PS3 Firmware 3.21

[Aya042]

Does it delete the operating system if it's installed? My dad installed Linux and I really want the extra memory

Not sure. The documentation implies that the linux partition merely becomes inaccessible, so I think you'd have to repartition (and unfortunately reformat) the entire disk to get the space back again.

[Kiminski]

I can't believe they're doing this, it's huge!

I only used Linux for a few weeks after my laptop died, but I'm sure there'll be some people out there who've come to depend on it as a PC. I'd have been gutted if they'd done it before I got my new desktop.

Quite annoyed that I need to mess about backing up and formatting my HD before I can do anything else too. I only popped on to check the store. Rubbish!

[FreeFlyzz]

It's a downgrade.

[Sehven•]

If you haven't heard the hullabaloo over this one, 3.21 removes the other os (linux) functionality from older "phat" ps3's. As far as I've read, that is the only thing it does, but never mind about that. Now I have never used linux and I probably never would've gotten around to it unless something awesome came along for it, but I still have pretty strong feelings about this one. The gist of Sony's reasoning is security, but they don't elaborate beyond that. What is generally understood is that it was done because of Geohot's successful hacking of the ps3 through the other os function. I'm not completely clear on what it entailed, but he was at least able to get access to the gpu and its 250M of ram in linux, and it's been speculated that it could lead to future homebrew on ps3 or even piracy.

My personal feelings are that it was wrong of Sony to remove linux from everybody who uses it and that it sets a nasty precedent for future software updates by Sony or other companies. But that's not really why I'm posting this thread: there are plenty of threads over on the playstation blog where people can vent their feelings about the subject one way or the other. I'm posting this to let players know they don't have to update just yet (I've tried posting the same thing over there, but the mods keep deleting my post).

Geohot has said that he's working on a custom firmware for the ps3. He says he's not going to implement any sort of piracy features (though it's probably that others who follow his work will) but that he's just going to make it so users can update without losing their other os functionality. He also says that in the mean time, you can use a proxy to allow you to access the psn without updating.

I don't know what will come of it. I'd really like to see Sony taken to court and forced to re-enable other os... but that seems unlikely. It's possible a class action suit will be successful but if it is, I'd bet Sony will just end up paying some sort of compensation and will leave other os out. Anyway, if there are any of you out there waiting to see what happens before updating and you don't want to lose out on psn access, you can use the proxy method I linked to.

[xKaijudox]

I had my Chinese dragon head stretch like that before. It was kind of annoying.

Anyways, I read somewhere that there's a hacker that's trying to find a way to get another OS running on the PS3 with the coming of this patch. It's too bad that I have a slim ps3, so I never got to play around with linux

[microchirp]

Won't happen, the update is optional. Either way, it's not really that big of a deal anymore... Simply because the cell is virtually dead for any practical use now.

But. yes... I'm not really happy about this.

[robotiod]

http://www.lbpcentral.com/forums/sho...=firmware+3.21

there is already a thread on this but thanks for the pirate update. however i'm sticking with official firmware.

[Dexiro]

The last thing i want to see for the PS3 is piracy.
I've been making a personal effort to not download any games illegally or even buy pre-owned. Ideally everyone would do the same, but an increase in security seems like a step forward at least

[Sehven•]

there is already a thread on this

Ah. I never use these forums for anything other than lbp, so I didn't know where to look. Thanks for that.

Anyway, the point of this thread was to inform anybody who might be waiting it out (whether they're waiting for a hack, or hoping in vain that Sony will change their minds) rather than updating that they don't have to lose psn access just yet. Personally, I do engage in piracy, but I don't do it on consoles that I use on their official networks (I use the psn on my ps3, but not my psp, so even if the ps3 gets hacked, I won't pirate on it) because I tried it with the original xbox and was eventually blocked from xbox live.

For those brave enough to use a custom firmware (should geohot be successful) for the sake of keeping linux and psn/new games, I am all for it. I considered going this route even though I've never had linux on my ps3 (it was always something I planned on doing "when I got around to it"), but I decided to just update. Anyway, like I said, I just didn't want anybody losing psn access. At least for now.

[Sehven•]

I always planned on using linux but never got around to it. Maybe I never would have. Still, this is an outrage. It also sets a nasty precedent: what else can Sony take away? Some have suggested they'll disable ps3 bc, but that seems ludicrous to me (of course I thought the same thing about otheros...). And not just Sony. Now that Sony's done it, if there's no backlash, what's to stop Microsoft or Apple from pulling a similar stunt on their hardware? I realize that sounds paranoid, but a month ago when people speculated that Sony might remove linux, it seemed paranoid.

If you want to send someone an angry letter send it to Geohot, the guy that hacked the PS3. This is Sonys response to this.

First off, I want to say that I respect you as a creator and I really enjoy your levels. I would prefer not to have any bad blood with you or any of the other members here, but I feel compelled to speak my mind on this subject.

