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[Fersis]

Consumer's rights. I don't know how those Americas you have over there work, but in the socialist haven I reside I would be legally in the clear hacking my PS3 to get access to the OS options when they are patched out. I bought it = I own it. End of story.

:lol

Where do you live?

 

[wsippel]

OH NOES I CAN PLAYZ WITH LINUKS ON MY PSTHREI !!!

* Goes and play BFBC2 *

Less piracy is better for everyone.

Removing features they once listed as selling points is not better for everyone. Especially considering the fact that a) the security hole isn't the fault of the consumer and b) you can't even use Geohots glitch to pirate anything (yet). It's bullshit, no matter whether or not you care about the feature in question. This is not even remotely comparable to removing features in later hardware revisions, because they never listed Other OS as a selling point for the PS3 Slim, or PS2 compatibility for any but the first PS3 revisions, but some people, even if it is a tiny minority, bought the PS3 to play games and run Linux. And now, years later, Sony tells us that we have to give up on one of the features they initially used to sell us the hardware. That is 100% pure bullshit no matter how you look at it.

 

[Brobzoid]

:lol

Where do you live?

at the top of the UN's Human Development Index.

 

[winterknife]

So they set up a website asking people what new features they want in firmware updates as a distraction to remove features that have been around since launch?

I guess this is Sony officially admitting that OtherOS was a bad idea in the first place.

Hardly a bad idea, just a feature that was under used and had become a back door for hackers to try and exploit.

Hardly a big deal, and unfortunately certain sections of the community chose to exploit otherOS to hack the system and get around the anti piracy measures.

May be the hackers who many hear applaud should be blamed for ruining it for legitimate users.

Also I smell hidden agenda's from some of those crying loudest in this thread or those who never used it in the first place.

 

[Erebus]

it won't free up anything (except hdd space _IF_ you have it installed), you don't really think that linux uses ram & processor when it's not running?

anyway, i used it for a while to run C64/Amiga emulators (legit even) but the novelty wore off pretty quickly. the only thing that really bugs me about this is i'm going to have to back up my hdd and reformat to get the 10~12 gig back that was the OtherOS partition.

If you currently use the “Other OS” feature and you wish to update to system software 3.21, make sure you 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.

So, probably not.

 

[firehawk12]

So how does this work? If I already have a Linux partition, does it remove that as well?

 

[Hawkian]

Well that's fucked up, though I can't bring myself to care too much since I bought a Slim without hesitation having no clue it was missing this feature. Sony is the dumb stepson once again, regardless.

Also I smell hidden agenda's from some of those crying loudest in this thread or those who never used it in the first place.

I don't like you.

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

So how does this work? If I already have a Linux partition, does it remove that as well?

No. You'll have to reformat to get it back.

 

[graywolf323]

wow did not see this coming

 

[BocoDragon]

Hackers need to find a way to downgrade the firmware. Dammit I want Linux back! I want the spiderman font chime back too! *rage*

 

[H_Prestige]

We get that. But you shouldn't judge actions without considering the motivations behind them. It's not like they are removing OtherOS just to piss you off. I understand it sucks, but what would you want them to do? Let piracy spread on the system?

What piracy?

 

[viewtiful_dru]

man this sucks... The psu on my pc just died and I was gonna install Linux to my ps3 in the meantime. Guess I'm stuck with web on the iPhone

 

[evlcookie]

This was the rumour back around feb 19th - http://www.lazygamer.com.au/ps3/rumour-sony-removing-linux-from-ps3s/

I do find it funny that in the story sony's geoff levand claims that sony has no interest in removing the other os install, Guess that's now changed.

I did spend part of this weekend trying to install linux as well on the damn thing. Oh well :lol

 

[Draft]

We get that. But you shouldn't judge actions without considering the motivations behind them. It's not like they are removing OtherOS just to piss you off. I understand it sucks, but what would you want them to do? Let piracy spread on the system?

Hasn't slowed the DS or Xbox software train.

 

[Brazil]

Whatever.

People really use that? What for?

 

[Kinitari]

Hasn't slowed the DS or Xbox software train.

It probably has.

