Hacker vows to restore Linux support to PlayStation 3

Robert Hallock 30 Mar, 2010 at 11:30pm ET Article published in Gaming

Less than two days after Sony announced that it will soon remove Linux support from the PlayStation 3, hardware hacker George Hotz has vowed to bring support back.

In a stinging blog update, Hotz lambasted the console maker for disingenuously citing “security concerns” rather than piracy, the real motivation behind the change.

“What security concerns?” he questioned. “It’s not like the exploit can be run even close to without the users knowledge. You have to open the fucking 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?”

Removing Linux support, Hotz implies, is due to his January hardware hack that broke the once-impenetrable console after three years on the market. Hotz’s software and hardware modifications allows users to run unrestricted editions of Linux, rather than Yellow Dog, and games Sony has previously forbidden.

While Hotz had previously promised not to get involved with custom PlayStation 3 firmware, he feels his hand has been forced.

“A note to people interested in the exploit and retaining OtherOS support, DO NOT UPDATE,” he said. “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 [custom firmware], but if that’s how you want to play…”

Users who choose not to proceed with the April 1 firmware update to v3.21 will lose PlayStation Network support, the ability to play games that rely on PSN, Blu-ray playback of discs that require v3.21 or later and support for playback of copyright-protected titles streamed over the network.

Comments

31 Mar 2010 ~ 12:21am Bandrik I actually do have Linux installed as an OtherOS on my PS3, but as neat as it sounds, it just didn't seem very useful or practical to me. Maybe I'm missing something, but it was dramatically limited in what it could do, had very little memory to work with, and was denied access to any of the PS3's graphics hardware for anything fun.

While it's always kind of sad to see a feature discontinued, I won't really lament the loss of Ubuntu on my PS3 and will likely install the update shortly after it releases.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 1:31am Tim YES! I hope he hacks it and makes it do all sorts of things Sony doesn't want it to do!

It won't affect me, I have a 360, but I like to read about big companies getting beaten at their own game.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 9:52am Cliff_Forster Why not dump the PS3 and build a decent PC? Enough people stop playing with their console, thats the real way to show Sony that the consumer is boss.

Leave the format if your displeased, put it on ebay, sell it, your collection, saturate the used market so Sony has to slow production, then Sony will know who has the power.

This hacker will accomplish next to nothing. He will just be waving his fist in the air for the less than 1% crowd that actually know whats going on here.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 9:55am Kwitko Your suggestion is equally as futile. The 1% that care would be the 1% who ditch their consoles. The 99% who don't know, don't care.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 10:09am Snarkasm A PS3 is $299. A PS3 with Linux capability sold, at its highest, for $600, and they're going for $400 now. You'll get maybe $200-250 for it used. Is that enough to build a gaming PC?

Right. No.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 10:15am Cliff_Forster

Kwitko wrote:

Your suggestion is equally as futile. The 1% that care would be the 1% who ditch their consoles. The 99% who don't know, don't care.

See though, that is sort of my point. If you don't have a big enough population to stage some kind of real demonstration, then maybe its not an issue?

I stand by what I said, if you want linux, build your own damn PC. Its Sony's network, they will do what they want with it, and if you don't like it you can stop buying Sony products.

Its kind of like people that whine and cry about the price of gas, but then they want to drive a big hoopty that only gets 14 MPG highway.....
31 Mar 2010 ~ 10:30am Thrax I'm surprised that Cliff Forster, the great customer advocate, isn't bent out of shape about Sony removing a feature it touted heavily to customers the last few years.

Would you like if Microsoft, Mozilla or Opera took away your browser because someone, somewhere downloaded something illegally?
31 Mar 2010 ~ 10:55am Cliff_Forster

Thrax wrote:

I'm surprised that Cliff Forster, the great customer advocate, isn't bent out of shape about Sony removing a feature it touted heavily to customers the last few years.

Would you like if Microsoft, Mozilla or Opera took away your browser because someone, somewhere downloaded something illegally?

No, you see, I think it sucks, Sony should not have done this, but there is only one way to fight them, and thats to not buy their stuff...

Its as simple as that, don't like it, write em a letter and tell them your no longer their customer, and see if there are enough people where it will matter to Sony. If it does, if public outcry is big enough that they re think their position, good for the consumer, but honestly, I don't think it is.

