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Linux runs natively on the Wii

gc-linux.org — "And last but not least, we have finally run natively Linux on the Nintendo Wii through Team Tweezers' twilight-hack (http://wiibrew.org/index.php?title=Twilight_Hack). We have released a small usbgecko-enabled Proof of Concept mini-distro to prove it." It still needs drivers for the fancy Wii hardware...but regardless, it's Wii Linux is here.

Who dugg this? Made popular Feb 26, 2008

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  • PFS1, on 02/26/2008, -2/+197> ...but regardless, it's Wii Linux is here.

    Dammit, I always swore that if I ever submitted something I wouldn't be one of the people that ***** up the ONE sentence you have to write
  • stackered, on 02/26/2008, -4/+86Next up: Linux on my microwave! Where we really need it!
  • XxbladesfirexX, on 02/26/2008, -1/+65Three cheers! Hopefully this will lead to us being able to load homebrew from the built in SD card reader.
  • Prombar, on 02/26/2008, -2/+54finally
    wiinux
  • chinpo, on 02/26/2008, -0/+49I can't wait for VLC/Mplayer on the Wii, being able to stream videos wirelessly from my home network!
  • Samsong, on 02/26/2008, -0/+44Wiili is pure scum, they capitalized (collecting several g's in donations for their servers) and had nothing at all to do with the hack. Most of its content is directly stolen from wiibrew.org.
  • Akaji, on 02/26/2008, -0/+40Nintendo employs ninjas, pirates, AND robots in their security team. It's _literally_ impossible to get past.
  • sbraidley, on 02/26/2008, -2/+34At last Linux on the Wii :D
  • cardyology, on 02/26/2008, -10/+41I have an erection.
  • Kanidia, on 02/26/2008, -4/+34This will be a great way to make a media center on the Wii.
  • carpespasm, on 02/26/2008, -1/+29XBMC on Wii? That would be some sexy software.
  • Protoss, on 02/26/2008, -0/+27I hope so. All they need is the driver for the SD slot, and being inside an OS and having the ability to debug in real-time should accelerate this.
  • carpespasm, on 02/26/2008, -0/+26not if you're good at pitting those three groups against one another.
  • chamberlanderic, on 02/26/2008, -0/+25anybody who can program that kind of stuff is a hero to me
  • XxbladesfirexX, on 02/26/2008, -1/+26Yarrrr cause you be a pirate!
  • dualscreenman, on 02/26/2008, -0/+25As of now they can't, since the only (released) hack to run homebrew requires a particular exploit found in Zelda.
    They won't be able to make their own disc since it'd have to be signed by Nintendo. The signing key is guarded by Nintendo's ninja security team.
  • Mortiferous, on 02/26/2008, -0/+25oh the ironey
  • Remmy, on 02/26/2008, -1/+24Linux on the wii is very useful for finding hardware exploits. It could lead to some interesting projects.
  • zwaldowski, on 02/26/2008, -0/+21Think of it like this: the Wii has wireless, bluetooth, DVD, 480p component output, and USB. 'Nuff said. You'll be able to do a hell of a lot once they get a GUI running.
  • Protoss, on 02/26/2008, -0/+20If the Wii gets as active a homebrew community as the PSP or Xbox scene got, then the Wii will become a very inexpensive media computer...that is also capable of playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl.
  • hadimirza, on 03/26/2008, -2/+19WiiNix
  • Abatrour, on 02/26/2008, -1/+17What do you think those things that you put in the game slot are? Cassettes?
  • SurrealDream, on 02/26/2008, -0/+16If I can play video, music and homebrew off the SD card, I'd be happy.
    If I could stream data natively from a PC, I'd be ecstatic.
  • seanthebond, on 02/26/2008, -1/+17So explain this to the people who aren't into the technical aspect of this... What can I do with this?
  • prgmctan, on 02/26/2008, -0/+15The Wii isn't expensive
  • Sniper, on 02/26/2008, -0/+15Neither does the Wii
  • BlueSkyfish, on 02/26/2008, -2/+16Linux is a girl
  • Darth_tater, on 02/26/2008, -2/+16Linux on the will has TREMENDOUS potential. Personally, i cant wait for something like XBMC for the wii.

