Valve Hardware & Security

x82bd4df5

I just came across an article talking to the point that Valve isn't working on a phone, when considering they are making inroads for gaming on ARM based devices through FEX (x86 emulation). This idea of developing a phone wasn't one that I had thought of... but I was thinking about the implications of being able to run games on my GOS phone.

I am also curious if anyone could put an ear worm into Gabe Newell's head to start putting some effort/focus into using/creating better open hardware, firmware, and OS/software SECURITY within their new projects running off linux and SteamOS. Put it under the guise of anti-cheat, (that has the same, if not very similar, attack vectors); and push open and transparent standards. A) Because it starts addressing privacy and security issues from a different place. B) It could focus devs onto better practices. C) Adoption. Cost reduction. And getting more people using technology with better security and privacy defaults.

SteamOS is becoming an agent of change; especially when you consider the current surge into people picking up Bazzite

Dreaming of a world with better defaults for openness, transparency, and in regards to security and privacy.

MineralWater

The problem there is the old one all alternative OS have:
Number of Users and availability of programs and their quality.

All openness and security aside, if the people don't get the programs they are used to or need for work/School and the usability needs opening a shell and filling in commands nobody knows what they actually mean and do...you will not enter the market.

That's why Linux never made a true impact in the people's homes. Even when you use Linux just for word processing and browsing-like i do-you will be confronted with the shell depending on your hardware. People aren't used to this anymore, they want graphical user interfaces and convenience.

GrapheneOS knows this and created a truly easy web installer and the easy opportunity to revert this to stock OS. Also they added a way that you can use almost all apps that you might need through PlayStore access.

Valve will have the same problem they had with the first steam deck. It's too expensive and in the end you don't get the same you had with a windows pc-though they did a lot to make games run on Linux distros.

But, to spread this new SteamOS it must offer benefits aside gaming. And the other problem is, why would one need it, if he hasn't a gaming PC.

Gaming PC and also the new steam machine will cost a lot of money . Publishing this during a global recession is counter productive.

The new steam machine is estimated to cost around 800$. There won't be many buyers at this price point and it will soon be forgotten.

And assumed the new OS could be installed anywhere without the gaming aspect, why use it? A Linux Mint or other variants offer security, for the super paranoid a USB live system is the first choice.

I like the idea of having competition, but here I don't see where the consumer benefits? At the moment it's not much more than an expensive gaming device with an own OS that let's you run browser and word processing.

Take the last away and you got an Xbox, take the browser away and you got Nintendo and PlayStation.

I doubt this will amaze the masses and make a change.

x82bd4df5

MineralWater I don't share your pessimism.
The gaming industry has been in this weird state of fragmentation and lock in, and I think Valve was onto how this shapes the marketplace
Particularly I think you currently have two emerging technologies, VR/AR/XR (or whatever marketing name you want to give it), and handheld devices; and I would argue their various success/failures can primarily be held to this fragmentation. The next particular is the enshittification of Windows for PC, and their failure to bridge that PC <-> Console gap to xbox. (I'm just going to gloss over apples minimal footprint in the gaming space). You then have every gaming purpose built platform, Sony, Nintendo, etc, that simply lacks any carry over to PC (and using your devices for anything other then gaming). Then there's the portability of your gaming library across these platform problem.
SteamOS and Valves hardware product line bridges these gaps. I can take my library to any of these device domains, handheld, VR, console/PC, under a unifying OS/UI. That just happens to also be the best open place for creatives who like to develop indie things, as well hack and mod other things.

SteamOS/Bazzite just happen to be gaming focused variants of linux; you still have the desktop experience an easy reach away. (I'd argue Bazzite offers a better security posture then Linux Mint, but that's a different conversation) I'd argue that because they are gaming focused, you'll see them be adopted more so then any other distribution coming from gaming, and those looking to flee windows 11 enshittification.

I also think you gloss over the fact that the Steam Machine is targeted just as much as a living room console, as it is a dedicated desktop PC; and this opens it up for all sorts of HTPC kinds of tasks. If $800 is true, it isn't that much more then the top end PS5 or Xbox. The steam machine also has a much larger market of things, like on the hardware side with controllers, keyboards, mice; or on the software end, for what browser, emulation, mod pack...to fit whatever 'style' you might prefer.

The consumer benefits are numerous.