I'm not saying what Sony did was right, but ultimately, there is only one way to make your point as a consumer, and its to spend your money elsewhere.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 1:55pm Garg What we have here are differences in scale. Sure, the only thing that would change Sony's business practices is if we stop buying their products. But, we've already established that their practices offend a small enough number of people so that their offense means nothing to Sony.

So, what can that small group do to remedy the situation? Hack their consoles. Either that, or bend over and take it.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 3:05pm Cliff_Forster

Gargoyle wrote:

What we have here are differences in scale. Sure, the only thing that would change Sony's business practices is if we stop buying their products. But, we've already established that their practices offend a small enough number of people so that their offense means nothing to Sony.

So, what can that small group do to remedy the situation? Hack their consoles. Either that, or bend over and take it.

Or, just stop buying their stuff....

If your really that unhappy about it, thats what you will do. Trust me, nobody will die if they don't play God of War III to the end.

I'm crazy like that, when I don't like something, I just stop buying it, then publicly blast it whenever I get the opportunity.

My love affair with the Zune is almost over (can't get the damn thing to work in Windows 7 x64), and I'm a really, really hard customer to get back. Will it matter that much in the bigger picture? Maybe not, but I have my principles, and I stick to them. I wont just suffer and say, well, I'm okay with half assed support.

I have but this much power, my vote counts for what it counts for, thats why I do crazy shit like vote for 3rd party candidates that I like even when I know the will likely loose, and buy products that are not as popular because I see value in them. I don't subscribe to mob mentality. I don't need the permission of a larger group to do my own thing. If I'm that pissed off that Sony is screwing me on Linux support, I sell my console on the used market, write Sony and tell them they suck, and then tell all my friends about it. I don't worry about what it means for the larger picture, I mean, if it picks up steam and changes something, fantastic, if not, well I did what I felt was right.

So, if your unhappy about it, stop giving them your money. Its the best option you have to make your case. Its not like not having a PS3 is going to kill you.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 3:07pm Tim Or buy american. I'm sure the Xbox 360 is made in Taiwan or somewhere like that, but at least Microsoft is an american company, as opposed to Sony.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 3:40pm Basil

Tim wrote:

Or buy american. I'm sure the Xbox 360 is made in Taiwan or somewhere like that, but at least Microsoft is an american company, as opposed to Sony.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 5:38pm ledbetter I smell an April Fool's joke....
31 Mar 2010 ~ 5:54pm Snarkasm

Cliff Forster wrote:

I don't subscribe to mob mentality. I don't need the permission of a larger group to do my own thing. If I'm that pissed off that Sony is screwing me on Linux support...

I hack it back in and call it a day. I don't need the permission of Sony to do my own thing. If I'm that pissed off, I hack it back in and have my cake and eat it too.

I really don't understand what your issue with this is.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 6:05pm mondi I'm looking forward to the day Apple and nVidia get together and release a games console. I imagine that even all the way over here in Europe we'll be able to hear Cliffs head explode.
31 Mar 2010 ~ 6:32pm jpparker88 And this is no regular run of the mill hacker. This is George Hotz. The maker of the Blackrain jailbreaker for the ipod and iphone.The one touch jailbreak that basically foolproof. Besides, I don't see what right sony has to tell you what you can and cannot do with their console. You bought it, you own it, and as long as you don't make any false warranty claims then everything you're doing is legal. The issue sony has is piracy. But for that to happen you're going to need a blu ray ripper to get the files, and they are large files. so at most you get 16-20 full length games on the hard drive that it comes with, unless you upgrade and that's more money shelled out. Either way, the console will be hacked, because it's a challenge and hackers love challenges. I doubt many people will even pirate, but I know that I would like the ability to rip my games to my hard drive for no load times and as a backup, like making a copy of a cd you own to place in your car in case your cd wallet gets broken or the cd gets scratched.
2 Apr 2010 ~ 1:30pm Tushon

mondi wrote:

I'm looking forward to the day Apple and nVidia get together and release a games console. I imagine that even all the way over here in Europe we'll be able to hear Cliffs head explode.

I lol'ed. I wonder if the EU would have an issue with that, but I doubt it. Do apples sold over there have a requirement about offering different web browsers like Microsoft has to do now?
2 Apr 2010 ~ 2:01pm Snarkasm Of course not.