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)
Sony cares…It has given you a more protected hardware, virtually hack-proof.
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You do realise it’s been hacked?
The whole thing is ridic. I used the OtherOS option for ligit reasons, it was a main reason why I bought the system at launch over the 360. When I called the day before the release I was told on the phone that they were unware if it would prevent you from logging in to PSN, dispite the post. SONY NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING!
Funny thing, there was an article released several years ago that said that most people who bought a ps3 didn’t even know their ps3 could play blu-ray discs let alone linux. Plus Linux for ps3 is considered “slow” compared to computer versions.
As for the 6500 some odd complaints…I saw one guy post about 10 messages and all he wrote was ice cream flavors…another three or four just took turns flaming each other for no other reason, simply because they can. “Oh, but a huge % are upset…” actually 6500 is a small number compared to the MILLIONS that own a ps3. While maybe 300 ppl got upset and started posting about 20-90 times about their unhappiness, The rest of us ps3 owners just shugged their shoulders and went back to playing MAG or Killzone2…or in my case GOW 3.
So I take it you are quite happy for Sony to lie and cheat to their customers? For them to also lie and cheat governments out of taxes? Basically for them to steal from anyone they choose?
@Idinero
You cant believe people are still complaining after a week
I cant believe Sony still haven’t done anything after a week.
I mean come on, what are they doing that takes so long.
Not even saying ‘we are not going to do anything, deal with it’ doesn’t take a week to plan.
Other OS, no other OS, I don’t really care, it doesn’t affect me, but seriously Sony, you are disgraceful at public relations.
Now i feel like a Jacka$$ for joining along with these people and just started ranting instead of reseaching for the actual cuase. people in this forum should lay off Sony for trying to protect thier seventh generation game console; due to it has finally been hacked via the other os feature. A punk named george. ( if you want the last name research in the wiki free encyclopedia, search firmware updates). Anyway he created a hack that takes control of the HYPERVISOR. its a protocal thing that allows hardware resource sharing between OS’s. It also prevent errors from one operating system to transmit into another installed operating system. i know it would have been easier for us to have Sony just come out say it themelves, but be happy they nice to give us a reason at all.
and frankly I’ll would like to beat the living s**t out of that punk
list off if you care to join me in that brawl to beat him bloooooooooody.
@JacKeD312
I’m sure that a lot of owners care, but just don’t like the blog because its a one way conversation, they realise Sony will never read their complaints on here.
Why am I here? Cause this topic is hilarious.
JacKeD312
The problem is that there are those that 3.21 affects. Yeah, its a minority. I am one of them that has had the PS3 rendered to a brick with my older HDMI TV – through no fault of mine. I’m not prepared to fork out $1k for a new TV just to let 3.21 have its way.
Remember Toyota’s troubles for a very small minority (way way less than 2%)? They were raked over the coals for that. While it is different in that it is a safety issue, it is still a defect. Should this be any different? – they made my once functional unit defective.
@LoneWolf4
So, you’ve researched what has actually happened? Maybe you should try again.
It was for the most part hacked on Jan 22nd 2010, THREE MONTHS ago. This update does absolutely NOTHING to protect their console. Do you think anyone trying to hack the PS3 will update?
BTW, YOU would actually being breaking the law IF you beat the living s**t out of ‘that punk’.
He has not broken the law, hacking is not illegal, no matter how much Sony want you to think it is. Piracy is illegal and usually comes about as a result of a machine being hacked. ‘That punk’ has no intentions of having anything to do with piracy, do you think he’s that stupid?
Like you I knew none of this until this firmware release. I really think you need to try to understand a little more of what you read.
If you didn’t use the OtherOS, shut the [DELETED] up about it! I’m sick of hearing people who didn’t use it say how useless it was. Well, it wasn’t useless! I spent hours installing and configuring NES and SNES emulators for my PS3. It was a huge pain in the butt but it was totally worth it. Not only were the emulators fun to play but it was one of the few features that really made 360 users jealous. So quit saying it’s a useless feature just because you were too stupid or too much of a noob to figure out how to install it and/or get any usefulness out of it.
Is it just me, or did a big bunch of comments just get deleted?
This update really [DELETED] me off.
I’ve considered using OtherOS quite a bit, but never got around to it due to lack of hard drive space (40 GB system). I was planning to install Linux once I bought a new 2.5″ hard drive.