    the integrated bluetooth + wifi + dvd rom and PPC chip w/ 256 ram = cool hardware for cheap, something every home brew dev craves.
  • Kahlnen, on 02/26/2008, -1/+14Was that a pun or were you moking him?
  • ArthurSucks, on 02/26/2008, -0/+13Useless to you. Not so much me.
  • Mrdudeperson, on 02/26/2008, -1/+14As long as I don't have to do all that I'll be happy.
  • vertexoflife, on 02/26/2008, -0/+12It's fun. =)
  • sapo916, on 02/26/2008, -1/+13Not gay at all.
  • Protoss, on 02/26/2008, -0/+11You don't know how many times I've wished I could stream stuff from my computer to my Wii.
  • dualscreenman, on 02/26/2008, -0/+11Since you're such a hacking prodigy that we should take your word as gospel, why don't you take the honor of coding the first ISO loader for the Wii?
  • peterberry, on 02/26/2008, -1/+10Pretty much anything you could do on a computer running Linux.
  • ronshubby, on 02/26/2008, -0/+9Wii running natively on Linux.. Now that would be useful.
  • dualscreenman, on 02/26/2008, -0/+9Nah, Nintendo fired the pirates. They were buying too many R4s.
  • say592, on 02/26/2008, -2/+11Linux is ALWAYS utilized on a device by SOMEONE.

    This will easily turn into emulators and possibly ISO loaders.

    Besides, if they can work up a distro that is compatible and utilizes the hardware, it wont matter that its Linux, because anyone with enough know how to get it to run wont care.
  • dualscreenman, on 02/26/2008, -3/+12The makers of the hack have no intent to write an ISO loader. If you want to pirate that badly, just get a chip.
  • GinaJuice, on 02/26/2008, -1/+10You're right. Except for the RAM part. The Wii only has 88MB of RAM, not including 3MB for the GPU :( . Still, the XBOX only had 64MB, so who knows what they'll do with an extra 24MB and extra hardware capabilities.
  • ghotli, on 02/26/2008, -0/+8Conveniently, Nintendo released an update for the Wii this evening as well. I'm not going to update until i'm certain that it doesn't close the Zelda save game exploit.
  • inactive, on 02/26/2008, -0/+8Maybe soon it could be ran from the memory card , as a "channel" , that would be nice
  • CalcProgrammer1, on 02/26/2008, -0/+8Yeah, I tested the hack immediately after updating to 3.2 (I was the first one on Nintendo Wii Fanboy to point this out), the hack WORKS FINE on 3.2, so go ahead and update, you won't harm your console in doing so. The exploit is in the DISC, so unless Nintendo comes to your house and forces your LoZ:TP disc from your hands and gives you one without the error code on it, you're probably going to keep the hack. There has been some talk about a possible IPO mod (IPO chip runs a background OS while games run, I guess providing Home menu functionality or something, but we're not sure whether or not this is even editable, so maybe Nintendo can't even change the firmware on it). People seem pretty sure that the hack is safe, as it exploits an error permanently locked in your disc.
  • EtherGnat, on 02/26/2008, -0/+7Arrrrrrrrrrrrr4s?
  • Tishiablo, on 02/26/2008, -0/+7The XBox ran linux beautifully, and seeing as the Wii has slightly better specs than the XBox, the Wii should make a more than adequate Linux media center.
  • thedragon4453, on 02/26/2008, -1/+7She"s a whore. She'll pretty much work on whatever you put her on.
  • potisreallygood, on 02/26/2008, -3/+9I have a wii-rection.
  • KloroFormd, on 02/26/2008, -2/+8For the non-technical users... not much. But soon...
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