The next system software update for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system will be released on April 1, 2010 (JST), and will disable the “Install Other OS” feature that was available on the PS3 systems prior to the current slimmer models, launched in September 2009. This feature enabled users to install an operating system, but due to security concerns, Sony Computer Entertainment will remove the functionality through the 3.21 system software update.
In addition, disabling the “Other OS” feature will help ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system.
Consumers and organizations that currently use the “Other OS” feature can choose not to upgrade their PS3 systems, although the following features will no longer be available;
- 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
For those PS3 users who are currently using the “Other OS” feature but choose to install the system software update, to avoid data loss they first need to back-up any data stored within the hard drive partition used by the “Other OS,” as they will not be able to access that data following the update.
Additional information about PS3 firmware updates, including v3.21 (once it becomes available), can be found here:
http://us.playstation.com/support/systemupdates/ps3/index.htm
PS3 owners who have further questions should contact Consumer Services:
http://us.playstation.com/support/ask/
800-345-7669 (800-345-SONY)
Sorry, I should add. A user agreement is not all binding. Consumer law trumps user agreements. That’s the clincher.
“Consumer laws are in place to protect the consumer from illegal and outlandish EULAs…not make them useless. There was no law broken lol or anything outlandish in the EULA.”
Probably nothing illegal by itself in the EULA, indeed. It’s the bait&switch which is highly illegal in many countries. The point is that consumer laws protecting against a bait&switch are not affected by an EULA in many countries, just as a “Trespassers will be shot” sign on your lawn would not protect you from prosecution for shooting trespassers.
Running Linux, games etc. is a stated purpose of the hardware. Disabling the hardware via software is changing the purpose and function of the hardware, which we theoretically do own to some extent.
Once again sue then & once again good luck with that…if you people don’t realise these companies have 1000s of lawyers to research this before they do these things then by all means attempt to sue…next year, a few down the road even all ps3s will still have no ‘other os’ option. There won’t be any lawsuit, just a bunch of forum attorneys lmao, that think they are gonna make big bad sony pay. I and any one else that said you are all fools will be right.
@valley428
They’re reading them. I have worked on many blogs for commercial enterprises – every company I’ve ever worked at reads *all* the comments on their blogs. Often, people very high up in the food chain are reading them.
They’re not responding probably because they’re concerned about pending litigation. Anything they say here could be used in a lawsuit. And there’s nothing they can say at this point that wouldn’t just get them in more trouble. What are they going to do, apologize? That would be an admission that they did something wrong. Comment but not apologize? That would be demonstrating a lack of remorse for breaking consumer protection laws. Even if they suddenly came to their senses and announced they were restoring functionality to our systems, they’d look incompetent.
If we ever get Other OS restored – and I still believe it will happen if we keep up the pressure – it’s going to happen unannounced.
yeah i left sony a nasty email about this i expect a remburstment for this and they owe every single customer at least 100 bucks or a 120 gig harddrive or something its nolonger better than the slim ps3 with less hard drive space. if this is not solved to compensate the early adopters of the ps3 i will be investing in a xbox 360. shame on you sony shame.
Nobody at Sony is reading these comments I’m sure. I will however share with the community that the security concern thing is not a big deal and that Sony has not dealt with “hackers” properly throughout their history. The PSP wasn’t ruined by hackers, it was freed by those people who asserted their right to make modifications to hardware they owned and the PS3 won’t be either.
The PS3 (and PSP) is a piece of computer hardware just like any other and everyone should be able to write code for it if they so choose. No one complains if I write a program for my computer, nobody complains when I explore my computer’s RAM and nobody complains when I dual boot my computer and use that other system to probe the other OS for my own knowledge and education.
All companies like Sony really do by restricting such basic functionality as writing and executing code is cut off aspiring game developers from creating useful and free (as in “free speech”) content for use on their otherwise wonderful systems.
Unfortunately, the piracy cat is already out of the bag and isn’t going to go back in. While it is unfortunate, there are ways of preventing it such as fair pricing on the PlayStation Network for the games ($10 off the disc price should be sufficient). People will buy the system simply to the homebrew games and apps by independent developers and then they may also be enticed to purchase the games that are produced by the big studios. I want to be perfectly clear I do pay for all of my console games simply because I do not have the time to download large files and I enjoy the ability to pay in real cash rather than electronically (since I do not have a bank account). I have not met anyone who pirates console games either and I do not endorse “piracy.” Piracy is simply a non-issue that can be dealt with through a change in business practices and pricing schemes.
@ GuardDawg1369
Companies with thousands of lawyers have lost law cases before. No matter how good you are, there’s no way of telling what the future holds. You may be right, but you may also be wrong.
I see that you trust Sony the company. That’s nice. I hope they don’t abuse that trust.
