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Hacker Will Try To Restore Linux Support On PS3
Many readers have been sending in news of the impending PS3 firmware update that will remove the ability to install other operating systems on the console. (We discussed it here on Sunday.) Over the past few days, legions of PS3 owners have been voicing their anger at Sony's decision, upset that they'll be forced to either lose their custom install or forgo use of the PlayStation Network and be unable to play certain games and movies. Now, hacker George Hotz, known for his iPhone jailbreaks and his PS3 hack earlier this year, has vowed to fight back and restore Linux support on the PS3. He said, "The PlayStation 3 is the only product I know that loses features throughout its lifecycle. Software PS2 emulation, SACD playback, and OtherOS support are all just software switches you can flip. It's unbelievable you would go and flip one, not just on new boxes you are shipping, but on tens of millions already in the field."
Well, no duh!
"His name was James Damore."
And Sony will respond by banning these people from PSN for hacking the PS3. Or does this person really think that Sony won't be checking such a thing when you connect to PSN?
In the interest of openness, I've decided to release the exploit. Hopefully, this will ignite the PS3 scene [...]
Looks like the fires need a little more than that to get lit, but there's a lot of pissed off users now with torches just aching to start a blaze.
Sony had to see this coming, now we just have to see if they'll try to litigate their way out of it or own up.
"Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
express their total disinterest and get back to playing God of War whatever.
Thanks for coming.
While I love the products of both companies, they are becoming ridiculous control freaks. I'm not sure that I'll be buying any more products from either Apple or Sony.
Legitimate PS3 Linux users will now have to void their warranty by installing unauthorized software, not to mention it'll become a cat-and-mouse game with Sony, and people who do update will likely be screwed. This is not a solution.
As much as geohot can try to make up for his massive fuckup, the only solution is for Sony to backtrack on their update. And geohot needs to stop playing world savior and issue a massive public apology for triggering Sony's action while so far offering nothing at all of value to current PS3 owners. Even if he does manage to release a modified firmware, it's still a huge step back for existing PS3 owners who use Other OS.
>> The PlayStation 3 is the only product I know that loses features throughout its lifecycle.
Presuming youre talking about artificial limitations, Microsoft have been doing it for years.
For example, I can watch Blu-ray under XP. No such luck with Vista or Windows 7 thanks to the extra DRM and my non-hdcp monitor.
I'm hoping i can point this out early enough, but the slated released date for this patch is april 1st.
Talk about one of the most successful trolls on the internet today, sony generated a TON of nerd rage on this stunt, it's rather hilarious.
I'll also say that many news stories about this pointed out the obvious fact that it conflicts with a recent statement that sony supports this feature and will continue to preserve it, it seems a fairly obvious april fools joke.
Just saying.
You never realize how much manually made unmanaged "linked" lists suck, till you have src.link.link.link.link...
What kind of idiot would buy a product from Sony, of all companies, and not expect something like this happen? This is like expecting excellent customer service or an easy return at Best Buy, or expecting Microsoft to not bias its Bing search results when you search for "open office" or "linux". You're expecting good treatment from the company that put rootkits on its CDs?
If you want a nice media center PC, buy or build yourself an ITX system. If you buy something from Sony, then don't be surprised when they tell you how you're allowed to use it.
The first Gen PS3s had PS2 hardware in them so that wasn't just a software switch. Though la
Isn't 'legions of ps3 users' an oximoron to start with. The 1% of those legion that use linux must be millions :p
From the summary:
Did Sony actually disable PS2 emulation on existing PS3 units? I know they started leaving it out of later models, but did they actually kill it for people who already had it?
The PS2 backwards compatibility always used a hardware GS (the GPU). They emulated the EE and the VU1s, but not the GS. I'm not sure the cost reduction was really worthwhile, but it's not something they can just flip back on, on machines that don't have it.
Graham
I don't believe in walled gardens. Right now the most open environment is Linux or one of the BSD's, Windows comes in next. Apple I wouldn't be surprised if they brought the App Store to OS X and then finished closing everyone else out behind the approving gate. I'm not going to beg permission to run an app, if that means I have to pay with compatibility creep then so be it: the open systems refresh every once in a while as a response to that.
