To Fight Piracy, PS3 No Longer Supports Linux

[admin]

In a bid to fight piracy, Sony will release a new firmware for the PS3 next week which will disable the "Install Other OS" feature, which has previously allowed users to install Linux on the PS3.

While Sony cites "security concerns", Japanese media outet Nikkei English News first reported this as a way to combat piracy on the system.

Users can opt not to update to the new firmware, but they will no longer be able to use PlayStation Network features, such as online play, and they may have trouble playing some of the latest Blu-ray titles, as the require key update found in the new firmware will not have been made.

More:

http://www.tgdaily.com/games-and-entertainment-features/49146-sony-drops-linux-support-from-ps3

[drfsupercenter]

I already have Linux on my PS3... Any idea if you'll still be able to USE it with this new firmware?

[doctorhardware]

I am guessing that Sony in time will kill the ability to use Linux.

[admin]

It will no longer work.

Here's the official Sony announcement:

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/

It says:

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.

[dr_ml422]

Why bother w/Linux in the 1st place? Is this better than MS 7? I'm totally new to this.

Also are the PS3 Games any good to begin with compared to what Nintendo/Xbox makes?

PS3 in near future so that's the why of this? Thnx.

[admin]

Linux on the PS3 is limited, but it has scientific applications and can run a few others tools for home users, but nowhere as flexible as Linux on a real PC. There was a development of a Linux based PS2 emulator for the PS3, so backwards compatibility can be added, but this announcement will put an end to this and other Linux based projects.

As for games, Wii games are more for casual gamers and fans of Nintendo franchises (for example, the Mario games). Generally, PS3 and Xbox 360 games are similar, with each platform having their own set of exclusives, but the "big" titles are available on both (like Modern Warfare 2, GTA 4 ...).

[dr_ml422]

Sounds like Sony has determined PS3 is here to stay and Blu-ray too. Experiment/Investment period prolly coming to a head now.

Thnx for the Game tips. I do know a lot of advanced applications are Linuxed based as are the extras that come w/ASUS mobos like Express Gate etc... Kind of like a universal language. That's for another thread/forum.

[admin]

The hacker who claimed that he was close to opening up the PS3 to allow the ability to run homebrew software has urged users not to upgrade to the new 3.21 firmware, which is now available and which removes the "Install Other OS" option. The hacker, Geohot, has promised to release a modified version of 3.21 that will keep the "Other OS" option alive:

http://www.thinq.co.uk/news/2010/3/31/ps3-hacker-promises-to-undo-other-os-block/

[dr_ml422]

So what's the point of all this now? Are we getting to a different level of meaning for Piracy? You know I've seen this obsessive behavior w/many others who eventually either rotted in prison or killed themselves. Trying to force something to anyone or anything becomes very unhealthy as it slowly starts to border delusional thinking.

I mean really are there going to be squadrons of users ready to implement this hack? I don't think so.

Fun to follow this whole Piracy subject though this here is so out there compared to the illegal downloading etc... that it really makes no sense.

[shaka]

I just updated my Sony PS3 just last night, it sucks that i will no longer be able to use Linux on my PS3, because i only used such thing to play Emulators on my TV.

[admin]

I think emulators and such are one of the main reasons Sony wanted to put an end to the Linux support, because Sony wants to make money selling classic games via PSN. What's annoying is that Sony made a big deal out of the PS3 being able to run Linux and sold it as one of the features that made it better than competing consoles. But this was always coming, especially when the Slim came out without "Other OS" support.

[dr_ml422]

Can we play Devil's Advocate here and say that Piracy has changed their plans? I mean they lost enough money already and now that Blu-ray is actually becoming more mainstream, I don't blame them for protecting themselves against even more loss revenue.

Hands down you still can't beat it for best bang for the buck as a media hub. I never would of thought I'd be in the market, though after careful consideration and investigation it's the way to go. DVD, Blu-ray,Games,Web,Storage etc... you'd need way more w/individual standalones and prolly not be as good either.

It's one of the very rare cases where an all in one Gizmo has actually excelled to meet expectations. Most all in one electronics just don't/won't cut it after a while. 1 of the options will be useless and render your purchase the same.

It's a business move.

[admin]

Reports of more problems with the 3.21 update, PS3s that won't start, disc that won't load, unable to log into PSN ... same old, same old, really:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/06/ps3-firmware-3-21-locking-out-more-than-just-other-operating-sys/

It's a shame that PSN, and multiplayer, is tied into firmware updates, as this prevents many from doing the sensible thing of waiting a week or two before updating to see if there are any serious bugs.

[admin]

The hacker who claimed that he was close to opening up the PS3 to allow the ability to run homebrew software has urged users not to upgrade to the new 3.21 firmware, which is now available and which removes the "Install Other OS" option. The hacker, Geohot, has promised to release a modified version of 3.21 that will keep the "Other OS" option alive:

http://www.thinq.co.uk/news/2010/3/3...ther-os-block/

Geohot now has a video showing 3.21 with Other OS enabled:

http://geohotps3.blogspot.com/2010/04/otheros-supported-on-321oo.html

[dr_ml422]

Guy is relentless and actually comes through w/his promise. Hope he's careful though because this is way more serious than a uploaded movie to the torrents.