Next PS3 Firmware Drops Other OS Support
The PlayStation 3 isn’t the same console that it was when it first released back in November of 2006. Through firmware updates, new features are constantly being added, ensuring that the console lives up to Sony’s claim that the PS3 is “future proof”. Almost every firmware update adds at least one new feature; some minor, and some as significant as firmware 2.40′s trophy support. However, Sony has announced the latest firmware for the PS3 and it’s not adding anything, in fact it’s removing a feature completely.
Patrick Seybold has announced via the PlayStation Blog that the next system software update for the PlayStation 3 system will be released on April 1, 2010 (JST). Firmware 3.21 will disable the “Install Other OS” feature that was previously available on the PS3 systems prior to the current slimmer models, launched in September 2009.
The feature of allowing owners to install another OS was undoubtedly a unique and bold feature. It allowed PlayStation 3 owners to allot 10GB of HDD space to install one of the many Linux operating systems, essentially turning their PS3 into a PC. However, due to security concerns, Sony will be removing the functionality through the 3.21 system software update.
The decision by Sony is most likely a response to the iPhone second generation hacker, George Hotz, having reportedly hacked the system.
You can choose not to update your PS3, but you won’t be able to sign into the PlayStation Network, play games online, or use the PlayStation Store.
29 Responses to “Next PS3 Firmware Drops Other OS Support”
Not a big deal to me… I never used it. But it was a pretty cool feature to have.
I used it when i got my first fat in 2007, made a good “backup” pc running kubuntu linux, but all in all it left a lot to be desired. This isnt a big deal to me for I do not use this feature anymore and dont think i ever will.
this is definetly april fools joke. come firmware 3.21 or 123. Releases on April 1st. There are other features are going to be disabled that weren’t included in this post. But this “update” looks suspect to me.
It Only Does April Fools Jokes
never used it so no big deal but I still think I am going to wait a while to update my system just because this seems like one of those updates that will make my PS3 fail for no reason. It has nothing to do with anything important so why wouldn’t it screw something up?
the only thing that bothers me about this is that although many of use don’t use the feature, its still a feature and its being taken away. I just don’t want Sony to start thinking its ok to start removing features.. im sure alot of people use it.
I seriously believe this is an April Fools prank. If it isn’t, then I + the entire PS3 community will be very angry at Sony.
THIS IS A BIG DEAL…. Especially for Gaurav Khanna who built a PS3 Supercomputer To Study Black Holes. Khanna could no longer afford ($5000/rent) to research using the super computers at the university of Massachusetts Dartmouth. So he came up with his own solution: build a supercomputing cluster out of PlayStation3s, which contain a little-known but mighty processor called the Cell and can be outfitted with LINUX. (“OTHER OS”)
http://www.motherboard.tv/2009/12/8/motherboard-q-a-gaurav-khanna-built-a-playstation-3-supercomputer-to-study-black-holes
http://www.ps3cluster.umassd.edu/
ALSO THIS SHOULD BE NOTED:
February 19, 2010
A U.S. Military research team recently built a supercomputer with over 2,000 PlayStation 3 game consoles. The 500 TeraFLOPS Heterogeneous Cluster is almost 100,000 times faster than any high-end processors in existence today.
This is an insanely powerful and fast computer for those of you that are computer illiterate.
It is interesting that the U.S. Military would use the PS3 for it’s Cell Broadband Engine Architecture. This Architecture gives it an edge over all other processors and can be used as a portable supercomputer when broke down into groups of 8-10 ps3 consoles making it very efficient for surveillance activities in a large metropolitan area rather inexpensively by giving the military or police the capability to monitor internet or phone communications. This may explain the recent push for warrantless searches of cell phones in America and the U.K. as both countries tend to mirror or share technologies.
http://conspiringtimes.com/news/?p=398
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There is A LOT more to this story then everyone thinks…. THIS IS A BIG DEAL.
WE should all speak out against SONY for taking this KEY FEATURE AWAY FROM US!!
