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)
a LAME EXCUSE TO GET rid of hackers, not nice, expect law suits after this, for promoting a feature at launch, that you no longer will be offering. Many people bought the system for that single feature, you removing it, violates the agreement you had as a company with the consumer.
This is really unbelievable. I gladly paid $600 for my PS3 because it had so many features included in the single device. The “other OS” feature was certainly a significant factor along with being able to play games and connect to PSN. Now I have to choose between continuing to run Linux or continuing to run games (new games will require the new firmware).
I suggest everybody file a complaint against sony with the better business bureau.
SONY RULES!
I spent so much money for the original PS3 system; I even got my recipt from Best Buy still. But like I said business is business, right Sony Corporation?
That OS feature was a good chunk of money I spent for the PS3, there better be some HELL OF A WORTH-WHILE PLAN(update/feature) to make up for this!
“You can’t just take and not give. You provide to the consumers and the consumers will provide to the business.” Thank you for more than 3 years of service and updates but that’s the only reason I still provide to Sony’s business. You give you take. Right now you are taking the OS feature so I expect another feature for the masses to enjoy.
I thought we had a DEAL! I was under the impression that their is no negotiations once a deal is final. Not to mention I paid 599 dollars plus tax. What will be my compensation?
No Disableing FACEBOOK? I think there are more hackers in there!!!
Facebook is boring Disable that Sony I dare U:)
gimme a E
gimme a U
gimme a L
gimme a A
what do ya get……EULA
read em and weep people.
To all the deluded, stupid, narrowminded asses out there:
They are also going to have to remove Backwards Compatibility of PS2 games. Because if their answer to “Security Issues” is to remove Linux… they’ll eventually have to remove PS2 support because you could run Linux on a PS2.
So you use one of the linux exploits for PS2, get yourself a thumb drive… sugar in the gas tank… LINUX!
@1104
Of course they would say that, lol. If they were going to let the cat out of the bag, why would they tell one person? They would post it on the blog. Until Sony posts said confirmation, I’m considering this an April Fools joke.
Now back to the browbeating.
I don’t give a damned if only ONE person used Linux.
What if only one person had diabetes? Are we going to stop manufacturing insulin? What if only one person had asthma? Here’s a better one: What if only one person had CANCER?
Because Folding@Home is next. That’s easy enough to exploit. And… if you’re DUMB ENOUGH… then you might ask yourself “Who FOLDS anyway?”
People who are TRYING TO CURE CANCER fold.
That’s who.
I’m not talking about biologists, chemists, and non-profit organizations either. Anyone who owns a PS3 can help.
…until Sony decides it’s a security threat of course.
And all the good that people who actually DID use Linux for good things goes right out the window. And I can assure you that’s damned near ALL the people that use Linux on the PS3… because the damned hackers STILL haven’t gotten a game to launch yet.
So the ONLY people getting screwed over are the people who use Linux for legit purposes. Either because they prefer Linux to Windows or don’t own any other computer, or they use it for video editing, or audio editing, or architecture or anything that involves complex encoding, decoding, etc.
With Linux on the PS3 you had your game system/ media server / and all your office suite programs… word processing, spread sheet, database, power point… in one box right in your living room. Perfect for anybody on a budget, anybody who didn’t have that much space, anybody who just wanted to do it (like I do).
Are you kidding me Sony!?! I paid $600+ for this feature to be included on my system! And now your going to take it away from me! You better pony up or I’ll be forced to get together a class action lawsuit to get the money back that I had to pay to have this feature. What next? Taking away two of the USB ports from my console by making them inactive? Maybe making it so I can’t play PS2 games on my console? Eff you Sony! Lick my balls!
As a “solution” removing the feature is STUPID… because the hackers simply won’t update and they’ll go about their merry way. (The hackers never update anyway… They learned THAT from the PSP.) And it screws absolutely everybody who intended… or even wanted to eventually try Linux for the first time and everyone that’s using it right now.
And it doesn’t solve the problem. It won’t stop the hackers. And it alienates the people who bought their PS3s early and stuck with Sony through those rough first few years when they were always trailing a VERY distant third to Microsoft and Nintendo.
And personally it’s just spitting in my face.
“Back up your data because you won’t be able to get to it after the update.”
Can you imagine what would happen if they did that with a windows update?
**** YOU.
Wow alot of cry babies. LOL! I can careless if they take that away. Most of you fools dont even use that option so please STFU. Your making us look stupid. Seriously!
There is absolutely no reason to believe that running linux on the PS3 somehoe benefits “the dreaded pirates”?? I haven’t heard of pirated games being available.
That hardware glitch of late didn’t completely break the security at all, nothing yet has come out of it [and they will surely not update to continue they’re ‘research’ — it’s naive to think such a move would stop that?]