Blaming Geohot is idiotic. One person discovered a hack which requires opening up the ps3 and soldering and which doesn't do much of anything so far. Sony's retaliation is to punish everybody (everybody with a fat ps3) by removing a core feature that was advertised back in '06 before the system released. Blaming Geohot is what they want us to do. Whether he was right in what he did or not, Sony just made him right. Now he's the hero who's working on a cfw to bring back an advertised feature that was a factor in many people's purchasing a ps3.

I wasn't planning on getting into an anti-Sony rant on this site (I've done plenty on Sony's sites, though), but when people are indifferent to oppression, it really ****** me off. One of my favorite quotes is "All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."-Edmund Burke... probably. It's melodramatic, of course. Sony isn't evil: they're just wrong. What I referred to as oppression is a relatively minor thing that, at worst, costs a few hundred or maybe thousand people the price of a new computer or ps3. Some have argued that Sony is well within their rights to do what they did, and they may be: I don't know that much about legal stuff. But what they did is just plain wrong.

For those who don't care because it doesn't directly affect you... good for you. I hope if you ever find yourself in a similar situation that does affect you, that the other people will be less indifferent and help you. If Sony were to catch enough backlash over this, they would be compelled to re-instate otheros... but that won't happen, because it doesn't affect enough people directly and the majority of people are self involved ****heads.

[Aya042]

As far as I've read, that is the only thing it does, but never mind about that.

Not quite, but the rest of the 'features' hardly make up for this patch effectively being a 'downgrade'.

I'm posting this to let players know they don't have to update just yet

Well, if this geohot guy can crack the encryption algorithm on the PS3 disk, then it doesn't really matter whether you patch or not. You could still remove the disk from the PS3, and mount it on another machine.

I've tried posting the same thing over there, but the mods keep deleting my post.

I wonder why?

[comphermc]

Threads merged.

And for the record, LBPC does not support hacking or pirating in any regard. If you want to argue that point, don't do it here (PMs are fun!). It's unfortunate that such a "downgrade" has occurred, but we will not be a source for spreading ways around the patch.

Thank you.

[Sehven•]

I've tried posting the same thing over there, but the mods keep deleting my post

I wonder why?

Well, I certainly understand it, but it's still frustrating. I wasn't suggesting anything illegal: proxy support is an officially supported feature in the firmware.... until Sony releases a patch to disable it.

For those who still think it's no big deal, imagine if Mm were to disable the creator's pack and make any level that uses it unplayable. Wouldn't you be angry? What if they told you it was to make the game more secure? Would it be ok then?

Of course Mm would never pull a stunt like that (actually they're a first party dev now, which means they're part of Sony... but nah). It's a flawed analogy in a couple ways: linux support was announced before the ps3's release and was an advertised feature, while creator's pack released several months after lbp's releae; Linux support affected a relatively small percentage of ps3 customers, while creator's pack affects the majority of lbp owners, and it's bundled on the disc of the goty edition, so I'm sure it would be more problematic legally to disable it. Of course the biggest breakdown in the analogy is that Sony is a greedy company who doesn't care about their loyal consumer base, while Mm is an amazing dev company who has been incredibly supportive to their customers.

I think I'm pretty much done with Sony... except that Mm is part of Sony, so not completely. Any games I buy from now will be used, especially first party games (unless it's Mm) and I won't be buying any downloaded games or dlc (except for lbp: stoked for the Incredibles). It's not much, and I have no delusions that it will hurt Sony at all, but I refuse to be indifferent.

[Syroc]

It's a flawed analogy in a couple ways

So why make it?

[Deviantgeek]

I have to agree with Sehven, Geohot is actually a really nice guy. I have used his iPod hacking tools, and those enabled me to make my iPod look stylish and sexy. (Thanks Stephen fry) He has also allowed many people who have T-Mobile to use their iPhones with T-Mobile. I am also angry that I now can't brag to my 360 friends that I could use my PS3 as a computer.

[ShiftyDog]

i scared of this update... i thought that it gonna replace the ps os with linux. don't know if i'm gonna update mine or not. so you cannot play mp4 format no more?

[robotiod]

i scared of this update... i thought that it gonna replace the ps os with linux. don't know if i'm gonna update mine or not. so you cannot play mp4 format no more?

I dont quite understand what your saying.

Can PS3 not play MP4 format????????

[ShiftyDog]

I dont quite understand what your saying.

Can PS3 not play MP4 format????????

i don't know... i never had a mp4 movie file on my ps3 before. but i don't get this:

A security patch was added to address security vulnerabilities that may occur when playing MP4 format video files.

[Syroc]

You can still play them...

[Gravel•]

Yeah this upgrade was sad... I actually sat there slack-jawed staring at the tv... you gotta be kidding me? To call it a downgrade is still not strongly worded enough. This is bad. And even armed with this threads' knowledge now, there really wasn't a choice at the time... Play my PS3 or not is the choice... Now that is not user friendly.