3.21 is live - Say bye-bye to "Install Other OS" for the PS3 as of firmware 3.21

[Queasy]

The next PS3 firmware update will remove a unique feature of the Playstation 3 that may seem like a bad April's Fool joke to some while many other Playstation 3 owners probably won't care The 3.21 firmware update coming on April 1 will remove the ability for PS3 owners to install another operating system (OS).

Sony cites security concerns for the reason behind the removal but the feature was definitely unique to the PS3 since its launch in 2006 until the introduction of the PS3 slim which didn't come with the ability to install another OS. However, a hacker found an exploit of the feature and at the end of 2009 and released the exploit to the public at the end of January of this year. The exploit potentially allowed the use of homebrew software and pirated PS2 and PS3 games to be played on the PS3. The complete removal of the "Install Other OS" feature indicates that Sony was unable to fix the exploit and decided to remove it altogether.

PS3 owners who currently have another OS installed on their PS3 will want to copy all the data that was used with the other OS they have stored on the PS3. The firmware update will remove access to that data once it is installed.

Here is a list of the items that won't be available if you don't upgrade to the 3.21 update:

• Ability to sign in to PlayStation Network and use network features that require signing in to PlayStation Network, such as online features of PS3 games and chat
• Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later
• Playback of copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings)
• Use of new features and improvements that are available on PS3 system software 3.21 or later

Source: Playstation Blog

 

[mmntech]

Epic fail.

 

[biggestmuff]

I just read this at Engadget. I really don't know what to say about it. It's one thing to remove the feature from a new version of the product, still pitiful, but to disable it from a product that was sold with it is down right despicable. It's yet another feature that Sony has removed. It's such a low thing for a company to pull.

-Pulled PS2 BC
-Reduced number of USB ports from 4 to 2
-Deleted SACD playback
-Removed the card reader
-Eliminated third-party OSes

It wouldn't be fair to not mention that Sony has, at least, added a few features since launch; the Bravia Sync (big deal ) and Dolby TrueHD & DTS-HD Master Audio bitstreaming (really is a big deal :awe.

 

[SoulAssassin]

[*]Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later[/URL]

Man, I have been waiting for this feature for so long...WTF? That's really listed as a feature?

 

[SoulAssassin]

-Pulled PS2 BC - Cost reduction, I have a PS2 and GoW is the only game I'd want to play anyways which is updated for the PS3
-Reduced number of USB ports from 4 to 2 - Cost reduction, buy a $3 hub...I've never plugged in more than 1 at a time anyways.
-Deleted SACD playback - Cost reduction, don't own SACD and wouldn't listen to it on my stereo if it did
-Removed the card reader - Cost reduction, put it on a usb thumb drive or PS3 Media Server over the network
-Eliminated third-party OSes - "Security" enhancement, they probably have stats showing <1% of PS3 owners did this anyways. I would do it for the cool factor (or to actually hack it) but I have no need for a linux box on my tv in the long run anyways.

I can easily deal w all of the cost reductions considering what I paid for my Slim last fall and what people paid on launch day.

 

[Aikouka]

Security enhancement... i.e. trying to avoid possible hacks?

 

[Schadenfroh]

They never allowed access to the GPU from the installable OS, right?

 

[Tristicus]

They never allowed access to the GPU from the installable OS, right?

Si.

 

[Bryf50]

Think this might be grounds for a class action lawsuit. Last I checked you couldn't sell a device with a feature then remove it.

 

[flashbacck]

..

 

[Dumac]

-Pulled PS2 BC - Cost reduction, I have a PS2 and GoW is the only game I'd want to play anyways which is updated for the PS3
-Reduced number of USB ports from 4 to 2 - Cost reduction, buy a $3 hub...I've never plugged in more than 1 at a time anyways.
-Deleted SACD playback - Cost reduction, don't own SACD and wouldn't listen to it on my stereo if it did
-Removed the card reader - Cost reduction, put it on a usb thumb drive or PS3 Media Server over the network
-Eliminated third-party OSes - "Security" enhancement, they probably have stats showing <1% of PS3 owners did this anyways. I would do it for the cool factor (or to actually hack it) but I have no need for a linux box on my tv in the long run anyways.

I can easily deal w all of the cost reductions considering what I paid for my Slim last fall and what people paid on launch day.

Well that is nice in your small, narrow world, but for people who make/made use of these features (And don't act like nobody did), it's pretty disappointing.

The hardware modifications are more excusable, since you know what they are and that they exist before you buy the product. However, removing software features that were originally available through an update is more dubious.

