Sony is rolling out a firmware update for the PS3 on April 1 but we’re pretty sure it’s not a joke. What we’re not sure about is that you can call it an update. It removes features rather than fixing or adding them. In this case, it is removing the “Install Other OS” option that allows you to run Linux on non-slim versions of the PlayStation 3. It is fairly obvious that this is a reaction to the hypervisor exploit that was released back in January that breaks down the machine’s security barriers.
[Geohot], the guy who found and release the exploit, published a post on his blog expressing his disapproval of Sony’s actions. We’d have to agree. It’s pretty cold-hearted to remove functionality that was advertised with a product. We’re sure there are many folks out there using the Linux support who have no interest in exploiting the product. This is gardening with a backhoe and quite frankly it stinks.
This may bring on a torrent of new effort in unlocking and laying bare the PS3. If so, doesn’t Sony deserve it?
[Photos credit: I’m with Stupid]
[Thanks Shueddue]
@Felipe:
“Oh boy here comes the conspiracy theories.”
It’s as if Bobbie thinks there are actually people that get together just to come into forums like this and bash on paranoid Linux zealots.
I bought a PS3 when they first came out and I kept meaning to install Linux for web browsing, but I never got around to it. I was pretty pissed when Sony got rid of the feature and I was venting at a few sites.
Now that I’ve read a few of these comments, I’ve decided that Sony did me a favor. The last thing I need is my $600 console bricked from installing some half baked hacking system. I guess intuition kept me from ever installing the thing.
That Bob Collum guy sure has shit for brains. LOL!
My one point is that Linux WILL fit all people like a glove. For some, however, it will fit about as good as a regular glove would fit on a velociraptor. For me, it’s more like a four-fingered glove, which is why I do Vista, Linux, and 7.
Don’t upgrade, problem solved.
To be Completely Honest with a few people- yeah it sucks to now own a “install OS” obselete Ps3, seriously?? too bad…you wanted it that bad and now you paid the price, if you want Computer processing over PS3 Games be my guest and leave you ps3 as it is,(meaning dont upgrade) if you want it for online play and hardcore HD gaming UPGRADE!= YOU ALREADY HAVE A PC/LAPTOP … you’ll find out one way or another that it just isnt worth it, yeh sure the ps3 browser sucks, but think about it, the more people that use it and the more bug reports sony get the more likely it is that they’ll fix it (pft yeah right), eventually there will be hacks for ps3, when the rest of the world catches up on technology (assuming we all still own DVD-Playing Laptops *rolling eyes*) as far as georgie boy goes, someone with too much time, with a virtual ego and reputation to feed hould be more inclinded to build this sort of equpment rather than cracking it, (in which would be the real test of technologic abilities, be it software hardware,)
thats my opinion said.
i have the ps3 slim for 3 months and comparing it to the wii and xbox, i’m moderately happy but will still hound Sony C.Support for bug fixes and complaints till i get the quality i am “assured” doing that, i suggest anyone with a real bitchfesting attitude like mine just do the same rather and have a nerdraging tantrum on threads and blog posts “venting” your ANGER about sony /..fuck.. let them hear about it, i dont crap, we all have our problems.. (mine– cant fucking play any updated flash games on ps3 )
no sony affiliated representative is going to read this crap, their just gonna go scroll right past that crap.
fixing typographical error : should be more inclinded* (1st paragraph,11th line)
i dont give a crap* (2nd pagargraph 5th line)
*and to finish up*
no matter how much whining you do here wont make precious/not so precious “Install Other OS” Option return,
if a proper exploit has been found and deemed “hackable” and is able to run/install Custom Firmware, like the psp, i will be like many others and be apart of the ps3’s cfw scene.
(i will leave a note to those who actually will miss PS3-Linux and thats : unless you are a indepth hardware software engineer, programming, or hardware software testing enthusiast, there is no point for you to even think of install linux in the first place, the ps3 is 100% game console and was intended to assist the linux community in complex hardware/software programming scenarios)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-9wLWQ4-uA
go geohot go!
i for one,love sony but i cant stand how they are running the change up!but to be honest…it does not matter what sony does or does not do… hacks will happen and codes and hardware will be broken… =)
@Cole…just shut up, you’re proving to us that you’re really not who you want to be.
@Mikey…Seriously?! When you buy something and pay for it in full…it’s yours.
Now, I do admit that I don’t have a PS3, and reading this I’m glad I don’t….but seriously, people…do you have to start an argument everywhere you click? Dear god, it’s worse than Youtube here!
Chill out, stop the arguing, stop trying to act black, and spell correctly.
Jeez.
Wow, that’s a lot of posts…
@andrew,
No, hurting themselves by taking away a perfectly useful feature under the excuse of preventing piracy that may never happen. Oh, and I don’t intend anything against your opinions, if you read this. Which, by the number of posts there are, is doubtful.
Hey! This thread is still going! LOL!
I was wondering if Sony was gonna put Install Other OS back with the 3.30 update. Nope.
I think Linux is good as an application server for specialized applications. That’s why I never said it sucked. That was Bobbie saying it sucked.
But, I just had many hours of my time wasted by FFMPEG and then OpenSSL which are other free open source pieces of software. To make this short, I’m just going to lump all FOSS stuff into one steaming pile and say they all suck. Is that fair? Maybe not, but neither is stealing hours of my life away. So, screw it.
What is it about FOSS that requires every piece of software to sort of work? It ends up sucking you in, because you are always “almost there” in trying to get any of this crap to actually do what it is supposed to do. Oh yeah, cuz most of it is written by ideologues and not real programmers.
Hi… I’m not an admin… but…
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=107165099316102
a more visible way to show support
Anyone who wants to participate in the Sony class action can contact Jerome Noll at (914) 517-5000, extension 221.
Good luck! I look forward to a free game!
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1086720p1.html
Sony says that the reason for removing the feature is “security reasons”. This is not the real reason that they are dropping the feature.Sony and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) have a very close and integrated relationship.
Read the rest of the article at http://crackednoodle.com/2010/05/security-or-mpaa-why-did-sony-update/
To the sony corporation: Your choice to drop support for your older product once again only goes to show that you, the sony corporation are the leading assholes of the world! Since i have payed over 2,300.00 for my product and you did was blow smoke up my ass and jerked me off to buy the fricking thing then dropped support and left me like a 2 doller whore on sunday should give you assclowns some indacation of how really pissed off at you!
In my humble opinion sony need to get in a get in a rousing game of hide and go fuck yourself!
Ok this is still going! fail
@Mickey You are a fucking asshole. period.
And linux is a great os. yeah it may not be as user friendly as windows but i say if you cant use linux then you dont deserve to own a computer. many people barely know how to use windows. these are the dumbasses who say linux sucks because they dont know how to use it.
I agree that Sony did screw customers that bought the PS3 for Linux support and that is wrong.
I am sick of sony. I bought a Ps3 for that other OS. I now brought a Vita used 8 times and won’t charge or turn on. Plus the ongoing firmware updates. OH yes you don’t have to update. But then you can’t get to the stuff you bought on psn. I bought 3 or 4 videos on sony downloaded them and have never been able to play them I keep getting a error. I hope some hacks the shit out of them. There support staff sux and says we can’t do that sir. Or our policy is….. What happened to the costumer being right. I spent money on a google tv blue running android it is locked down that I can’t do shit. I hope enough people stop buying sony. That they get there heads out of there asses.