Sony removing OtherOS feature in 3.21 PS3 update

[Octopod]

I seriously doubt the Navy does anything serious with some PS3s.

[Niode]

I wonder what the Navy thinks of this?

I was wondering the same...

I was wondering if the Navy even installs system updates in the first place. Not like they officially will touch that 10 GB partition. The more interesting question is what happens if you update a PS3 that already has another OS installed.

The fact of the matter is they've snatched the feature away with nary an explanation to the users who do use it like me, and what happens if you should update. I'm forced to have a gimped PS3 (loss of functionality in the GameOS as described earlier, or have said functionality and 10GB of my HDD completely blocked off) whether I like it or not just because I used a feature they now deem useless. They're punishing the existing users for using their machine to it's maximum functionality, does that not seem utterly bonkers? I don't care that 'a minority of people use it' If a security flaw was found in the BD+Live functionality of the PS3, does that mean they can just remove that functionality too just because 'a small minority use it'.

Why haven't they just patched the exploit in hypervisor? Why remove the entire feature? Are Sony that inept to not be able to patch it in software? Hell, just change the firmware and only a allow a specific linux kernel with the exploit patched to be used on the OtherOS, even that is better than just flatly removing the entire feature.

I've been saying this all along, Sony are setting an evil precedent by removing functionality over the product lifespan, you all said I was just naysaying and being a 'fanboy' and other such nonsense and that Sony were justified in doing this. No other company has removed such useful features from hardware in such a heavy handed way, and if they keep getting away with it they're going to keep doing it. They're punishing their existing customers in such a disgusting way it makes me actually regret buying a PS3 and supporting Sony. They're just turning round and stabbing us in the back, like the YLOD debacle, their solution? "GIVE US MORE MONEY YOU FUCKING IDIOTS HAHAHAHAHA".

Well no more, I am not standing for it. I'm not upgrading, and I call for everybody else with a PS3 to not upgrade too, we need to show them that they can't get away with this shit. It doesn't matter if they have this ability written down in an EULA somewhere, we need to show them that the legitimate customers are being harmed by their actions. If they get away with it now, what's stopping them removing PS2 BC in the future because 'not many people use it' which was the justification for the removal in non-launch units. It doesn't matter if 10 people use it or 10 thousand people use it, they have no right to remove functionality from hardware that you have bought and paid for regardless of 'security flaws'.

[CRTGAMER]

My son has the fat PS3 and has to deal with risk of YLOD (Thanks OSHA for Non-Lead solder) and now pretty soon a firmware "down" grade in order to keep using PSN. Even though he doesn't currently use Linux, one day he might have dove in, which will not be possible. I told him to at least wait until after April Fools weekend to let online traffic die down and in case there are any bugs in the newest Firmware. Oh wait a minute there is, an alternate operating System no longer working, does that qualify as let's steal from our once loyal but getting more upset customers!

I am just happy I'm still Last Gen or should I say now last reliable Gen console that doesn't have to deal with YLOD/RROD or firmware disable features. I'll stick with the PS2 with convenience of HDAdvance/HDLoader Hard Drive. If that PS2 ever does fail, unlike paid online downloads that won't be around few years later, my PS2 Discs are all with me ready to install again. Too bad Sony, my consoles are staying off line, you won't back door my PS2s.

[J T]

Don't worry. Hackers are on the case.

http://kotaku.com/5505243/hacker-workin ... ux-support

[puke_face]

Well no more, I am not standing for it. I'm not upgrading, and I call for everybody else with a PS3 to not upgrade too, we need to show them that they can't get away with this shit. [/b]

I would be in this with you, but I would have to buy another PS3 for future PS3 exclusives. Not only that, but my PS3 acts as my dvd player and music player. I have a good friend in England, and we use the video chat function on the network quite a bit. Those feature are more used by me than the OtherOS feature is. Not only that but the thought of buying another PS3 seems like a bad idea to me now. However, if they ever do remove the backwards compatibility on the older models, I sure as hell won't be updating at that point.

[CRTGAMER]

Don't worry. Hackers are on the case.

http://kotaku.com/5505243/hacker-workin ... ux-support

Good news, now see officially unofficial hope.
To the hacker Geohot, rounds on me!
To Sony Bwah, Ha, Ha, Ha Ha!

[MrPopo]

No other company has removed such useful features from hardware in such a heavy handed way, and if they keep getting away with it they're going to keep doing it.

To be fair, how many companies have even been in a position to do so?

Niode, I really do sympathize with your point of view. But I'm just more pragmatic about the whole thing. If they removed in a software update the ability for me to play DVD Movies in my PS3 I still wouldn't be pissed; I don't use that feature, so I don't give a damn. All I need my PS3 to do is play PS3 games. That's what I purchased it for, and as long as it keeps allowing me to play games then I'm happy.

[Niode]

I don't know what makes me more sick. The fact that Sony is doing this bullshit in the first place, or the fucking numpties defending their actions. Why don't these people realise that if they get away with this fucking shit they're going to keep doing it. We need to show that they can't just take things away from paying customers. Otherwise they're going to just keep removing features as they see fit, damaging their reputation even further and they simply won't care. Sony's "If you don't like it you can just fuck off" attitude NEEDS to stop, it's not fair on existing customers and it's going to be their downfall IF and only IF these fucking sheep stop bending over and shouting "OMG SONY YES YES TAKE ME ROUGHLY BY WALLET I LOVE IT.

JT I know about the Geohot expedition, I just hope he makes a useful softhack sooner rather than later, the problem with his current hack is it requires a lot of blind luck by pulsing the memory lines on the motherboard to fool the hypervisor into thinking that it has successfully written to memory when it hasn't. It's not something that works every time either and when you reboot the PS3 the hack is lost and has to be done again. The work is going to come slowly, once we can decrypt the firmware we can look for holes and then exploit them (it's almost the exact same process as what happened with iPhone hacking, unsurprising given that Geohot is the one leading it). Since he's already managed to edit the VSH (used for the plugin system) it means that a GameOS hack is VERY close. It's just a waiting game now.

[puke_face]

Don't worry. Hackers are on the case.

http://kotaku.com/5505243/hacker-workin ... ux-support

Good news, now see officially unofficial hope.
To the hacker Geohot, rounds on me!
To Sony Bwah, Ha, Ha, Ha Ha!

[Niode]

No other company has removed such useful features from hardware in such a heavy handed way, and if they keep getting away with it they're going to keep doing it.

To be fair, how many companies have even been in a position to do so?

Niode, I really do sympathize with your point of view. But I'm just more pragmatic about the whole thing. If they removed in a software update the ability for me to play DVD Movies in my PS3 I still wouldn't be pissed; I don't use that feature, so I don't give a damn. All I need my PS3 to do is play PS3 games. That's what I purchased it for, and as long as it keeps allowing me to play games then I'm happy.

That's the thing MrPopo, I want to play games on my PS3 too, but Sony aren't giving me a choice. I want to be able to play all my retro stuff on the PS3 from the comfort of my sofa with wireless controllers. I will not be forced into doing something I don't want to do. The 'options' Sony have given me are unacceptable. So I'm forced to break the law to continue using MY hardware in a way I paid for. That is what I am totally unhappy with. It doesn't matter what features have been removed, that's my point, it's the fact that Sony are removing these features and people are just bending over and taking it like it's nothing, that is what has upset me so much. It makes me feel like I'm being held ransom for supporting this damn company.