 

[DMeisterJ]

*looks for appropriate gif of not caring about a feature that hardly anyone used*

Thanks Harrison.

 

[Fersis]

Removing features they once listed as selling points is not better for everyone. Especially considering the fact that a) the security hole isn't the fault of the consumer and b) you can't even use Geohots glitch to pirate anything (yet). It's bullshit, no matter whether or not you care about the feature in question. This is not even remotely comparable to removing features in later hardware revisions, because they never listed Other OS as a selling point for the PS3 Slim, or PS2 compatibility for any but the first PS3 revisions, but some people, even if it is a tiny minority, bought the PS3 to play games and run Linux. And now, years later, Sony tells us that we have to give up on one of the features they initially used to sell us the hardware. That is 100% pure bullshit no matter how you look at it.

Im not saying otherwise. It really sucks theres no way to deny it.
What i 'tried to say', its that if they need to take out a 'secondary?' feature to prevent piracy and therefore protecting the developers, im cool with it.
Not gonna lie to you i havent thought a lot on the subject so i could be totally wrong. :3

at the top of the UN's Human Development Index.

EDIT: I read an old UN Human Development Index document. =/

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

man this sucks... The psu on my pc just died and I was gonna install Linux to my ps3 in the meantime. Guess I'm stuck with web on the iPhone

You would have done this even though you'd need to format the entire contents of your HDD? Coming from someone that spent a couple of days setting up Yellow Dog on their launch PS3 when I first got it, I'd much rather browse the web on my iPhone in the short-term.

 

[grumble]

I couldn't care less about this being removed. It was a fairly useless feature.

 

[Azure Dream]

Wasn't the OtherOS option first included to try to get the PS3 classified as a computer system, to avoid some sort of import tax (much how they bundled a programming disc with the PS2 in some European countries)? I don't think they succeeded, but if they're now removing the feature... I wonder if they're going to get chased down with fraud allegations or for penalties. Maybe not, if they didn't get the credit, but if you sell something trying to classify it as a computer at first, then remove the functionality that you said classifies it as one... just a thought, anyway.

Either way, it's tacky. It really does seem like once they have a proper PS2 software solution, they will disable hardware BC in the old units.

 

[ShinNL]

We get that. But you shouldn't judge actions without considering the motivations behind them. It's not like they are removing OtherOS just to piss you off. I understand it sucks, but what would you want them to do? Let piracy spread on the system?

The way you say it seems like you're implying that all people with an old PS3 are pirates and are simply bound by the fact that it's not hacked yet.

What if Nintendo updated DS Phats and Lites firmware to remove GBA support because it turns out that flashcarts runs on GBA slots? You can choose not to update but you won't be able to play future games.

Why would an owner care about what pirates do? Or a better question would be: why would you try to defend Sony in this?

 

[Massa]

We get that. But you shouldn't judge actions without considering the motivations behind them. It's not like they are removing OtherOS just to piss you off. I understand it sucks, but what would you want them to do? Let piracy spread on the system?

If someone finds an exploit through a PS2 game would you be okay with them removing backwards compatibility from older systems?

Microsoft and Nintendo are trying to deal with piracy. Sony is fucking over their customers over a threat that may or may not materialize anytime soon. A threat that doesn't even affect systems sold after September of 2009. And since it only deals with the fat systems they might as well let YLOD take care of the problem naturally instead of fucking their customers.

 

[BocoDragon]

Why didn't anyone do anything cool with the Other OS? Couldn't we at least have a cool media center or play MAME on it or something?

 

[TTP]

Or let some solid evidence show up that's actually happening before screwing us over. And even if it is, I'm pretty sure all pirates/future will simply NOT update the system... What is Sony gonna do then?

You wont be able to run games which require 3.21 or above and you wont be able to connect to the PSN. That's enough for ensuring only a very minor portion of the installed base will ever have "piracy-ready" system. Unless it get hacked by other means of course.

 

[CadetMahoney]

As much as I love my PS3, you could form a strong argument that it has been a TOTAL disaster this generation for Sony.

Crap like this is just a slap in the face of diehard fans. Seems like they've been doing this continuously as of late.

