If the PS3 is Jailbroken, Can We Have Other OS Back?

PCWorld.com -

Although I never found much utility in Other OS, a Playstation 3 feature that could turn the console into a basic computer running Linux, my heart went out to people who used Other OS before Sony scrapped it.

Sony said it removed Other OS in March to "protect the integrity of the console," possibly because one hacker came too close to exploiting the feature in a way that would allow piracy. But now, OzModChips claims to have the first PS3 modchip on a USB stick. In theory, this allows people to play bootleg and homebrew games and make disc backups. Supposedly, it can also bypass firmware updates that Sony might use to banish the hack.

If Sony's piracy safeguards have indeed fallen, I propose that Sony should bring back Other OS. After all, once the integrity of the console is lost, there's no point in protecting it at the expense of users who did no harm.

[comp_ali]

they will release firmware update to stay ahead of hackers but it will get hacked again and the cycle will repeat forever.

[Shadow Flare]

Well Sony have stayed on top of the problem for 4 years which is incredible

[darkcharizard]

^ yes it is INCREDIBLE! I thought PS3 would never get hacked, but oh well..

ps: I can't wait to get my hands on that thing! I want to play all the great games I didn't buy!

[8-bit]

So far all I know that the hack is good for is ripping game backups to your PS3 HDD. I don't see custom firmware, homebrew or any new community added features any time soon. But we'll see.

I have no problem supporting (PAYING) for the PS3 games that I want to play. I am not totally against piracy as I download movies to my PS3 all the time, but games are something that I am proud to pay for. If a game is worth owning, paying supports the devs and the gaming industry.

If I could have anything out of the hack though it would definitely be FEATURES!! I hacked my PSP so that it could stream youtube, use GPS in North America, play retro roms, homebrew and much more. Same with my ipod touch, jailbroken for the features. If the PS3 hacking community could bring us features that we have been asking for then more power to them.

[AndrewRyan]

But people who are modding now it does not matter for. Think about it, if you have a jailbroken PS3, you can download any game. So if Sony tries to update your console the people can just cancel the system update and simply not play online and get any free game they want.

[nix]

i really dont care... all i wanna do is make sure those devs who make great games get their dues. i'm buying games fellas! q:

[JhawkFootball06]

It doesnt matter that it can be patched with a firmware update. Me and alot of people dont care about PSN. The PSJailbreak removes the updates features in the games, so it Sony released a new firmware update from online people can just not go online and still play pirated games. If they release the firmware update on the newer games, the PSJailbreak removes that option from the game anyways. I already have a modded 360, i play my games online on it. I have a PS3 and dont care about PSN. I just love this because it means I can play all the PS3 exclusives for free. Go rent the game, copy to harddisk. Get a $60 for $8. Or if you have gamefly it makes it all the better. This is just the start of the playstaion scene. All you guys say "Good luck downloading 30gb of data." On a private torrent site, you max out your speed on downloading. Im on a 20mb up 2 mb down connection, i can download that in less than a day. You will be able to download it before it even gets released as people upload them before the street date (like the 360). So who cares if it takes a day to download? You still get it free, you still get it before everyone else.

[BeOneWithTheGun]

That's a HUGE feat, too!

[fooltheman]

don't some games require a certain firmware to play... even offline?

[OpenGL]

Yes, some PS3 games do require newer firmware versions. The same thing happens on the 360 as well.

I am still amazed it took 4 entire years to get around the system's security. I mean honestly, that's some impressive shit.

[Biggest]

Quick question. What happens if the USB turns out to be useless by the time it is finally in the hands of the masses? It's obvious that the PS3 isn't "jailbroken" or "hacked" by way of the USB program. So the chances that it will be shut down before the month is out are pretty high. This seems like a lot of attention for something that may not be an issue for long.

[nickjkl]

omg people the ps3 is not hacked

hacked is able to do anything you want with the system this thing just lets you back up games to the hard drive you cant just download the game from th einternet burn it to a blu ray and play the game you have to go out borrow rent the game and then back it up

if sony removes the access to back up blu rays then this whole fiasco is done

[Nitrowolf2]

apparently an update is due today

[azazin]

where did you hear this?

[AntsPai]

Really? I haven't heard about it :) I love downloading updates, even silly ones like security updates :3

[Nitrowolf2]

@ MAR-TYR-DOM
I have no reason to troll on PS3
just take a look at my comment history
this is just something i heard from my buddy who called Sony about online issue he is having

Also why wouldn't you want a patch for this jailbreak device? judging by the disagree's people don't want an update for it

[tdogg06051991]

He definitely just commented that Sony will patch things up. But awesome response Martydom.