This means that next, they’ll remove the blu-ray functionality if people find some glitch in that part of the system?
Come to think of it, when is the last time that Sony openly admits that functionality is removed because it poses a security threat? I think…. never? If it is so — this means that they just admit to what firmware can be cracked open — a very dumb move.
But I can imagine this all being rather “convenient” to remove a feature.
BTW, “go outside to play with real people in stead of being upset about this?” that’s a hilarious uninformed comment. You know that education is very important aspect of earning a living, right?
EULA’s can not waive or otherwise negate laws of whatever country you reside in, a company can’t just say “We can do what we want” in a EULA and then do something illegal, and be immune to legal reprecussions.
Advertising something, selling it, and then taking it away, would seem to be one of those things you can’t just try and con a customer into agreeing to – get a clue
This stinks as a knee-jerk move with no foresight of the consequences – and very revealing about the type of thinking going on in SONY, that is to say, its not very concerned about their customers
APRIL FOOLS!! Why would they only remove a feature and not give us something else. They always have more than one feature per update.
97% of these commenters don’t use the OtherOS feature.
The 2% that do are most likely smart enough to know the x86 platform is far better than PPC.
The last 1% are the ones that use it solely for the emulators and I ‘guess’ have a right to be upset.
Also, lol @ people saying they will sue Sony. You may want to go back and read the ToS you agreed upon signing up for PSN.
I would think that this update would only serve to motivate more hackers in order to recover the functionality that was removed…
“APRIL FOOLS!! Why would they only remove a feature and not give us something else. They always have more than one feature per update.”
No they don’t.
And this is no April Fool’s joke.
They always put out new updates on Thursday. And this Thursday just HAPPENS to be April 1st.
incompetent sony !!!
incompetent sony !!!
incompetent sony !!!
I think it’s funny how people think it’s ok just because the majority of people don’t use it. I hope you all lose something that you hold valuable even though no one else does.
Considering Sony can legally change the ToS whenever they want. You aren’t going to get anywhere by suing them.
What next? Suppress the hard drive for “added security”?
What kind of a joke is this?? I really enjoyed using this feature and it’s one of the reasons why I bought a PS3. I may as well go buy an Xbox 360.
Warning: By reading this comment you agree that I can enter your house and rob you
HAHAH NOW YOU’RE SCREWED, YOU AGREED TO MY EULA
Stop it with the TOS and EULA talk, and educate yourself as to the legal weight of a TOS and EULA – seriously, its not a blank cheque to screw whoever you want whenever you want, as much as you (strangely) seem to wish it were so
Worst firmware update ever!
wtf
@TeamRainless
They effectively -are- removing Folding@Home for those of us who do not upgrade as you have to be on the PSNetwork for that, don’t you?
@1121
I don’t get it…EULA
.Either U Lose or Adjust
..Ever Used a Local Ape
…Eat Up Liquid Ass
….Europeans Use Latest Airplanes
…..Evil Undertaking Live Action
……Exciting Uber Lame Awards
…….Ever Uprised Local Authorities
……..End-User License Agreements; no no no, that can’t be it
This is extremely disappointing and completely pathetic.
It’s disappointing remove this feature of PS3, there’s a lot of universities that do data processing using PS3 because it’s the cheapest super computer on Earth.
You’re doing this wrong!
I haven’t read the ToS. Does it say they can take away an advertised feature such as other OS? I agree that they can deny you access to the PSN but you HAVE to install this update (“option” or not) to be able to play basic BluRay movies or new games that will come out which is a basic function of the system taht we paid for. or am I wrong?
This is madness…
Madness?
THIS
IS
SONY!!!
Why make an update that is optional but whether you get it or not you lose something? IF you don’t get it you cannot play online games , new games , new movies, psn games or even sign into the psn. If you do get it you lose something that you paid for. It is a lose or lose situation here.
Just FYI, the TOS does not give Sony free reign to gimp a console after it has been purchased. 1) No one agrees to them before actually making the console purchase, so the advertised feature set is what is understood to be the bargained-for consideration, despite what a EULA says after the fact. 2) EULAs are always highly suspect as, again, they are language which the seller generally tries to impose after the transaction has already been made, the seller has 100% of the bargaining power in determining what goes in to a EULA, and courts generally realize that no one really reads such boilerplate terms anyway.
Dear Sony,
“Other OS” is a feature that was listed on the box I purchased. I PURCHASED a game system that could run “Ohter OS” and I paid $500 to do it. You may send me my $250 refund to:
3124 Blanco Pass
San Antonio TX 78259
I have already sent scans of my packing material to the FTC along with my allegations of “Bait and Switch” marketing, which you may be interested to know, is not legal.
