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)
@1818
Considering that thing you are copy and pasting is dated AUGUST of last year. It really has no place here. People really need to stop pasting that outdated garbage.
Especially considering the less than intelligent people here seem to think it’s recent and related to this current issue.
Chocolate
Very childish response by Sony if this is true. Punish all for a hole that you left open and you know who found. One would think that an entire worldwide corporation would have enough strength or combined knowledge to overcome one man. Just remember one thing, your doing it to yourself. The next latest and greatest console better be from you otherwise I’m out and all the enemies you are creating I’m sure will be out to. Brand loyalty just cant be honored any more in today’s world.
This is bad.. I’m really disapointed of sony on this update.. and what will happend with the partition I’ve created for my other os ? After the update I’ll just loose this space because I don’t have any option to at least see it ? bad bad bad…
i hope the next update is better since i have a slim and dont use this feature and besides i have a perfectly good laptop but i see why sony would want to do this ant hack nice move but i just wish they would improve mmore stuff on the ps3
add me on psn: lightninglombax
currently playing: mag, red faction guerrilla
What if the lesser informed users accidentally update their systems only to find they can no longer access their Linux? too late then? they’re f’ed?
ohh on my last comment sorry my psn is deadsoldier12 i always get my youtube account and psn account cofused\
1774
“I’m sure a few people did install Linux on the PS3 but its really a waste of drive space for other 99% of PS3 users.”
Simply having the option to install an ‘Other OS’ doesn’t waste any drive space. That drive space is only used if you make use of the option. Leaving that option in doesn’t waste any drive space for anyone, and taking it away doesn’t save any drive space for anyone. This update, assuming it’s for real, even if it only negatively affects a small number of users, benefits no one at all.
“If you are that crazy about using Linux than pick up an inexpensive PC for a few hundred dollars.”
Not everyone has the financial freedom, and or space to run multiple systems, especially when one system is capable of fulfilling multiple roles.
“I say take it out Sony and use those resources to do what you do best, making kick ass games!!!”
Exactly what resources does Sony use on a feature that has already been implemented.
Vanilla
@1828 Arsenicks:
You should backup your system ASAP. All indications suggest that the update will force a reformat of your HDD if you have it partitioned for another OS.
PS3 it only does…… Somethings
“Boycott” the update.
Strawberry
Banana
orange
but seriously i don’t want my features gone
I only got my PS3 a couple of weeks ago (40gb model) and after some research I was surprised to find that there wasn’t a single linux distribution that centred around the PS3. I was actually in the process of creating a new media/gaming focused linux distro for the PS3, so I don’t think I’m going to update. It’s a shame, this is a feature with plenty of untapped potential and I think, were it to have been tapped before now there’d be a marked increase in uproar.
on the forums we gave them good ideas but this is what they come up with
Get another drive and backup your PS3 Now and also get a copy of the sony update that is on there site right now. Keep on drive as your sony online drive with the new update and keep the other drive for linux.
This is no joke and no April fools joke call sony and they will tell you to read your manual that this is legal.
Simple boycott Sony on all product line. They just lost a sale for an ebook reader from me.
Like I mentioned earlier…go to Blog share and vote if you want Linux (the other OS feature) or if you don’t want it.
If you can’t find the item….I’m posting the link to it below.
https://share.blog.us.playstation.com/ideas/2010/03/29/dont-remove-ability-of-other-os-in-future-update/
Hey look! There goes 4.1.10 … … … right over everyone’s heads!
Happens every year on the exact same day.
Wait… we ARE still remembering to match square with square, circle with circle, triangle with triangle, right?
I mean… how hard is it to put 2 and 2 together?
It’s no wonder the world is where it’s at today – people just run off at the mouth without even examining their surroundings. LOL HUMANS!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Borderline pitiful.
Since i own two Ps3’s that are the ‘phat’ models which have linux installed, shouldn’t sony give me the option to upgrade to the slim since i paid in full for the ability to install linux. without this feature…. i would be like owning a slim. Since Sony is taking a feature I paid for when i bought the system away, doesn’t that make it less valuable? If this goes through Sony i want to be able to upgrade to a slim since there would be no point in owning a phat console anymore.
Almost 2000 comments, and not a single reply from Sony? Impressive.
