Slashdot Mirror
Sony Admits PSP Update is Genuine
sammykrupa writes "According to a story at The Register, Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation Portable (PSP) updater that leaked onto the web this past weekend is genuine. However, it publicly warned owners of the handheld console not to run the software as it will cause the PSP hardware to stop operating. The updater was "configured" to install a bunch of stuff including a text-to-speech utility, a calculator, web browser, email application and, weirdly, a word processor and spreadsheet tool. If you've already installed this thing and know have a broken PSP, you can send the malfunctioning PSP back to Sony for a repair but the company will charge you for the privilege."
That breaks your PSP, then charges you to fix your PSP after you use it. An ingenious way to reduce the money they are losing on each PSP sale!
Was Sony bought by Microsoft or Something?
first of all, it's XBOX (or perhaps, if you like, xbox), not xBox -- what did you smoke too much nVidia or ATi crack or something?
//end grammar nazi rant
Ok, now as far as XBOX's outselling PS2's, it's probably because everybody already has a PS2 already. I dont have specific numbers but I think the PS2 has sold some 7 million consoles worldwide, the XBOX has sold a little over 1 million (this is from memory and is probably outdated/wrong information, please correct me if I'm wrong). Also the last figures I had seen, in Japan the XBOX was being outsold by the Wonderswan Crystal -- a dead system. Plus the fact that Microsoft has lost billions of dollars on the XBOX isn't too healthy either.
As far as XBOX 2 and PS3 are concerned they haven't even been officially announced, let alone given set release dates (which by all means could slip -- look at Longhorn), how can you say that XBOX 2 will be out before the PS3? All indications would point to that, but it isn't certain.
Wasn't the dreamcast launched a full year before the ps2 (september 1999 vs. october 2000) and didn't they get crushed?
Being first to market isn't always good
Walkman 80's tech (it's a tape player)... You should be comparing iPod to mini-disc player
In the UK at least Sony markets portable CD, MiniDisc, Flash and Hard Disk players as Walkman, it's there name for all portable music devices. So he was probably comparing iPod with Sony's more modern offerings under the brand. I'm not sure if you can even get cassette based ones anymore.
I'm not sure if the iPod is outselling the entire Walkman range, but I think it outsells the flash and hard disk models (and everyone else's too, probably), mostly because of Sony's stupid decision not to support MP3s, only ATRAC in the early models.
10 PRINT "LOOK AROUND YOU ";
20 GOTO 10
I wonder if anyone else sees a paralell between the Xbox and the Dreamcast. A small amount of really good games, great hackability, never quite lived up to their potential...?
-- I have fans? Wow.
I think the PS2 has sold some 7 million consoles worldwide
Slightly more. 80 million as of Dec 2004.
The unofficial
It's reasonable to say that xBox systems outsold PS2 systems in the last quarter, but that's hardware sales. You know, where both companies lose money. MS loses more money per unit than Sony, although I lack the actual figures to determine who that puts ahead.
That said, try comparing Q4-2004 software sales. I suspect that, with both GTA: San Andreas and Metal Gear Solid 3 on its side, the PS2 pulls out a heavy lead over the xBox's Halo 2. All of which has null/void to do with the Playstation Portable.
Happiness is relative, Based upon the way we live.
I'm not even a fan of Sony, but you need some correction.
xBoxes outselling PS2s
Yes... because everyone who wanted a PS2 has one. They had that extra year, remember? What's the total install base for each system? Oh, yeah:
Sony, 74 million.
Microsoft, 17.5 million (15 as of July, estimated 5 in next year)
xBox 2 outbefore PS3
As above, it's useful if the games are there, and if they're compelling. They need a "killer app" for Xbox 2... the only game to get for the first year on the Xbox was Halo, and there's talk of a "Halo 2.5" for the Xbox 2. Depending on how you want to spin it, it's either desperation for a real hit, or a clever way to get people to migrate.
iPod KILLING the Walkman
Ayup. Most of that has been due to the MP3 restriction on previous Sony devices, brought on by the "content" division of Sony.
PSP getting barely any positive press compared to excellent reviews of the Nintendo DS.
Hate to say this, but that's because it's barely out. Is it even available stateside yet? Once it comes out, provided the games are there, I think it'll sell a lot. IF they do things right, it could be a winner - an MP3 player, a Video player, and a videogame console. A nice hat trick.
Unless Sony has some newer tricks, it might falter a bit. But between the PS2, the PSP, and the other divisions, they still have some life left.
