PS3 firmware 3.21 is out: say goodbye to 'install other OS'
By Ross Miller 
posted March 31st 2010 11:48PM
posted March 31st 2010 11:48PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted March 31st 2010 11:48PM
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I'm sure it's been said before, but I'm almost positive 90% of the PS3 userbase doesn't use the 'Install Other OS' because the only OS that was stable was Linux, and most people don't know how to use linux.
I'm going to be 150 comments late, but I replaced my HDD last week for a bigger one. Can I update on drive and leave the other at the earlier version or does this update change the flash firmware on the PS3 itself?
I'm Very disappointed at this point. I thought for a second that this was just an "April Fools Joke", but now that i see its true I'm not happy to say the least.
I am one of those people that did count on my PS3 Linux for typing papers for class (believe it or not) and printing them. I also did use the feature to run HB and all that good stuff. Now that i have to choose between running Linux and playing MW2 with all my friends does not make me happy. I would like to say thank you Sony for making one of the best things in my life a complete headache.
PS3... It only used to do... everything... :*(
It kind of sucks that Sony is taking away this feature but the is GeoHot guy was the catalyst. If he didn't hack it and reveal a massive security risk then they wouldn't have had to plug the holes. Just one thing though. It was very mean of Sony to take away the feature instead of finding a different way.
However this talk of suing if pure fallacy since you won't be able to win since you agreed to using the device on Sony's terms. It said clear as day that the firmware updates may change or take away features and Sony is not liable for that or the damages it causes. Once you checked the I agree box you agreed to the terms and suing them is now out of the question. That is the reason why Terms and Agreements are included in all forms of software and hardware with an OS purchased.
@midnite marauder
I beg to differ.After careful studying of the EULA, my conclusion is that it is in itself unlawful.
1) It does not make it clear that not accepting the terms and conditions of using the PSN, will render the console unusable. All it says is "If you click the "DO NOT ACCEPT" button, you will not be able to sign in to the PSN". The PSN is integral to the functionality of the console, they make no mention of that fact.
2) It does not offer any unconditional refund of the product should you not agree to the terms and conditions for the use of the console.
3) They also do not provide the T's & C's in printed form, therefore forcing you to lose your right to "return the product on the grounds of non-agreement", as the only way you can find out about them, is by setting up the PS3. Having done this, you can only return the console to the point of sale on the basis that it is faulty, which it isn't.
Everything in that EULA is contrary to consumer rights and EULA conformity (at least here in the UK anyway), and it is for that reason, that I am personally taking the matter further.
Sony have tried their "one size fits all" EULA excuse, and it's going to fail in countries where consumers have as much right as the manfacturer. This won't be simply swept under the carpet like they expect it to be.
I hate the Sony line that it'll help customers "continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content...". As if removing features helped us in any way. How did it help us when you took backwards compatibility away from us? How did it do anything but infuriate your fan base? There's a reason that PS3 fans feel constantly betrayed by you. It's because they are. You have a lot of customers who have been very loyal to your brand and vision for current-gen gaming, and you have failed them spectacularly at almost every turn this generation.
So come off it, Sony. You're just afraid people will use the Linux to hack your console. So just come out and say that. We'd at least respect your candor on the matter. You should have said something like this:
"We'd love to continue to support the feature, but in light of recent hacking attempts (which are based on the Linux feature), we're forced into the position of disabling the feature so that we can keep our console secure. We have to keep the PS3 secure so that developers who make games for it will continue to do so without the fear of having their multi-million dollar investment being ripped off and stolen by pirates."
There. Just by framing it in that context, you've just made the pirates and hackers the enemies rather than you, and by doing so, you're deflecting customer anger from yourself to the ones who, in all reality, probably forced you to make this decision.
So quit with the corporate happy-talk on us; it's disrespectful and insulting. Frankly, your entire PR department needs to be fired for incompetence. There's no reason a situation like this couldn't have been handled better, and you're starting to develop (or maybe already have) a reputation of being completely tone-deaf to your customer's demands.
How big is the update for slim users since it basically just changes the firmware number from 3.15 to 3.21? 2 kb? (phat user here so just wondering)
you think they'd at least throw us a bone when removing the feature. I'd even take some more visualization options for music playback or any small added feature to go with the taking away of a feature.
