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)
Not me, I use DSL (Dam Small Linux) with media front end packages to stream more codecs than Sony supports on their front-end. I don’t play games on it, so I just won’t take the update. Locking me out of future blu-rays is a ripoff though.
whatever happened to this?
http://www.qj.net/qjnet/playstation-3/sony-phat-ps3s-will-not-lose-other-os-feature.html
come on you guys, disabling a feature that alot of ps3 owners use? in all honesty, thats just low. i bought the ps3 on launch day because of all the features, and now you think its perfectly ok to take one away.
I think they would have to at least post on every game or blu-ray that comes out the firmware required to run it
2933: Yeah, I never thought of that. Since they’re giving us the option to not update, they better.
Less then 1% of PS3 owners use the Other/OS…and you have the option to not upgrade…you wont be able to use new games/bluray/go online but thats the price to pay for using a dead technology.
this is some bull
AspectOfLight | March 30th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
As I said, most of you don’t even use linux…you are just complaining for the sake of complaining.
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Nah… I think they’re complaining because you’re an ASS.
The only reason you’re NOT complaining is because you DON’T care about Linux on PS3. If it was something you DID care about? You’d be right here complaining with the rest of us. But that’s just you being self-centered.
I don’t Fold for example… but I’m not so much of a jerk that I don’t understand why somebody would be upset if they said they were going to remove Folding@Home. I would be against it. Even if there was just ONE DUDE out there who had a family member who died of cancer or something and Folding was a way he figured he could help.
But I’m actually a human being, and not some jerkoff loser trying to be cool on the Internet.
And again it’s short-sighted to think it’s just about this one thing… What happens when they come to take away the NEXT THING? What happens when they decide to take away BC for 60GB/20GB/80GB users because “Nobody plays PS2 games anymore…”
The hell with them too, hunh?
Well the hell with YOU.
YAY GETTING OUT OF HAND !!!
https://share.blog.us.playstation.com/ideas/2010/03/29/dont-remove-ability-of-other-os-in-future-update/
http://www.sonyinsider.com/2010/03/30/why-install-other-os-mattered-for-the-sony-playstation-3/
I been waitin’ for another system update for 3 months and I get a upgrade on something I don’t have[i have a slim]. BAD move sony!
I think all these posts prove two things:
1) People using this feature is more widespread than Sony thought.
2) People who are too simple to fully use their system believe that eveyone else must ALSO be that simple. Heh.
How do you know how many users actually utilized Linux? I don’t think a huge majority did either, but where is the proof it was less than 1%?
AspectOfLight March 30th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Less then 1% of PS3 owners use the Other/OS…
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I REALLY wish people would stop pulling numbers out of their a5535.
You don’t know what percentage have never used it vs currently use it or even use it every once in a while, like myself.
Just because you don’t use it doesn’t mean it doesn’t have value to the rest of us.
It can’t be less than 1%. I know two other guys that have Linux. Both of them use the Sony Approved Yellow Dog. I run D.S.L. That’s three right there and I don’t know 300 PS3 owners. I admit I am in a technical environment here, but still…
wtf does pirating or hacking even have to do with this conversation??? u h duh the ps3 wasnt actually hacked. he hacked the system memory to allow access to more of it. He did not hack the blu ray drive or drivers for that matter. he didnt even essentially hack as it required a hardware mod just to get that far. seriously this is straight psp fear if sony is taking the “security issue” route. they saw piracy destroy that system’s hope and they are going crazy to prevent even the possibility of it ever happening again. i mean seriously why do u guys think the pspgo was even made. the ps3 will eventually get hacked its just something that happens. so relax sony with ur anti hack success so far you’ll probably have ps4 ads up b4 they really hack the ps3.
I have a proposal. If you really are bothered by this change…take a picture of your PS3 on showing you using another OS. I bet not a single person will post one because they dont use it. Game. set. match. I win, you lose. Suck it.
I realize that not all of the 30 million+ PS3s sold have the Other OS capability but since everyone is pulling numbers out of there asses like 1% Other OS users that would still be 300,000 people using it. I maybe a “dumb retarded retard high school dropout” but I think that’s a lot of people that would be affected.
also how bout an update that guarantees my clock wont go crazy everytime it thinks there is a leap year when there isnt like last month. i find that far more important than removing a feature
@team rainless that’s in the next update. after that they’re taking bc along with blu ray.lol
“Also who cares about people with cancer. They got cancer because they didn’t take care of themselves. They deserve it.”
wow. good luck to you and your family.
I sincerely hope this is a joke. I paid good money for my PS3 on the basis that I could use it as a games console and as a linux computer. Now that this feature is being removed, the console is no longer fit for purpose, making this move incompatible with consumer law, and therefore illegal. I will be making a complaint with the office of fair trading, and of course will never buy another Playstation product.
I reckon this will be the final nail in the coffin for the PS3. The last people you want to screw over are the people buying the consoles.
very disappointed
You guys don’t get it, they need to make all PS3’s in line with each other…
removing other OS and BC needs to happen.
wolverine..shutup and go take care of your dumb baby that you neglect. Honestly, I hope your child gets cancer…and like bad cancer that hurts alot.
dude that bridge isn’t going to troll itself
It’s gotta be an April Fool’s joke. Isn’t that called “Bait and Switch”? I know that’s illegal.
