Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Joystiq set to overtake G4 in Folding@home leaderboards tonight]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/joystiq-set-to-overtake-g4-in-folding-home-leaderboards-tonight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/joystiq-set-to-overtake-g4-in-folding-home-leaderboards-tonight/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/joystiq-set-to-overtake-g4-in-folding-home-leaderboards-tonight/#comments Were you aware that Folding@home (now called Life With PlayStation) isn't just an altruistic distributed computing network, but also a brutal team sport? It's true -- reader Chilly_Willy recently pointed our attention to Joystiq's ranking on the F@h leaderboard and reported the delightful news that Team 'Stiq is set to overtake fellow games media outlet G4TV within the next 24 hours. We received the news with dignity, knowing that rankings don't matter -- all we care about is contributing to the scientific community's fight against disease.

We're kidding, of course -- we're purely in this thing for the thrill of victory. In fact, it would be great if you guys could go turn on your PS3s and lend a hand in destroying G4. We want Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb to feel absolutely crushed with defeat at some point during the day, but not know why. We want to run into Olivia Munn and Kevin Pereira at PAX East, and have them be too afraid to make eye contact with us. Please, please, dear readers -- won't you help make our dream a reality?

JoystiqJoystiq set to overtake G4 in Folding@home leaderboards tonight originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distributed-computinglife-with-playstationmetaMon, 08 Feb 2010 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Watch streaming game trailers on Life with PlayStation]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/15/watch-streaming-game-trailers-on-life-with-playstation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/15/watch-streaming-game-trailers-on-life-with-playstation/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/12/15/watch-streaming-game-trailers-on-life-with-playstation/#comments Life With PlayStation, Sony's updated Folding@Home app just got a cool new expansion today. With update 1.20, cancer-stopping PS3 owners will be able to watch streaming full-screen game trailers while the PS3 chugs away, unfolding proteins. The experience is rather sleek and videos load almost instantly, taking advantage of the same streaming player that "What's New" and the PlayStation Store both use.

It appears the content is automatically gathered from the PlayStation Store, and it allows you to watch all the available content in a single continuous stream. While we don't see this feature being used too often, it's perfect for those GameStop employees that want to have video looping on their PS3 kiosks.

[Thanks, marcus]

JoystiqWatch streaming game trailers on Life with PlayStation originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game-trailersLife-with-playstationPSNstreamingstreaming-videotrailersvideoTue, 15 Dec 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Happy 3rd birthday, PlayStation 3!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/happy-3rd-birthday-playstation3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/happy-3rd-birthday-playstation3/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/18/happy-3rd-birthday-playstation3/#comments We can hardly believe that it's been three whole years since we first enjoyed the splendor of the PlayStation 3 in our own homes. Sure, there weren't a million fantastic games for the console right at launch, and there were a few issues at some stores with poor crowd management, but here we are three years later with a heap of great memories. Remember that nightmare inducing baby ad? How about Sony's response to PlayStation Home being leaked?

These days, we have hilarious commercials, a smattering of great exclusive games both on disc and through the PlayStation Network - hell, the system even lost some weight (and half its original price)! We're spending the day celebrating the PS3s lifespan by ... folding proteins like mad! If you're so inclined to join along, we've got this convenient 300 person strong team set up. It's a celebration foldathon, folks - ya dig?

JoystiqHappy 3rd birthday, PlayStation 3! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby-adbirthdayfolding-at-homehomelaunchplaystation-homeplaystation-networkpsnWed, 18 Nov 2009 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 being used to detect heart defects]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/xbox-360-being-used-to-detect-heart-defects/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/xbox-360-being-used-to-detect-heart-defects/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/25/xbox-360-being-used-to-detect-heart-defects/#comments We've suffered our fair share of broken hearts at the hands of the Red Ring of Death -- now, the Xbox 360 is being used to mend our ailing blood-pumpers. A computer scientist at the University of Warwick in England recently did some sweet console modification to allow his 360 to calculate heart rhythms using a complex algorithm. Microsoft's console is capable of performing these calculations five times faster (and 10 times cheaper) than a lab computer, and has the added benefit of letting its users play Madden in between bursts of scientific study.

To sum up, the 360 is now being used to cure heart disease, and the PS3 is being used to cure cancer. Ball's in your court, Nintendo.

JoystiqXbox 360 being used to detect heart defects originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>healthheartheart-diseasemedicalmicrosoftscienceuniversity-of-warwickxbox-360Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Life with PlayStation 1.10 update adds United Village channel]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/life-with-playstation-1-10-update-adds-united-village-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/life-with-playstation-1-10-update-adds-united-village-channel/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/life-with-playstation-1-10-update-adds-united-village-channel/#comments
Have you booted up Life with PlayStation lately? Sony's enhanced Folding@Home application saw an update last week, upgrading the program to version 1.10:
  • Added support for adding and removing channels dynamically.
  • Added a local time display in the LIVE CHANNEL.
  • Updated Mood categories for automatic music selection.
  • Added support to enable Folding@home[TM] Expert Mode which disables all other channels and features that may impact simulation performance. Folding@home[TM] Expert Mode can be activated by navigating to: Options Menu > [Configuration] > [Folding@home].
One of the new channels introduced to Life with PlayStation is United Village, "a project designed to provide an experience of sharing a sense of community and culture from locations around the world." Right now, it's a bit sparse, and we don't really see its potential. Hopefully, the fact that channels can be "dynamically" added suggests more channels are on their way.

[Thanks, zKAPOWz and Gotoxy!]

JoystiqLife with PlayStation 1.10 update adds United Village channel originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 May 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>life-with-playstationunited-villageMon, 11 May 2009 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@home gets 'Good Design' award]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/folding-home-gets-good-design-award/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/folding-home-gets-good-design-award/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/folding-home-gets-good-design-award/#commentsFiled under:


Have you cured cancer lately? Maybe not, because you're too busy playing the excellent games on PS3 right now. But, why not take some time this weekend to launch Life With PlayStation and fold some proteins. (Join us at Group #57793.) Now is the best time to jump in the cancer-saving fun, especially because of a new award donned to the service.

The Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization awarded Sony Computer Entertainment the "Good Design Gold Award 2008" for the support of the Folding@home project on PS3. "Analysis of proteins for the purpose of shedding light on diseases is just one example of solution design for social issues, a stance that indicates the direction that design should take in the future. Motivating the people who will be involved in these studies will be the key to success, but the program functions well as an idea for making participation in this project visible on a global scale."

So yeah, let's celebrate and fold at home this weekend!

JoystiqFolding@home gets 'Good Design' award originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>good-designFri, 07 Nov 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Life With PlayStation is really live, really]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/life-with-playstation-is-really-live-really/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/life-with-playstation-is-really-live-really/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/18/life-with-playstation-is-really-live-really/#commentsFiled under: ,

At last.

Life With PlayStation was leaked yesterday, but now it's officially available to download. Simply go to Network -> Folding@Home. You'll be prompted to download two update files. Once you're done, Folding@Home will be replaced on your XMB with Life With PlayStation. Don't worry -- you can still cure cancer. But now you'll be able to check the news, listen to music, and research the weather all from one app.

[Thanks, Random1448!]

JoystiqLife With PlayStation is really live, really originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Sep 2008 02:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>life-with-playstationThu, 18 Sep 2008 02:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaming graphics cards drive advances in medical imaging]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/gaming-graphics-cards-drive-advances-in-medical-imaging/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/gaming-graphics-cards-drive-advances-in-medical-imaging/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/18/gaming-graphics-cards-drive-advances-in-medical-imaging/#commentsFiled under:

We all know that gamers can actively help medical research through efforts like the PS3's Folding@Home project. Now comes word from UK's The Engineer magazine that gamers and their pumped up video cards are helping the cause of medical imaging without even trying.

You see, speeding up the processing of magnetic resonance imaging is important to prevent the blurring effects of involuntary body movement. Networked supercomputers are fast enough to do it, but they're too expensive to be a wide scale solution. However, high-powered video cards, with their 128 built-in processors, provide the perfect, low-cost method for speeding things up. And why have those graphics cards so freaking cheap and powerful? "The reason for this is the games industry," said Kings College London Professor Tobias Schaeffter. "It is amazing how much the power of the cards increases annually by putting on more processors and more memory."

So remember, the next time you plunk down hundreds of dollars for that new super-duper graphics card, you're not just helping your gaming experience -- in some small way, you're helping medical research.

JoystiqGaming graphics cards drive advances in medical imaging originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>graphics cardGraphicsCardmedicalMRINVIDIAPCPS3researchSonyvideo cardVideoCardMon, 18 Feb 2008 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[New Folding@Home update: nothing to write home about]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/new-folding-home-update-nothing-to-write-home-about/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/new-folding-home-update-nothing-to-write-home-about/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/15/new-folding-home-update-nothing-to-write-home-about/#commentsFiled under:

A minor update for Folding@home dropped in this morning. In fact, the picture above pretty much sums up everything you'll need to know about the update. "Operations for handling network errors related to the uploading and downloading of work units have been improved." Exhilarating! Riveting, even.

Though the update's description is vague, it does bring a bit of the "curiosity cat" out of us. Have you had many problems with downloading/uploading work units? Does this update relieve those network connection woes that have been keeping you up at night?

[Thanks, SirRealVision!]

P.S. Join our Folding team: #57793. All the cool kids are doing it!

JoystiqNew Folding@Home update: nothing to write home about originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foldingfolding-at-homeupdatesFri, 15 Feb 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@home for PS3 goes platinum]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/folding-home-for-ps3-goes-platinum/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/folding-home-for-ps3-goes-platinum/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/folding-home-for-ps3-goes-platinum/#commentsFiled under: ,

The super-sized, record-breaking protein-folding project Folding@home has claimed its millionth PlayStation 3 console, according to a press release from Sony Computer Entertainment. Folding@home began in October 2000 as an effort to utilize as much computing power as possible (via distributed clusters) to understand protein folding and misfolding. Researchers hope to gain a better understanding of related diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's and various forms of cancer. The PS3 client launched in March 2007 and was last revised in December.

A million consoles may seem like a lot, but that's really not a large portion of PS3 owners, given hardware sales statistics. We'd like to thank everyone on the (currently) 218-member Joystiq folding team, who have helped us maintain a 367th out of 102,162 ranking. (Don't forget about PS3 Fanboy or the stellar Engadget teams, either.) Remember, it's never too late to join.

JoystiqFolding@home for PS3 goes platinum originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PS3scesceasonySony-Computer-Entertainment-AmericaMon, 04 Feb 2008 20:55:00 EST<![CDATA[A million PS3 owners have signed onto Folding@Home]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/a-million-ps3-owners-have-signed-onto-folding-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/a-million-ps3-owners-have-signed-onto-folding-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/a-million-ps3-owners-have-signed-onto-folding-home/#commentsFiled under:

It hasn't yet been a year since the Folding@Home client was released onto the PS3, but in the 10 months since its inception there are now over a million PS3 owners on the Folding@Home network. How do we know this? Sony has sent out a rather handy press release telling us all about it - which includes the fact that this equates to 3000 people signing up every day. Or, if you prefer your linear time nuggets in smaller doses, two people signing up every minute.