Shh.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
dont buy it, if you dont like it. You can also sell it as used. Thats the biggest Hack. (If you hack for the purely academic reason of demonstrating that it can be hacked - thats fine and beatiful. But dont pay money to a company to pay people to fight you). Yes, sometime you dont get the shiniest most beatiful HW. When the iphone came out there was no direct competitor (if you where interested in touch). Now there are many. When the PS3 came out, it was probably better and faster than the current PCs. no probably not (i dont know, not seriously interested).
First of all, duh. Of course hackers were going to try and circumvent the restriction. And, like all other types of silly restrictions, it's inevitable that they will succeed.
What I'm more interested in is the lawsuit that should be on its way over this. It was an advertised feature of the PS3, and a not-insignificant number of people bought a PS3 because they could run Linux on it. Hell, a lot of people only bought one to run Linux on it.
If my car used to have a CD changer, and it gets disabled when I bring it in for service, I'd sue. Contracts, EULA be damned - I chose a product because it had a feature, and it got removed after the fact. That's not legal.
I have developed a truly marvelous proof of this comment, which this signature is too narrow to contain.
as a hardware appliance matures it would only seem normal that as it matures the firmware & software running it would get better, not lose capabilities & features, hey Sony you suck.
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
I wonder if this PS3 crack of his will involve connecting your PS3 to a PC, and rerunning the crack, every time you reboot it.
I'd be seriously pissed off if I owned a PS3 and actually used Linux. Sony thinks "Oh, it'll blow over and people will forget." The truth is a lot of people will, I won't. I've already been burned with Sony's proprietary stance with my MP3 player when I moved to Linux and tried to use it there, this - not removing Linux, rather not acting in the interests of their customer - has solidified that negative attitude. I simply won't buy Sony products in the future, which means I'll get to see if someone else burns me ;) As an aside, buying a Xbox 360 was the best thing I ever did: all the DRM and related crap bundled into a separate box from my computer for entertainment which freed up my desktop to run Linux as it's only operating system. Best of both worlds.
Shh.
Despite shipping with the ability to install Linux, the ability to use any SATA drive to expand room, and the ability to use standard USB cables and external USB drives - despite this Sony got nothing but flack from technical users from the PS3 since launch.
Well what did you expect showing no gratitude whatsoever? That Sony would continue to expend money pleasing those who continued to deride them at every turn? Instead of encouraging shipping Linux support on a major console like the delicate flower it was, technical people from all over stomped on that flower, spit on it, and then set fire to the remains.
Well, Karma is here. And what Karma is saying is that you lost the ability to install your own OS on any shipping console for a generation or more. Thanks assholes, you killed a feature I liked and admired and made life a little worse here on planet Earth. Think about that a little the next time you can only think of product negatives.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
The PS2 emulation was not a bit flipped in software.
The first PS3 models had both of the PS2's main chips (I think in the single-combined-package form they'd switched to) physically present.
Later PS3 models had only one of them, using Cell to emulate the other.
Still later PS3 models (the first US "40 gig") have neither.
There was never any PS2 emulation for that last hardware revision, and last I heard, the first two still have PS2 emulation, although the second one has sorta crappy PS2 emulation. (Yes, you can get a splash screen on nearly everything, but dont' assume that all your games can be played through without glitches.)
That said, the rest of this is crap. I guess I now have a $600 paperweight. On the other hand, it paid for itself in articles I wrote about Cell development.
My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
I moved years ago off of the PS platform, and onto the Xbox platform. Lately I've been glancing at the PS3, and I've had thoughts about purchasing one. I'm sick of paying for XBL, and many of the PS3's features were exciting to me. The ability to install Linux on a PS3 on a partition while still maintaining the other capabilities of the PS3 (the PSN for starters) was one of the most attractive features to me. Sure, I might not be your typical user. But I'm a gamer who still has decades of playing time left, and Sony will likely never see any dollars from those decades. I dislike Microsoft and Sony, but the former seems better than the latter.
'Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.' - Mao Tse-tung
I have yet to try but I do not see why not just run Linux on a live boot disk when you need it.
He doesn't want to restore linux. It's all about enabling "homebrew". Which means "backing up my games". Which means "pirating games".
PS3 linux is shit. Most people haven't tried it, including most people here. But god help you if Sony stops supporting the least useful portion of the PS3, which also happened to be a security hole.
Why wasn't there this much nerd rage when they announced there was no "other OS" on the slim?
It's unbelievable you would go and flip one, not just on new boxes you are shipping, but on tens of millions already in the field.
they aren't flipping the switch on the boxes in the field... they are flipping the switch internally on the support... disabling the software in the field is an unfortunate side effect.