Wow… someone needs to ban this troll.
That’s just out of hand to wish death on a child! You’re officially scum.
Wow. AspectOfLight is a real tool. Jackass. You should go find away to put a large hole in your head for wishing ill on babies.
*tear*
Well, I don’t think this is Bait and Switch. That happens when they advertise something and then never deliver it. This is more like Theft.
It is not bait and switch, stop saying it is. You can still play ps3 games, you can still go online, you can still use all the features that they said you could…you just cant do it with another OS. NOBODY bought the system for that reason…NOBODY.
Erm, i am hearing that this isn’t an early April fools joke — if this this is true then it sucks, very disappointing SONY – very disappointing…
From French law :
Connection to the PSN and the ability to install Linux for the buyer were the “essential qualities” when buying the PS3. So when Sony withdraws one of these two qualities, there is fraud, which is under Article 1116 of Civil Code “a cause of nullity of the convention when the maneuvers performed by one party are such that Clearly, without these maneuvers, the other party has not contracted ”
So, sony will have to refund all PS3 buyers if they ask.
I’ll post my PS3’s running Fedora when AssbagOfLight posts pictures of himself.
*tumbleweeds*
*crickets chirping*
*hell freezes over*
Nothing yet?
I recommend that anyone that bought their ps3 for linux support to be used as a home computer or is outraged by this call sony and demand a refund then go buy a computer. I am sure sony will react to this because they will be losing money which is something they seem to like.
Good April Fools joke Sony…HAHAHA ROFL LULZ!!1! B’cos there’s no way this can be real. Sony’s not that stupid.
I use my PS3 as my home computer (one of the main selling points for me). So what? Sony decides to take that away just ‘cos some geek did a core dump of his PS3. So, they’re like: “O NOES… da PS3 iz hACk3D!! Man the harpoons and kill Linux off deez tings.”
Alright, so Sony’s thinking that they’re gonna get the hackers by targeting the everyday joes (who – for the most part – aren’t anywhere smart enough to hack the unhackable). Makes perfect sense. So, in the end, all the legit users are gonna get screwed.
Right now, almost no one is motivated enough to actually hack a CFW. However, If this crap patch does go live (which it won’t ‘cos its April Fools – haha), that’ll all change. It’ll motivate all the smart geeky Aspergers-afflicted Linux geeks to band together and make a CFW to unlock PS3s, and still play online. Then, in a year, the REAL pirate hackers will get in on it, and (thanks in no small part to Sony’s failstation stupidity), you, me and everyone else is gonna have free games and blue-rays.
And…everyone above me and below me just got trolled hard by Sony.
Oh I get it…Aspect DOES understand. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
He is just 400 lbs and doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s THAT guy. AHAHAHAHAHA
It’s likely this isn’t illegal, it’s just a major [DELETED] maneuver. Hopefully it is illegal in some places and Linux stays.
Hmm, I think I just got cancer from sitting near my PS3. Ah well, I was asking for it. World is better of without me. *dies*
Our European friends should definitely try to assert their rights ASAP. The EU typically has much better consumer protections than the US does.
who waz the ‘supposed’ hacker anyway?
AHAHAHAHAHAHA I am picturing him so mad now he is pushing his “Hover Round” obese-scooter as hard as it will go, looking for his inhaler…. **tears** AAAAHAHAHAHA
Dude…thank you.
sony kiss my [DELETED] with this stupid [DELETED]
had to break up my comment to 2 parts, so here’s part 2…
also, even if you don’t realize it, you’re TROLLING. You have no idea how many people really use the feature, and how it will effect them. after reading ALL of your posts, its obvious that you’re an extremely selfish person that doesn’t think of anyone but yourself. removing BC was a good thing? no it was a bad thing. the ps3 COULD have had the largest library of playable games, but that got cut by what, over 2400 games? yea, some of the best games last gen were on ps2 and now people have to buy a ps2 to play them.
honestly, i’m sorry to say this, but you sound like a 15 or 16 year old who has no idea what they’re talking about. you sound selfish and very rude. either your parents spoiled the hell out of you, which is very likely from your choice of words, or you just have some sort of superiority complex. whatever the case may be, going into adulthood with an attitude like that is going to get you seriously hurt one day.
@2953
So your saying because another system doesn’t have it, they should get rid of it. SO the $600 buck I paid for my system with BC should be disabled because a CHEAPER system doesn’t have it. Seriously? Do you have something wrong with you?
“Be QUIET kitty….bad kitty…mom I need cheesy poofs”
sony is a lager
Hooray! Yet another scumbag move on sony’s part!
and to your comment about nobody buying a ps3 for the install other OS feature,
Dr. Frank Mueller, Associate Professor of Computer Science at NCSU (North Carolina State University) says hello, along with his 8 ps3 cluster which all run Fedora CORE 5 Linux.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3_cluster#PS3_Clusters
O and some people did buy the PS3 for just the other OS…. The MILITARY