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)
I didn’t use the Other OS function – but I did want to try it out eventually. I thought it was something that put the PS3 above that of the XBOX 360.
If only we could pay for online – then I would have 2 360’s.
So when is Sony lauching it’s “It doesn’t do everything” commercials.
Ok – Seriously – Is there a way to keep this functionality on say my old 40 gb hd? Since I had to upgrade so my PS3 could hold all the Great content that I DLed from the Store (I’m Serious here – love the fact I can jump into Burnout with having to fiddle with Game disks)
when i bought my ps3, i pay a lot of money because the console run linux, now y lost my money? i want my money back, a free game or other thing. i pay for linux support and sony remove the support?
hmm… so it says “will be released on April 1, 2010 (JST)”
JST? I’m thinking April Fools
It sucks i knew it was coming well to those all hurt about this and want to get rid of their origin 60 gb throw it on ebay. I might purchase a few to keep before the update because with the install otheros feature. It allowed us to save money without having to purchase a development kit to design or test stuff
This is really bad news. I am using linux based ps3 to try and practice development on, without having to shell out a silly amount money for an actual dev kit. I figured it would be a good thing oh well
This is the Sony Corporation of America’s address for filling out the FTC form…
Address: 550 Madison Ave.
New York, NY 10022
Phone: 212-833-6800
JST does sound fishy, but network updates are on thursdays, as well as april fools this year :/
Is JST really a time zone anywhere?
Nvm, it is japan standard time. So perharps this is a simultaneous world wide release. The first since MGS4…
I don’t know which will end up being more dissapointing. :P
well JST can be Japan Standard Time, as per wikipedia
JST – Japan Standard Time
but normally they don’t use that time zone universally that I know of for their updates here.
geohotps3.blogspot
Don’t Update
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…
Two things, some people seem to think CFW will enable some sort of piracy. It won’t. It’ll just be a custom version of 3.21 that doesn’t lose OtherOS support. Hacking isn’t about getting what you didn’t pay for, it’s about making sure you do get what you did.
And this is about more than this feature right now. It’s about whether these companies have the right to take away advertised features from a product you purchased. Imagine if an exploit were found in Safari on the iPhone, but instead of fixing it, Apple decides to pull web browsing altogether. Legally, they may be within their right to do so, but we have to show them it’s the wrong move for the future of the product and the company.
JST is the time zone that Tokyo is in.
Though I will say the 3.21 seems to be leading towards a joke. Honestly I really want them to do this. This will be what finally pushes people give this company what it deserves. This is just one of many features it has taken away from its product. Though this will be the first (I think) that is taken from a previous console that had the feature.
Sony, you disappoint me.
i feel pretty stupid having waited in line with my $600.00 bucks back when this thing came out. i have never written to a comment section before but if this is infact true, i will no longer support this stupid company and go pick a better hobby. i had no problem quitting my xbox after that RROD stunt. But this is too much, nickel and diming us for what? they can keep their crap im done with this [DELETED].
Anybody notice that Sony’s keeping reeeeeally quiet about the fallout from this ‘update’? No official comments on this blog or any other, nothing on Twitter…
Apparently they have been delteing posts here. Though I only read that.
Sony, hating YOU the customer for 50 years.
Just in case anyone had any questions, Sony tech says it’s no joke and it will be going live…just to shut the “it’s a joke” stuff up for good.
A lot of whining here! It’s not a huge deal. All new PS3s don’t have this feature…which is where most of their have come from. So by removing this feature doesn’t effect the millions of people who recently bought a PS3. For those that previously bought a PS3 that could do this – only a FRACTION actually did this…and they already have your money. So by removing this doesn’t really effect them from a business standpoint.
And I understand it was a neat option, but seriously…don’t most of you have a computer at home? I’d bet that those with the skills/desire to run Linux on their PS3 have several PCs running it at home as well. So surf the web that way. You still have a sweet gaming system that can do TONS of stuff. Stop complaining. If we’re posting on this forum, chances are we have way more possessions than most people in this word so be thankful!
Anybody notice that Sony’s keeping reeeeeally quiet about the fallout from this ‘update’? No official comments on this blog or any other, nothing on Twitter…
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thousands of already pissed off posts and you think someone from sony should contribute here? that would only lead to another few thousand responses. they’ll keep quiet, wait for thursday to roll around, take back our features that we paid for, and ride it out silently while most folks get over it. i hope someone takes it farther though, and they’d clearly have some support.
i finally filed my first complaint to the BBB. yay!
I chose to buy the PS3 specifically because of the other OS feature, and use it frequently.
Just because they CAN remove features, doesn’t mean they SHOULD. Why not just try to fix the problem instead of taking the easy way out and wiping the whole thing?
This kind of business practice is not going to win them the trust of their customers, and compel consumers to wonder “if I spend the money to buy this Sony item, will they eventually remove the features I want, or should I just go with the competition which has a better reputation?”
Except it does not do “TONS” of stuff. All new PS3 models are not PS3s, they are PS2.5s.
It may be a “sweet gaming system”, but it should have been a sweet EVERYTHING. It should have been a full computer on top of a game console. Now, even though the hope dwindled over 4 years, that option will be completely gone.
geohotps3.blogspot
Don’t Update
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…
Two things, some people seem to think CFW will enable some sort of piracy. It won’t. It’ll just be a custom version of 3.21 that doesn’t lose OtherOS support. Hacking isn’t about getting what you didn’t pay for, it’s about making sure you do get what you did.