I have to believe that if the Move is a failure, someone over there is going to have to fall on their sword. Almost surprised it hasn't happened already...

Well Linux is a feature which I always thought was useless for most but removing this still sucks on Sony's part. I don't buy anything they say at face value about tackling piracy either.

 

[BigBadShamoo]

Slim owner & PC owner.


Linux on a PS3 was interesting. But srsly there's no big deal. I'm sure everyone has something in their house that is capable of running linux. Will it be as fast as the RSX? Most likely not lol, but what can ya do.


It sucks that Sony has to remove a feature, but this has been a backdoor since it was announced. It was only a matter of time IMO.

 

[Grayman]

We get that. But you shouldn't judge actions without considering the motivations behind them. It's not like they are removing OtherOS just to piss you off. I understand it sucks, but what would you want them to do? Let piracy spread on the system?

Yes. The customer is always right.

 

[hxa155]

As much as I love my PS3, you could form a strong argument that it has been a TOTAL disaster this generation for Sony.

Well, they have one of the very few consoles that stopped piracy. It's not a total disaster.

 

[DarknessTear]

The funny thing is, this is only going to make it worse. They should know how die hard Linux supporters are. They're going to find any way they can to get Linux back on the PS3 now, and that includes hacking the shit out of it like they did with the original XBox.

 

[iceatcs]

i can see the responses now if that were to happen: "lol i don't use BC anyways so who cares!"

Aye but I realise I don't care anymore, since my PS3 run on SW BC and I have 3GHz+ computer then I'm better off to use PS2 emulation on PC.

 

[Valkyr Junkie]

Why didn't anyone do anything cool with the Other OS? Couldn't we at least have a cool media center or play MAME on it or something?

You could do MAME or simple emulators on it, but with only 256MB of RAM and no GPU access, using DLNA from the XMB OS blows away any media center options you could do in *NIX.

 

[Kinitari]

Yes. The customer is always right.

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with what Sony is doing (cause frankly I couldn't care any less than I currently do) but this is absolutely not true.

 

[alr1ght]

As much as I love my PS3, you could form a strong argument that it has been a TOTAL disaster this generation for Sony.

Crap like this is just a slap in the face of diehard fans. Seems like they've been doing this continuously as of late.

I have to believe that if the Move is a failure, someone over there is going to have to fall on their sword. Almost surprised it hasn't happened already...

oh Jesus Christ.

 

[Somnid]

Yes. The customer is always right.

Like any gross simplification this only makes sense in the most limited of circumstances. Surely anyone who's worked retail will disagree.

 

[Diebuster]

No biggie for me as I never used the feature. Didn't even know Slims shipped without Linux at all.

 

[BigBadShamoo]

The funny thing is, this is only going to make it worse. They should know how die hard Linux supporters are. They're going to find any way they can to get Linux back on the PS3 now, and that includes hacking the shit out of it like they did with the original XBox.

This. It's like PC Publishers adding Anti-piracy software to their games. It only makes hackers try harder. The thrill and rewards are in the challenge not so much in the success. It's the general public that sees the success as a huge reward.

 

[thaOwner]

So they set up a website asking people what new features they want in firmware updates as a distraction to remove features that have been around since launch?

I guess this is Sony officially admitting that OtherOS was a bad idea in the first place.

nvm, dont wanna start no shit.

 

[Zombie James]

OtherOS was a checkbox feature that never really worked out because of how limited it was (no RSX support, no Linux distributions or software using SPUs). To the vast majority of everyday gamers, this is hardly relevant news.

However, locking down scientific communities to 3.15 for the foreseeable future of the platform is a bad call. They could at least offer them separate firmware updates with the OtherOS feature intact. Unless removing OtherOS gives them more room to add other features (cross-game voice chat?), that is... but still, they shouldn't get the shaft.

 

[TTP]

If someone finds an exploit through a PS2 game would you be okay with them removing backwards compatibility from older systems?

Microsoft and Nintendo are trying to deal with piracy. Sony is fucking over their customers over a threat that may or may not materialize anytime soon. A threat that doesn't even affect systems sold after September of 2009. And since it only deals with the fat systems they might as well let YLOD take care of the problem naturally instead of fucking their customers.