In August 2000, statements by Sony Pictures Entertainment US senior VP Steve Heckler foreshadowed the events of late 2005. Heckler told attendees at the Americas Conference on Information Systems “The industry will take whatever steps it needs to protect itself and protect its revenue streams… It will not lose that revenue stream, no matter what… Sony is going to take aggressive steps to stop this. We will develop technology that transcends the individual user. We will firewall Napster at source – we will block it at your cable company. We will block it at your phone company. We will block it at your ISP. We will firewall it at your PC… These strategies are being aggressively pursued because there is simply too much at stake.”
Thank You for again transcending the individual user.
If anyone would agree with my comment above please repeat what was said. Try and get the word out there
[DELETED] you.
You thought about it, you might have even managed to get it installed, but didnt see any use. So you delete it. A few years go by and you dont even really think about the option being there. Its a non-issue. The new models dont even have the option. Then someone finds a way to use it to for an exploit. Sony decides its best to get rid of it. All of a sudden it matters to have that feature that you used once and probably will never use again, but you just like that its there. Just in case.
Man there are a bunch of diapers needing to be changed.
Almost 1900 posts. 143 votes. +70. Sounds like complaining for the sake of complaining.
https://share.blog.us.playstation.com/ideas/2010/03/29/dont-remove-ability-of-other-os-in-future-update/
found this….at least he is trying!
Now on the topic of upcoming PS3 firmware update, geohot says:
A note to people interested in the exploit and retaining OtherOS support, DO NOT UPDATE. When 3.21 comes out, I will look into a safe way of updating to retain OtherOS support, perhaps something like Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher. I never intended to touch CFW, but if that’s how you want to play…
1848, But Phat PS3’s can play PS2 games, which slim PS3’s can’t.
Correct me if I am wrong, but it is not so much the issue of taking away the linux option specifically (although this will obviously affect a portion of PS3 owners), it is the disingenuousness and hubris that Sony has shown over the last 10 years that has really irked the people that actually buy their products and support them.
It really has been a “We’re awesome, we can do anything, you will just suck it up and like it” attitude that has really backfired on them big-time, yet they don’t seem to learn.
Sony, you are not all-powerful. Consumers remember, especially when they pay very large amounts of money for your products that are then progressively borked. To be honest, this is a very Japanese way of thinking and doing business, and Japan just ain’t the player it was back in the 90’s.
It only does feature removal
simply, i am not updating at all and i will try any other way to go around the update. Reason: nothing special in this update except removing a feature.
WOW its almost 2,000 comments and Sony hasn’t even respond once.
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@1800
Another way 2 look at it:
buying a Computer with a DVD burning capabilities & then later updating it & losing support of DVD burning.
What would be the point of having bought that computer if ur primary use was for the DVD burning capability?
from the # of complaints already, the only way to make the situation better is by offering us some sort of “retribution”.
if you want my opinion, i’d say to make this right, Sony should either:
A.) Give a **PARTIAL** refund of a total of $249 credit as a SONY-BRAND ONLY credit therefore we will then get back what extra we paid for the launch PS3’s, which would also compensate for the dramatic drop in the PS3 price which occurred shortly after launch. If you recall a lot of ppl were complaining on about this incident. not only that, but that partial refund would also make up for the discontinued features that we paid for, such as the dropping support of Backwards compatibility. they never continued supporting it, they just stopped all means of further advancing the support. Not to mention the now soon-to-be discontinuation of Linux support.
**SEE NEXT COMMENT**
**CONTINUED**
Who knows wat will be next.
B.) Send out a FREE PS3 Slim replacement for everyone who purchased the PS3 for the $600 original price. Reasoning being that if we, the customers, are not getting what we originally paid for, then they should compensate for our inconveniences as this is NOT an issue that we are creating but is at fault on the company’s part. We bought the $600 model for what it was capable of doing. and as such we, paid for features which are either having support for dropped or permanently removed. quite unfair actually. By offering us a FREE Slim, it would be a means of apology for our inconveniences, and an attempt to further better their customer-business relations. however, i would also note that a slight fee of ~$50 MAX wouldnt be unreasonable as a SPECIAL offer which allows us to receive a PS3 Slim for an additional $50 of our well earned money.
one of the above would be a WELL RESPECTED attempt in SUPERIOR Customer service. and would better enhance their image as a true CUSTOMER FRIENDLY AND CARING COMPANY. This would also increase fan-base and open doors to current customers of the competition by showing how much Sony would care about their customers.
