PS3 Firmware (v3.21) Update 1st April

eddhorse · 30-03-2010 10:22AM

Update from Geohot :

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.

Grumpypants · 30-03-2010 02:14PM

Companies nearly always take the wrong option when it comes to piracy. The guy from Valve made a lot of sense recently when he said that piracy isnt a problem that people are willing to pay for a service as long as that service works well. This was after Ubisoft brought out new DRM that caused games to be unplayable and was hacked within 24 hours.

Its also interesting to think back to when video recorders came out Sony were taken to court for supporting piracy. (Really showing my age now

)

eddhorse · 30-03-2010 03:14PM

Sony launched the Betamax videocassette recording format in 1975.

:eek:

macpac26 · 30-03-2010 03:24PM

I honestly don't understand how this is getting so much media attention. Geohots iPhone example is complete nonsense. Safari is a key fundamental element of the iPhone and is a core component in terms of advertising.

You cannot compare the two features. Sometimes I think PS3 owners are some of the whiniest gamers around. Sony are obviously doing this to protect the system in the long run. A good idea by the way!

Leiva · 30-03-2010 03:44PM

macpac26 wrote: »

I honestly don't understand how this is getting so much media attention. Geohots iPhone example is complete nonsense. Safari is a key fundamental element of the iPhone and is a core component in terms of advertising.

You cannot compare the two features. Sometimes I think PS3 owners are some of the whiniest gamers around. Sony are obviously doing this to protect the system in the long run. A good idea by the way!

+1
Mac I agree, but do you not think its bad order to just remove the "other OS" option to all users in 1 foul swoop ,even for PS3's out in the field that people have purchased , last time I remember you BUY your PS3 , not license it ?

Peoples argument will be " well just dont go online and update" , that dont really wash with me .
I payed good money for my PS3, if I bought it for the other OS or not . I should be able to go online , off line , upwards, downwards, left , right and not worry about a feature been removed by the Manufacturer ....its none of SONY's business , dont take it off me after I have PURCHASED (not licensed) a PS3 from them .

I could use comparisons but i'm not , think about what they have basically done , its outta order .

I am all up for maintaining the security that we all benefit from today , surely this aint the way to maintain it.

Not moaning just stating facts .

M.

witnessmenow · 30-03-2010 03:52PM

If it automatically reformats my drive to give me back the 10gb that YDL is using at the moment I will welcome this update with open arms :P

eddhorse · 30-03-2010 04:23PM

It will be interesting to see how it does give back that partition alright.
How flakey is that going to be !!!

L31mr0d · 30-03-2010 06:08PM

eddhorse wrote: »

How flakey is that going to be !!!

Shouldn't be flaky at all. It's not like they are separate physical volumes, just remove the formatting on the extra partition then extend the current partition into it.

eddhorse · 30-03-2010 11:59PM

Ill be still interested to see what happens with the managment of the spare space...

Oh and the legality of it all :

11. MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES
From time to time, it may become necessary for SCEA to provide certain content to you to ensure that PlayStation(R)Network and content offered through Playstation®Network, your PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system or other SCEA-authorized hardware is functioning properly in accordance with SCEA guidelines. Some content may be provided automatically without notice when you sign into Playstation®Network. Such content may include automatic updates or upgrades which may change your current operating system, cause a loss of data or content or cause a loss of functionalities or utilities. Such upgrades or updates may be provided for system software for your PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, or other SCEA-authorized hardware

witnessmenow · 31-03-2010 01:21PM

L31mr0d wrote: »

Shouldn't be flaky at all. It's not like they are separate physical volumes, just remove the formatting on the extra partition then extend the current partition into it.

Currently to install a linux partiation you need to do a full backup, a reformat and then a restore, if they were planning on doing that automatically they would have implented it already.

My money is on I'll be disabled from going into YDL and to get the space back i'm going need to backup the PS3 and reformat

Grumpypants · 31-03-2010 01:28PM

witnessmenow wrote: »

Currently to install a linux partiation you need to do a full backup, a reformat and then a restore, if they were planning on doing that automatically they would have implented it already.

