Sony Drops PlayStation 3 Linux Support

[RobRich]

Sony already controversially dropped Linux support in the new slim PlayStation 3 models, and now apparently the older non-slim models will be dropping support as well following an upcoming firmware update.

SCEA's corporate communications director Patrick Seybold notes on the PlayStation Blog the feature is being removed due to "security concerns."

Source: IGN

[ShyguyXPC]

had to read the whole post, at first I was thinking "I thought they already dropped support with the slim models", but after reading the whole post (originally just read the quick preview statement when hovering cursor over threads in new Posts list), its an "AHHHH I see now" thing LOL.

I find it kind of funny in a way, due to security concerns? for Linux?

and then the list of other features they'll lose access to if continue to use Linux, and not update the firmware, am thinking I'm sure Linux Users will find alternatives to those that will run under Linux anyways, so its not as big a deal for linux users as they're making it out to be.

[vass0922]

I find it kind of funny in a way, due to security concerns? for Linux?

.

The security concern is the ability to encrypt the actual PS3 hardware so it can't be hacked.
Not long ago somebody noted that they were successfully able to connect into the hardware to create the homebrew OS's.
So Sony is going to remove the Linux capability to assist in locking it down again.

PS3 finally properly hacked? -- Engadget

[RobRich]

It seems Sony has been predominately concerned that someone is eventually going to break and access the RSX GPU for viable hardware acceleration of 3D graphics.

[MegalosSkylaki]

What happens with the PS2' or Fat PS3?
How could SONY force a firmware uppdate?

reFirmware>
PS3: Slim v. Fatt: Firmware Change

[vass0922]

my fat ps3 was updated this weekend to the new non linux allowed firmware

[nemowolf]

The guy who hacked the PS3 in the first place is now vowing to make it so you can by pass this firmware upgrade and get your system to continue updates. The idea that they JUST realized that leaving a linox partition and full OS option might cause problems for them protecting their hardware is just rediculous. yet another reason why i like microsoft.

[FreakyOCR]

The guy who hacked the PS3 in the first place is now vowing to make it so you can by pass this firmware upgrade and get your system to continue updates. The idea that they JUST realized that leaving a linox partition and full OS option might cause problems for them protecting their hardware is just rediculous. yet another reason why i like microsoft.

It was actually a cool feature, but with anything... eventually somebody abuses it and ruins it for everybody. I couldn't care less because I never used it. Microsoft on the other hand has a 30% failure rate on XBOX 360 consoles and 8/8 of my friends with Xbox 360's have had to use the Xbox repair services since they've owned their unit. To be fair, my blu-ray diode failed in my PS3 but Ebay and Youtube solved that.

[nemowolf]

It was actually a cool feature, but with anything... eventually somebody abuses it and ruins it for everybody. I couldn't care less because I never used it. Microsoft on the other hand has a 30% failure rate on XBOX 360 consoles and 8/8 of my friends with Xbox 360's have had to use the Xbox repair services since they've owned their unit. To be fair, my blu-ray diode failed in my PS3 but Ebay and Youtube solved that.

Okay ... but what if Sony said they are pulling the BluRay codecs because people where burning games to the bluray discs and they didn't include a way to stop it.

[-FMA]

The PS3 needs BluRay to play games. It would sort of defeat the purpose of owning a PS3 if they did that. Or am I missing what you're saying?

[FreakyOCR]

Okay ... but what if Sony said they are pulling the BluRay codecs because people where burning games to the bluray discs and they didn't include a way to stop it.

That would be brutal because I bought my PS3 as a blu-ray player primarily, and gaming machine secondary. I suppose if you bought the PS3 specifically for the Linux support it'd right piss you off that they abruptly killed it. You'd be even more pissed off if you were running a cracked version of the playstation via Linux to play burned games... but it's like the Dev Team and Apple, a giant chess match which Apple hasn't been able to checkmate just yet.

I rent my movies from the store and buy my music from iTunes, i figure if I want good stuff to keep coming out, they gotta make money or else it'll stop. I mean, I'm not giving Sony or Apple or anybody a free pass to do whatever they want, but the Linux was a 'bonus'.. and chances are you'll find a way around this latest roadblock anyways.

[nemowolf]

The PS3 needs BluRay to play games. It would sort of defeat the purpose of owning a PS3 if they did that. Or am I missing what you're saying?

Yes ... the point is that many people bought their PS3 knowing full well that the feature for running Linox was there and wanted that feature. For instance, there is a Folding @ Home client that runs specifically on the PS3. Now, as someone who has cancer running strong in his family, this is a program that i feel equally strong about. My mom has cancer, my uncle died of a tumor, and frankly there may be other folks in my family that i dont know about that have some form of cancer too.

Removing this option does NOT help the community in any way and limits the options for what i can do with the system. PS3 can NOT do everything like they advertise if they remove this option because they feel like it. Maybe my example was a bit extreme but i couldnt think of anything else at the time. That would be like Microsoft removing support for Xbox titles completely; not just network support. Not everyone bought the 360 with playing classic titles but its a nice feature they offer. If they removed it, how happy would i be when i cant play those games anymore?

[nemowolf]

UPDATE: Something that i had read about previously but it escaped me and probably Ars was this nice little update of an article:

Air Force may suffer collateral damage from PS3 firmware update

How are Scientist and even the Government who use these going to get Linox back when Sony removed the option. The Air Force is no small purchaser at having near 2k of these bad boys at their ready and potentially more to come! How are you going to tell someone looking to buy 2k of your consoles NO!?