Goodbye Linux on the PS3 - Sony backpedals on "Install Other OS" support
Sony releases news that the next software update for the PlayStation 3 games console will disable the "Install Other OS" option that was present on PS3 systems before the launch of the slimline model.
OK, most folks out there use their PS3 for gaming, and the removal of this feature means nothing, but for some who like to leverage the PS3 for other tasks, the loss of this feature is a pretty big deal.
Note: This feature wasn't present on the CECH-2000 model onwards.
Here's the announcement:
The next system software update for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system will be released on April 1, 2010 (JST), and will disable the “Install Other OS” feature that was available on the PS3 systems prior to the current slimmer models, launched in September 2009. 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.
This news comes a little more a month after Sony management confirmed to the PS3-Linux community that the company was committed to keeping this feature on systems sold with this feature:
>> The feature of "Install Other OS" was removed from the new >> "Slim" PS3 model to focus on delivering games and other >> entertainment content. >> >> Please be assured that SCE is committed to continue >> the support for previously sold models that have the >> "Install Other OS" feature and that this feature will >> not be disabled in future firmware releases.
So, what are users who make use of this feature to do? Well, they have two options really:
- Not install the update
- Install the update, and lose all access to the data
It's important to note that this feature was an advertised feature of the earlier PS3 consoles and not some homebrew hack.
Sucks for folks who bought PS3 for that feature.