iPhone Hacker: I'll Hack to Keep Linux on PS3
iPhone hacker George Hotz promises PS3 users a work-around for Sony's decision to nix OtherOS support.
Yesterday Sony announced that the next PS3 firmware update, 3.21 would disable support for the PlayStation's "Other OS" feature. A lot of people don't use this feature at all, so it was no problem for most. However, those that do, value the fact that they're able to run Linux on their console.
Though Sony didn't specify why it was disabling OtherOS (aside from mentioning it was for security reasons), many speculated that it had everything to do iPhone hacker George Hotz' recent revelation that he had hacked his own PS3.
Yesterday Hotz took to his blog to apologise to PS3 users.
"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."
Hotz goes on to question Sony's decision to remove OtherOS support.
"What security concerns? 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?"
An hour later, Hotz blogged again and told users interested in keeping Linux support to steer clear of updating.
"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..."
Will you be waiting for Hotz' hack or will you update when 3.21 comes out on Thursday?

But he may someday buy one of them if he can apply his genius to
the business world.
But he may someday buy one of them if he can apply his genius to
the business world.
Maybe at some point people will realize that all this hacking and jacking and pirating is hurting us all much more than it's helping.
I will wait a few weeks (considering he did the crack in 5 weeks that no one else could) and if there isn't anything fruitful I'll upgrade.
Even if he hadn't created the hack Sony would have done this, those that believe otherwise obviously are new to Sony's antics.
I have Linux on two of my PS3's, just cause I can, I rarely use it, but it's fun to do so from time to time. Will I be upset about loosing support for it? No, do I think it's right? No.
As usual Sony is doing the WRONG thing after coming up with a good piece of equipment. They are 100% consistent with this, and I don't see them changing.
Well, if you dont update, you dont get to play online, play games that require this specific firmware, no chatting, no PSN, and a bunch of other stuff. So most users will have no choice but to update.
Sony isn't doing this because they are control freaks. They're doing it because they don't want to deal with the security risks that come with allowing a different OS on their console.
the headline is "i'll find a way to keep Linux on the PS3" not i'll find a way to keep linux on the ps3 and keep you playing games, etc, etc.
just choose one. would you rather have a useless OS or use the console for what it was intended for!!!!
man i hate people
If you choose the former, then update.
If you choose the latter, then wait for his patch.
If you say both, then wait for his patch.