************************
@TeamRainless
They effectively -are- removing Folding@Home for those of us who do not upgrade as you have to be on the PSNetwork for that, don’t you?
************************
I believe you do. Although I don’t think you have to be on PSN to use the internet browser (when PSN was having its “troubles” a couple of weeks ago… I could still use the Internet browser.)
But I believe Folding@Home is tied into the PSN. And… even if it’s not… they’re probably just going to yank it out anyway.
It’s highly vulnerable.
What the hell…the comments numbers changed. Now post 1153 is directed @1130 and NOT @1121…
Wow.
I have linux installed on my PS3 (PSUbuntu) and I use it for quite a few things. It’s not extremely fast but it works great for what I need. I’m not going to have the ability to back up any of my data until the second week of May (out of town). Unfortunately, other members of my household (who have no idea how to back up my data and I wouldn’t give them my passwords even if they did) use the PS3 to play games, and will inevitably perform this update and wipe out all of my data.
Thanks Sony. I’m used to you screwing me over, and I’ve come to accept that you’ve an evil, mismanaged company, but this is a new low.
Oh, and my favorite part is that I also get to purchase and install new hardware into my already crowded entertainment center to replace the PS3. Thankfully not Sony hardware.
I will not be applying the update if it disables the Other OS option.
I’m still astonished that they removed the Other OS option from the new PS3 models.
With the demand for Linux on PS3, this move will encourage hacked firmware or an emulator that will allow PS3 games to run on a Linux box with a Blu-Ray drive.
“PS3 owners will continue…on a more secure system.”
This update isn’t to secure PS3 owners – this update is to secure SONYs profit!
I am very, very, very… disappointed reading about this “update”, which is a total downgrade really!!! I used this feature and I will use it on. And if I cannot connect to the PSN any more, you won’t earn more money from me, buying any game or add-ons.
To all those people that think this is an april fools joke by Sony (it’s not april 1st yet!). Do you think that a big company like Sony is going to try and pull a joke thats ONLY purpose is to aggravate ONLY its most loyal customers. The ones that brought there product on day 1 and spent 2x the amount more than everyone else?
It amazes me the amount of childish remarks people make like i dont use it so im happy and dont blame Sony blame the hacker!
There’s people other than yourself who could use it for many things (check 90% of peoples comments on here) or just like the fact that they now have a working PC in there living room connected to a 42″ TV (like me) as for blame the hacker not Sony. Security is there problem not ours. If there’s an issue then patch it like every other company. Dont just remove the feature that we payed for because its to much hassle for you to fix.
Who is ever going to download 50GB games and what ISP is not going to recognise this and stop them!! If this is just a joke there is no one that benifits from it. It makes Sony look dishonest and arrogant.
No company would ever pull a joke like this purely for the repurcussions it would cause for the companys reputation.
@ 1162 NINEblademanNINE:
I think there is some moderating going on, which is altering the post numbering here and there.
FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS:
I put some possible courses of action you might consider back at post #1073
@1156
Section 11. MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES of the Playstation Network Terms of Service
Halfway through the paragraph reads…
“Such content or service may include automatic updates or upgrades which may change your current operating system, cause a loss of data or content or cause a loss of functionalities or utilities. Such upgrades or updates may be provided for system software for your PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, or other SCEA-authorized hardware. Access or use to any system software is subject to terms and conditions of a separate end user license agreement found at [link struck to avoid moderation] You authorize SCEA to provide such content and services and agree that SCEA shall not be liable for any damages arising from provision of such content or services or maintenance services”
THIS IS GETTING HEATED!!!! LETS ALL KEEP GOING UNTIL WE BREAK THE BLOG!
think of this as money lost to MS or nintendo. popularity is the key and this seems to be an unpopular ‘MOVE’.
@1149
“Warning: By reading this comment you agree that I can enter your house and rob you
HAHAH NOW YOU’RE SCREWED, YOU AGREED TO MY EULA
Stop it with the TOS and EULA talk, and educate yourself as to the legal weight of a TOS and EULA – seriously, its not a blank cheque to screw whoever you want whenever you want, as much as you (strangely) seem to wish it were so
”
heh good one, indeed, I hate when I read stuff like “Durrr u agriid to de EULA so ur scrud durrrr” people should try and get a clue…
So far it seems this is not an april’s fool ‘joke’ – the fact that the ability was already removed from the PS3 Slim, as well as press reports stating that several sources confirmed the information, make the ‘april’s fool theory’ an unlikely scenario. If it is then it’s one of the most stupid pr stunts I’ve seen so far. Making your customers angry about your copmpany (and yes, I’m f***ing angry already – whether the story’s authentic or not) is always a very bad idea.
@1098 This has nothing to do with hacking, jackass.