Enthusiasts have Turned the Nintendo Switch into a Functional Linux Tablet (theverge.com) 96
An anonymous reader shares a report: A couple of weeks ago, the fail0verflow hacking collective showed a still image on Twitter of a Nintendo Switch booting Linux. They're one of a small handful of hacker teams who are teasing exploits of the Nvidia Tegra hardware inside the Switch. But now fail0verflow has video of a full-on Linux distro running on the hacked Switch, complete with touchscreen support, a fully operational web browser, and even a GPU-powered demo application. On Twitter, fail0verflow claims the bug they're exploiting to sidestep the Switch's security can't be patched on currently released hardware, and doesn't require a modchip. But as for now there aren't any details on how to do this yourself at home.
Re:Ho-hum. (Score:5, Insightful)
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But think of the possibilities!
Now that it has a standard OS, you can run emulators on it, maybe even a Switch emulator!
OK, but only if it's written in Javascript...
Hey, it's not like there's no precedent!
https://github.com/fcambus/jsemu [github.com]
This is stupid. (Score:1)
If these guys were really smart, they'd port Windows 10 to the Switch so we could play our entire Steam library on the go. But noooo, they're dumb and only want to use stupid command line Linux.
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I was given an Intel Joule (SoC designed for high end drones), didn't have much use for it, so I put Ubuntu on it. Intalled Steam of Linux, and then Rocket League. So yeah, it may not be the full library, but Steam on Linux certainly does have its games! (Though the Joule is still x86 based, not ARM, so in reality there are probably 0 games that would work)
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I'm not sure about the Switch, but on the DS, everything is encrypted, including the communication between the DS game cards and the CPU. Yes, Nintendo is absolutely all about security. They lock the hell out of their hardware. The only difference this time around is that they left it in the hands of nVidia rather than doing it themselves.
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Nah. They're serious about security, sure; they're just not terribly *good* at it. Every Ninty console since the Wii and/or DSi (not sure which came first, but applies to both) has had vulnerabilities that went deep enough to allow for custom firmware and homebrew to be developed. Every version of the 3DS up to and including the latest "New 2DS" has a bootrom bug baked right into the hardware (ostensibly, the Switch has one, too, according to Fail0verflow, but I won't be convinced until it's released). The
The new Wii (Score:4, Insightful)
This is going to be the new Wii in terms of homebrew and cracked games.
Remember the Homebrew channel? The way you could plug a hard disk and have the graphical interface to play all your "backup" games?
I am sure Nintendo are currently very worried about this and will try to get the hardware patched ASAP.
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Don't worry, SCO is all over them lawsuits against Linux!
Re:The new Wii (Score:5, Informative)
According to earlier reports, they can’t patch it. The problem is in the SoC itself, meaning they’d need to a new hardware revision in order to issue a “patch”. Any existing Switches are, and will forever be, exploitable by this tactic.
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I know, this is going to turn down to be a major headache for Nintendo!
I remember how they clamped down on the Zelda "Epona" bug, and were patching the OS to close all software attack vectors. They even modified the soldering of the chip to counter modchips... But they are not going to have it that easy this time.
But if they don't do it, they risk selling a lot of consoles, but hardly any game. I am sure they are already trying to find a way to patch it. Maybe, keeping some online aspect that will check if
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I think you are confusing “Nintendo gains money” with you and seven or eight other folks who buy hackable consoles and pirate games. Honestly, even if there are 250,000 of you that would only consider buying it now (hint: there’s less than that), you aren’t really on their radar in terms of revenue projection. They’re content to try to stop guys like you, and sell tens of millions of units to regular folk. I’m not disparaging you (except for the piracy, of course, that
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(hint: there's less than that)
Source, please. I have exactly the same mindset as the parent, and will now consider purchasing a Switch, which I would not have done otherwise.
It wouldn't be a stretch to think that sales would be bolstered by 2.5% (1/40th the number of Switches that have already been sold) by this news, thanks to people like us.
Just because you don't think the way we do doesn't mean there aren't many others who do.
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It wouldn't be a stretch to think that sales would be bolstered by 2.5% (1/40th the number of Switches that have already been sold) by this news, thanks to people like us.
Oh, that would be a HUGE stretch. People buy the Switch to easily play games. You and people like you aren't even a blip on the radar compared to all the parents who buy a Switch for their kids, or teens who buy it to play specific games.
And if you think they'll still play games with Linux, consider that Steam, which has a client especially for Linux and more than 3000 games for Linux only has 0.41% users with Linux according to the latest survey [steampowered.com]. That's the market share when actively trying to get Linu
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I bought one recently (a little late; it's on 3.0.1) and put it on top of my closet. Supposedly there's a TrustZone exploit that's effective up to that version (since I'm not holding my breath for F0's bootrom exploit to appear any time soon), and you can't hack downgraded firmware into the Switch like with the 3DS. It was a bit of a gamble, but I had a minor windfall and figured "why not?" Worst case scenario, it never gets hacked, and I give it to my brother's kids and become Uncle Hero.
