Rumor: Sony bringing Firefox to PS3?

Rumor has it Sony's in talks with Mozilla about porting Firefox over to the PS3.

(Credit: Gizmodo)

We've been hoping for a while that Sony would replace the PS3's mediocre built-in Web browser with something more robust, so it's nice to hear that Sony might be in talks with Mozilla to port Firefox over to the PS3--even if it's just a rumor.

The folks at PlayStation Insider say they've "received a tip from a source very close to Sony" about possible conversations between Mozilla and Sony. No word on whether a deal is close, but having Firefox on board would put a little more wood behind the PS3's arrow in its battle against the XBox 360 and the Wii.

Do you agree?

(Source: PSInsider via Gizmodo)

[gman2398]

I love the ps3 but the current browser sucks, it's too slow.

[heartlessdeath]

after Microsoft 'bricking' anyones console that is even slightly modded, i don't think ps3 has too much compitition really any more, at least not for me. The new browser will be a huge plus though.

[xophaser]

Mozilla makes the current browers, it is basically firefox lite. I seen the linux version on the PS3 and its browser is fast.

[XeonBAMF]

That is absolutly false. Mozilla does not make the current PS3 browser at all. The current browser used on the PS3/PSP is the NetFront browser by Access, the Japanese company that now owns the Palm operating system.

[lil-yankee]

Yeah, initially when i first saw the ps3's/psp's browser i thought "why not hand in the browser business to someone who actually knows how to make one sony' and here after nearly 7 years, is when they do it. Better never than later but i hope they manage to get it in both platforms, or else.......... but good direction though

XeonBAMF -Think you misunderstood the comment. I read it as running Linux as "another O.S." on the PS3 and then running the Firefox borwser for Linux there. I've toyed with Linux on my PS3 and can vouch for that...neat way to see the potentials of the PS3 and its processor capabilities.

[famoussasjohn]

heartlessdeath - they banned people for modding the firmware on the drives to play copied games. the xbox is still a competition. the xbox isnt "bricked" it just cant go on XBL anymore. the xbox still functions and you can still play video games on it and everything else.

I have been hoping for these types of rumors to start up. The built-in browser is definitely "mediocre"..at best. Now only imagine how great it would be if we got Firefox and Hulu...

[RF-Mike]

Hulu is already available via 3rd party software (if you have a PC sharing the network with a PS3). Just need to use tversity (http://tversity.com/) or PlayOn (http://www.playon.tv/) to stream Hulu and other internet TV to your PS3.

[jpsaply]

People are mentioning the use of Hulu. Very nice site. However hulu was never meant to be free. I was in beta for Hulu when it first went online, one of the things they mentioned, is that it would be evetually a subscription service. I read an article about a month ago that stated they are looking to go to a subscription service sometime next year.

And then there was this:<br /><br />http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/10/28/will-hulu-stop-being-free-in-a-word-no/

[mnhthegreat]

If this is true and gets implemented in the future, the PS3 will undoubtedly become a full featured media hub and leave the competition in the dust!

[soccermatt]

This would be a first step, but imagine google chrome on the PS3. Maybe that would persuade me to buy a PS3 over an Xbox 360.

[tw1975]

Just wait for the Linux patch. <br /> <br /> <br />LOL

[subtenko]

***, that alone would make you get a ps3?!<br /><br />wow...thats somethin...really. You'd have to put better exclusives on the 360 to get me to buy one of those too. Since the few good ones they got are on PC, I just play it on there,LOL

[mrcjacobs]

I don't think Firefox is the best choice based on it's memory issues. Chrome or even Safari would be a better fit in my book.

[Caos285]

safari wouldnt work because thats from apple and they are if u want to call them rival companys especially since they was targeting them with the psp go!

[amarcin]

Safari = Chrome = WebKit, which is a fork of KDE's KHTML. It's definitely the up-and-comer.

[Jawknee1]

i dont know how rivel they are. They are both on the Blue Ray Disc Association panel. Sonys not trying to eat into Apples market share with the PSP Go. iPod touchs and PSPs are completely two pieces of hardware made for entirely different reasons. Yes they share certain features but just because Sony has a new PSP out doesnt mean i or even most people will dump their iPods or iPod Touchs for a PSP or dump their PSPs for iPods.

[scorpiousx]

Apple is going after the PSP market with the Iphone/Ipod Touch

[mgarc1125]

This would be so freaking awesome!

[umbrae]

Not sure why you would want to browse the web on your gaming console or tv...

[Helmbo]

Well, not everyone has a home PC or notebook.

[tw1975]

Not sure why you would want to play video games your PC or Mac...

[Jawknee1]

lol exactly.

[bottle12am]

As someone with two daughters, trust me, it's a godsend. Instead of my kids begging me to get of my computer to check their myspace or go to youtube, I just toss them my extra usb keyboard and they plug it right into the Wii or PS3, leaving their dad in peace!

[killericed]

How about when you want to watch your favorite shows online? thru the network's official websites or through Hulu.com. Get with the times. It's 2009, grandpa!

[Shinobi2099]

umbrae back and making no sense as usual lol

[adub1083]

With faster and faster speeds becoming available you will see an end to the way that we communicate now. The Internet has proven that it can accommodate nearly anything, when speeds become faster and more reliable than they currently are the question will become: why wouldn't you want to watch HD Youtube videos on a Bravia 42" LCD your PS3? though I can do that now with my computer, but then everyone could watch people hurt themselves or others :}

[BCF1968]

"Not sure why you would want to browse the web on your gaming console or tv... " <br /> <br />Well let's see browsing on my current 22 inch computer monitor or a nice big 50 inch Tv? Hmmm tough choices. This isn't like a few years ago where most TVs were 4:3 480i CRTs. Of course you wouldn't want to browse the internet on that. A 1920X1080 TV is perfectly acceptable for web browsing.