My money is on I'll be disabled from going into YDL and to get the space back i'm going need to backup the PS3 and reformat

Yea think i read in a press release that if you have YDL installed you should back up your ps3 before you update. Hope they make that very clear to people before they update. I can see a lot of people not knowing about this and just updating without reading whats involved and loosing tons of stuff.

eddhorse · 31-03-2010 01:57PM

I also think that you will have to wipe it all with a format to regain your precious space !!

ctrl-alt-delete · 01-04-2010 11:07AM

Has anyone done the update?

I've decided against it so far, but i can't play games online without the update?

So is there a way of skipping the update?

gstar · 01-04-2010 11:39AM

I did the update this morning before i left for work. It was small and done very quickly. when i signed in it said there was an update available and went throug the usual process of accept or decline the terms and conditions blah blah, so i went ahead and did the uptdate. on the face of it there didnt seem to be any other features changed.

im not concerned about losing the other OS feature and if i had to choose between capability of another OS or online gaming, i go for online gaming every time, and to me my PS3 is for gaming and i use my laptop for all the things i cant/wouldnt do on the ps3 (e-mail facebook buying things online etc lol)!!

That said i could understand that anyone who did use that function, might be pretty p'd off if they didnt read all about the new FW before updating it!!!

Leiva · 01-04-2010 12:01PM

ctrl-alt-delete wrote: »

Has anyone done the update?

I've decided against it so far, but i can't play games online without the update?

So is there a way of skipping the update?

NO !

Did the update myself this morning ( under protest) no option as all my gaming is on line..

What next ? Nokia removing text messaging from "PURCHASED" handsets cause there is a text hack ?

:mad:There is something seriously wrong with a Manufacturer having the capabilities to remove a feature from a piece of hardware remotely , post purchase .:mad:

Grumpypants · 01-04-2010 01:10PM

What happens if the next hack uses the blu-ray drive ? do they disable that too ??

WolfForager · 01-04-2010 01:11PM

Isn't bluray ridiculously secure or something?

Grumpypants · 01-04-2010 01:17PM

WolfForager wrote: »

Isn't bluray ridiculously secure or something?

Isnt everything though untill the hackers start looking at it. If it can be programed it can be deprogramed.

projectmayhem · 01-04-2010 01:32PM

mixednuts wrote: »

:mad:There is something seriously wrong with a Manufacture having the capabilities to remove a feature from a piece of hardwware remotly , post purchase .:mad:

Normally I would agree but in this instance GeoHot and his mod has directly targeted this feature as a way to possibly get games illegally on the console. It's hardly unforseen that Sony would lock that down.

Also, anyone who actually uses that feature is in the vast, vast minority. If you want a true linux experience install Ubuntu on your PC... not yellowdog on your PS3.

Minstrel27 · 01-04-2010 01:37PM

I wont have any problems updating it tonight but some people are going crazy about it. I ask them if they have ever installed Linux and the response is they plan to.

People will moan for moanings sake

Leiva · 01-04-2010 01:45PM

projectmayhem wrote: »

Normally I would agree but in this instance GeoHot and his mod has directly targeted this feature as a way to possibly get games illegally on the console. It's hardly unforseen that Sony would lock that down.
.

I am not in argument with SONYS cause , I am in argument with their solution .
Mass removing a feature that they advertised as a bonus selling point ( on a sold unit) is wrong no matter what the reason.
If the "Other Os" feature was costed in the selling price then where is the compensation for removal ?
Another option or solution must be sought , taking something away from sold units out in the field has to be bordering or testing legislation .
Remember these units are sold not licensed or rented .

SONYS argument will be it's an optional update :rolleyes:

Leiva · 01-04-2010 01:47PM

Minstrel27 wrote: »

I wont have any problems updating it tonight but some people are going crazy about it. I ask them if they have ever installed Linux and the response is they plan to.