So you say they are over-reacting basically.

You don't really know everything that's going on behind the curtains I assume. As I don't either. But it simply makes sense to believe they felt the need to do it no matter the points you bring up about systems YLOD'ing and such.

I don't believe removing features is something any company would do lightly. So it's logical to assume they had no other choice.

 

[Metalmurphy]

You wont be able to run games which require 3.21 or above and you wont be able to connect to the PSN. That's enough for ensuring only a very minor portion of the installed base will ever have "piracy-ready" system. Unless it get hacked by other means of course.

Erm... you don't know that... infact, looking at the PSP history, if it happens, they'll probably still be able to play those games.

Also, you can look it from another perspective... the fact that a "very minor portion of the installed base" MIGHT have a "piracy-ready" system, and an EVEN smaller portion WILL pirate it ISN'T reason enough for remove a feature that will screw some people over. A feature that was very well advertised.

 

[The Faceless Master]

i ... uhh ... fuck you too sony.

 

[Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew]

i ... uhh ... fuck you too sony.

:lol :lol

 

[androvsky]

I don't believe removing features is something any company would do lightly. So it's logical to assume they had no other choice.

It wouldn't be the first amazingly stupid thing Sony's done. I'm pissed, but I think if they'd waited until there was at least a plausible path to piracy, I'd be able to understand their position better.

 

[-PXG-]

I have Ubuntu Gusty Gibbon (or Feisty Fawn...can't remember) on my PS3. I can't even remember the last time I booted it up. I mean, it's been a looooooooooooooong ass time. Sucks that they're getting rid of it. They should worry more about adding value to the system, not taking things away. Bummer.

 

[Archaix]

It is astonishing to me how many consumers hold an anti-consumer viewpoint on things like this.

 

[-PXG-]

It is astonishing to me how many consumers hold an anti-consumer viewpoint on things like this.

ITT: Sony shareholders :lol

 

[wsippel]

Im not saying otherwise. It really sucks theres no way to deny it.
What i 'tried to say', its that if they need to take out a 'secondary?' feature to prevent piracy and therefore protecting the developers, im cool with it.
Not gonna lie to you i havent thought a lot on the subject so i could be totally wrong. :3

Sorry, you pretty much are totally wrong. First of all, there is no piracy on the PS3. It's not even close. The hole Geohot found might help pirates in the future, but the actual security hole is hardware related, so removing Other OS changes absolutely nothing.

Even more infuriating, to me, is that I invested a lot more time in PS3 Linux than in any PS3 game so far. I bought a PS3 to play with Linux on CELL and play a few games every once in a while. Now I have to either update my PS3 to play new games and pretty much "lose" more than a thousand hours of CELL development, or not update my PS3 and stop playing new games, or buy a second PS3 just to keep doing both. Which definitely won't happen. Which means that absolutely nobody wins in any way. Piracy will or won't happen either way as the glitch won't go away and isn't fixed by removing Other OS, but I either stop playing games (developers lose), or I'll stop developing (I lose, developers and Sony win nothing at all).

 

[SuperSonic1305]

Hmm I have never used this feature but see this as an opportunity to troll the PS3 and say clever thinks like "it used to do everything" and "it only removes everything". Another good day on GAF.

 

[Massa]

So you say they are over-reacting basically.

You don't really know everything that's going on behind the curtains I assume. As I don't either. But it simply makes sense to believe they felt the need to do it no matter the points you bring up about systems YLOD'ing and such.

I don't believe removing features is something any company would do lightly. So it's logical to assume they had no other choice.

I think they're overreacing but that's not my point. They should never take out features people paid for - never. If piracy exploits were out today I'd be ok with them doing anything to stop it as long as they don't fuck with their legit customers.

It's worse than Ubisoft with AC2 because people who bought AC2 knew what they were getting into ahead of it, so you at least had a choice to be annoyed by anti-piracy measures or ignore the product altogether. Sony, on the other hand, sold me something that they're now taking away. There's just no excuse for that.