Vijay Pande, Folding@Home Project Lead, has said that the research is increasing "in leaps and bounds" since the partnership with Sony started up in March 2007. Only six months later, the network exceeded a petaflop of data. The research taken from the project simulates the folding of protein molecules in order to see in what environments and situations they fold incorrectly, which is what causes various cancers as well as Alzheimer's disease. We're happy to see more PS3 owners join the Folding fold, but are slightly startled by the figure. With upwards of 8 million PS3s out in the world, why are only a million joining the fight. This figure is to be congratulated, but we can't help but feel slightly disappointed that it's still relatively low.

JoystiqA million PS3 owners have signed onto Folding@Home originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foldingMon, 04 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@Home gets update, new features]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/folding-home-gets-update-new-features/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/folding-home-gets-update-new-features/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/folding-home-gets-update-new-features/#commentsFiled under:


Thanks to titles like Ratchet and Clank and Uncharted there are finally better games on the PS3 than Folding@Home (or Grand Theft Protein as we call it in these parts). Not willing to go down without a fight though, the scientific application recently got even more entertaining thanks to a new update bundled with yesterday's 2.10 PS3 firmware.

First off is the ability to set a shutoff timer for the program, perfect for when you want to help cure cancer, just not all night. Also included is the much more exciting option to play background music while the aforementioned proteins are being folded. (If we may be so bold, a little candlelight, a little Lou Rawls and a little protein folding is a volitale recipe for late night romance.)

JoystiqFolding@Home gets update, new features originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PS3ps3firmwaresonyWed, 19 Dec 2007 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@Home improvements coming soon [UPDATE]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/folding-home-improvements-coming-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/folding-home-improvements-coming-soon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/19/folding-home-improvements-coming-soon/#commentsFiled under:

Firmware 2.10 has paved the way for an update to the Folding@Home client. which will arrive soon. The improvements are definitely quite interesting in that they are actually very useful. No longer will you need to worry about leaving your PS3 on all the time - F@H will be able to shut down your console after either the current work unit has completed, or after a certain amount of time.

Not only that, but we can confirm that Folding@Home will receive custom soundtracks. No longer will you have an attack of conscience when using the PS3 to play music - no more will you think to yourself "I'm really enjoying this music, but I feel so guilty that I'm not curing cancer ... ", for now you can do both at the same time. Astonishing!

In all seriousness, though - this is a very handy update and we'll certainly be running our music through Folding@Home over the holidays. No word on exactly when the updated version will be available, but it should be pretty soon, all things considered.

[UPDATE] The update is now available to download. Simply start Folding@Home and you will prompted to upgrade.

JoystiqFolding@Home improvements coming soon [UPDATE] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foldingupdateWed, 19 Dec 2007 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@home and PS3 reach Guinness Records]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/folding-home-and-ps3-reach-guinness-records/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/folding-home-and-ps3-reach-guinness-records/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/31/folding-home-and-ps3-reach-guinness-records/#commentsFiled under:


Folding@home continues to get the attention of the mainstream media. PS3's large network of Cell-enabled PS3 systems has significantly boosted the abilities of Stanford University's research program. So much so, in fact, that the program recently was recognized by the Guinness Records. Over 670,000 unique PS3 users have registered to the Folding@home network, and combined they have achieved the petaflop mark on September 23, 2007. This has placed the program as the most powerful distributed computing network ever.

"To have Folding@home recognized by Guinness World Records as the most powerful distributed computing network ever is a reflection of the extraordinary worldwide participation by gamers and consumers around the world and for that we are very grateful," said Vijay Pande, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University and Folding@home project lead. "Without them we would not be able to make the advancements we have made in our studies of several different diseases. But it is clear that none of this would be even remotely possible without the power of PS3, it has increased our research capabilities by leaps and bounds."

"To have PS3 play such a large role in allowing Folding@home to be honored by Guinness World Records is truly incredible," said Masayuki Chatani, Executive Vice President & Chief Technology Officer, Technology Platform, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "This record is clear evidence of the power of PS3 and the contributions that it is making to the Folding@home network, and more importantly, scientific research."

JoystiqFolding@home and PS3 reach Guinness Records originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellguinnessrecordWed, 31 Oct 2007 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Our newest obsession: Folding@home on the go]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/our-newest-obsession-folding-home-on-the-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/our-newest-obsession-folding-home-on-the-go/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/our-newest-obsession-folding-home-on-the-go/#commentsFiled under:


Yes, that's a PSP system running Folding@home. But how? A new update of this research tool was released for the PS3 today, and it allows you to activate Folding@home through PSP Remote Play. It's not a big deal for many (if not most) PSP owners, but this kind of console interactivity makes those of us lucky to own both platforms giddy with excitement. With this latest update, we'll be able to watch anime stored on our PS3 hard drive and cure cancer while sipping our morning coffee at Starbucks. This kind of admittedly useless functionality makes tech geeks like us feel strangely ... powerful.

JoystiqOur newest obsession: Folding@home on the go originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@home 1.2 adds Remote Play folding, Advanced Participation, more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/folding-home-1-2-adds-remote-play-folding-advanced-particiation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/folding-home-1-2-adds-remote-play-folding-advanced-particiation/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/08/21/folding-home-1-2-adds-remote-play-folding-advanced-particiation/#commentsFiled under:


It appears that more and more PS3 systems are getting access to a new version of Folding@home for PS3. Version 1.2 contains some noteworthy additions, such as the ability to activate folding from your PSP through Remote Play, and a new Advanced Participation mode for those that fold more than eight hours a day (!). Here are the updates:
  • Support for Remote Play for PSP - Turn on Remote Play and feel free to activate folding when you're on the go. Requires PSP firmware 3.50 or above.
  • Visibility of Donor Locations on the Globe - See night and day users.
  • Support for Additional Protein Simulations - PS3 now supports even more kinds of proteins!
  • Advanced Participation Mode - Recommended for users that fold at least eight hours a day, this mode will allow users to tackle advanced calculations that take significantly longer than standard operations. A new energy graph will show the energy level of the protein over time.
  • Screensaver Mode - After three minutes of controller inactivity, the screen will go blank, allowing users to save on power consumption.
  • Link to Project Information - See what you're folding, and what cause it's going for.
  • Protein Visualization Enhancements - Four new visual modes have been added:
    Tapioca - Displays the protein as a smooth surface with improved shading and depth. (Replaces "ISO Surface" visualization from earlier versions.)
    Caviar - Displays the protein as a smooth surface with defined edges.
    Licorice - Displays only the protein's bonds.
    Backbone - Emphasizes specific sections of the protein that are of the most scientific interest to researchers.
Get folding! To join the PS3 Fanboy Folding@home team, add your PS3 to our group: 57793.