Never used the install option, so won't be missing it.
@decypherSMC
50% pricecut on ALL PSN games until my console dies. It's not unreasonable, they took away 50% of the functionality of my ps3.
I wonder how people would react if Apple did something like that...
Suddenly decide to remove the ability to run an alternative OS on Apple hardware because there's a chance malware for those OSes could be made to install a botnet on the OSX partition.... The logic is the same. Not many install other OSes on their Mac, so no problem?
@mickeko did you complain to them and they gave you 50% on all PSN games???
@decypherSMC
It's a special concession that Sony is providing but ONLY to those who can document they were materially impacted by this update.
Bye Bye Tux *Sad face*
@Bandit5317
Win CE, I believe....
since i use my fattyPS3 mainly as a media center, i'm going to hold off on this update. so far GEOhot's "exploit" has yielded no fruit, and i think it's a bit premature of Sony to be removing this feature. otherOS is used by a small demographic, but one that places a lot of value on the functionality of the products they purchase (especially when said feature is being stripped away) and i believe to be extremely loyal (till they're betrayed).
it was this conversation about about the removal of the otherOS feature that prompted research and install Ubuntu last weekend on my fattyPS3. :(
*william wallace freedom yell from braveheart*
Damn. I was waiting for an "APRIL FOOLS! Cross-game chat now available."
@tobz1000
I'm pretty sure that Sony would have been more likely to tout cross-game-chat and then April-fools the feature removal in.
The cool walked out a long time ago.
@chaboud
I would have preferred "APRIL FOOL'S! Backwards compatibility with full HD resolution and AA now available."
What? I can dream, can't I?
I don't think Sony has fun, or plays jokes on people anymore....at least not good natured ones.
@combouser
I think the joke here is that this isn't a joke. Wonder if Sony's laughing their ass off.
I know that they cut off Linux access because they're afraid of hacking. I mean, I can imagine a scenario where you download a custom-made Linux ISO, install it on your PS3 legitimately, and all the games are hacked and unlocked for you to use. Ironically, cutting off all Linux access (even if it was almost never used) may actually anger people enough to actively work on such a hack now.
I heard that the other os feature was to promote cell it was to show of the procesor.
@Lowest Ranks He is a person typing on an iPod touch/iPhone or zune HD keyboard, where if you try to hit "space" you sometimes accidentally hit the bottom row of keys, thus typing a letter by mistake. It's happened to me before.
You guys keep throwing around a 3+ year old price out like it still applies. Do you know what a $600 TV from 3 years ago is worth today? You can get the exact same tech & size for about one third, and maybe less, than you could three years ago. I don't like to throw the term fanboys around too much, but the people holding onto the PS3 and justifying it are lost and diluted....
I bought one at launch for $600 happily and have found with each passing year less and less reasons to have it. The exclusives are few & far between, while also being massively overrated, and the really great franchise they held onto was massacred by a half ass Canadian developer that tried to turn Socom into some kind of rank-fest.
The PS3 is an absolute joke. It took almost 4 years to get a God of War on it, and it will have taken over 4 years to get a real Socom on it. In the meantime you have received such classics as Little Big Planet and Ratchet and Clank, and have the nerve to call the Wii a children's console.
Killzone 2 was phenomenal but ruined by yet another developer trying to pander to too broad an audience. Don't even get me started on Uncharted though, talk about a massively overhyped game...lol...wow, just wow.
After almost 4 years of PS3 ownership, and being a former ps1 & ps2 owner, I'm definitely going to pass on the PS4 when it comes down the pipe. Sony has shown me nothing, while Microsoft and Nintendo have really opened my eyes to what these consoles should be.
I just feel bad for all of you still hanging onto your ps3 like it's the best thing since sliced bread. You obviously weren't around for the full lifespan of the ps2 and have completely missed the strides M$ has made with their latest console. But best wishes and good to you all, either way.
They removed the OtherOS option that provided an alternative to the awful PS3 browser. The least they could have done is update the current browser.
Now new features added, but excellent features were removed. What a waste of time and resources.
Please sign the petition to get a real Web browser on PS3:
http://www.petitiononline.com/PS3Opera
This is really stupid that Sony did this! I love Sony, but this is just dumb!