No surprise here. Sony's about as bad as Microsoft and Apple when it comes to closed, proprietary systems. You'll never see any Sony products running Android, for example. They're a great electronics company, their products have always been high quality, but they are definitely proprietary. Look at the failed digital Walkman they released years ago playing only Altrac files, not MP3's.
The PS3 could play SACDs? That's the first I've even heard of it having this feature. The first time I've heard of any hardware that can play them, for that matter...
That's why I bought a Sorny PlayStayshin III instead. I can do whatever I want with it*, and there are never any updates that disable features. In fact, there are never any updates. It runs MAME great though. Well, extremely slowly, but that just makes the games more playable IMO.
* Except connect to PSN, watch BluRay discs, or play PS3 games.
https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
Seriously... why is this even an issue? Why do you assholes that have a problem with this continue to buy Sony products?
Sony has shown, time and again, that they care not one whit about their customers. They will screw them in any possible way they can to make more money out of them. They have no regard for their customers, their customers privacy, their customers equipment, etc... You dumb bastards that bought a PS3 deserve everything you get, because you KNEW ahead of time that Sony was one of the worst, most evil companies out there. There were already countless and recent examples of their total disregard for anything consumer rights related and yet you went ahead and bought yet ANOTHER Sony product.
Yes, you get exactly what you deserve and there should be no sympathy for you idiots. If you keep putting your hand into a crocodiles mouth and then wonder why your hand got bitten off, even after the guy next to you lost his whole arm and hundreds of thousands of people are screaming at you not to do it, then you are just stupid and Darwin needs to pay you a visit. In this case, you are just stupid for supporting Sony and Electronic Darwin needs to pay you a visit.
No, seriously. Don't bother. Why reward Sony for doing this? Do you want other companies to treat you like a criminal as well?
Instead, use your hacking skills for building a Linux box which can play Sony games. Now that would get them (Sony) thinking.
The society for a thought-free internet welcomes you.
XBox 360 lost the subscription feature for demos with the NXE. It also will lose online play for Xbox games when Live for original Xbox in two weeks.
I can't think of any older consoles that lost features with software updates, although many lost features in new versions, most notably progressive component out removed from Gamecube.
http://lkml.org/lkml/2005/8/20/95
For anyone who's interested I wrote a letter to Sony Customer Support about this. Here is the letter I received as a response. Names were removed
Discussion Thread
Response (xxxxxxxxxxxx) 03/30/2010 04:38 PM
Hello xxxxxxx,
Thank you for writing us with your concerns for the upcoming firmware release and it's features.
The Playstation®User agreement states that we may update the system which may change the operating system.
11. MAINTENANCE AND UPGRADES
From time to time, it may become necessary for SCEA to provide certain content to you to ensure that PlayStation(R)Network and content offered through Playstation®Network, your PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system or other SCEA-authorized hardware is functioning properly in accordance with SCEA guidelines. Some content may be provided automatically without notice when you sign into Playstation®Network. Such content may include automatic updates or upgrades which may change your current operating system, cause a loss of data or content or cause a loss of functionalities or utilities. Such upgrades or updates may be provided for system software for your PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, or other SCEA-authorized hardware. Access or use to any system software is subject to terms and conditions of a separate end user license agreement found at http://www.us.playstation.com/termsofuse. You authorize SCEA to provide such content and agree that SCEA shall not be liable for any damages arising from provision of such content or maintenance services. It is recommended that you regularly back up any data located on the hard disk that is of a type that can be backed up.
If you'd like to read the full user agreement, you may do so at the link below:
Article Title: Terms of Use and User Agreement
Article Link: http://playstation.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1109
Regards,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
You know, I like to toy around with things all the time and often I have to clean up a big mess I made or spend many hours figuring out how something goes back together.
I at least have the decency to only break my own things.
"Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?"
First they came for my Linux...
I called Sony to voice my concerns today and informed them that I would not continue to support their PSN, even if this is a hoax.
As a member of the PS3Cluster team I would like to say that Sony's cutting off of 3rd party OSes from their platform is going to impact the Air Force, UMass Dartmouth and other organizations using PS3 hardware as massively parallel clusters for scientific computing. This goes far beyond the home-brew market.