"Sometimes a woman is a kind of religion, she can save your soul & set you free from all your sins" - Bad Examples
I think that the Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, 3DO, and Jaguar have all shown fairly solidly that being the first to market is not the way to win the market in the video games industry. In fact, it would appear that it's a pretty well-established way to not win the market.
If you installed an unofficial patch that Sony never told you to install, why would they be responsible? Did they force that patch into your PSP?
After 3 days without programming, life becomes meaningless
- The Tao of Programming
Here you go: everything you ever wanted to know about the Sony PSP in one easy-to-read report.
For more information, click here.
If you read (not even the article) the headline. It clearly reads "leaked" in other words "warez'ed" in other words "pirated" in other words "It could have been a damn virus destroying the entire PSP but these people were stupid enough to put it in!" Im surprised sony is actually helping those guys who obviously used pirated software in their machine.
I mean, if you illegally download longhorn (or whatever is called) and it destroys your machine (which is pretty probable) can you go to MS and tell them to fix it?! I dont think so! Can you go to ID and complaint about your leaked Doom3 beta not working? Sure! rigth before being taken to jail that is!
Sony fixing the problem its a good point for them. NOT bad. Im glad they are charging these silly pirates to do it.
Im modding the article as -1 Flamebait and Troll.
Go ahead MOD my day!
Go ahead MOD my day!
More opinions here
Dammit! It's NOT Xbox it was supposed to be xBoX but then they changed it to XboX for that nifty "2 capital X factor" but then marketing said that "X" shouldn't be overemphasised as while Gen X might like it Gen Y might not, in which case it was briefly called the XboY or the YboX, the first smacked of Nintendo and the second sounded like too many extra chromosomes - SO it was switched to xBOx until someone noticed that it made the console look like it might smell bad - finally it was changed to a non-ASCII symbol and referred to as "the console formally known as Xbox(XboX, xBOx, XBOX, YboX, XboY).
Splunge!
Sometimes my arms bend back.
Sony loaded it to their ftp download servers, most likely for testing purposes.
Some enterprising individuals figured out how the PSP locates these updates, and were able to use that information to locate this file.
They then downloaded this file and proceeded to experiment.
There were two primary classes of these individuals:
a. Schmucks who thought they were cool for getting in on some cool new app early and immediately installed it.
b. More intelligent folx who realized what they had, understood the risks involved, and accepted the fact in advance that they might royally screw their PSP. These people, those who installed it, were more interested in learning all of the ins and outs of that file.
Now, I happen to know 2 people of the latter kind who destroyed their PSP. They didn't complain or whine, but they were quite depressed with the result. They did no warezing nor would they, as the concept of warezing is rather obscene to them.
They DID check around to see if Sony would do something, since well, Sony has to have a way to handle bad firmware updates when real ones get released anyway. There was no expectation that Sony WOULD do something, but hey, one has to try, right ?
But to say the software was stolen is a bit incorrect. It was placed up on accessible servers for distribution onto the internet, and was accessible without any special security to prevent the downloads. It was merely not visible nor readily available to anyone who would expect any official release - only people determined to look for unofficial releases could find it.
Having said that, I say clearly my strong belief that Sony is not culpable in this regard. The only people capable of finding it were the two I described above, and neither had any right to expect any better result than what had happened. The responsibility for their actions are their own, not Sony's.
Indeed, it is quite kind of Sony to offer to repair these units. Given that this is a service Sony needs to offer anyhow for when REAL updates come out, Sony gets some early practice at repair.
I praise Sony, for releasing a fantastic product (it really is) and for being willing to fix a problem that was not their fault (albeit, for a fee, which should not begrudged to them).
I seriously doubt Sony would use this as a chance to prosecute anyone. That would be really dumb. Here they get the lesson of, "Don't steal our shit before we release it." out in a very clear way (people's stuff breaks) and they can still look like a decent company by repairing the devices.
Why go from decent PR to really bad PR at the launch of a product?
Sell it on eBay? You fool!! Don't you know they track those things!? I drove mine out into the country and put a bullet right between the LCD. Only way to be safe.
Sony clearly has no responsibility for this. Anyone stuck with a brick has only themselves to blame.
The fact that the firmware update was hidden only by obscure location (one has to *guess* how to find it, that wasn't terribly difficult, but enough to keep it away from normal consumers) is more than enough for Sony's defense.
Anyone applying a firmware update of unknown quality on ANYTHING takes a huge risk and must accept the consequences. Whether it be Wifi APs, hard disk drives, MP3 players, etc... they all take firmwares and they all can become bricks.