Now I’m in a predicament thanks to Sony. I’ve never pirated a game, even with my Dreamcast despite how easy it was to pirate with that system. Despite that, I am being punished for an exploit someone else found, something I had no control over.
If I want to use Linux someday, I do anything on PSN until the hackers create some custom firmware. However, if I do use their custom firmware just for Linux, if my console ever breaks Sony will probably refuse to fix it.
On the other hand, I update and lose OtherOS functionality permanently.
Thanks for nothing Sony.
those people that think charging is the solution are retarded thats the one thing that makes the ps3 better than the xbox the fact that u get charged twice for online usage is ignorant and furthermore u bought a game system use it and be thankful otherwise ur just being a bunch of ungrateful spoiled babies
I have been a follower of Playstation products from PSX to PS2, to PSP, to PS3. I have bought ALL of your systems, in fact multiple PSPs (diff generations) and I must say, I am VERY dissapointed in how this is turning out. My god Sony, this is like THEFT. I bought the console knowing that I could use it as a console / computer / BluRay play combo. Now, if you took away say, Bluray playing; now THAT would be the exact same thing you are doing here; removing a much touted feature that was on the box and advertised. Sony, think long and hard about this.
Regards,
impulse
What gets to me is the fact that this is an ongoing trend for the ps3. Features keep getting taken away and the only new features that have been added are completely worthless and/or things from other consoles that nobody really cares about.
I know we’re never going to see BC return (most likely so PSN can sell ps2 titles for 5x the amount you can get them off ebay) but can we at least get some of the features that were promised to us when the console was being hyped for launch? What about full HD games? I only have a couple. What about games that take snapshots or video capture? Once again, I can count on two fingers (guess which ones I’m using) the amount of games with that feature. What about packing those BR discs full of content or custom soundtracks.
The games have been getting better but the ps3 itself is starting to look as overpriced and overhyped as the other consoles. I guess a lot of people are just happy the thing doesn’t burst into flames. I was too at first but my patience is running out and the other consoles are looking more inviting.
So basically what Sony has shown us is that supporting them day one was and is a major mistake. So now the older models are $600 pieces of junk. I have a 60gb now 500gb have never used the Other OS feature but have always thought of the older Ps3 as the superior console compared to the slim. Having said that i think switching to a 360 might a good idea just to show them that they need us and not the other way around. The Slim is a stripped down ps3 for $300. Things always change in the world but it might be time to support Microsoft since they add features instead of taking them away. Change your ways Sony cause remember all empires fall.
Based on the ongoing c e n s o r s h i p, it is obvious that they do not want you to contact the F T C. If you believe you have been w r o n g e d, please visit F T C . G O V and file a complaint.
have there been any formalized Class-Action suits?
Just goes to show how pathetic Sony were being.
As geo says in his latest post they turned thousands of legitimate users into hackers.
Hello world
You know it has to be bad when Engadget feels the need to point out your failure with this firmware update. As one of the most well known and respected players on PSN I feel the need to let everyone know that the Xbox and Wii are far superior gaming consoles and that the PS3 has become the biggest disappointment for me in gaming console history.
What should have been a coup for Sony in this generation has become an epic failure due to poor games and the loss of many of the PS2’s premier exclusive titles. I know more than a few of my PSN friends have happily moved on to the 360 and, although we hate paying for online, we enjoy the quality games and entertainment services that console offers.
I would write more but I know for a fact that Sony does not care one bit what any of us think. If you don’t believe me then go check the Socom.com forums and see the state of the most beloved shooter franchise Sony has to offer. It’s so bad I have promised myself to rent it before I put down cold, hard cash for Socom 4.
Sony, you have failed, yet again. I urge you all to think twice about buying a PS4, considering how awful the PS3 that we spent $600+ on has been.
I would encourage everyone to do a search on google for an article named “Sony’s PS3 Drops Linux; Why You Should Care” on “Tom’s hardware” and read through it.
I want to quote it:
“On the other hand, the Cell itself was a remarkable processor. In 2006, the Cell offered 150 GFlops of single-precision computational performance. A modern Core i7 975 only offers 111 GFlops of single precision performance. For applications requiring single precision arithmetic, the PS3 offered an exceptional bargain. In fact, it was Sony in early 2006 who approached Stanford to discuss porting Folding@Home to the PlayStation 3.”
For those of us who appreciate what we have, it is not a difficult decision at all to say no to this. What you have is a modern marvel that has not been surpassed in 5 years – and the only way you can access it? Yup – O t h e r O S.
