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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."
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
1970s: Sony develops a new media format called Betamax and tries to get everyone on board.
This didn't go so well for Sony, as they tried to push everyone to their inferior and more-expensive standard (sure, the quality was slightly better, but 1 hour isn't enough for a movie).
1970s: Sony develops a new media format called Compact Disc and tries to get everyone on board.
Sony did this in conjunction with Philips. Things work out better when you have partners instead of trying to push a standard unilaterally.
1980s: Sony develops a new media format called 3.5" micro diskettes and tries to get everyone on board.
That actually worked out Ok too.
1980s: Sony develops a new media format called DAT and tries to get everyone on board.
1990s: Sony develops a new media format called MiniDisc and tries to get everyone on board.
These didn't.
1990s: Sony develops a new media format called Memory Stick and tries to get everyone on board.
Trying to sell an incompatible format (when there's already other competing formats available) that costs twice as much generally doesn't work too well. Seems that Sony forgot the lesson it should have learned from Betamax.
2000s: Sony develops a new media format called BluRay and tries to get everyone on board.
Amazingly enough, the did the same thing here, but actually succeeded. It was a Pyrrhic victory, however, as everyone's still buying regular DVDs, or just moving to online distribution.
How has Sony changed in the last 30 years, exactly?
You make a good point here. They really haven't changed much in 30 years when you look at it this way; devising proprietary formats and then charging way too much for them, and then wondering why they don't have more widespread adoption. The CD and 3.5" floppy are interesting exceptions; I wonder why those were so different. The Blu-Ray wasn't different, though; it only won because no one really cared about either format enough to buy in, and Sony was able to hold out longer. People still aren't buying Blu-Rays in any volume now that it's the only HD format.