Another concern raised is cheating. There are ways to block players from games based on usernames and other criteria so that cheaters can be dealt with on a case by case basis. But also think that people could be expanding the possibilities of the games and what can be done in them. This requires cunning, intelligence and computer knowhow. There could be entire gaming guilds devoted to hacking the games and beating each other that way using that skill, the possibilities are endless!
As I close, I can only remark that when the PS3 was launched it was the ultimate media appliance, no mere gaming console but a PC, DVD player, Blu-Ray player, PS1, PS2, CD player and more in one device. The $800 price tag was perfectly fair but admittedly steep for those who simply wanted a game console. But I wanted one and I’m still saving up for a used 20GB PS3 for the backward compatibility features. However rather than removing useful or intriguing features, a tiered system would have been better.
That way consumers could choose what they wanted in the system, much as people choose what “trim level” they want in their cars and the price range would reflect that. Sony has a history of being an innovative and intelligent company and I will continue to purchase their products as long as they live up to the great quality I have come to expect and do not backslide like the PS3.
@valley428: They certainly are reviewing this, otherwise there wouldn’t be comments being deleted.
Never said I trusted them I have zero trust for any big corp, I do lke my both my PS3s though. I’m just saying this lawsuit talk makes me laugh, not a one of you are going to do anything, and there will never be a lawsuit filed over this, so I just lol, and say good luck with that.
you never know microsoft was looking at a lawsuit along with alot of other major companys by regular people who were screwed over by big corparations
sad thing is i was looking at purchasins sonys new 3d tv when it released now i might buy a panasonic 3d tv im so upset with you sony i want my money back for the ps3 and all the software i purchesd wich is in the thousands
for those whlo wouldn’t sucked it up and got the update i have 3 reasons that you should
1. Lynyrd Skynyrd GH5 Track Pack (its that good)
2. Thry fixed lag issues on downloaded games with this update.
3. WHATS DONE IS DONE AND YOU MAY NOT LIKE IT BUT SONY HAS A FANBASE OF MILLIONS AND THE 5% WHO USE LINUX ARE NOT THAT VALUABLE.
I may call support just to make the point, but its not like updating is going to bring Armageddon. At least not when I did it.
There will be a Small claims suit in Pennsylvania filed tomorrow, I guarantee that.
Yeah, most of guys are morons. Sony has the right to add or subtract, change the software anytime they want. It actually says that in the PS3 manual and in the agreement that pops up before you install updates. Your all crying about a function that 95% of you don’t even use or never intended to use. If want to run Linux on something, run it on a computer. And oh by the way, YOU DON”T HAVE TO UPDATE TO THE NEW SOFTWARE IF YOU STILL WANT THE OTHER OS FEATURE! I normally don’t post on forums but the more I read the more irritated I got with all this stupid blabbering of subjects that most of you know nothing about. Like none of you have more important things to worry about.
The big problem is that there are too many sheeple in the flock who are so pro-Sony that they can’t see what’s being taken away right in front of them. Just because they don’t use the feature doesn’t mean that it’s a good thing that it’s being taken away. How would those people like it if something that they value was taken away ‘for their security’.
Speaking of which, thanks for taking care of us, Sony. I’m being sarcastic, of course.
Seriously people, can we tone down the [DELETED] spray and act like the little adults that I know you can be? It almost sounds like some of you are saying the OS was the only thing that made the PS3 worth having.
Mayhem, Do you want me to cut off your right handor your left hand? you can still eat and wipe your ass with one hand. Not much of a choice is it? Its bait and switch and its clear as day. Sony KNOWS its illegal, they are just hoping to wipe as many PS3s’ as possible from being able to use that feature and possibly in some way “hack” their system. So they’ll settle for 10 credit towards a sony purchase when the class action is settled. They think it will save them, it won’t. Till I”m dead I will blast the Sony name for this. You remember the root kit Sony BMG deal?
let the idiots waste their time threatening lawsuits and going into nerd rage. it’s all they can do to cope with their miserable lives. but i’ll jump on the class action lawsuit bandwagon if by some miracle it does succeed. i could use a $10 voucher good for any sony product of my choice.
Please join the facebook group “Against the PS3 Firmware 3.21″
http:// w w w . facebook . com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=108684749155032
There they are discussing possible ways of having our Other OS feature returned to us.
Sony can delete whatever I post here, but they CANNOT take away functionality of something I’ve owned for almost 4 years after the fact.Its no different than them breaking into my home and stealing my USB ports and card readers directly from my system.
@THOSE WHO SAY THIS WASNT AN APRIL FOOLS
They announced it on a Sunday.
They updated on Thursday, April 1, instead of the usual Monday or Tuesday.
They had someone new to the blog post it.
They did everything possible to make this sound fake.
APRIL FOOLS !!! Sucker, its 100% real.