JoystiqFolding@home 1.2 adds Remote Play folding, Advanced Participation, more originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy breaks into the top 200 Folding@Home teams]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/08/ps3-fanboy-breaks-into-the-top-200-folding-home-teams/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/08/ps3-fanboy-breaks-into-the-top-200-folding-home-teams/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/07/08/ps3-fanboy-breaks-into-the-top-200-folding-home-teams/#comments
As of today, the PS3 Fanboy Folding@home team has broken into the top 200 Folding@Home teams and now stand at 199th, beating out Joystiq (533), IGN (209), and Digg (438). Thanks everybody! There's no way we could have achieved this without the continued efforts from everybody here. If you haven't joined up yet, we'd love it if you would join up with us and help us and Folding@Home fight cancer, our team code is 57793, so join up today. Also, major props to Big Delicious, who holds down the single-user top score with an insane 330 Work Units completed. Now that is some serious dedication!

In honor of this achievement, we're hosting a Folding@Home event tonight. Before you go to sleep, fire up the Folding@Home application and do a bit of good for the struggle against cancer. If you want to join our team, we'd really appreciate that -- but regardless of your affiliation we'd love it if you'd chip in tonight.

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy breaks into the top 200 Folding@Home teams originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 08 Jul 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>stanfordSun, 08 Jul 2007 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Memorial Day Fold-a-thon!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/memorial-day-fold-a-thon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/memorial-day-fold-a-thon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/28/memorial-day-fold-a-thon/#comments
Tonight, PS3 Fanboy is hosting our first ever Memorial Day Fold-a-thon event! Tonight, before you go off to bed and dream of Nariko, remember to turn on Folding@home and do some good for the medical community. As always, if you haven't joined our team (57793) yet, we'd love to have you - but regardless of your Folding affiliations, we hope that you join us for this event!

JoystiqMemorial Day Fold-a-thon! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 May 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>foldingmemorial dayMemorialDayMon, 28 May 2007 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 Fanboy Folding@home team breaks the top 300!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/21/ps3-fanboy-folding-home-team-breaks-the-top-300/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/21/ps3-fanboy-folding-home-team-breaks-the-top-300/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/21/ps3-fanboy-folding-home-team-breaks-the-top-300/#comments
It's been a bit since we did one of our big Sunday night Folding@Home events, but it's clear that you guys haven't been slacking off when it comes to Folding. One of our users sent us an e-mail recently pointing out that PS3 Fanboy has broken into the top 300 teams on the Folding@Home website. We are currently number 277 out of 66360 teams, well above Joystiq (#743) but trailing Engadget (#28!).

I'm number 32 on our team, where are you on the list? If you haven't joined our team yet, our team number is 57793. Join up and help us (maybe) save the world!

[Thanks mccomber!]

JoystiqPS3 Fanboy Folding@home team breaks the top 300! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 May 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distributed computingDistributedComputingfoldingMon, 21 May 2007 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Why hasn't the 360 joined the F@H fight?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/13/why-hasnt-the-360-joined-the-f-h-fight/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/13/why-hasnt-the-360-joined-the-f-h-fight/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/13/why-hasnt-the-360-joined-the-f-h-fight/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Playstation 3 gives users the ability to donate their processing power to the Folding@Home project, but the 360 has yet to see such a program. Peter Moore said it would be possible, but why hasn't Microsoft allowed Xbox 360 users to do the same? Well, the guys over at Digital Media Thoughts think they know why Microsoft doesn't release such a program and it all comes down to faulty hardware. They believe that the Xbox 360's failure rate is the main reason for not including such a program. According to DMT, they feel the 360's failure rate is much higher than Microsoft wants to admit and that the hardware problems stem from the massive amount of heat generated causing the motherboard to warp and solder joints to disconnect. And if a Folding@Home project were released for the 360, nearly 100% of the CPU would be used for hours on end, causing lots of heat and much more hardware problems. Red rings of death would soon become the norm.

Whether you buy into DMT's reasoning or not, we simply cannot justify why Microsoft would not include some sort of project for users to donate their 360's CPU power. Maybe it is because Microsoft doesn't want to stress the hardware any further, maybe not, but we'd like to know the whole story without any smoke or mirrors. Any thoughts guys?

JoystiqWhy hasn't the 360 joined the F@H fight? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 May 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>folding at homeFoldingAtHomeplaystation 3Playstation3ps3xbox 360xbox liveXbox360XboxLiveSun, 13 May 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 has made Folding@Home #1 globally]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/ps3-has-made-folding-home-1-globally/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/ps3-has-made-folding-home-1-globally/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/11/ps3-has-made-folding-home-1-globally/#commentsFiled under: ,

Another piece of good Folding news has made its way to our ears and, consequently, fingers as we type up the reasoning behind our subject line. The PS3 has made Folding@Home the most powerful distributed computing resource on the entire planet. For the calculations being run, it makes the PS3 and the Folding project as a whole the most powerful supercomputer of any type. We are awesome, basically.

Two million CPU's have contributed to the project. Don't you guys feel like part of something great? A community who has only decided to give and give and give to a project that might save lives? We've done a great thing and we should continue to do what we're doing (especially if you're part of the PS3 Fanboy folding team), because who knows how much street cred the PS3 will get when it happens upon a cure for some kind of disease.