We've been covered here before:
http://tech.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/12/17/2251232
gigantino.tv - Heavy but weighs nothing.
I believe the thing that makes the PS2 difficult to emulate is its unusual video memory... it's only 4MB in size, but has insane bandwidth.
-Graphics processing unit: "Graphics Synthesizer" clocked at 147 MHz
-Pixel pipelines: 16
-Video output resolution: variable from 256x224 to 1280x1024 pixels
-4 MB Embedded DRAM video memory bandwidth at 48 gigabytes per second (main system 32 MB can be dedicated into VRAM for off-screen materials)
-Texture buffer bandwidth: 9.6 GB/s
-Frame buffer bandwidth: 38.4 GB/s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playstation_2#Technical_specifications
This wasn't being emulated on the partially BC consoles because the GS chip was still present. I myself own a hardware BC 60GB. :)
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law
OS X is on it's way out. Apple intends to replace it with the Iphone OS on Macbooks and Imacs. These machines will run Apple' s A4 processor which is simply an ARM Cortex-A8 processor with a proprietary component on die. My arguments for this are as follows.
1. Homogeneity, Apple as a matter of marketing conscience does not maintain disparate systems. This interferes with the "just works" slogans as you have to determine which OS is supported before installing a product (I believe Android and Windows is bashed relentlessly for this).
2. Control, Apple hate hackintoshes, positively despise the fact that someone can get outside their control and that the cheapest OSX box is actually a Dell for 1/2 the price of a Mac Mini.
3. They can, to Apple the Iphone has proven that so long as a cool image is maintained it's customers will happily accept any level of abuse.
4. Numbers, Apple have more numbers on the Iphone OS then on OS X, OS X is still very much a niche market.
Apple have changed both OS and processor architecture in the past, nor has prospect of losing most of their core stooped them from shooting themselves in the foot before.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
Really?
I mean, last I checked, it was mostly cheaters at any level beyond the first few in Halo 2 -- mostly people exploiting things like the fact that one Xbox gets picked "at random" to be the server, but it wasn't particularly difficult to influence which one is chosen as server. I mean, without even hacking the box, you could do this as simply as resetting your router.
I'd guess that particular problem has been dealt with, but preventing cheating, even on a console, is somewhat like DRM -- you can't do it globally. The best you can do is allow dedicated servers with admins who pay attention -- something not really possible with most console games, or (apparently) most console-ish PC ports.
Don't thank God, thank a doctor!
It is the hackers fault. Why blame Sony.
There is no reason to hack a PS3, other than to open it up for piracy. The fact that Sony put the ability to install another operating system should be more than enough for interested parties programming the cell processors.
Isn't the Other OS feature the primary vector for PS3 hacks??
While I deploy removing a feature, is anyone really surprised that Sony would take steps to impede piracy, even at the risk of alienating a small portion of users who actually use this feature legitimately.
Honestly, won't MOST users who care about running Linux on a PS3 have a multitude of devices available which run other OSes far better than the PS3??
I'm thinking the few groups who use the PS3 for parallel processing will either downgrade the firmware or select one of the many other hardware options out there equally suited/priced/sized.
The side effect of "Getting Linux back" will probably be the ability to run pirated games. Previously none of the Linux people cared about pirating games, now their knownledge gained from bringing back Linux might be used for just that.
Could someone explain, or is it OK to censor an opposing viewpoint because you disagree with it.
If you think I am wrong, please make a well reasoned post explaining why.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
It had a multifunction digital connector that didn't even have component on it, the cable had converters in it and plugs on the cable. It never had jacks. Later units didn't have the multifunction digital connector.
What I think you're trying to say is that on units that had component out capability, it didn't disappear in a software update.
And yes, that's right. That's why I said:
'I can't think of any older consoles that lost features with software updates, although many lost features in new versions, most notably progressive component out removed from Gamecube.'
http://lkml.org/lkml/2005/8/20/95
You're right, that makes absolutely no sense. Like slapping your most loyal customers in the face.
So, if I want a Cell-powered machine that can run my software, what choices do I have now? I cannot afford an IBM blade server (the price tag is around $10,000) and there is no way Sony will let me have a Debug or Test PS3 at home.
God, root, what is difference ?
actually there is. the native video driver blows. even just using gnome is super slow. an accelerated driver would rock.
that said, if you guys would buy stuff this wouldn't be such a problem. We have the amazon mp3 store and you haven't started buying mp3s like you said you would. Cheap, unencumbered, mp3s. Why would any company think an arms race isn't the better option?
