In case you hadn't heard, there's a PlayStation 3 firmware update coming this Thursday that'd
knock out the "install other OS" option and remove any currently-installed non-PS3 platform. Our guess is it's not going to affect the majority of owners, but the diehard users are certainly up in arms, and no one
really likes losing a feature, even if it's rarely used. Leave it to
Geohot, then, to right the wrong. Arguably the reason for Sony's reversal (see:
PS3 exploit), the famed hacker has published not only a letter of sorrow at the company (unsurprising), but also a call for users not to update. Instead, he claims he will "look into a safe way of updating to retain OtherOS support" and issued a tech-savvy threat about "touching the CFW," much to the company's chagrin (trust us, you don't even want to
know what he's talking about here -- far too scary). We wouldn't normally say a war's brewing, but ol' George Hotz has proven himself more than capable at starting something fierce.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
posted March 29th 2010 10:04PM
@xtian63 agreed.
@xtian63
There wasn't as much reaction to Sony removing this feature on the Slim because people knew what they were getting ahead of time, and Sony dropped the price accordingly. Sony was always clear about the Slim not supporting various things, including the Open Platform (aka OtherOS). That's why you're only paying $299 for it.
But some of us paid $599 for our systems and as part of that deal, we *bought* these extra features. It's no different than if Sony remotely removed my backward compatibility or shut off my memory card slots. It's outrageous.
Imagine buying a Ford Mustang and 2 years down the line Ford slips a firmware update in during scheduled maintenance that suddenly removes 100 horsepower. How would you feel about that?
It's one thing to remove a feature in new systems going forward, quite another to remove a feature in systems that have already been purchased.
@badasscat
i know and understand and clearly said it was WRONG of SONY to decide to screw with linux for you who payed $599, i was merely raising the question why sony decided to do this, again if there were no claims to use linux to homebrew then sony would not screw with it right? that was my point, sony just reacted albeit a horrible reaction
This whole thing will end poorly for somebody.
Wasn't it sold with the ability to install another OS so they could call it a "computer" and get away with some things in europe? I thought that was the reason, it never ran linux well at all, useless for sure.
But its garbage to release an update to take away features ........
@Hydra No, that's not why it was done.
Linux, along with no territorial lockout, were put on PS3 to give people no legit reason to hack the system.
Now, no such deterrent exists
Does anyone have the ftp password for the sony servers?
(:
i support this 'idiot' ! i wont update
come on people, just dual boot linux on your computer!
I paid for a system that has this feature.
It does not matter if I ever use it, I paid for the option to.
At the "point of sale" it had this functionality and if that is to be removed then it is no longer what I agreed to in the contract of sale.
For those saying "I never used it so won't miss it" before you had the choice. Your machine had that point of value that is now being taken away. It's like someone taking something from you that you never used it years or even opened the box it came in. It doesn't matter if you used it. It was yours to do with as you like.
It's also a own goal by Sony if security is their aim.
It's looking like this will go from a highly complex hardware hack that only a few people will have the skill, time and inclination to perform to a easy to install custom firmware with all the things that come with that. Even if Geo-hot doesn't write an ISO loader others with come along and tag one on to his work.
Saying that this is an optional upgrade is also bogus because so many games released these days rely on updates. There's also the changes to the blu-ray format.
So people are saying sony cant remove features because they bought the product with that feature as advertised but what about updates that was never advertised at the time it was purchased?
@fusionspill
If you mean updates that improve the product and add features then thats all well and good. Sony are not taking anything away.
The problem arises when you buy a product and then features that you paid for are removed.
In the uk if you bought a product and it turned out not to have the feature adervitsed then that would be against the sale of goods act.
Not sure how that applies to goods that do have an advertised feature and then it's taken away. Especially since it's "semi voluntary".
Given that this is a world wide roll out I cannot believe that it would pass muster with every countries consumer protection laws.
George Hot stop crying over this firmware update. if your a hacker hack your way around it. What make me think of you is that you cry and cry that you will loose your linux OS and your custom OS features. Just get over it, though you call yourself a hacker. com on' man just get over it. The reason their doing this is for security reasons.
Pretty freaking ridiculous that Sony has to have an outside individual to clean up their mess
Sony has shown no empathy at all with PS3 owners and removing Linux from the system is just the beginning of what is to come. I'm afraid we will soon hear more bad news like removing or diminishing the free online gaming on newer games.
Many of the added value we had when we first bought our PS3 systems will be soon gone. Soon will be gone a large fan-base, me included...
Lets be honest
What are some of the big concerns of major game companies? piracy
Who does piracy? Hackers, I would have never used my psp if i couldnt put cfw on it, i was going to get a psp go but no good hack has been released, i love my ps3 but i will not lose my ability to put linux on it
Sony has angered the people that can do the most damage, people hacking the ps3 and putting cfw on it? you really under estimate the power of this
Everyone is piling on Sony, but ignoring the hacker who started this whole situation. If he hadn't hacked the device Sony would have probably left the console alone. The hack this hacker had done would have probably allowed all those who cheat in online games to ruin PS3 online gaming for everyone. I would suggest to Sony that if this hacker and his buddies find a way around this update, Sony should do what Microsoft did with hacked and modded XBOX consoles, simply lock out those console by serial number or something, CHECKMATE, GAME OVER. Call me a fanboy if you want ;even though I have both XBOX & PS3 and I do PC gaming as well. I have seen hacking and cheating ruin online PC gaming, I just don't want to see console gaming ruined in the same way.
I would care more if I actually used the feature... but I like having the option of installing Linux if in the future I ever need to.
Doesn't sound like a smart decision on Sony's part considering they need everything they can get right now.
how can we nag SONY to give this option back to us?
the PS3 is my MAIN computer (linux) , I dun have $ to buy a netbook. Or I can sell the PS3 and get a netbook.
Newsflash: Running Linux on PS3 is absolutely useless. Nobody gives a fuck unless you're a pirate. *Downloads update*
That's a bad news from Sony. It would be nice to have Linux support again..