164w ago - Today infamous PS3 hacker
GeoHot has blogged that users should not update their PS3 entertainment systems to
PS3 Firmware v3.21 when it is released this Thursday as it will disable the OtherOS functionality, and as incentive not to update he has promised the very community he isn't sharing details on how to dump lv2 with that he will work on a solution which could include PS3 Custom Firmware.
To quote: "A note to people interested in the exploit and retaining OtherOS support, DO NOT UPDATE. When 3.21 comes out, I will look into a safe way of updating to retain OtherOS support, perhaps something like Hellcat's Recovery Flasher. I never intended to touch CFW, but if that's how you want to play...
Two things, some people seem to think CFW will enable some sort of piracy. It won't. It'll just be a custom version of 3.21 that doesn't lose OtherOS support. Hacking isn't about getting what you didn't pay for, it's about making sure you do get what you did.
And this is about more than this feature right now. It's about whether these companies have the right to take away advertised features from a product you purchased. Imagine if an exploit were found in Safari on the iPhone, but instead of fixing it, Apple decides to pull web browsing altogether. Legally, they may be within their right to do so, but we have to show them it's the wrong move for the future of the product and the company.
First off, I want to apologize to all the people who use Linux on their PS3. Before releasing, I weighed the pros and cons, and considered the possibility of an impact on OtherOS support.
My logic was this. OtherOS support had already been removed from the Slim (not for technical reasons; I believe it only existed in the first place to promote the Cell for IBM) The builders had apparently no intention of including it in future products. So for the purposes of openness why not release? Not like anything else has (or probably will be) done on the PS3.
Now you go and remove a feature that people expected to be included with the expensive device they purchased, citing "security concerns". What security concerns? It's not like the exploit can be run even close to without the users knowledge.
You have to open the thing up. How could this harm users? Your blog post doesn't list positive reasons for upgrading like I think most users expect. Instead it lists things you will lose if you don't upgrade. Seriously?
The PlayStation 3 is the only product I know that loses features throughout it's life cycle. 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."
Here is to hoping
GeoHot releases a PlayStation 3 solution in a timely manner, as unfortunately the entire PS3 (and Linux) scene is left waiting on him at the moment.
Hi im new today how do you use this site...
i was wondering if you could help me out ?...
Screw the industry if they're never going to release proper demos. I always download games to try before buying whenever possible.
Not to mention in Canada we get screwed over on prices, the standard price tag per game is $80, hurray for overpricing and taxes despite the dollars being almost equal.
Correct, a likely scenario (assuming another hole isn't found) will be something along the lines of those with OtherOS on 3.20 will update to a "GeoHot 3.21" via the previously released glitch exploit to mount dev_flash etc and replace the data with a modded 3.21... which can be obtained by decrypting 3.21 via ldr's.
However, once this is done Sony will end up changing the ldr's and keys, although it may be possible to load in and use new ldr's unless checks against the Hypervisor version are added and so on... basically a cat and mouse game like with the PSP.
Needless to say, similar to the PS3 glitch exploit itself, unless a more user-friendly exploit surfaces this process isn't likely to benefit those who can't (or don't have the materials/patience) to perform/trigger the initial exploit so they won't be able to make use of a modded 3.21 Custom Firmware with OtherOS intact.