Its funny. I dont see a lot of outrage at George Hotz. Obviously this would not be happening if it werent for him.
If you are upset at this, take it out on him, not Sony. They are just protecting their system from the same kind of behavior that has nearly killed the psp.
It was a neat feature and I had a linux install at one point, but its virtually useless to the average user. The update isnt mandatory, so for the scientific community this has no effect.
If this is an April Fools joke, man they really sold it.
why would this be an april fools joke?
sony has been doing so well to keep piracy off the ps3 and this is just another way of keeping it safe, Im sure all of the 10 people who actually use linux on their ps3 will get over it
I could go for a good April Fools joke about now…
lets see what happens
This is fantastic news!
@shaper of form
“Its funny. I dont see a lot of outrage at George Hotz. Obviously this would not be happening if it werent for him.”
I’ve seen plenty of outrage on various sites towards him. It’s a little misguided, but it’s definitely out there. If there was an exploit, he found and accessed it. Lots of people do this with no ill intentions, it’s part of the hacker mindset… add to this that, as far as I know, there’s no proof that he actually hacked anything…
Sony’s removing this because they wanted to use it to get import tax breaks and that’s been struck down in court. Sure the piracy angle helps destroy it, but they added it simply to save money. Once that’s gone they have no motivation to continue support.
“If you are upset at this, take it out on him, not Sony. They are just protecting their system from the same kind of behavior that has nearly killed the psp.”
Yeah, that’s the primary reason for the PSP’s problems. Not pricing, not the DS, not a misguided UMD push…
I never knew that option existed.
meh – I’m not upset, nor surprised. I assumed from day one that this would be the way to find loop holes and “hack” the PS3… I’m surprised it was ever there in the first place, if anything.
@kyle
thats not actually true.. we are days away before the first and the PlayStation blog doesn’t do the april fools joke thing. who knows? There have been firmware news a few days before its release. (not many)
Its a poorly crafted april fools joke. something noticed on another site i will share here, what exactly is JST? release date, april 1st, 2010 (JST) <—- says it above, says it on the playstation blog. its a joke, and a poor one at that. amazing how lit up the ps blog has been since this message was released. on a sunday? late in the day? i won't even get into the breaking of the firmware numbering scheme.
@vesra JST = Japan Standard Time. d’oh.
@mike, just realized that, boy is my over tired face red….
why would they bother with a stupid April Fool joke like this? It makes no sense and usually jokes are actually funny.
kholinar
+1
it makes sense that Sony would decided that they don’t want to support this feature that such a small percentage of PS3 gamers actually use
There’s almost 2000 replies on the official thread.
(here http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/#comments)
of course there are 2000 replies on the official thread, all 2,000 people who use the feature out of the entire PS3 user base probably went on to scream about it…probably 1/2 of the 2,000 are actually people saying they don’t care or multiple posts by the same people which leaves about 500 or less people who actually care this is being taken away
It is looking like around 2% of users (like myself) who would be getting screwed over if this isn’t a joke.
Which works out to be something in the realms of a quarter of a million PS3 Phat owners.
Certainly not small change, when disgruntly customers tend to tell 3 times the number of people their gripe, than happy customers tell when they get good customer service.
This has to be a Joke. What about all those companies that are using the PS3 phat and “other OS” capabilities to cluster their PS3′s for a cheap super computer? What about them. The Air force invested in PS3′s and the FBI, you think SONY doesn’t know this, how do you think they are turning their PS3′s into a super computer, by using Linux on it. Why would SONY remove this feature and force these establishments to abandon their PS3 use?
This is a joke!
“skullking123 Says:
March 29th, 2010 at 11:07 AM
this is definetly april fools joke. come firmware 3.21 or 123. Releases on April 1st. There are other features are going to be disabled that weren’t included in this post. But this “update” looks suspect to me.
It Only Does April Fools Jokes”
LOL … So true!
Happy April fool day
.. heu in advance ..
Oh btw, did u see the other one running around the web, it says SONY will make us pay for the actual PSN, no premium .. just pay for that one … LOL!
cheers!
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