JacKeD312
I never said this issue was saftey related, but since you bring up property damage in the sum of hundreds of thousands of greenbacks… It would only 3500 bricked PS3s (@$300 each) to reach a figure over 1 million greenbacks of property damage. Now thats not very many units to have a problem across North America, is it?
Bottom line is you would be singing a diffrent song it it was your unit that was affected. Don’t look down on those with trouble.
…I guess ‘you tube’ as one word is a moderation filter check. DUMB LOL
What’s next Sony? Disabling the Blu-Ray player because back-up Blu-Rays can be played on the PS3? And for such a superior machine was are games released on the Xbox360 in 1080p are only 720p on the PS3?
Here’s the truth – GeoHot said “One comment form Product Reviews.net “GeoHot didn’t force Sony to do anything.
He stated that all he was doing was tinkering with the PS3 hardware which as an owner he is fullly authorized to do so. He also stated that he had no intention of getting into the firmware scene with the PS3. Sony has shot themselves in the f…oot now because he has reversed his early comments and decided to jump wholeheartedly into publicizing hacks for the PS3. In addition the Linux user base will now be interested in delving deeper into the PS3 hardware which will only open up more weak spots.”
GeoHot is not responsible for Sony’s actions, plus GeoHot used a illegal mod chip in his PS3. Sony have used this as a catalyst to push their “Feature Removal Update”, by using coercion and blackmail, as if you dont update your locked out of the PSN. This is criminal. In fact Sony have forced some people to use altered firmware to keep the functionality they paid for – higly immoral as well.
Pathetic. How about listening up Sony? You have 132+ pages of fans complaining to you about your bogus actions. Everyone complaining here should complain on Twitter (and everywhere else for that matter). I mean, this blog entry reads like a joke Patrick! “You can choose not to install it, and your system will be pretty much useless!”
It would be funny if it weren’t so sad.
As for legit reasons, I haven’t read all the posts, but what about the use of OtherOS for cluster computing?!? You just got rid of an otherwise brilliant tool. Thankfully the clusters already out there probably don’t need to worry about upgrading. I doubt anyone computing numbers about black holes needs to watch Up while the machine is chugging away.
@6588 Pengy, nice article (Google “Sony’s PS3 Drops Linux” on tomshardware). Time will come, and yes the thing will eventually be compromised, but is already outdated by newer technology by then. In what the future may have been now (in the present), all gone to waste because of all of this, a major backward step.
So now that we’re probably a few days away from a custom firmware– something that WAS NOT even on the table before this move by Sony — can SOMEONE from Sony say SOMETHING to try to justify this?
VoxRetus– no way a class action would drive them out of the games business. They’ve already had and settled a few of them related to past problems. The problem with class action suits is you rarely really get what you hoped for — watch, we’ll all get $10 coupons towards the purchase of a Sony Vaio to run Linux on.
The thing is they screwed up bigtime with this firmware. And it’s time the users fought back to retain ALL of the functionality we paid for. The PS3’s computing power is an incredible tool when used correctly– PS3 Linux as a GUI/home PC may be underwhelming, but as a number cruncher it’s tough to beat and as a way for a comp sci student to get their hands on a “mini supercomputer” it’s untouchable. The PS3 will be hacked when it’s hacked, no one working on hacking it will upgrade, this patch ONLY punishes legitimate users. So yes, that is something Sony needs to fix.
test
How many comments will it take before they respond? It’s not like they don’t have time, since they obviously have the time to search through and delete comments on this thread.
I do use Linux on my PS3, and I do play games online. I’ve payed for both, and now you’ve stolen one of those two “features”!
I’ve always loved playstation. I’ve got your PS1, PS2, PSP and now your PS3. Missing PS2 support was already a big dissapointment, and now OtherOS support is stolen. What’s left is just a dumb blu-ray playing game console. And I don’t use blu-ray, so why didn’t I get an xbox360? Games look exactly the same, it has backward compatibility and it’s much cheaper.
Give me back the features I payed for, add backward compatibility and perhaps I will forgive you.
@ JacKeD312 et al
Not important which feature is being removed so much as they are removing an advertised feature from an existing product. Older systems also are able to play PS2 games (some w/ hardware, some with software). Sony has had much trouble getting/keeping this feature working right (especially the software emulation), anybody here be upset if they arbitrarily take that feature away someday?
Refocus on the main issue: We have way to tell what feature may go next and less reason to believe Sony will care what we think.