 

[erwos]

Think this might be grounds for a class action lawsuit. Last I checked you couldn't sell a device with a feature then remove it.

Seriously. Are they going to yank my hardware BC, too, because they've decided it's easier to just maintain the software BC? Completely unacceptable.

 

[Queasy]

Man, I have been waiting for this feature for so long...WTF? That's really listed as a feature?

Sorry, I was bleary eyed when I wrote this last night night and wrote that sentence wrong. That is a list of items that WON'T be available if you don't upgrade to 3.21. Not the list of items that are coming with 3.21.

 

[purbeast0]

this is very meh as installing linux on my ps3 is completely useless.

sucks for those of you that use it though.

 

[disappoint]

Good. Fuck the hackers and pirates that fuck up the video game industry with cheats, exploits, aimbots and stolen software. It's one of the major reasons I'm switching from PC gaming to console gaming. I fuckin hate how a game on the PC, especially FPSs have aimbots and fluorescent skins you can see through walls which completely ruin the game for those like me that don't use cheats. I also hate pirates that cause the software developers to think twice about making PC games leaving us with consolized ports anyway.

Fuck hackers and crackers. I hope 3000 years from now people wise up and develop hardware that causes a slow painful death to people who exploit software glitches on the spot. Too bad I won't be there to see it.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Think this might be grounds for a class action lawsuit. Last I checked you couldn't sell a device with a feature then remove it.

Last I checked class action lawsuits need someone to care so they can file them.

 

[SunnyD]

Good. Fuck innovation.

Fixed that for you. :\

 

[hans030390]

I installed Linux on my PS3. Then I realized it's completely useless. Therefore, having the feature is completely useless, so I don't care if it's gone.

 

[mmntech]

The big problem with this is Sony sold a lot of PS3s to labs to function as low cost super computers. Removing the Other OS to cut piracy is akin to cutting off their nose to spit their face. You're basically saying you'd rather kill a potential new market for your hardware because 1&#37; of 1% might be pirating games? Dumb. Besides, I find it hard to believe that running Linux can even be used to do this. PS3 Linux doesn't even have access to the GPU.

 

[Queasy]

Besides, I find it hard to believe that running Linux can even be used to do this. PS3 Linux doesn't even have access to the GPU.

From what I've read, the Linux hack (it's 5% hardware) doesn't run pirated games. The Linux hack breaks the security in a way that allows pirated games to run.

 

[ultimatebob]

The big problem with this is Sony sold a lot of PS3s to labs to function as low cost super computers. Removing the Other OS to cut piracy is akin to cutting off their nose to spit their face. You're basically saying you'd rather kill a potential new market for your hardware because 1&#37; of 1% might be pirating games? Dumb. Besides, I find it hard to believe that running Linux can even be used to do this. PS3 Linux doesn't even have access to the GPU.

Yeah, I'll bet those labs are going to be the ones who are going to sue. At a minimum, they should get a partial refund of their purchase price since it's going to become increasingly harder for them to find replacement systems for their computing clusters.

That said, the PS3's hardware specs aren't as impressive as they used to be. I'll bet that those labs could build an overclocked Core i3 system for under $400 now that could crunch numbers just as fast if not faster.

 

[clok1966]

Security enhancement... i.e. trying to avoid possible hacks?

the PS3 has been hacked (it was all over the tech sites a few weeks ago) and it was done with a 3rd party OS... so i think we all know the reason behind this.

me i dont care, i have my PC to run OS's, and my PS3 (and 360 and Wii) to play games from...

as for labs (and others) using them as low cost PC's... they still can, they just cant play Bluerays or games anymore. But I think in those cases they could care less.

 

[Thraxen]

the PS3 has been hacked (it was all over the tech sites a few weeks ago) and it was done with a 3rd party OS... so i think we all know the reason behind this.

Except the hack barely accomplished anything at all. You can't play pirated games nor run any homebrew. All it did was get past the first layer of security with the toughest layers yet to go. So either Sony has examined this hack and determined that there may be a real risk for further hacking or this is a knee jerk reaction on Sony's part. Either way, I think they are on shaky legal ground here.

 

[blurredvision]

I don't care about the removal of this, but I'll stand beside those who care. Being able to install Linux was one of the big bullet points from Sony on how the PS3 was better than the 360. To sell it as such and then take it away a few years later is a very bad precedent to set in this industry.

Taking out BC and not really informing anybody besides changing the product number on the box was bad enough, but now they are forcibly taking features out of your console, at least if you want to use any future blu-ray movies or games that is.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

as for labs (and others) using them as low cost PC's... they still can, they just cant play Bluerays or games anymore.

That's not really what it says.