Re: The new Wii (Score:2)
Not if the can patch the metal layer.
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I am sure Nintendo are currently very worried about this and will try to get the hardware patched ASAP.
Well, they could tell current owners they must exchange their old Switch for a new hardware-patched version and after some amount of time push a 'bricking' update out to the older vulnerable Switch versions to disable them.
Strat
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"after some amount of time push a 'bricking' update out to the older vulnerable Switch versions to disable them"
That would be quite illegal and definitely actionable in court. Intentional destruction of property.
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They don't need to "brick" it, simply make new games incompatible with it. Or, you can trade it in for a brand new one which supports all games.
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"after some amount of time push a 'bricking' update out to the older vulnerable Switch versions to disable them"
That would be quite illegal and definitely actionable in court. Intentional destruction of property.
Unless your corporation's name is Sony.
Rootkit (made it impossible to access CD-R)
PS-3 Firmware Update (you can't boot linux any more)
Re:The new Wii (Score:5, Informative)
Laws are pretty picky about destroying property. That would be a bad thing.
The main options would be:
1. Release a "New Switch" that all future games require. This would shut out a huge number of legitimate existing purchasers who have no interest in the hacking though, and Nintendo probably wouldn't want to institute a voluntary recall program. That'd be a mess.
2. Release firmwares and games that don't necessarily prevent this, but detect/undo/refuse to run on modified systems. This would be a cat and mouse game, much as it was on the Wii with various attempts to remove Homebrew channel.
3. Do little to nothing, knowing that the number of people who actually do this are going to be small.
It'll mostly depend on the difficulty and danger of doing it. The 3DS mods are pretty tricky for a lot of the average users, and while it's easier and safer now for most of the system's life it took very specific firmware versions and a lot of tricky steps to do to enable piracy. Wii was fairly easy on the whole bit still took a few steps. On the other hand, Dreamcast piracy just took a cheap burned disc and was a much bigger problem. We'll just have to see how it goes.
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No, you go and fix the SoC, and update the switch to use it for now. You leave the original 10M or whatever they sold alone - 90% of the users will be blissfully unaware, and the 5% you just leave it as the cost of doing business.
It's too early for
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I wonder why Nintendo doesn't embrace this functionality. It possibly will sell more tablets, and it doesn't aid piracy. I wish they had this built in from the get-go.
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Personally I hope piracy does not ruin the platform, and cause developers to hesitate when they want to release unique games that are tuned well to the Switch. With pervasive piracy we may end up with just shovelware.
No point (Score:3)
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true hacking (Score:3, Insightful)
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I own the hardware, so I don't need your DRM'd software. No laws broke.
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Such a clause would be entirely illegal in the EU at the very least.
It would also be suicide for Nintendo.
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Computers are not weapons any more than an electric tea pot is a weapon.
Turning a childs toy into a tablet is as harmless as it gets.
The real weapon are the gullible sheeple that follow the directions of the u.s. government and corporations.
The real weapon are all the retarded masses reading information on a mobile phone, while being completely disconnected from reality.
The real weapon is to foist censorship on people because you are too weak to handle hurt feelings.
Real laws should be enforced. Laws create
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I remember when someone found a way to put Linux on a Playstation
You mean the US Air Force? https://phys.org/news/2010-12-air-playstation-3s-supercomputer.html [phys.org]
Imagine a Beowulf cluster of Switches (Score:1)
OH YES (Score:4, Funny)
I might actually buy a Nintendo Switch now. If they get it to run "homebrew" games, that'll just be icing on the cake. I do want to try that new Zelda game.
Re: OH YES (Score:2)
Cemu will run it just fine, if you have a decently powered PC.
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Interesting, I'll have to give that a try!
I've been looking for a good Linux tablet (Score:3)
This is nice, I have a Switch and would like to experiment with this, it has a powerful chipset.
I am looking for a good Linux tablet that is reasonably repairable and has a battery that isn't too hard to replace, but unfortunately a lot of common ARM Android tablets can't install Linux natively and seem to require a VM with VNC. There are also not many reviews of x86 tablets from a Linux perspective.
Maybe this will be with a look, it seems to perform well and support hardware features.
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That's ok
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Exactly, that's got my interest
Congrats Nintendo. Now I'll Buy a Switch! (Score:1)
I want to own the HW that I buy. It's not about pirating; it's about accessing third-party SW and maybe even writing my own programs. Just checking your weight on a Wii Balance Board is a lot faster with Homebrew than with Wii Sports.
Homebrew just did Nintendo a favor.
Nice (Score:2)
The next million system seller.
If they can install a Linux distro in it with everything working, they probably can install Android on it too, which means replacing cheap-o Android tablets that a whole ton of kids want/have.
I was kinda hoping Nintendo would release a revised hardware soon-ish, but I don't think it'll happen... they are selling it enough already the way it is now.
Yet they are different (Score:1)
The other is not.
Reminds me of the study where children were shown to have reached for organic food when it was inside McDonalds packaging and the media proclaimed, "Oh we just need to change the packaging!"