**SEE NEXT COMMENT**
**CONTINUED**
this could also increase PS3 sales, as we all know that after this Firmware update is released, PS3 sales WILL indeed decrease. I’m sure what this Firmware update is going to do to the PS3 will NOT go unnoticed by the Public and will be spread worldwide via the internet. if Sony doesnt do something to compensate for what we as consumers are losing from our $600 models, then they are going to take a huge hit in the gaming industry and might as well even put the nail in the PS3’s coffin. . . . . this is reality and with the way the economy is, PS3 owners are NOT going to accept this openly. I believe there will be retribution.
however like i said before, my opinion would be that taking away the support of Linux on the PS3 would be acceptable if Sony would do one of the above options. HOWEVER, i think it would be best if Sony gave us the opportunity to choose from one of the above options. just my beliefs on how a LOYAL company should deal with it’s LOYAL customers. . . .
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I choose the PS3 over the Xbox 360 because of the aggregated value it had:
– Free online gaming
– Multimedia
– Linux
If I had to choose between the PS3 and 360 today, I will go with the 360 hands down.
Sony has been taking anti-customer measures lately. For what I’ve heard and this, I soon see the free online gaming going away or been diminished.
I will not support this, I prefer finding a buyer for my PS3 system than supporting a company with such a low commitement with their customers.
For those of you that are saying that you are fine with this because of “security”, don’t let yourself have the wool pulled over your eyes.
The only thing that Sony is worried about is their “Profit Security”.
GeoHot and the hacker community are not in the business of destroying consoles and hacking your personal PS3.
I have been giving Sony my hard earned money ever since I bought my 60GB PS3 for $600, and the 27 Games that I bought NEW and not USED.
I and we have no interest in stealing games from Sony.
Taking this feature will result in retaliation from all of us that use and will use it legally.
Those of you have no interest in this, please stop posting and leave the arguments to those of us that use it.
This is incredibly disappointing… whether it’s an April Fool’s joke or not…
TOTAL NOT FAIR
I have had Linux on the PS3 stil the day it was unpacked, it doubles up as my linux/unix scripting box and second home PC.
Its been very useful to have it with Linux and it set it apart from the Xbox because of it.
I have writting scripts for work on it, run subversion, and use it often. HELL even the kids have done homework on it and saved to USB..
SONY this is a mistake. You wanted an alround media box, capable of doing other things and your now limiting the use.
Looks like PS3 will just have to be a Ble-ray player from now on.
Such a waste..
Fools
I agree with 1856-1857…
Big disappointment to see Linux support being dropped or just a good april 1st joke, either way I want to point out that losing that feature on the slim is a big pain, no more decent web surfing in the living room on the big screen TV for me. If at least Sony could provide a good web browser the issue would not be as big, who knows maybe they’ll drop that feature too in a new update.
@ 1854
…I know, Sony wants to just stay out of it.
And GeoHot HAS apologized, and he has my respect.
So if I were to have a linux partition on my PS3 and updated to 3.21, what would happen to my linux partition?
I’m utterly disappointed by your actions Sony. This completely ruined the respect I had for your company.
This selling point was the main reason I bought a PS3 over a 360 when it was clearly overpriced. You just proved that you do not hesitate to remove feature that I actually paid for without my consent and I can bet you won’t hesitate to do it again.
You can be sure I won’t be installing the 3.21 patch and will not buy any games that force me to upgrade to it. As for network, oh well, I never was an online fanboy anyways.
You should stop laughing at your customers and your developers if you want your platform to keep going strong.
I’ve been a Sony / PlayStation fan since the PS1 days. I purchased my 60GB PS3 at launch and have become a big fan of the Other OS feature. I’ve looked past a lot of questionable decisions by Sony and have stayed pretty faithful to the platform nonetheless, but if this ends up not being an elaborate April Fool’s gag, you can consider me permanently switched over to Xbox.
@ runner50783 1858.
You said:
“I will not support this, I prefer finding a buyer for my PS3 system than supporting a company with such a low commitement with their customers.”
Also that you would buy a 360 instead of a PS3 now.
So you really think MS has any higher committment with their customers ? I really doubt that.
Remember Vista ?
Yeah. It doesn’t matter that I don’t use it. I never played Starcraft LAN either. You DO NOT strip usability once you have my money. Poor form SONY, very poor form.
its an april fool’s day joke
Sony, can’t you just sue Geohot’s ass and throw his parents in jail? Why do we have to suffer because of one bast@rd of a child?