Should be bashing Sony for removing the feature, not each other, but when I saw this:
Lemmy_TwoPutt: “… resources to make certain customers happy will never
allow you to make a profit on them. Any good sales training will tell you
need to rid yourself of these customers ASAP”
————————————–
I had to write something. Even though I also knew I should not probably write anything.
OK, Lemmy. When your folks get too old – just dump them on the street, use their savings and sell their stuff to buy more SONY stock. After all there is no more “profit” from their existence. Unless they babysit your kids, in which case wait a year or two and then dump them.
That will surely make you quite popular.
All of us who helped Sony at launch – stocking on $600 units to experience power of Cell, which can ONLY be accessed through OtherOS and Cell SDK – are dumped due to “business reasons”.
Legal or not – it does not help Sony’s image.
Most pure gamers at launch were unwilling to pay high price for just a game system, some buying it to resell on ebay.
Nobody in their right mind can argue that ability to run “OtherOS” (Linux) was a feature that helped Sony sell it’s product.
@GuardDawg1369
ToS is not a binding contract, and if ToS violates a law, guess what, the ToS is invalid.
Any ToS MUST comply to Country/State/Local laws, or the company risks no longer being able to sell products in that region.
anybody who thinks sony has the right to take away software that was legaly purchased for use even being just a licence agrement need to think real hard before supporting sony on this what if they decided that now you can only play certain movies games or music or took away psn that would be sonys right since you support it i guess you would just deal with it huhh no you would be mad so think before you type use common sense any body thats upset about this has that right to be and there are talks of lawsuits on other websites and this could be a rumor but i headr there is already a pending lawsuit. and i hope there is
not only do sony screw its customers , but film makers who work for them also , duncan jones director of “moon ” with sam rockwell
(a great movie ) expresed his feelings on how sony shafted him.
this movie was original, well made sci-fi and would be a shame for other film maker ect to be pushed around so the only films we get are one which only line the pockets of sony yet again . (spiderman 4 reboot )with no originality
http://www.worstpreviews.com/headline.php?id=17247&count=0
lmao funny thing i was going to purchase heavy rain and god of war 3 tomarow now i might be taking my games and system and selling it for a xbox 360 i started off on xbox now im going back to xbox sony you suck and you cant even release a game on a timly fashion example granturismo looks like i might be playing forza 3 and halo sonys loss microsofts gain for now on it might be pc and xbox for me unless i here back from sony tomarow lol
I am tired of companies treating their consumers as if they are pirates. Thank you for assuming that I am a criminal. It’s a shame that so many people on here are protecting sony over this as well. By agreeing to this garbage you are giving them the ammo they need to keep doing this stuff to legitimate consumers of their products. It’s the classic “It doesn’t harm me so I don’t care” case, at least until it eventually does. Microsoft banned the hacked 360s from their network, so is sony not capable of doing this as well if a CFW does come around? I have no plans to update, and to be quite honest I wish sony would give me the option to remove their software from the ps3 and let me use the hardware that I own as I see fit.
I am done with gaming on your console. I am going to voice my hatred for you by making sure that I don’t give you any more of my money, and I hope many more do the same.
Me and my PSN enabled, firmware 3.15 fat PS3… oh, good times :)
There are people who don’t care about this feature, and therefore could care less about how other people may find it useful. There are also people who use it, but are STILL complaining about not being able to use their PS3 fuller without the Other OS.
I’m in between, and I LOVE it.
Can anyone tell me where on their PS3 box that they are finding other OS supported?
I’m not seeing it on the 80 GB MGS4 bundle, but there’s a lot of stuff there so that doesn’t mean much.
I need to know so that when I contact my attonery general’s office, I have some evidence.
Tell me where on the box you found it, any model, front, back top, under what column if you see it on your box please.
thanks for this update sony. since you took out the install other OS option i will be selling my PS3 to purchase another linux pc.
customer lost forever.
in the end its all about sony making money……y would sony make the ps3 have backwards compatibility and let us play the old games we already paid for when they could sell them at the ps-store and make us pay 4 them again. i want backwards compatibility just as bad as the next guy but (being realistic) they will probably never make it happen. same issue with the 3D support, they r more focused on that then anything else because u have 2 have the 3D TV to use that option and they know they will sell more 3D TVs by adding 3D support 2 the ps3…they don’t care about us its all about how they can drain our pockets…u can say what u want but in the end sony cares more about money then they do about customer loyalty. hopefully they see all the comments on here and realise that customer’s loyalty is just as important as the billions of dollars they make every year. their problem is that (for the moment) they r blinded by greed. i hope mine and everyone else’s comments r recognised and they SEE THE LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!
Sony, you can take this update and blow it out your arse. I’m not going to apply it just to lose a feature which I use, though now I’m denied of playing any future games or going online with the system.
Way to go. Not buying a single Sony product after this. I hope the americans will sue the living crap out of you.
