[Creighton]

Why hasn't anyone thought of creating a more media-centric hub for use on our PS3? They have such things as LinuxMCE (www.linuxmce.com) which is notably better than Windows Media Center, and installs on top of Ubuntu. We already have Ubuntu working (sort of) on the PS3, so why not port this over to the PPC platform to use it?

Better yet, why not start from scratch? Why not create an entire OS based solely on LinuxMCE?

Instead of a generally useless Linux OS that resembles a slow, dumbed-down, and more complicated version of our 'real' computers, you'll boot to a simple media center menu automatically connected to content on the PS3, as well as media shared over the network from our other computers. Of course it would have the usual internet browser, as well as other general computer-like features, but still be completely usable for the computer-illiterate (well, nothings that easy).

I personally feel that creation of such an OS for the PS3 will have a much better impact on users, as well as give the PS3 the edge we know it can have, and needs.

Obviously it's not an easy task at all (thanks Linux). After reading a little from www.linuxfromscratch.org, I gave up...but I know there are people out there with the knowledge to put something strong together. With enough knowledgeable people on the project, I really think it could be a success, and the bragging-rights of the PS3 'homebrew' community.

[directhex]

Originally Posted by Creighton

Why hasn't anyone thought of creating a more media-centric hub for use on our PS3?

short version: because without graphics drivers of some kind, video playback is pretty crappy on ps3 linux - and sony have prevented that possibility using their hypervisor

if sony open up some form of accelerated access to the ps3 (even just 2d) then this kind of project will happen

[Creighton]

I got VLC up and working on Fedora a few days after it was released a while back. I played a DivX movie from the PS3's drive and it seemed fine to me.

It had some obvious issues, but video playback was not one of them. The video and audio was smooth and in sync. The only thing that keeps me from using it is the black borders around the screen, since for some reason none of the linux distros for the ps3 fully take up my 480i tv. I'm sure the higher the quality movie, the better chances it has to mess up...

So, not to be a bother, but could you go into more detail about what the problem is?

[hexonn]

It had some obvious issues, but video playback was not one of them. The video and audio was smooth and in sync. The only thing that keeps me from using it is the black borders around the screen, since for some reason none of the linux distros for the ps3 fully take up my 480i tv. I'm sure the higher the quality movie, the better chances it has to mess up...

yup, basically if you try to play a larger video file (HD even) or something like h264 the playback is sluggish :/


to "fix" the black border issue, you can change the kboot.conf display to 480i fullscreen, and you'll eliminate that problem

however, the screen may be larger than your tv can display, but if you use mplayer you can just resize the window to fit your tv right and that way you have a good display for the vid

I now use it to watch anything that i download from the net, totaly kicks viewing it on my monitor

[Creighton]

yea thanks for the tip on fullscreen.

i have a divx standalone player, but it won't play some movies encoded a certain way...i think q-pel. anyway, i plan to use linux to do that forme instead. (hopefully)

have you guys heard of Freevo? http://freevo.sourceforge.net I'm gonna work on installing it, as it apparently has PS3/YDL support.

[C-Money]

Thanks for the link to linuxMCE! Installing that on my ubuntu computer now!