[via PS3Forums]

JoystiqPS3 has made Folding@Home #1 globally originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 May 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3Playstation3PS3SonyFri, 11 May 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Moore on 360 failure rates, Folding@Home, more]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/moore-on-360-failure-rates-folding-home-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/moore-on-360-failure-rates-folding-home-more/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/08/moore-on-360-failure-rates-folding-home-more/#commentsFiled under:


Speaking to Mike Antonucci of the Mercury News, Microsoft's Peter Moore answered readers questions about the Xbox 360. Among the more interesting questions was from a reader who had gone through two Xbox 360s within 7 months. When asked for a "straight answer" about 360 failure rates -- and whether or not they were higher than 3% -- Moore deflected the issue, saying that customers should focus on the treatment of the problem and not the problem itself. In other words, quality of customer service is more important than the quality of the product. According to Moore, "Y'know, things break, and if we've treated him well and fixed his problem, that's something that we're focused on right now." Moore further stated that he couldn't comment on specific failure rates because he was "shipping in 36 countries and it's a complex business."

Other issues discussed include Folding@Home, the shared processing initiative recently supported by the PS3. When asked whether or not the 360 would ever be used for such a purpose, Moore stated that if Microsoft believed it could aid projects like Folding@Home with the processing power of the 360, it would certainly consider it. Moore also takes time to address the Xbox 360's variety of games (or lack thereof), and the state of affairs in Japan. Hit the "read" link for the full article.

JoystiqMoore on 360 failure rates, Folding@Home, more originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 May 2007 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessfoldingfolding at homeFoldingAtHomepeter moorePeterMooreTue, 08 May 2007 15:35:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 beats Xbox 360 in console (folding) war]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/ps3-beats-xbox-360-in-console-folding-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/ps3-beats-xbox-360-in-console-folding-war/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/05/ps3-beats-xbox-360-in-console-folding-war/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Vijay Pande, the man behind the Folding@home project, is the ultimate fanboy. So dedicated is he to the PS3 and PC, that he turns his nose up at the Xbox 360 even if it could help your grandma remember things better. "OMG d00d, so sorry," we imagine he's said at one point, "it's just not l33t enough."

OK, so maybe he's not writing off the 360 entirely, but he did tell Pro-G that the 360's processor would be of limited help to his Alzheimer's Disease research project, saying that "the cell processor in the PS3 is much more powerful for our calculations than the CPU in the Xbox 360." Now sure, he's the expert, and we know he's crunched the numbers on how valuable the 360 could be to his important work. But we'd bet some of you would still like to use your 360's limited brain power to solve the world's ills (as long as it doesn't cost any points). How about it Vijay? Can we volunteer our 360 to be the Otis to the PS3's Lex Luthor?

JoystiqPS3 beats Xbox 360 in console (folding) war originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 May 2007 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lexluthorPS3stanfordXbox-360Sat, 05 May 2007 16:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@home, not possible on Xbox 360?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/03/folding-home-not-possible-on-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/03/folding-home-not-possible-on-xbox-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/03/folding-home-not-possible-on-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The father of the PS3 Folding@home project, Vijay Pande, publicly shared his opinions on the processing power of the Xbox 360, as compared to the Playstation 3. In an interview with Pro-G, Mr. Pande advised that the Xbox 360's triple core processor might be able to withstand the requirements of the project, but the Playstation 3's hardware is, "much more powerful." Mr. Vande goes on to state that the PS3's architecture allows computations of "up to 20 times faster" than that of a standard computer. Playing with power, indeed.

So far, the Folding@home project has produced spectacular results in the short time since its inception. Mr. Pande noted, "Thanks to [the] PS3, we have performed simulations in the first few weeks that would normally take us more than a year to calculate. We are now gearing up for new simulations that will continue our current studies of Alzheimer's and other diseases."

Hats off to you, PS3 participants!

JoystiqFolding@home, not possible on Xbox 360? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 03 May 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Playstation 3Playstation3PS3Xbox 360Xbox360Thu, 03 May 2007 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Your Sunday night Folding@home Foldathon reminder]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/your-sunday-night-folding-home-foldathon-reminder/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/your-sunday-night-folding-home-foldathon-reminder/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/your-sunday-night-folding-home-foldathon-reminder/#commentsFiled under:


Last week's announcement that the PlayStation 3 has nearly doubled the computing power of Stanford University's Folding@home project reminded us: We're delinquent in reminding you to turn on your PS3s at 8pm every Sunday night to participate in the Foldathon. If you're going to be joining us for a night of Folding, be sure to join Team Joystiq. Here's how:
  • Nab the F@h client from the PS Store if you haven't already
  • Launch the F@h client located under 'Network'
  • Hit the triangle button
  • Select "identity"
  • Join existing team #57516
  • FOLD!
Our friends at PS3 Fanboy are quick to brag point out that they're ahead of us by nearly a factor of five, so let's tackle them first ... then we'll deal with Team Engadget. 57516 FTW!

Gallery: Folding@Home (PlayStation 3)

JoystiqYour Sunday night Folding@home Foldathon reminder originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>distributedcomputingfoldathonPS3Sun, 29 Apr 2007 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't forget to leave Folding@Home on each Sunday!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/dont-forget-to-leave-folding-home-on-each-sunday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/dont-forget-to-leave-folding-home-on-each-sunday/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/29/dont-forget-to-leave-folding-home-on-each-sunday/#commentsIf you check out our Official-ish PS3Fanboy Folding Team stats, we've almost cracked the top 400 worldwide for folding excellence. In light of this, we'd like to take this opportunity to first, thank you guys. Second, we'd like to remind everyone that each Sunday at 8PM (whatever time zone you're in) to let Folding@Home run. We've folded practically as much as big-name medical companies -- our efforts beat out the main Joystiq team by a multiple of five (almost). Not surprising, as we'd wholly expect anyone with a PS3 to play on our team! Anyway, that's about all we've got to offer. Remember guys, Sunday night, fold for team 57793!

