Folding@Home Removed from PS3 with 4.30 Update
The PS3 supported protein folding simulations over the past five years as part of an effort to find cures for medical conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease, or Type II Diabetes. Back in 2007, when the program was introduced on PlayStation, the game console offered tremendous floating point processing power to drive Folding@Home simulations, but developments have given new GPUs the lead. Statistically, the PS3 is ranked well behind the performance capability of ATI and Nvidia graphics processors. At FAHcon 2012, scientists published some numbers showing just how far computing performance has come since the project's beginnings.
Given the long-standing partnership, the cutoff was rather quick and effective. Both Folding@Home and Sony restricted themselves to rather short statements with the usual thank you speech and a conclusion of achievements. Stanford's project leader Vijay Pande referred to "numerous successes in recent years" that could lead to drug development. Of course, the successes were not only due to Sony's participation and Pande was quick to remove references of Sony's support from the Folding@Home website.
The 4.30 system update also changes the way trophies are displayed in the XMB. The trophy level progress is now being displayed, along with trophies that have been earned when playing on the Vita.
- PS2 backward compatibility (both hardware then software emulation)
- Linux support / OtherOS
- 2 USB ports
- Card reader
- and now Folding@Home
I'm sure I probably missed some, but it's certainly not the same machine it was when it released in 2006. Granted, we did gain other functionality over the years, but still unfortunate to see features cut.
- PS2 backward compatibility (both hardware then software emulation)
- Linux support / OtherOS
- 2 USB ports
- Card reader
- and now Folding@Home
I'm sure I probably missed some, but it's certainly not the same machine it was when it released in 2006. Granted, we did gain other functionality over the years, but still unfortunate to see features cut.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/page-268010_28_6450.html#t2671318
As for why it was removed, there a few idea's floating around but to us folders, it's clear that in not just a Sony only move. If anything, it's looks more like it was at standfords end.
Hear's is what im guessing that's currently going on based on other resent events.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/page-268010_28_6450.html#t2671796
http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=22766#p226826
Without having all the info, you cant point out that it sony that's pulling the support. As you see in my comments above, there been quite a bit going at Stanford that make me believe that it's a joint decision or stanford thats pulling the support.
What are the numbers? in terms of PS3 contribution vs. GPU total. and speed? anybody?
Sadly, im sure the exact info your looking for only Stanford would have. I can lead you these to sites and allow you to piece the info together your self but even then, you wont have everything
http://fah-web.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/main.py?qtype=osstats
http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/user_summary.php?s=&u=207511
- Linux support / OtherOS
- 2 USB ports
- Card reader
- and now Folding@Home
I'm not sure I agree with the list. For example, my PS3 is a 20GB model. It never had more than two USB ports. It never had a card reader. So the feature wasn't really removed, it was a premium feature.
PS3 backwards compatibility wasn't removed. It just wasn't kept around in newer models. My PS3 is still 100% backwards compatible. I only used it for the first 2 years anyway. Now there is no way I would play PS2 games, with all the PS3 titles available.
Linux support and Folding@home are legitimate examples. But of the two, only Linux really matters to end users (and that only affects a tiny portion of users).
While I would love to see backwards compatibility come back to the PS3 in a future model (or PS4), in reality it doesn't make sense. When the PS3 came out, it was necessary, but that time has passed. Now it's a luxury those of us who bought FAT PS3s have, but rarely take advantage of.
If people are still on the fence over whether to buy a PS3 at this late date, they aren't the customers Sony is interested in. Those customers won't be happy until they have a PS3 with all the original features for $100. But it was the drive to create a cheaper device for the cheaper gamers out there, that led to the removal of the cool features like backwards compatibility and memory card readers.
As for Linux and Folding...meh.
You sir are almost right in evri thing you said, except one piece, What functionality did the PS3 gain over the years becoz really i didnt notice any improvements, just hearing more news of less features resulting from updates...
...Meanwhile at least the 360 had built in hardware for the long run, the updates keep making the platfrom stronger (and yes, i have owned 2 ps3s, that are now dead)
Well MS keeps improving the xbox, making it better with wireless-N, Knect, Smaller cooler running. You have striped back the PS3 to a flimsy cheap plastic box. with a loading tray like that of a 90's CD player.
All the models before the release of the 20GB savers model came standard with 4 USB ports and card reader. So really they were not premium features. Sony just cut them out to cut costs.
That means the same thing as removed.
Makes perfect sense to those who have purchased tons of games and would still like to play them for various reasons without having to use a different console each time.
http://www.playstationlifestyle.net/2012/10/23/ps3-lv0-keys-leaked-cfw-released-security-hole-reportedly-unpatchable/
Sorry for the confusion. I have a 20GB model (original $499 model, not saver's). You are right, it did have 4 USB, but it did not have a memory card reader. It also did not have WIFI.
My mistake on the 4 USB, but I consider the memory card reader a "luxury" item, since on day 1, the 20GB model (a very popular model in the beginning), did not have it.
> That means the same thing as removed.
What I mean is, it wasn't removed from consoles that already had it (unlike Linux support). There's a difference in taking a feature from a customer who purchased that feature, and just not selling a feature anymore.
But I agree, it sucks that it's gone, if only for occasional nostalgia. But honestly, I have it and never use it. I do hope they bring it back on the PS4, but at that point I will care more about PS3 backwards compat...
I do wish they would sell it in the form of a $50 addon, so in case my PS3 FAT dies, there will at least be options if I want to play something from my PS2 library.