People will moan for moanings sake

Forget about Other OS , Linux etc etc ... See the bigger picture.

positron · 01-04-2010 01:51PM

I think bad press Sony would get for removing OtherOS option is going to just a fraction of the license loses Sony would have to face if someone cracks the system using that as an exploit. Mine is a slim, so I don't know how much the OtherOS users are losing by this, but I personally think this is good, as I would hate to see great game makers going out of business because someone decided to crack the system for thrills.

projectmayhem · 01-04-2010 01:57PM

mixednuts wrote: »

Forget about Other OS , Linux etc etc ... See the bigger picture.

I don't think you're seeing the bigger picture. We get it, Sony are removing a feature in a product. But it wasn't a primary selling point, and if it was then you wasted a few hundred euro to install a crap version of linux mate.

The bigger picture here is Sony clamping down on illegal use of their system to get games free, pushing the cost of games up and likely running companies out of business due to piracy. Why do you think companies like Crytek and the like are bringing games to consoles? Because PC is rampant with piracy, uncontrolled piracy at that.

If removing an utterly useless feature keeps things ticking over, then that's fine by me. Don't update. You can choose linux over online gaming. The update file contains a detailed description of the update, and then asks twice if you want to update.

sarumite · 01-04-2010 01:58PM

Minstrel27 wrote: »

I wont have any problems updating it tonight but some people are going crazy about it. I ask them if they have ever installed Linux and the response is they plan to.

People will moan for moanings sake

I did unstall ubuntu on my PS3. My laptop is my work laptop and I usually leave it at work. The PS3 is my main web browser at home and thats why I did it. For me, this sucks ass and I am not just moaning for the sake of it.

Leiva · 01-04-2010 02:03PM

How SONY resolved this one ....

Removing a feature (regardless of feature use or functionally ) from a sold unit = RIGHT !

Improving your encryption , on line security checks to filter out and ban a hacked device MAC address = WRONG !

Reverse the answers , you will see they got this one wrong !

ctrl-alt-delete · 01-04-2010 02:03PM

projectmayhem wrote: »

If removing an utterly useless feature keeps things ticking over, then that's fine by me. Don't update. You can choose linux over online gaming.

I don't think it is ok though to have a user choose between the two. I don't have another operating system installed on my system, but it might be something i'd like to look into. I don't think that if you want to keep this possible feature that you have to give up online gaming.

Like another poster said, i'm going to have to instll the update, because when my younger brother comes in he will kick up a fuss when he can't play COD online.

Grumpypants · 01-04-2010 02:08PM

Im amazed at the amount of people that fall for the corporate piracy "hurts the industry" bull.

If microsoft left the market it would be bad for the industry. But does anyone think for one second that if Sony got half a chance to get rid of them they wouldnt take it ? Just like they tried to do to Nintendo after the snes-cd deal broke down. Just like has happened to Atari, Sega etc etc.

I would wonder has 1 single games company gone out of business because of piracy and not markets shifting or other games companies running them out of business ? i doubt it. surely since game piracy has been happening for 30 years we would have 1 company by now.

It reminds me when high street stores that have been caught getting kids to make their items for 12 cent a day take the moral high ground on shop lifters.

Im not saying piracy is ok im saying its just not a big problem. If the industry put half the effort into their services that they put into DRM then they would have nothing to worry about.

Grumpypants · 01-04-2010 02:14PM

projectmayhem wrote: »

The bigger picture here is Sony clamping down on illegal use of their system to get games free, .

Nothing illegal has taken place. Once you own a product you are free to do what you want with it. Same way you can buy a car and change the tires on it.

This is like buying a bicycle and 2 weeks later the guy from the shop comes out takes 1 peddle off you because some other kid was doing wheelies. Telling you it will still move but this is just a measure to ensure your continued safety to stop you from doing wheelies in case you where going to do them even though you have shown no interest in wheelies.

Minstrel27 · 01-04-2010 02:26PM

mixednuts wrote: »

Forget about Other OS , Linux etc etc ... See the bigger picture.

Where is my tin foil hat.

PS3 Firmware (v3.21) Update 1st April

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