[Thanks for the reminder, Sean!]

JoystiqDon't forget to leave Folding@Home on each Sunday! originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 29 Apr 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3Playstation3PS3SonySun, 29 Apr 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 network a boon to disease-fighting computations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/ps3-network-a-boon-to-diesease-fighting-computations/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/ps3-network-a-boon-to-diesease-fighting-computations/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/ps3-network-a-boon-to-diesease-fighting-computations/#commentsFiled under: ,


What a difference a month and several thousand gaming consoles makes. Sony announced today that the 250,000 PS3s that have run Stanford's Folidng@Home research program in the last month have delivered nearly 400 teraflops of computing power, nearly doubling the pre-PS3 computing capacity for the network. The PS3 has been a PR dream for the project too, leading to a "halo effect" increase of 20 percent in the number of PC folders, according to Sony.

A downloadable update for the PS3 version of the program will be available tomorrow, offering increased folding speed, better globe visibility and, most importantly, "the ability for users to create longer donor or team names." Finally, our dream of folding for Team "JoystiqSingleHandedlyCuresAllDiseases" can be realized.

JoystiqPS3 network a boon to disease-fighting computations originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celldistributedPS3researchstanfordWed, 25 Apr 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@home a great success, gets an update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/folding-home-a-great-success-gets-an-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/folding-home-a-great-success-gets-an-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/25/folding-home-a-great-success-gets-an-update/#commentsFiled under: ,

We've got a press release from Sony regarding the Folding@Home program. Not only does it tell us that PlayStation 3 owners have made Folding@Home "one of the most powerful distributed computing networks in the world and is quickly approaching a level of computing power that is of historical proportions." How great is that?

Folding@Home is getting an update to show Sony's continued committment to the program. It's going to give us an improvement in folding calculation speeds, increased visibility of user locations on the globe and the ability to create longer donor/team names.

The Associate Professor of Chemistry at Stanford, Vijay Pande had a few words for the program and the PlayStation 3: "The PS3 turnout has been amazing, greatly exceeding our expectations and allowing us to push our work dramatically forward. Thanks to PS3, we have performed simulations in the first few weeks that would normally take us more than a year to calculate. We are now gearing up for new simulations that will continue our current studies of Alzheimer's and other diseases."

But all we really need to know is that there's an update and the program is making history! Well, approaching historical proportions.

JoystiqFolding@home a great success, gets an update originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3Playstation3PS3SonyWed, 25 Apr 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sony considers incentives for commercial PS3 use]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/sony-considers-incentives-for-commercial-ps3-use/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/sony-considers-incentives-for-commercial-ps3-use/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/11/sony-considers-incentives-for-commercial-ps3-use/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Tired of wasting all those idle PS3 clock cycles curing diseases for the benefit of all humanity? Wish you could sell off your extra processing power for prizes and free stuff instead? Sony knows how you feel, and is reportedly looking into a program that would let you do just that.

Sony Computer Entertainment CTO Masa Chatani told the Financial Times that they are in discussions with a number of companies interested in using the parallel processing power of the PS3 network for their own research. Chatani realizes users might be hesitant to simply loan out use of their $600 living room computer to a commercial enterprise, so the company is considering offering incentives such as free products to users who would aid in such research.

This sounds like a win-win-win situation to us: Sony gets a new revenue stream; small companies get their research done relatively cheaply; and PS3 owners get free stuff. Of course, every PS3 running one of these commercial projects is one less project running the potentially life-saving Folding@Home. OK, so maybe it's win-win-win-lose. Still, three out of four ain't bad.

JoystiqSony considers incentives for commercial PS3 use originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancercommercialcomputerfinancial timesFinancialTimesfoldingfolding at homeFoldingAtHomeincentivesnetworkparallelprocessingPS3Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Worried about Folding@Home? Don't be!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/worried-about-folding-home-dont-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/worried-about-folding-home-dont-be/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/04/worried-about-folding-home-dont-be/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This interview with Vijay Pande, one of the gentlemen behind Folding@Home, is getting kind of old but there are a couple of points worth pointing out. Mainly concerning running Folding@Home on the PS3 -- some people have been running "stress tests" to see how Sony's console can handle the program over extended periods. Those people can stop, because they'll be doing that forever. In any case, the PS3-specific questions were answered by SCEA 's Richard Marks (who's doing a stress test himself). Let's list it up!

Is it safe to leave the PS3 folding for 24/7?
  • Yes. There's no indication that the PS3 has problems over long periods of folding... but of course, you should ventilate the darn thing so it won't overheat.
Well... should people give the PS3 a break to cool off?
  • No. It shouldn't need a cooling period. You know that whirring thing? It's a fan. It regulates the internal temperature. [note: PS3Fanboy added some "attitude" to this response, because we like attitude]
What's stressed the most and will it affect the stability of the PS3?
  • The Cell processor. Luckily, it's a high-performance processor built for things just like this. Folding@Home shouldn't have any adverse affects on the PlayStation 3's stability.

That's all that we think pertains to running the program on your PS3. Don't worry, guys! Your system is completely safe and that's a good thing. Waiting for those warranty replacements or whatever aren't the best... plus you only get a refurbished system (read: previously broken) instead of a new one.
[Thanks, Dalton!]