And this is about more than this feature right now. It’s about whether these companies have the right to take away advertised features from a product you purchased. Imagine if an exploit were found in Safari on the iPhone, but instead of fixing it, Apple decides to pull web browsing altogether. Legally, they may be within their right to do so, but we have to show them it’s the wrong move for the future of the product and the company.
lets wait and see
if this is true..im not gonna update
Okay: Gaming, streaming from media servers, web browsing, blu-ray, online store for buying games/movies, video chat, there’s an extensive list for what it DOES.
It’s not perfect, it won’t satisfy every need in your life. In order to do that you’d probably have to go outside, get some fresh air, and meet a girl.
2400 comments this is amazing!!
pretty damm lame, it’s just removing stuff and updating some video codecs… seriously sony, what’s the use of this? give us cross-game voice chat and you won’t hear me whine ever again.
This system HAD the capabiblity to be freaking computer! But what does that matter. You are satisfied with Netflix and video chat. I am glad I can update my trophy info to facebook… Oooh what a neat feature :|
If this would have had the right OS developed for it (or even XP ported) it would have dominated the market. You would not need to have bought a computer, because your supposed gaming system is one. If they would have tapped this resource, then there would have been infinite features available, including the measly garabe they pass off as “everything”
It took me a long time to setup linux the way I want on my PS3 and I really do use it. It works fine for my purposes. I work on a unix environment and sometimes I just want to run perl, grep stuff whatever from home. I am extremely upset that this feature which helped sell me on my buying a launch PS3 is now being removed. This will really turn me against sony if they through with it. How can they remove a feature from a product that they advertised as working and which I use and have a lot of time invested in.
PLEASE DON’T DO IT!
Seriously this was one of the main reasons i bought my older playstation 3. So i could have LINUX AND ON MY PS3 AND STILL BE ABLE TO PLAY GAMES. Now why in the [DELETED] world would you remove it seriously. This is like Nokia saying web browsers are exploitable and then they take them off their phones. Its seriously BS. This is the type of moves that make the hacker/cracker community do what they do. And in doing this you have lost a lot of support from a lot of people. I had ps1 ps2 psp and now the ps3 all of them unchipped/cracked. But now ill have second thoughts about it. You guys need to cater for all of your clients. Not just the gamers.
I love how everybody hates that Sony is removing the “other OS” feature. Such widespread anger over this is puzzling to me. The vast majority of users have never used and had no intention of ever using this feature. For the few who did use it, I can understand your disapointment, but your anger is misplaced. Instead of being mad at Sony, you should be mad at the dbag hackers like geohot that insisted on trying to compromise the legitimate layers of protection of the PS3 system. They were the ones that forced the hand of Sony to take measures to ensure that the PS3 doesn’t go the way of the PSP with its rampant software pirating. So if you are disapointed about loosing this feature, go spam the hackers’ blogs with comments instead of this one.
Thank you sony, I was hoping you would make a come back and stop ruining your own products. This is why my family and now I will never buy a sony product, ever again.
Such widespread anger over this is puzzling to me.
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hmm…people paid for something…sony takes it away…keeps people’s money…
wat is this i’m completely lost V_V
its just stupidity they r just removing features from ps3 since launch first they removed backward compatibility then memory card readers then sacd support now os 1 they they vil remove blu ray,rsx and cell processor too
Best Phishing scam by Sony ever!
IP tracking people with multiple logins for future actions perhaps?
^LOL at 2412
“Here is a plastic box. Now you pretend you play game.’
@davivman
This does nothing to help security. If you put a DO NOT USE sign in front of a door, it doesn’t make the door go away. The only people that are adversely affected by the update are those who have legitimate use for the Other OS feature.
This is Sony placating their stockholders, plain and simple.
@coreyfarkas
Hey, at least a brick has a known purpose! Sure, your entertainment options are limited, but none of its features will be taken away from you…
@2411, I’m sorry greatestfoe, if my puzzlement confuses perhaps you should read the whole comment that explains it. And if you are mistaking the concept modifying software for the benefit of everybody, with some theif coming into your home at night to steal your goods, then I don’t know if I can help you.
If people decide to sue Sony I am in!
I don’t understand why people say that I should be angry at hackers and not at Sony. I payed Sony for the machine with those features I didn’t pay anything to hackers. Hackers are Sony’s problem not mine, they should deal with them and still be able to give me what I payed for.
@ davi- oh i read your whole pointless post. and you read mine, so i think we’re done with one another. i’d like to give you my contact information though and maybe i can sell you some stuff and then snatch it back later. i’ll keep your money too of course.
@thepatcat, well that is a silly statement. Ofcourse it improves security. If you remove the sign, less people can find the door.
In all seriousness is this even legal to do? originally the system was advertised with this feature at a certain price point. is it legal for them to have alraedy accepted my $600 and then remove a feature later on. i need real answers to this question cuz while i admit to limited interaction with this feature i don’t like the idea of sony just turning features they dont want my system anymore. i mean whats next, sony might decide to remotely disable my backwards compatibilyt with a “firmware update”. this is not cool at all. i already paid for this function what right does sony have to remove it.
It’s not an ethical move, its simply bad form to advertise a feature, and then remove it, no matter how many people do or do not use it. Removing features from new for-sale units is one thing, but disabling a working feature in an old unit by way of MANDATORY update is simply not acceptable.
The fact SONY is so unabashed, unapologetic, and basically says, YOU WILL DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIKE IT, gives me reason to believe they will do the same in the future, anytime it benefits them, without any consideration as to how I, their customer, will perceive it
So.. SONY can go to hell, I only play online with my brother anyways and he already has an xbox, now that RROD is fixed up maybe I’ll go see how MS is treating their gaming customers lately – no update for me
they don’t that is why they will be sued big time!
absolutely Odrec 2419
and
ROFPSL greatestfoe 2420, I think davivman is high or something :) can I sell him things too?