I used to be on your side in the music wars until we got what we wanted and no one showed up with cash. Saying the majority of the stuff you pirate is "crap" is no justification.
There is no reason to hack the PS3 other than for piracy? So the fact that they lock out some of the SPUs so that only Sony sanctioned software can benefit from the whole power of the console wouldn't also be a reason to hack it. Also I know a number of hackers that have no intention of pirating software, they hack things for the challenge.
Also, this isn't hurting the pirates at all, only the customers that paid for this computer which has been turned into just a console. Sony advertised it as a computer, and even that you could install another OS. They are taking away my computer!
Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon what's the difference? All steal money from devs and control with walled gardens.
Hello ****,
We apologize for any inconvenience that you may be experiencing with the removal of the Other OS feature in the next update for the PlayStation(R)3 computer entertainment system. 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. If you do update to the 3.21 on your PlayStation(R)3 system you will not be able to use the hard disk partitions used by the other operating system. The data saved in these partitions cannot be restored after the system software has been updated. You will need to back up all data to storage media before updating the system software. You may need to format the Hard Disc Drive to get the partition back.
If you choose to not update your PS3 system you will not be able to do the following:
The ability to sign in to PlayStation®Network and use network features that require signing in to PlayStation Network, such as online features of PS3 games and chat.
Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later.
Playback of copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings).
Use of new features and improvements that are available on PS3 system software 3.21 or later.
Regards, ****
Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon what's the difference? All steal money from devs and control with walled gardens.
They've never "integrated" anything into their OS just to take out competition. Never made proprietary extensions to standards and patented them so no-one else can inter-operate with them. Never changed interfaces to standard libraries causing old programs to not work so people have to buy the latest Microsoft product. Never removed features through software updates. Never came up with crappy new APIs just to force people to upgrade other programs when they update this one program over here. Never bought out competition and destroyed all the source code and copies of the program not sold to consumers. Never stole other company's source code and integrated it into their own. Of course the original Xbox used a standard USB interface. No control over add-on hardware for the Xbox360.
All the above is true isn't it? Oh wait, there's multiple examples where they did just the opposite of everything listed above.
As a programmer, I am sick and tired of the anti-consumer crap Microsoft is constantly pulling. Have you ever had an update to the OS that has broken some functionality to software that you use and Microsoft blames it on the developer? Chances are that company programmed it according to the Microsoft recommendation, just Microsoft went and changed that recommendation, sometimes not providing any officially supported way of doing it anymore.
One example is out web site creates Excel files. The official supported method of doing this was to use the Excel Interop object. Then Microsoft came out with a patch to Windows Server 2003 that didn't allow this to work anymore unless you turned off a whole bunch of security and that wasn't recommended. After that patch there was no official way to do what we were doing, but we had been doing it the official, supported, recommended Microsoft way before the patch.
Really all Microsoft cares about it power. It is willing to loose a lot of money for that power. Heck they told the DOJ where they could shove the settlement they came to. I know during the DOJ trial Microsoft was going out of their way to do things illegally just to tell the DOJ that they are above the law, and they proved they are. Consumers, they are just play things. I know the external beta test team for Vista was saying that the OS wasn't even close to ready to be shipped. Of course they were ignored.
Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon what's the difference? All steal money from devs and control with walled gardens.
As someone who is intimately familiar with the inner methods of some companies, I can tell you something interesting.
Sony are testing the waters with this. They are gauging consumer reaction. This happened last year with another well known company. No doubt if they see enough consumer "outrage" they will retract it as an April Fool's joke, as the other company was forced to do.
On the other hand, if they find a complacent overall reaction, they will go ahead.
This is nothing sinister, do not consider it so. It is simply a new tool for a very old practice. Corporations regularly use tests to measure marketing conditions. No doubt you have participated in many of these schemes as a consumer. These tests, and your reactions, will be the subject of further studies in order to give a (somewhat complicated) statistical analysis of market segmentation, in addition to a number of other key metrics.
All of the complaining I see on this forum is just through lack of understanding. Ultimately, there is no better way for companies to understand the consumer except through pulling stunts. And better understanding means better products.
Removing a feature from a product that you have already purchased seem wrong. Just as the ideas of companies still having some form of control how you use something you purchased, not leased. So, is a class action lawsuit an option?