I’m kind of wondering how this update could at all possibly be worth the drama for Sony considering that the fellow who hacked the hypervisor made a version of 3.21 which has Other OS re-enabled. Once that firmware is loose everyone wanting to use that feature (which, to be fair, were advertised in times past) can without being locked out of PSN or having to do that network workaround.
I smell an arms race brewing.
While Other OS wasn’t anywhere on my care-o-meter, I understand the business principals (or lack thereof) surrounding this and it just seems to be a terribly miscalculated move on Sony’s part. There are a great many PS3 owners who have not at all been interested in the hacking scene up until Sony pushed this update. Now every major tech blog is talking about it.
In short, 3.21 was Sony blaring out to the entire universe that their console has been compromised and they are scared whitless.
guys the ps3 was just hacked and yea geo hot did it but dont do what he did because it will be patched and you will be banned
Tsk, tsk, tsk, fire whoever in Sony that made this bad decision now, and regain a little face in the SCEA community.
I worked in security for years, and things like this WILL NOT increase security, it will only empower the rightous h-a-c-k-e-r-s.
This just opened a whole new can of worms for Sony security to deal with….and after this display of anti-trust, Im sorry to say, but my vote goes to the h-a-c-k-e-r-s.
For all the people that are feeling hate toward Sony, dont lose any sleep over this unwise move. Sony had their reasons for making this move, they just made the wrong move. While we are all here pandering our rights, I assure you that the smartest people in the world are already “h-a-c-k-ing” the PS3 to its fullest extent.
Read Here: google “PS3 h-a-c-k-e-d” (use real spelling)
All this will do is help the h-a-c-k-e-r-s gather momentum and soon the PS3 will become another j-a-i-l-b-r-o-k-e-n iPhone, probably Sony’s worst nightmare. My advice to Corporate Sony is to call Corporate Apple and ask them what pills they take to deal with it when it happens.
(Please see my other un-moderated post on pg 131 for conclusion)
testing if I’m still banned from posting
Hey sony, I’m never buying another Sony console. Good job, you bozos!
@zerg.
Don’t post off topic message on other topics. They are less tolerant of off topic posts then before.
However at least your better then the “first” crowd.
Well seeing as it’s been hacked I’m now updating to the real 3.21 LOL When I want my OtherOS back I will move over to custom firmware as I’m sure soon enough any console will be able to run it. When I do move to custom it’s probably going to be fairly advanced so if it’s able to pirate I may just do so to thank Sony for this slap in the face.
Good job Sony, Like I said only the real consumers lose here.
Hackers win and when they start doing it better why stay on the real stuff. When you return my OtherOS I will have no reason for CFW so fix your wrong before CFW is good.
We are so little customer … versus very too big company that want only money instead of making customer happy…
They don’t care about us…they don’t remove this feature to give a more secure system for us…it’s just for the money…money is always the problem…
@VoxRetus, I agree with your previous post none of us want to see Sony in a bad position. And I would prefer to take the so called highroad. None of us would have purchased so many of their consoles if they were not excellent machines. But as some have stated above the system is on its way to being broken. I would just rather see a legitimate sony otherOS feature rather than a home_ brew or mod solution. I very much enjoy the PS3 and PSN services and I like to experiment with CellBE programming and general programming on this linux side of things for my artistic practice,and the university courses I teach, as I am an academic as well.
what can you do on linux that you can’t do on ps3 os?
Zombie_56 you can program for the CellBE processor which is a supercomputer processor. It doesn’t seem like much but if your a university student trying to develop your skill-set and portfolio I doubt the cost of purchasing a cellBE system for $10g’s would be in your world of possibilities. Ad using it for word processing and you no longer need a desktop to do your essays.
@6610 zombie_56
Browse the web and not have my ps3 lock up every 5 minutes, certainly one of my favorites
In a mailing list post from Geoff Levand, PS3-Linux maintainer, he says SCE management has provided this tidbit:
“Please be assured that SCE is committed to continue the support for previously sold models that have the “Install Other OS” feature and that this feature will not be disabled in future firmware releases.”
Way to stay true to your word, and your client base, Sony. You will never be able to regain our trust again.
Ha – this is just awesome. Not only will we be getting a version of 3.21 with Other OS support now, those who purchased the Slim model will should also be able to use it to enable the Other OS option when it wasn’t even present. This is classic!!!!
Looks like Sony really hasn’t thought this one through at all.
@ cjalbert
when is it coming in effect