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)
TAKE IT AWAY SONY IM READY.
I spent hard earned money on a Video game Console to play video games and im the dumb one!
sony ill see you in court.
Sony isn’t budging huh?
I’m not made of money.
The ability to play the latest PS3 games AND run Linux are the reasons why I spent $599 US dollars at launch.
I refuse to buy a second PS3 because of some stupid corporate policy demanding that I give up a feature I paid good money for or risk getting de facto banned from PSN.
Give me a free PS3 slim or drop dead Sony.
It’s not real.Sony isn’t idiot.
This is Tyranny! they are taking away our rights! Did Obama put you up to this? Time to start a tea party on home! everybody where uncle sam outfits when you go on home! hehe just kiddin. i have yellow dog linux, but no big deal, what ever, unless you can add windows instead, that would be cool. haha . well anyway, i know some people will be mad, but whatever, do what you must.
btw, liked that last update for home, nice loading time, and appearance. good job. thanks
I hope it is real. i cant wait for all the militant linux fanboys on here to say..eh screw it and update.
you dont find linux support like this on a LINUX site.
I am back. Any new news or just the same trolls?
This is a waste of an update. When I go to update my PS3, I assume a new feature(s) has/have been added, so the fact that Sony is getting rid of an already present feature is stupid. I personally don’t use the Other OS feature, but friends of mine do, and they will be pretty p!ssed. If Sony gets rid of another feature in ANY future updates, such as Backwards Compatibility, I will stick to playing games on my Xbox 360 and get rid of my PS3. Sony’s loss, not mine.
Well I just called Sony in response to this:
I asked them if they had any way to settle with users that purchased the PS3 partly do to the Install OtherOs option.
The guy was unfamiliar with this issue, (was also very polite), read up on it, and went and talked to his tech person.
He came back, told me not to upgrade to 3.15, and that I would loose no features.
“Will I still be able to sign on to PSN?”
“Yes” he told me.
and went on to say that I would still be able to sign onto PSN, however any new content (games, movies) that required 3.21, I would be unable to use, and that there is various content that I would be unable to use from Linux.
If what he told me was true, this blog is wrong and poorly written.
If what he told me was false, then he had a communication error with his tech person, and I’ll be calling them back on April 1st.
This is the almost as big of a slap in the face as Gabe Newel (sp?) decrying the ps3… the ability to run OtherOS on my PS3 was one of the MAJOR reasons to be an early adopter in the first place for me, and one of three reasons I didn’t choose the competition… or just stick with my PC. Please, reconsider… or I’m gonna buy a gamecube! (ok, maybe not, but still… reconsider, you obviously didn’t talk to your base first!)
Well I just called Sony in response to this:
I asked them if they had any way to settle with users that purchased the PS3 partly do to the Install OtherOs option.
The guy was unfamiliar with this issue, (was also very polite), read up on it, and went and talked to his tech person.
He came back, told me not to upgrade to 3.15, and that I would loose no features.
“Will I still be able to sign on to PSN?”
“Yes” he told me.
and went on to say that I would still be able to sign onto PSN, however any new content (games, movies) that required 3.21, I would be unable to use, and that there is various content that I would be unable to use from Linux.
If what he told me was true, this blog is wrong and poorly written.
If what he told me was false, then he had a communication error with his tech person, and I’ll be calling them back on April 1st.”
he lied to you
*sorry he told me, stay with 3.15, don’t upgrade to 3.21
*sorry he told me, stay with 3.15, don’t upgrade to 3.21″
either way he sure did lie to you,and was no help what so ever.
I’m betting that was the case, I’m just hoping he’s right, either way I’m not going to call back until Apr 1st.
*sorry he told me, stay with 3.15, don’t upgrade to 3.21″
he just wanted to get off the phone, and not do what he is getting paid to do, or not have to deal with an angry customer[‘
So it is already April 1st in JST zones correct? What is going on there or is there a specific time the network would be updated?
He’s only delaying the inevitable, unless he knows that he doesn’t work April 1st.
ApsectOfLight,
shut up, get a life.
If you don’t care, stop trolling here.
that’s BS bridgerbot… if you don’t update it kills psn. Even previously, i couldn’t do anything before i updated to 3.15. I highly doubt sony would make an exception for this.
He’s only delaying the inevitable, unless he knows that he doesn’t work April 1st’
na he just didnt tell the customer his name, so he cant get a phone call back at him, once the customer finds out he was lying
3.15 was actually OPTIONAL for a short time, then it became manditory later.
Dbsguy
Actually I think he told me his name was John lol. Fook, should have got his badge number.
i meant after it was mandatory.. lol
Dbsguy
Actually I think he told me his name was John lol. Fook, should have got his badge number.”
i bet he lied to you, im pretty sure his name isnt john, and if it is i wonder just how many johns work at sony corp.
they refuse to give badge numbers, and are no help what so ever.
3210 :<
I can’t believe some of the people here. Do you not have lives? I just checked back out of curiosity and there are almost 2k more posts. None of you will know anything for 11.5 hours, stop flaming each other, sit back, and shut up.
I flame you pSyChO_aSyLuM!
Flame!
@bridgerbot
Mature, real mature.
we all need to flame sony, along with geohot.