@NinjaToni
oh don’t worry, we will. =)
“to connect to psn without updating and without using pc-proxy servers simply use this DNS: 67.202.81.137 and you are done.”
It’s not a joke. I didn’t use other OS anyway, didn’t plan too, and didn’t care about losing it personally. I applied the Update and it’s now gone.
@NinjaToni
Don’t worry, I’m sure there’s gonna be ALOT of people suing. I cannot believe how many people are PO’d at this. I didn’t know it was being used so much. I never had a PS3 Fat, so I never got the chance to use it. I really would’ve like to use it though, because I want experience with other OSes, besides the Windows series(3.1 and up).
Last chance Sony. April Fools is over now. It’s your last chance to say that it was all an April Fools joke, and another mini-update is available which will restore Other OS functionality.
Holy Crap misthero that actually worked. Not sure what that has to do with anything, but thank you.
Now can anyone tell me where on the box it says Other OS is located? ( Please include which model of the fat you have ).
Oh, and for those people who say “Why don’t you just install another OS on one of your computers?” I forgot to mention that I have Ubuntu 9.10 installed on one of my computers, but I never have time to use it. XP is already fine tuned the way I want it, and I don’t have time to learn all the fancy stuff (I’m in college, and there is much to be done). When I do have free time, all of the stuff I usually use is in XP, and I can’t do (not that I know of) what I usually do in Ubuntu anyway (Like video or voice call in Y! Messenger), so I always just boot into XP.
I use the Other OS function for a secondary CPU, and am frankly appalled by Sony’s decision to release an update nix’ing it altogether.
I will keep this short, sweet, and to the point.
I will not update my PS3 in protest of this decision, if that prohibits me from engaging in online play (my primary gaming experience) I will not purchase any more Sony games.
If Sony decides to continue to prohibit Other OS support, then so be it. I will no longer purchase Sony products.
@5501
I’m totally with you.
My PS3 is still with 3.15.
I don’t agree.
Lucky enough, I live in a country where corporations can’t do everything they want just because they feel protected behind an EULA (and EULAs are anyway NOT above the law). I’ll ask a refund for that joke. So far Sony.
It isn’t just consumer laws part 3
Removal of the feature is permanent on many Playstation systems. The firmware is not stored on the hard disk of the original 60Gb PS3 (the version I own): it is stored in flash memory. The back up feature does not cover the firmware at all: you can only back up and restore the contents of the disk. So once flashed, there is no obvious way back to the version (3.1.15) that did support this OtherOS feature. I fear that many consumers will install this update without realising the consequences of their actions, whether they chose to maintain access to the feature or not. That also probably also means that the “fat” systems that have been flashed to 3.2.1. can no longer be resold to companies or individuals who would make a different choice from the original owner i.e. to install a second operating system.
Sony are denying companies and individuals access to hardware that they have rightly paid for and could expect to enjoy for many years, and instead effectively forced them to run the Sony operating system exclusively on hardware that was sold below manufacturing cost. I think this constitutes anti competitive behaviour.
It isn’t just consumer laws. Part 1
You may say “so what, you can run Linux on any PC.”
But the PS3 was used by many companies and students as cheap access to massively parallel computing based on the cell processor technology installed in the Playstation. No other system offered such cost effective access to this sort of computing. Sony sold the Playstation hardware cell processors much cheaper than anything else on the market, and the hardware was being sold at a loss for an extended period. The hardware was being cross subsidised by game sales and licence fees.
It isn’t just consumer laws. Part 2
There are many manufacturers other than Sony, and many individuals, who have specifically invested development effort in installing and running Linux on this specialized hardware that Sony have sold. An example of two Linux releases and commercial ventures that may be harmed by this are PSUbuntu (Canonical), and Yellow Dog Linux (Fixstars) who also offered commercial versions. Playstation hardware was even bought in bulk by the US government for serious research e.g. cracking passwords of paedophiles.
@bridgerbot: sure it works, 67.202.81.137 is a simple dns server, but the owner modified it so when the ps3 ask the sony website if there is a newer firmware the server does not send the request to sony, but answer directly that there is none. …almost and very simplified.. :)
Every thing I wanted to say has been said (if not better worded) so, I am just going to throw out a brief assessment; Disappointment & apprehension.
I cannot play multiplayer games without doing the update. That is effectively telling me that I cannot use my PS3 unless I do the update. It is my PS3, I bought it for multiplayer games and to install another OS, now it is not fit for the purpose that I bought it for – surely that goes against all consumer laws? And my human rights? Will you give me my money back now that it is not fit for the purpose that I bought it?
This is blatant bullying tactics by huge corporations against the little man. I am not doing the update and I want to be able to play my multiplayer games or give me my money back plus compensation as I have invested largely in this system that I now cannot use.