JoystiqWorried about Folding@Home? Don't be! originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3Playstation3PS3SonyWed, 04 Apr 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[360 may boost Rosetta@Home project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/30/360-may-boost-rosetta-home-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/30/360-may-boost-rosetta-home-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/30/360-may-boost-rosetta-home-project/#commentsFiled under:

We previously reported on the idea of bringing the Playstation 3's Folding@Home project to our Xbox 360s and the impact it could have. But now it isn't looking like the Folding@Home project will be receiving any 360 love, instead Gizmodo thinks Microsoft may be supporting another folding project called Rosetta@Home. Rosetta@Home is very similar to the other folding project where computing power helps with protein folding which in turn helps find cures for various diseases. What's most interesting is that on the project's forums, a project scientist acknowledged the possibly of a Xbox 360 partnership by saying they "have been discussing this idea with Microsoft quite a bit over the past several weeks". Interesting, no?

We're still interested in this whole donating CPU power to a good cause thing and still think it's a pretty good idea. It would give those of us who want to an option to donate our 360's computing power to ultimately help disease research. Can you say teamwork FTW?

[Thanks, AoE]

Joystiq360 may boost Rosetta@Home project originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cpudonatefoldingrosettaxbox 360Xbox360Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The cost of Folding to your home and wallet]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/the-cost-of-folding-to-your-home-and-wallet/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/the-cost-of-folding-to-your-home-and-wallet/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/28/the-cost-of-folding-to-your-home-and-wallet/#commentsFiled under: ,

The PS3 -- it helps researchers learn more about various diseases with the aid of Folding@Home. It helps us feel good about ourselves (and impress our science-addicted friends), knowing we're making some kind of difference, despite how marginal it may or may not be. What hasn't been talked about on this site yet, specifically, is the cost this really does inflict on you, the selfless consumer/pseudo-researcher. IGN wrote up an article about exactly that.

IGN used the estimated 200W usage for the Folding@Home program and compared them to electricity rates from December of 2006. They used a chart, but we'll let you look at it. We'll tell you the cheapest and most expensive state to run the program in (and my state, since I'm selfish).

The cheapest state to run Folding@Home is Idaho, at 4.78 cents per kW hour -- running the program for a month straight nets you a bill of $6.88. The most expensive is Hawaii at 19.28 cents per kW hour ($27.76 for a straight month). Georgia? Near the middle -- 7.31 cents per kW hour ($10.53/month).

We're not trying to dissuade you from running the program! That's for running the thing an entire month straight. We don't know if a PS3 could actually handle that (if I had an extra $500, I'd do a huge piece on it with a webcam 24/7 to show you it's always on, but nah). It's safe to assume that cutting the monthly price in half will be what to expect from running your PS3 -- gaming included.

JoystiqThe cost of Folding to your home and wallet originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3Playstation3PS3SonyWed, 28 Mar 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 has taken over the Folding@Home community!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/ps3-has-taken-over-the-folding-home-community/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/ps3-has-taken-over-the-folding-home-community/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/26/ps3-has-taken-over-the-folding-home-community/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Even though the PlayStation 3 has only been a part of Stanford's Folding@Home project for about a week, it has already completed devoured the other OS's on the leaderboard. In a recent Engadget article, they captured what is probably the most impressive proof of such a claim. Taking upon itself about 75% of the workload and consisting of only approximately 1.8% of the entire catalog of CPU's (not active, the total CPU count) is nothing short of jaw-droppingly amazing. Recent statistics have decreased numbers, but that's probably because all the PS3 owners are letting their now-fairly-warm systems get some rest after that all-night Fold-A-Thon.

Speaking of Folding@Home, there are a few suggestions we'd like to make. First off, we'd like to know what proteins we're working on. Yeah, they have funky file names, but if it's a such-and-such protein, let us know. In the same vein, we'd like a key that lets us see what element corresponds to which color -- I had a few science majors over and each quibbled about what this color and that color stood for (although they all agreed that gray was most assuredly carbon). Anyone got other suggestions, or agree with these?

[brought to you by Engadget]

JoystiqPS3 has taken over the Folding@Home community! originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3Playstation3PS3SonyMon, 26 Mar 2007 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Reminder: turn 'on' your PS3 tonight for Folding@home foldathon]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/25/reminder-turn-on-your-ps3-tonight-for-folding-home-foldathon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/25/reminder-turn-on-your-ps3-tonight-for-folding-home-foldathon/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/25/reminder-turn-on-your-ps3-tonight-for-folding-home-foldathon/#commentsFiled under: , ,

sweet dreamsWanna discover a cure for cancer while you sleep? Or solve the mysteries of Alzheimer's in your dreams? Perhaps unfold the complexities of Parkinson's even as the drool beings to seep into your pillow? Then tonight, before you tuck yourself in, remember to power on your PlayStation 3 and launch the Folding@home application, joining PS3 owners everywhere as we commit our consoles' processors to the first-ever Sunday Night Foldathon.

Note: After installing 1.6 Firmware, Folding@home can be downloaded from the Network tab in the XMB menu. The application requires 250MB of hard drive space. Once launched, the application will automatically download a work unit from Stanford University and begin computation. If you're feeling a pang of gamer camaraderie, hit triangle, select identity, and join existing team #57516. All set? 'Kay, this is your cue to hit the lights and let Cell do the rest -- while you rest. Sweet dreams.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Gallery: Folding@Home (PlayStation 3)

JoystiqReminder: turn 'on' your PS3 tonight for Folding@home foldathon originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Mar 2007 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celldownloadnetworkps3stanfordxmbSun, 25 Mar 2007 19:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Should the 360 support Folding@Home?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/25/should-the-360-support-folding-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/25/should-the-360-support-folding-home/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/25/should-the-360-support-folding-home/#commentsFiled under: ,

Over at Gizmodo they've pitched an interesting question, why not allow Xbox Live members to participate in the Folding@Home project like the PS3 has? If you aren't familiar, the PS3 allows users to use their PS3's horsepower to aid in disease research when they aren't gaming online. So, with Gizmodo's plan, 360 and PS3 users could take the console war into the science lab by keeping track of which console completes the most work units each week or the fastest. It'd be a mini competition that helps keep the (not so) friendly console war alive while helping disease research. Sounds like a win-win solution to us. So, what do you think? Should Microsoft give us the option to donate our 360's computing power in the Folding@Home project or any other charitable cause?