Dear Sony, if an update to my machine will disable the "install other OS" feature in my PS/3 I will guarantee you that I will have it reported to every possible authority that I can think off and ensure it is followed up.
For a start, IT IS A DOCUMENTED FACILITY. It's on the manual, and I will make pictures of "before" and "after". This means it's something I paid for. Removing it without my permission is (a) theft and (b) a violation of trade description - you can't take something away which has influenced my decision to buy without expecting this to have repercussions. It would be equivalent to selling me a full stereo set and take away the speakers after I bought it so I'd have to spend extra money to buy those.
Secondly, YOU CANNOT FORCE MY COMPLIANCE. If you make acceptance of a trade description violation dependent on, well, a trade description violation (the device should be capable of Bluray playback even with the new code you plan to implement) you will lose double. The sort of coercion is AFAIK illegal in most countries.
So, here's your one and only warning: if I either find the facility gone, or find me unable to play a Bluray disc you WILL be facing the music, if you pardon the pun.
Oh, FYI, I don't use the feature, this is a matter of principle. It would be rather nice if Sony for once thought about the *customer* before doing things. I accept that is a wholly novel and far too innovative concept for Sony, but believe me, the pain is worth it. That's what made the Nintendo Wii such a hit. Learn from it.
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Look at the proposed date of the release: The next system software update for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system will be released on April 1, 2010 . This time of year you have to be leery of every post/blog/news release
> The PlayStation 3 is the only product I know that loses features throughout its lifecycle.
Apparently this guy doesn't use Gnome much.
Cut that out, or I will ship you to Norilsk in a box.
"...that need to be supported going forward."
Where on God's earth did you learn to write like that? Couldn't you have just said, "...that need to be supported"
They're teaching stupidity in school today and it looks as though it is the one subject where most pupils are eager to learn.
Which would most seriously affect their profitability - not buying the machinery at all, or buying one of the machines and using it as a general purpose machine while not buying any games for it?
I recall (vaguely - I'm not into games at all ; the Wii I got for the wife and daughter for Xmas hasn't been connected to the TV for over 2 months now ; I was less than keen on getting the TV) that most of these special purpose games machines cost more to build than their street price, with the profit coming from online gaming fees, over-priced games, etc. So, it is possible (see above question) that the nastiest thing to do to Sony would be to buy a PS-whatever and use it as (for example) a media/file server / web terminal / whatever , then fill in the registration card explaining this in detail and send it off to Sony.
(Actually, I'm now wondering if I can do the same with the Wii? Have to power it up again one day when I've got time, as well as get an ethernet adaptor for it.)
I don't have any particular beef against Sony, but I've had to struggle with various of their machines over the years and can't say that I'm impressed.
Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
I just talked to some people at Trading Standards, and Sony is digging a hole if they do this.
People bought the console with a listed and documented set of features. If Sony gives you a choice between upgrading and thus lose the "Alternative OS" feature or not upgrading and impairing access to future Bluray titles it always amounts to a "Reduction of the features as present and described at the time of purchase", for which you are entiteld to compensation. If you're in the UK, your next step is to notify Sony that you want to be compensated either way, and do this by recorded snail mail so you have an audit trail. Sony is likely to tell the first few to get stuffed, which is fine, because the Office of Trading Standards has now been briefed (guilty, grin), and they will welcome your complaint to take the matter further.
The second issue is that you are in principle forced to install malware under duress. If you don't, future Bluray titles will become unavailable according to Sony - thank you for the blackmail attempt. It means that any statement I agree to during the upgrade is invalidated as it takes place under duress, making the non-benign changes to the console illegal. In the UK this amounts to a violation of the Computer Misuse Act, and with enough people complaining, that too will become actionable.
So, Sony, thank you very much. You have finally ensured there will not be a single Sony made device ever pass my doorstep, because I cannot take the chance that I pay for a device (which is already priced above average) in which features may later disappear. I hack nor pirate, yet am treated as a criminal and punished with functionality which will disappear. I haven't got round to use that feature, but I am offended you even try. I hope people in the UK will follow up as I have (maybe someone can post on how to take the Computer Misuse Act further?).
Summary:
- Trade Description Act violation
- Computer Misuse Act violation
- Several grand worth of purchases killed off without any possibility of recovery
And that's just me. Anyone else with a creative streak?
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Posting to remove moderation mistake