Tuesday, March 20, 2007
PS3 Update Provides New Features Including Distributed Computing Boost
Posted by Jason Dunn in "NEWS" @ 01:07 PM
"A new software update for Sony's PlayStation 3 consoles includes Bluetooth support, enhanced downloading and the ability to help a Stanford University distributed-computing program hoping to cure protein-related diseases. Dubbed "Firmware 1.60," the upgrade can be installed directly to Internet-connected PS3 consoles, downloaded into a home computer and transfered to the console or installed when a game disc including the software is played, said Sony. The connectivity to Stanford University's Folding@home program will begin Thursday. The project will harness the processing power of thousands of home computers and PS3s across the globe creating, in essence, a giant supercomputer to perform scientific calculations."
Regular Digital Media Thoughts readers know I'm not very fond of the PS3 - I think Sony badly fumbled almost everything about it - but I'm always willing to give credit where credit is due. Sony has released a firmware update that I think is ultimately more interesting than most of the Xbox 360 updates I've seen: the ability to utilize the CPU at idle for the Stanford protein analysis program. The question is, how many PS3 owners will want to leave their consoles running all the time? My Xbox 360 is too noisy for me to leave it running when it's not in use, though I'd be happy to let it run from midnight to 5pm every day when I'm not in the same room with it. What about you - if your console had the ability to donate CPU cycles like this, would you use it?
Regular Digital Media Thoughts readers know I'm not very fond of the PS3 - I think Sony badly fumbled almost everything about it - but I'm always willing to give credit where credit is due. Sony has released a firmware update that I think is ultimately more interesting than most of the Xbox 360 updates I've seen: the ability to utilize the CPU at idle for the Stanford protein analysis program. The question is, how many PS3 owners will want to leave their consoles running all the time? My Xbox 360 is too noisy for me to leave it running when it's not in use, though I'd be happy to let it run from midnight to 5pm every day when I'm not in the same room with it. What about you - if your console had the ability to donate CPU cycles like this, would you use it?
