grandmaster
Veteran
There's absolutely nothing implausible about the hack at all really. He's adapted one unsigned file. A bit premature to call it a Hello World but for what it is, there's no actual fakery.
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.
Here's the aftermath in the form of firmware 3.21:
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/
??? Why ? The clock can fail or work regardless of whether there is OtherOS. They are 2 separate things/concepts.
What is the thought train that leads you to the above conclusion ?
Hmm. Thought I read in that thread it didn't effect slims since they didn't have the OtherOS option.
The date of the proposed firmware release is peculiar. I think it's a joke myself, otherwise, class action suit ahoy. Taking a feature away from a product already purchased by a consumer is not a joke.
Some will probably try, but then again Sony lawyers would have evaluated their risk beforehand. In this case, the firmware is optional. I'm guessing the EULA have clauses for Sony to refuse/change services.
According to Geoffrey Levand, PS3-Linux maintainer at Sony, those rumors are untrue
Says Levand in an email to Haxnetwork.net:
Please be assured that SCE is committed to continue the support for previously sold models that have the "Install Other OS" feature and that this feature will not be disabled in future firmware releases.
What does this mean exactly. It says that the "Install Other OS" feature will be removed, stopping you from installing Linux. What if it is already installed? Does that stop working? It's a little ambiguous as I read it. Does it stop an already installed OS from working, or does it allow that to still run but not allow another install?
Well Sony will gain from people buying new units so they can retain Linux functionality and still play new games. I'm struggling to see what this achieves. From what I understand the exploit itself is in the hardware. Linux just provides the programming environment for poking around the PS3's RAM. This programming environment is not going to disappear. The likes of Geohot simply won't update their systems.
If this eventually migrates into a solution for piracy, surely all the programming, patching etc would be incorporated into a modchip, bypassing Linux any way?
I'm guessing at best this will delay the decryption and patching of later firmwares?
Well Sony will gain from people buying new units so they can retain Linux functionality and still play new games. I'm struggling to see what this achieves. From what I understand the exploit itself is in the hardware. Linux just provides the programming environment for poking around the PS3's RAM. This programming environment is not going to disappear. The likes of Geohot simply won't update their systems.
If this eventually migrates into a solution for piracy, surely all the programming, patching etc would be incorporated into a modchip, bypassing Linux any way?
I'm guessing at best this will delay the decryption and patching of later firmwares?
Well Sony will gain from people buying new units so they can retain Linux functionality and still play new games. I'm struggling to see what this achieves. From what I understand the exploit itself is in the hardware. Linux just provides the programming environment for poking around the PS3's RAM. This programming environment is not going to disappear. The likes of Geohot simply won't update their systems.
If piracy is the real concern, then games going forward will require firmware 3.21. But we've had DeanA (or was it archie4oz?) post here about how loss of Linux in the slim is mostly because of the cost associated with supporting it. I think it stands to reason that Sony would like to cut those costs out entirely.
They were talking about the PS3 Slim and new hardware at that time (No need to write new Linux drivers, hence the savings).
I think it could be a PSN or "other DRM" security problem in the old SKU case. Sony may have chosen the approach that costs them the least. I am kinda worried for the PSN, so I am not going to complain until I get more info.
Awesome news. So I come home from a long day at work and find about this. Thank you for nothing, geohot.