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.
i am on 3.55 cfw and want to go to 4.4cfw , if i do so will my backed up games on my ps3's hard dive will be lost/deleted or will it be retained ? plz...
If he manages to do anything related to CFW, then I would expect that it requires the current glitch hardware/exploit to gain control over the HV.
He's got zero chance at creating a signed/encrypted update file for use by most people out there - as the encryption keys are unknown (they're not even present in the PS3 - only decryption keys are there).
The only thing to hold against him, is his egoism and not sharing certain things with the devs.
So then, What does hacking really mean for me as a "Hacked PS3" ? OtherOS support definitely. As I am currently using a dedicated computer with my TV. But specifically Hardware3d access for LINUX in OtherOS. That would finally make the Linux portion of PS3 useful. And you can get homebrew on there. Voila.
But thats me personally. So I will give Geo his couple of weeks to mayyyybe a month. To see if he can retain the OtherOS. Else I'll upgrade. End of the day. Its the people you play with online that make it fun. And I'd rather be playing with them than sitting around mumbling.. CFW CFW CFW.. ah my precious...
Am I the only one who thinks this must be a huge hole and a great chance to not update and actually gain access to the hardware of the system?
I am unsure of your doubts folks, the PS3 encryption is going to slow GeoHot for the rest of this endeavour but we will get there. 2 months is a bit ultra-fast for this kind of work. I'm already assuming no updates for my 60GB and a workable hack in more likely 6 months.
Which is why I have upgraded the HD to 500gb, downloaded everything I'll ever want and I'll buy a slim PS3 in the next 2 months to offset my withdrawal symptoms for new games, demos and videos.
It certainly is impossible for some of us to give up on our $800 purchases and very depressing to not update if unprepared. 48 hours to go to prep your systems, there is still time.
Good luck to all.