Reply to Androvski
We're probably getting a webkit ( the base that Chrome and Safari use) port in the next six months or so. Technically, the PS3 apparently already has part of one. Some people at Beyond3D have been digging like crazy (I don't even know why), and discovered the old official Sony PS3 linux maintainer is working on a webkit port. Since webkit is open source, here's a link to the project:
http://downloads.snei-opensource.com/pub/webkit/webkit-10.10.01-14fd0bd2/
It's difficult to summarize the Beyond3D thread (it gets weird in places), but it looks like at least the netflix client and probably all the other post-firmware 3.5 streaming apps use the HTML5 javascript engine built-in the PS3.
So what are we downloading when we download these apps? I think it's just the video streaming plugin along with some possible art assets. It was noted that plugins that were released before firmware 3.5 (hulu+) had smaller downloads after 3.5.
And while there's only just enough webkit to run streaming apps now, more updates were promised in the coming months.
http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1504387&postcount=274 (note: bolded text in quote added by poster).
So yeah, we're probably getting Chrome (Safari seems unlikely). The hard part, the javascript engine, is mostly done and running well enough to support streaming
Edit: it's not chrome. If you look at the quote, it's "generic webkit" and Chrome can't use Cairo, also from the quote. In the disclosure it's a T
arget=GDK/GTK+ webkit port which I didn't catch at first.
Recent interviews have more information on Netflix. The information is cited in the posts on the Playstation forum Firmware updates. It's in an article from a QT employee.
http://www.fosdem.org/2011/interview/kenneth-rohde-christiansen
Qt WebKit is a very powerful engine, and it is quite easy to embed web usage in your apps. It even spots a hybrid approach where you can extend the engine from C++, so that you can access your C++ methods from the web view runtime. Quite powerful and used a.o. by Netflix on the Roku and the PS3, using a custom port.
Netflix did a custom port of QT webkit to the PS3. This is what they are claiming as a full webkit port to the PS3.
QT webkit is a cross platform Hybrid "C" and webkit development platform. The includes in the Netflix 21 meg application are a webkit toolkit (not the whole webkit) and "C" library extensions to the basic POSIX PS3 OS. QTWebkit can also use Gstreamer plugins which may have provided a trick/adaptive streaming H.264 player.
In the QT Webkit site a QT webkit library for Linux platforms is said to be 21 megs. This is exactly the size of the Netflix downloadable application.
The Hulu application which is 7 megs most likely does use the HTML5 javascript engine included in PS3 firmware 3.5.
Edit: MS will probably not be providing a HTML5 browser for the Xbox but is providing support for HTML5. So far the updates to the PS3 are being used for IPTV streaming audio and video applications.
How can we be sure Sony will finish and provide the PS3 with a new HTML5 Webkit browser? Will they stop as MS did on the Xbox and not provide a browser?
1) Portal 2 is coming and at the last E3 Sony was praised for "Open Internet" support. See note at bottom:
2) A Sony employee mentioned 3-D viewing from inside a browser. (requires HTML5 and WebGL; WebGL = direct calls to GPU from javascript engine for faster graphics)
3) It's an extension of the Google - Sony partnership and is good business for both. Sony also founded DLNA, possibly for the same reason.
4) The PS3 is missing many of the OS library calls to support a webkit. With webkit and also to allow porting applications to the PS3 from the NGP via PS Suite, the PS3 OS will have to be modified and fully support a modern desktop.
Cairo can use OpenGL as does a WebGL browser which would be required to view 3-D inside a browser.
My understanding is PS Suite requires OpenGL ES 2.0 support and common "C" OS library calls in the target platform.
Edit: GDC and reading power point presentations from past GDC lectures now confirms PSGL = programmable low level GPU & shader support; PC, NGP, PS3 and Android 2.3 and later use a similar low level programmable model. Creating a PS3 OpenGL ES 2.0 library is possible but may not be needed. Custom support using PSGL vs. OpenGL for the browser is probable as is it's use for PS Suite. Edit: Either you use OpenGL 1.0 or OpenGL 2.0, you can't mix the libraries (the model and process is different) even though 2.0 contains many of the functions in OpenGL 1.0. The OpenGL 2.0 programmable GPU model is similar to PSGL.
http://www.khronos.org/opengles/
OpenGL® ES is a royalty-free, cross-platform API for full-function 2D and 3D graphics on embedded systems - including consoles, phones, appliances and vehicles. Embedded Systems don't typically have fully functioning complete operating systems with the support seen in a desktop PC, there being no need in a phone or game console.
OpenGL ES 1.X - For fixed function hardware: (RSX GPU alone)
OpenGL ES 1.1 is defined relative to the OpenGL 1.5 specification and emphasizes hardware acceleration of the API, but is fully backwards compatible with 1.0. It provides enhanced functionality, improved image quality and optimizations to increase performance while reducing memory bandwidth usage to save power. The OpenGL ES 1.1 Extension Pack is a collection of optional extensions added to OpenGL ES 1.1 that reduced variability and bring significant improvements in image quality and performance. Learn More...