[Bald_Shaun]

I can't imagine why you WOULDN'T want to browse the web on your gaming console or tv...<br /><br />Let's see. View high definition video and pics, and listen to music and movie audio on my 15" lap top perched at my desk, or lounging on the sofa in front of the 50" flat screen surrounded by silky Pioneer/JBL 5.1 sound? Toughie, huh? <br /><br />Internet access is half the reason I bought a PS3. Little did I know their browser sucks. If this rumor comes to fruition, the PS3 will finally be the do it all media hub that it should have been out of the box.

[jayiowan]

I've been waiting for this for ages. Great!

[MattJessop]

Personally, I reckon they should build their own browser from the ground up using WebKit. Even Mozilla has admitted that Gecko has a lot of clutter that they need to cut out. Firefox is a great browser, but Gecko is far too bloated.

[PiiSPii]

I've always found that Sony's software has never held up to their hardware.

[heroqu]

Man, I hope its true, I've been thinking of adding Linux to the PS3 for just this reason, now all I need is a good wireless keyboard and mouse combo, make it happen Sony! The PS3 rules it does everything!

[xmaster_dosx]

it doesnt make me a sandwich lol, but it does alot of other good stuff.

[Olove21]

Sweet.

[cjnesi]

FF on PS3 would be GREAT! Hopefully that would also lead to being able to view sites like HULU on the PS3. :-) Go for it SONY!

[Dsatlatl]

Please let this rumor be reality soon!! Would prefer Google Chrome as well. But will take Firefox over the current PS3 browser. Can catch up on the news, read blogs, watch youtube all on a stable browser etc and not leave the couch. Awesomeness..

[mdub311]

I love this idea and I love that logo!

[ibmford]

I've been dreaming about this for a long time. <br />When you offer a web browser you either offer one that works properly or don't offer at all. Firefox would be an excellent choice on PS3.

[Hunnter2k3]

Chrome, Safari, Opera, totally, but just not Firefox.<br />Mozilla's refusal to fix some bugs and memory leaks is a very serious thing that they (Sony) need to consider<br />The PS3s memory is bad enough as it is for browsing. I can't count the number of times i have hit a page where it comes up with the Out Of Memory message.<br /><br />Chrome more than anything is perfectly suited to the Cell simply due to the way the browser is implemented.<br />Maybe Mozilla could even push for their own version of Firefox that they are building to replicate process separation to be used on it.<br /><br />As long as they get rid of that crap we have now, i am happy.<br />The browser is one of the most annoying things about the PS3.<br />If whoever does make the next browser (if this is true), hopefully they will also do some intelligent caching, the memory issues are the worst part.

[danielkza]

Does Chrome have a PPC build for OSX? If not, it's a safe bet it would take quite a bit of work to port the JS compiler, and other hand-optimized code.<br /><br />I'm guessing that's exactly the reason Mozilla would be the best choice: it runs in pretty much any architecture/OS you can think of, and there would be no licensing fees.<br /><br />Firefox has issues, can't deny that, but they've never been as disastrous in my situation (using since the final 1.0 betas) as everyone claims.<br /><br />About Mozilla refusing to fix bugs: you should take a look at their bugtracker, it shows the opposite. But some of the problems require major time and effort. Don't forget it's an open project: you can always help solving the issues, by programming, testing, discussing solutions, or using whatever other skill you may have. Have you tried that at all?

[Byteme2009]

@ Hunnter2k3 - what type of PS3 do you have? I have never had an 'out of memory' message come up on the browser. I have the 160gb model.

[RonSochacki]

I've been waiting for this for awhile now, along with a new updated flash player so videos such as hulu can work. Come on Sony, get on top of your next gen ideas and do it fast. Foxfire would be awesome though.

[BCF1968]

Hulu is deliberately making sure it can't be viewed on anything but a computer monitor. Having firefox on the PS3 won't change that. The companies behind Hulu want you watching TV on your TV not watching Hulu on it.

[maine1970]

I think Chrome would be the preferred browser here! This would also allow you to download movies and music straight to your entertainment room! Now I'm just waiting for a site or service that will bring the first run movies, straight to home, vie On-Demand, shortly after the release date! No reason to leave the house then!

[hotrrod76]

I have a ps3 i agree the current browser kinda sucks, Just make google your home browser i have to look at what steps to take but i did on mine, also this idea of firefox sounds like a good possibility. I would like to add that the Wii i system it is own i don't see how people are comparing them together. Now the Ps3 and X-box can be but the X-box don't play blue ray so technichally With a PS3 u have a blue ray player along with a gaming system that the grafics are just as good or if not better on gaming. Finally the online net works X-box u pay and u get more than enough problems ( coming from past experiences with my own and others) The PS3 i have owned for about two and a half years and switched up the hard drive size from 40g to 320g And i have never had any problems but twice using certain web pages it froze but only twice in that amount of time owning one. So i still have to say sony owns the best of gaming worlds very least it to me should be pulling ahead of this gaming industry.

[pkucinski]

A little off topic, but I couldn't resist.<br />PS3 is not the do-all, end-all game system.<br />I loved mine to death, but the minute I have issues with it, SONY dumps me.<br /><br />http://ps3trouble.blogspot.com/

[tw1975]

What the pkuc?