Sony Updates PS3 Firmware To 3.56 To Stop Jailbreaking 218
tekgoblin writes "Today Sony has released a firmware update for the PS3 console that will update it to version 3.56. This comes on the same day news broke on the restraining order against George Hotz (Geohot). Sony did not state that it would stop jailbreaking the console but we can only assume that it does. With this restraining order against Geohot we see the Streisand Effect taking hold again as the key spreads all over the net. This decision by the courts may also prompt more hackers to focus their time on the PS3 from other projects. Be aware if you update your system and you like to jailbreak or hack, you will probably be unable to after the update."
Actually, it might be possible after all.
Maybe MS got it right with XBL... (Score:5, Interesting)
Seems like MS takes the approach of "Fine, mod your console if you like, but if you get caught you can't use it on XBL". And since XBL is a subscription service they set their rules, but you agree to them by paying for the service.
I suspect Sony will learn the lesson and the PS4 will see the introduction of a subscription based PSN. Especially since the next generation of games will likely all be purchased through app stores as opposed to optical media.
Re:Good. (Score:5, Interesting)
MS released an anti-piracy update last week (Score:2, Interesting)
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/20/mandatory-xbox-360-update-sneakily-halts-call-of-duty-pirates/ [joystiq.com]
So no, it doesn't seem like MS is being more permissive than Sony here.
Both are trying to stop people from modding their consoles, presumably for the purpose of maintaining their revenue streams.
Sony Updates Blu-Ray Player Firmware to 3.56 (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Stop wasting my bandwidth... (Score:5, Interesting)
Ironically enough, MS is actually pretty good here.
Xbox 360 dev kits are expensive and restrictive, but you can develop homebrew games for it using XNA (provided you don't need direct hardware access, this should work just fine for most games). The SDK is free, and the ability to post your game to the marketplace is $100/account (much like Apple's store).
WP7 can be developer-unlocked for $100 (or using WP7, but that will apparently get blocked). Once it's unlocked, you can go to town - full access to the filesystem, registry, sensors, camera, you name it. There's already some pretty neat homebrew, ranging from a nice file manager to a functioning webserver to a NES emulator. It's all unofficial, of course, but MS hasn't tried to stop it... almost the opposite, really.
Use case for a closed environment (Score:3, Interesting)
Boy this sure makes we want to buy PS3 games (Score:4, Interesting)
My PS3 isn't getting an update till my Other OS option is safe. It's off the net entirely.
This makes buying games real easy:
1) PC Version
2) XBox 360 version
3) Wii Version
4) Okay, okay, PS3 version. But nothing that forces a mandatory update. Sorry GT5.
MS grubs for my money in all directions, but as long as we'll all in agreement that I will at times give them that money and they will not treat me, their customer, like s@#$, they're smarter or at least more reasonable than Sony and will get my money before Sony does. Opening Kinect (after that initial reflex foot in mouth) just clinched it. I would kind of like to play LBP2 but that's the way it goes, I will go drown my sorrows in Dead Space 2. Or dismember them.
computerandvideogames.com comments (Score:5, Interesting)
And why are they defending Sony? Because Sony was forced (by the scurvy pirates) to issue a useless update that prevents them from using their PS3 for 30 minutes while it's downloading and installing. So Sony does something useless and annoying, and the 15-year olds blame the pirates for it.
I hate to say this, but we've lost. The public has accepted HDMI. They've accepted devices locked in firmware. They've accepted Blu-Ray. They've accepted the iOS app store. They've accepted the Kindle. In 5 years the PCs from the big vendors will have locked firmware to "protect the user experience" and to prevent "hackers and pirates" from "compromising the security of the system" so they can download child porn and terrorist handbooks. In 10 years the only way you'll be able to run FOSS software will be to buy an unlocked "corporate" PC for an absurd amount of money and possibly only after "registering" your unprotected box so the authorities can monitor you for illicit activities. For a big company this won't be any issue at all (they already have policies to prevent their employees for using the servers for non-corporate activities), but for the home user it will be an enormous barrier.
Stallman was right. I'm depressed.
Re:computerandvideogames.com comments (Score:4, Interesting)