OpenGL ES 2.X - for Programmable Hardware (RSX-SPU combination)
For programmable hardware: OpenGL ES 2.0 is defined relative to the OpenGL 2.0 specification and emphasizes a programmable 3D graphics pipeline with the ability to create shader and program objects and the ability to write vertex and fragment shaders in the OpenGL ES Shading Language. OpenGL ES 2.0 does not support the fixed function transformation and fragment pipeline of OpenGL ES 1.x. Learn More...
The player in the PS3 is most likely written by Sony and was updated sometime around firmware 3.5 to support adaptive streaming.
Edit: Android platforms and Sony are using Gstreamer to build their media players and applications. Webkit can use this also.. Proof =
http://gstreamer.freedesktop.org/conference/ (May be an Android hardware developers choice to replace OpenCore with Gstreamer but might become universal on more powerful ARM chipsets)
See also for an idea of issue impacting Open Source library choices:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=9&sqi=2&ved=0CFkQFjAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffree-electrons.com%2Fdoc%2Fembedded_linux_sysdev.odp&rct=j&q=chrome%20gstreamer%20webkit&ei=RlJ7TbTAB4HBtgfivpW6BQ&usg=AFQjCNF7oKBWr1A4K3j7-ZKBEFXvNZRugw
And Sony Snap developer Site information.
http://snap.sonydeveloper.com/img/snap/stack1.jpg
Gstreamer may be the source stack for the video editor in the PS3. There are a series of PDF and video files on the Gstreamer site referenced above. 150 plugins for Gstreamer,
many that might be part of the NGP and coming to the PS3. Also in the first presentation PDF are charts of Gstreamer usage and the charts peak with the PS3 release and recently with PS3 firmware 3.5 - 3.56 (Adaptive streaming and trick player) (Chicken and egg applies here).
Opera uses Gstreamer for their HTML5 video
So we have the following libraries coming or in the PS3, all are required in some form for a webkit port: (confirm before quoting)
Android 2.3+..................PS3......................................NGP
Open Core?.......................Gstreamer...........................Gstreamer....................Android now using Gstreamer?
SQLite.............................SQLite.................................SQLite
OpenGL ES 2.0.................PSGL...................................PSGL ...........................(Android 2.3+ GPU API = more low level support; PC, NGP, PS3, Android use similar)
Webkit layout engine........Webkit layout engine.............Webkit layout engine
SGL Graphics?..................Cairo..................................?Cairo
SSL ................................SSL......................................SSL
Bionic LibC (Posix)?..........GLibC + (POSIX C Lib)?.........GLibC + (POSIX C Lib)?....Orig PS3 OS limited subset now being expanded
? above means, needs to be confirmed. It appears that there are several changes to the Android OS with versions after 2.3+. Android after 2.3+ means more powerful hardware platforms supporting games so Android evolved toward the Sony PS3 library choices. Biggest question is the LibC support as that would have the greatest impact on "C" portability between PS3-Android-NGP via PS Suite.
I'm hoping that with the update required for webkit and PS Suite Sony will realize there is a need for some homebrew in the form of at least javascript widgets.
The PS3 was a game machine and as such did not need OS support beyond the basic POSIX system. Applications written to this point had to include inside themselves what would normally be callable as part of a modern OS library. This is why Application sizes for the PS3 have been so large (200 megs).
http://community.us.playstation.com/thread/3390291?tstart=0
http://community.us.playstation.com/thread/3395726?tstart=0
http://store.steampowered.com/uiupdate/
On PCs Steam has been upgraded to use Webkit. Portal 2 and some form of Steam is coming to the PS3.
The new Steam UI is here, which enhances the way you already buy and play games, adding more info about the things that matter getting games, playing them with friends, and staying current in the gaming world.
If you haven't already updated, you can use the "Check for Steam client updates" option on the "File" menu to automatically update Steam to the new release. If you don't have Steam installed, download it today.
Now using a WebKit based rendering engine for the client and in-game overlay web browsing components (replacing Internet Explorer)
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/114/1144414p1.html
Marking the debut of Steam functioning on any next generation console, the features shipping in the PS3 version of Portal 2 include cross platform play (PC/Mac vs. PS3) for multiplayer games, persistent cloud-based storage of PS3 saved games, and cross platform chat (PC/Mac and PS3).
In addition, those who purchase Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 may unlock a Steam Play (PC & Mac) copy of Portal 2 at no additional cost by linking their PSN and Steam accounts.
"We made a promise to gamers at E3 that Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 would be the best console version of the product," said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. "Working together with Sony we have identified a set of features we believe are very compelling to gamers. We hope to expand upon the foundation being laid in Portal 2 with more Steam features and functionality in DLC and future content releases."
Portal 2 is due for release on the PlayStation 3, PC, Mac and Xbox 360 this April.
Possible release dates for a new Webkit browser:
April with the release of Portal 2 (Portal 2 may not require a full webkit for support)
June at E3 (business reasons, best guess)
September or October with the release of S1 or the NGP