Sony Kills Off Linux Support in New PS3 Update
So long Linux.
Sony has announced that the upcoming PS3 3.21 firmware update will disable the "Install Other OS" feature. Available on models released before the availability of the PS3 Slim, the feature is useful for people who wish to run Linux on their console and organizations who use clusters of PS3s as supercomputing networks. However, Sony today announced that after April 1, users running Linux would no longer be able to access their data. The company is citing security concerns as the reason the feature must be axed.
If you're desperate to hang onto your Linux install, Sony's head of PR Charlotte Panther, says you can choose not to upgrade to 3.21 when it becomes available this Thursday but details that certain features will no longer be available to you:
- Ability to sign in to PlayStation Network and use network features that require signing in to PlayStation Network, such as online features of PS3 games and chat.
- Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later.
- Playback of copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings).
- Use of new features and improvements that are available on PS3 system software 3.21 or later.
Those of you who do plan on updating are advised to back up any data stored within the partition used by Linux; you won't be able to access it after you update.

Always removing features since the original PS3.
First PS3 at E3 -> Quote from Wikipedia "The initial prototype shown in May 2005 featured two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports and six USB ports"
Released product -> "when the system was shown again a year later at E3 2006, these were reduced to one HDMI port, one Ethernet port and four USB ports"
80Gb version, software PS2 backward compatibility.
40Gb PS3, no PS2 backward compatibility and only 2 USB ports.
PS3 Slim, no Other OS support.
Wow sony, stop removing stuff of your PS3, I paid my PS3 Fat with the linux support on it, I shouldn't have features removed from my PS3 once I paid for them.
Always removing features since the original PS3.
First PS3 at E3 -> Quote from Wikipedia "The initial prototype shown in May 2005 featured two HDMI ports, three Ethernet ports and six USB ports"
Released product -> "when the system was shown again a year later at E3 2006, these were reduced to one HDMI port, one Ethernet port and four USB ports"
80Gb version, software PS2 backward compatibility.
40Gb PS3, no PS2 backward compatibility and only 2 USB ports.
PS3 Slim, no Other OS support.
Wow sony, stop removing stuff of your PS3, I paid my PS3 Fat with the linux support on it, I shouldn't have features removed from my PS3 once I paid for them.
Why else restrict a feature thats been part of the system for last 1.5 years?
That or they're too lazy to maintain 2 OS variants, one with the linux feature for the Fats, and one without on the slims.
ugh..... tell me that is just an April fool's joke..please!!!!
Though I have yet to install a Linux OS on my PS3 80G, it is still sad to hear the news...
Sigh... I fear I'll wake up and see a "All PS2 backwards compatibility have been removed for security reasons" Which would remove the primary reason i bought a PS3 early (Secondary was Linux...and eventually games i wanted to play were released). Class action lawsuit time.
Oh, I'm sorry.... That's right... People don't "OWN" the product they have purchased. It belongs to (insert the company here) and not the person to whom they sold the product..
This is a very bad trend.
Now that it doesn't, I becha on April 10th there will be a crack available. And in July, a crack that allows booting the 'regular' firmware or a complete Linux stack.