I don’t play online much, so I disabled the internet on my PS3 for now. “Install Other OS” was one of the deciding factors for me when getting a PS3.
It’s really a win-win for Sony. People who want “Install Other OS” stop putting load on their servers which they [currently] provide for free, and people who don’t care about it won’t be a “security concern”. I like when some people read “security concern” and assume Sony is protecting THEIR security :)
I hope this blog post isn’t the only communication Sony provides to the public about the removal of this feature.
That’s about all I have to say about it.
There is more to the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system than you may have assumed. In addition to playing games, watching movies, listening to music, and viewing photos, you can use the PS3™ system to run the Linux operating system.
By installing the Linux operating system, you can use the PS3™ system not only as an entry-level personal computer with hundreds of familiar applications for home and office use, but also as a complete development environment for the Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.).
excerpt from http:// www. playstation. com/ps3-openplatform/index. html
@Dbsguy
I’m not disagreeing nor agreeing with anybody. I will wait until this April 1st 0:00 JST to see what happens. Until then, nobody can “sue Sony” or anything for that matter.
psycho, practice what you preach. this is a high stakes downgrade here- using linux on the ps3 was one of my selling points
if you have a life you wouldn’t get involved with others who don’t :V
Not sure if flaming Sony will do anything.
There’s always going to be another geohot, not worth flaming him.
Class Action Lawsuit would be the way to go. If anyone finds someone who files a case with a court, I want to know.
Sony….I’ve disabled my PS3 internet connection.
I look forward to how you handle things on Thursday.
I’ve no need to flame Geo.
Even if he hacks the PS3, will I be forced to have pirated games ?
The only ones we can blame is SONY. It’s not Geo which suppress OtherOS from **MY** console.
@Bloodshed: I know how it sounds and I can read my posting, thanks. I too bought my big PS3 because of being able to run Linux on it and to play games, and I was pretty pissed because of the survey when first signing up for PSN. Asking which gaming systems you have and which you’re going to buy within the next 12 months (my answer would have been ‘nothing’ as I just bought a PS3 and a PSP and didn’t need anything else … but this option was not available) or what the main purpose of the PS3 would be: BluRay movies, PS3 games, DVDs, surfing the web, PS2 game etc, and you could only select one (this survey was used by Sony for telling us that only a minority would still use the PS3 for playing PS2 games and removed the compatability … great choices Sony, thanks for that).
Just imagine, what would happen if your old PS3 now gets the YLD? No warranty anymore, would you still send it in and get it repaired for 200 bucks or more? Slim has no OtherOS option, so? How about going easy on the old PS3 to (maybe) have it longer … also, it cost Sony more than you paid for it.
Class Action Lawsuit will be a waste of your time and money, its not possible.
On the other hand, if noone who doesn’t upgrade will be able to buy software in the PSN anymore, maybe Sony will see it with their weekly updates, how many people installed Linux and now cannot buy anything anymore …
And @AspectOfLight: stfu sucker …
lol @ dbsguy. Geohot is the bad one here. Alright how about you throw your PS3 away and then you can buy the console that geohot develops. Oh wait that won’t happen because hes some nerd who lives out of his mothers basement. He caused this and you back him up? Pathetic. P H U C K I N G PATHETIC.
I bet you endorse child molesters and rapists too.”
your a huge failure, have no clue what you are talking about, geo is the good guy in this situation.
PRIVATE CHAT IS THE ONLY FEATURE ANY OF US PS3 USERS WANT. having to be on the same game in the same match is [DELETED] retarted
When is April 1st JST time?? Right now it is about 10:40 there. Is the date the 31st?
geohot, is my fired, i look at him as the good guy, now sony on the other hand is a very very bad guy in this situation.
@Noitcartsba
I’m not disagreeing with you either. I will be absolutely livid when OtherOS disappears, but nobody knows for certain if it’s really going to happen. Where the hell is Eric Lempel? You guys realize this was posted by “Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Social Media”, right? Same with the EU blog, posted by PR. It’s more likely to be a stunt than anything else. They might just give you cross-game chat on Thursday, nobody knows. Since when does PR announce firmware updates?
Also, I just happened to not have anything to do until now.
Friend*
@AspectOfLight
I told you ealier today, you’re not a lawyer, you’ve never sued anyone, you haven’t taken intro law courses, and you have no clue as to the differences between Terms of Service and Contracts (one means nothing, the other is binding).
You don’t know anything, so stop talking.
2 things.
1) I am currently redownloading everything I have purchased on the PSN network in preperation to disconnect.
2) I was gone for 8 hours and come back to find that this Aspectlight guys is still trolling here. Seriously dude, go do something else.
Blame sony, & honor geohot
@ bridgerfag
Actually I have been involved in lawsuits, both on the giving and receiving end so I know how they work. Terms of Service is what it is. A term that you agreed to of your service. How is that not binding? Get a clue moron.
Why don’t some people stop for a second and consider the possibility that this may just be an April Fool’s joke?
I mean:
-Released on April 1st.
-The firmware was announced by Patrick Seybold, not by Eric Lempel, who is on charge of announcing everything firmware-related (And always does).
-The firmware number goes straight to 3.21, when in fact they never skipped the 0 before, it should be 3.20 instead.
-And 3.20 exists, but it’s just a debug/test firmware. Google it.
Please just calm down for a second.