JoystiqShould the 360 support Folding@Home? originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 25 Mar 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diseaseplaystation 3Playstation3ps3xbox 360xbox liveXbox360XboxLiveSun, 25 Mar 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Official PS3Fanboy Folding@Home team!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/the-official-ps3fanboy-folding-home-team/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/the-official-ps3fanboy-folding-home-team/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/23/the-official-ps3fanboy-folding-home-team/#commentsFiled under: ,

Due to popular demand (and to pretend to be in friendly competition with sister site Joystiq), PS3Fanboy has decided to create its own Folding@Home team. That's right, we as a collective unit will save lives by all together not play games, rather stare at the giant, super cool bluish globe rotating at a very slow speed.

Well, since I'm about to head out to dinner, I'm going to go ahead and start up the team. Since we're quite possibly the coolest people around, we should have a completely nerdy number to represent that. No, not team number 1337, that would be beyond lame. We'll do something even beyond the beyond lame (not the game Beyond the Beyond, that was pimpalicious) category. We shall be team number 57793 -- because that's what Folding@Home wants us to be. It's nerdy... right? Fanboys, let's cure!

JoystiqThe Official PS3Fanboy Folding@Home team! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PlayStation 3Playstation3PS3SonyFri, 23 Mar 2007 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[News report: Folding@home in action]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/news-report-folding-home-in-action/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/news-report-folding-home-in-action/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/news-report-folding-home-in-action/#commentsFiled under:

While the rest of the world waits, Japanese PS3 owners have been able to enjoy the most significant update to the PS3 so far. Firmware version 1.6 includes background downloading, the ability to zoom in the web browser, and Folding@home, an application that allows your PS3 to aid researchers in their search for cures to many diseases. Siliconera has found a news report that (shock) paints the PS3 in a very positive light.

Check out the video, embedded above. Will you be running the Folding@home application when it arrives to your PS3 this Friday?

JoystiqNews report: Folding@home in action originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>siliconeraMon, 19 Mar 2007 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Cure diseases using the PS3: March 23rd]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/cure-diseases-using-the-ps3-march-23rd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/cure-diseases-using-the-ps3-march-23rd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/cure-diseases-using-the-ps3-march-23rd/#commentsFiled under: ,

Folding@home is finally coming to the PS3 next week. The program, which is bundled in the next firmware revision, will allow your PS3 to assist in the research of various diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cystic fibrosis and many cancers. The program leverages the unused processing power of the Cell chip, and can be set to run automatically when your PS3 begins to idle. According to the press release, "These simulations can take up to 30 years for a single computer to complete, Folding@home enables this task to be shared among thousands of computers connected via the network ... The Cell/B.E. processor inside each PS3 is roughly 10 times faster than a standard mainstream chip inside a personal computer (PC), so researchers are able to perform the simulations much faster, speeding up the research process."

With more than two million PS3s worldwide, and many more to come, the collective power of the PS3 will undoubtedly provide crucial data in the fight against these diseases. If you'd like to participate, don't forget to update to the newest firmware on March 23rd, and access Folding@home from the Network option in the XMB.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqCure diseases using the PS3: March 23rd originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alzheimercancercellcystic fibrosisCysticFibrosisdiseasefirmwareparkinsonplaytation 3Playtation3ps3researchThu, 15 Mar 2007 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Folding@home saves the world (via PlayStation 3) March 23rd]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/folding-home-saves-the-world-via-playstation-3-march-23rd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/folding-home-saves-the-world-via-playstation-3-march-23rd/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/03/15/folding-home-saves-the-world-via-playstation-3-march-23rd/#commentsFiled under:


Coupled with some glowing press about the admittedly impressive specs of the PlayStation 3's Cell processor comes news that the console's long promised Folding@home client will be using all those leftover processing cycles on March 23rd. The distributed computing project, whose PS3 partnership was detailed in an event at Stanford University this morning, will be accessible within the Network menu of the XrossMediaBar.

Why bother donating all that computing power (not to mention electricity) to "help study the causes of diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cystic fibrosis and many cancers?" If you're not in it for the altruism (and we're talking serious good karma here), then at least you'll be able to enjoy watching the protein folding happen in real-time, and manipulate the presentation using the Sixaxis. Somewhere, a slightly disgruntled Will Wright is wondering when Sony's going to donate all that unused processing power to a SETI@home client.

Gallery: Folding@Home (PlayStation 3)

Continue reading Folding@home saves the world (via PlayStation 3) March 23rd

JoystiqFolding@home saves the world (via PlayStation 3) March 23rd originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>PS3StanfordThu, 15 Mar 2007 12:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Help cure cancer with your PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/24/help-cure-cancer-with-your-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/24/help-cure-cancer-with-your-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/08/24/help-cure-cancer-with-your-ps3/#commentsFiled under: , ,

File this under "strange but true." In conjunction with Stanford University's Folding@home project, PlayStation 3 owners who leave their consoles connected to the internet can lend their extra horespower to running calculations and studying various proteins. So far the project has made numerous discoveries, and the long-term goals include finding cures for Alzheimer's Disease, Huntington's Disease and certain forms of cancer.

For those of you who don't care about humanity's survival, every PS3 user who runs the program gets a visualization program of the folding process, complete with HDR lighting. You can check out videos via the bottom of the FAQ. Next time you're throwing a party and need some killer visuals, hook up a PS3, put on some electronica, and have yourself a life-saving rave!

[Via Engadget; thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

JoystiqHelp cure cancer with your PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fahPS3StanfordThu, 24 Aug 2006 11:25:00 EST