[lazysey]

LEAVE OTHER OS ALONE, JUST LEAVE IT ALONE!

[JhawkFootball06]

It doesnt matter that it can be patched with a firmware update. Me and alot of people dont care about PSN. The PSJailbreak removes the updates features in the games, so it Sony released a new firmware update from online people can just not go online and still play pirated games. If they release the firmware update on the newer games, the PSJailbreak removes that option from the game anyways. I already have a modded 360, i play my games online on it. I have a PS3 and dont care about PSN. I just love this because it means I can play all the PS3 exclusives for free. Go rent the game, copy to harddisk. Get a $60 for $8.

[nix]

EDIT: never mind.

[JhawkFootball06]

If you know anything about the wii scene. There are ways to remove that. The Wii has system updates on newer games but there is a patch to remove that update and play the game. You Sony guys think that this is going to just get removed easily. Its not, this is just the start of the playstation scene.

[timemuffin]

There's nothing wrong with stealing right? I suppose you wouldn't care if I were to steal whatever your livelyhood consists of (you are probably unemployed and living at your parents so bear with me I know this analogy makes no sense to you) and you saw no gain from your labors. Who cares if these devs have families right? I'm sure they make more than enough anyway so what does it matter. Screw them for trying to support themselves. Your a jackass.

[JhawkFootball06]

Im pretty sure im in college, i really dont care if im stealing games. If games werent so damn expensive ($60 a game, really?) then this kind of stuff would not be needed.

[redsquad]

Were you around for the SNES/MEGA DRIVE days? If your attitude had been widespread then, we'd have no industry now.

[bustamove]

So obviously your parents never taught you about the consequences of stealing? If you insist on stealing games, then you are not a gamer. If I can't afford a certain game when it comes out, I wait until I can afford it. You're affecting developers that worked very hard on those games.

Have some humility. -_-

[JhawkFootball06]

I did not come here to brag about getting games free. I came because im sick of seeing all these comments saying this will easily be patched. Yes it will be patched for people who want to go online. But people who dont go online it wont be patched

[Biggest]

So. . .

Remember how they add firmware updates to the games themselves? How will you bypass that when you want to play a game that won't run without the firmware? I know it's nice for some to get excited about stealing games. But try not to get your hopes up too much.

[evrfighter]

I'm also one of the people who don't care about psn. I've pulled it offline until the usb stick comes out. I fully expect tons of cheap knockoffs. so I'll see what's available.

I don't mind $150 though. Paying the price of 2 1/2 console games for access to every ps3 game out on the market today is a small price to pay.

That means I pretty much don't have to buy console games anymore and can focus on my pc and truck more :)

[no_more_trolling]

lol @ people on their high horses

im sure u pirated movies, music and ebooks
hypocrites

[redsquad]

Don't you DARE judge my moral standards and presume we all share your apparent casual disregard for ethics... No, I have NEVER done any of the things you mention, not ONCE.

[likedamaster]

You got owned no_more_trolling.

[tdogg06051991]

I do but thats not the point. In the movies industry what rights of mine have been taken away due to privacy. None I can remember. In the games industry Sony took away peoples ability to install linux to the PS3 just because an ass fucked with it. This means tighter regulation and more of them watching over my PS3 I don't like it.

[NYPunkster]

The only reason why I would Jailbreak my PS3 is so that I could install Linux on it.

[KingKionic]

If linux is back and used with this jailbreak i would use it .

It`s not like im using something that im not suppose to be using .

It was on the ps3 before .

[Bnet343]

I know for a fact you do not use Linux on your PS3, Kionic. You don't fool me. >:)

[KingKionic]

Ofcurse not its a slim .

There is no linux on a slim . So how could i use it ?

[dkgshiz]

It was a horrible experience. Plus theres barely any distros that support the PPC OS anymore. Ubuntu dropped it a long time ago.
Edit: Well have fun I guess. Ive personally used it and I can say it was pretty bad. No flash support either.

[KingKionic]

Because ive never experienced using linux on ps3 .

[TheMART]

"Shadow Flare + 20m ago
Well Sony have stayed on top of the problem for 4 years which is incredible"

Funny thing is though, they're now more vulnerable than the 360. This hack is a full hack, being able to run games off HDD and homebrew (truth, JTAG on 360 does the same, but there is pretty much no vulnerable 360 anymore out there after summer 2009 update, while there are around 40 mln. vulnerable PS3's out there as we speak), while the 360 only has the DVD drive hack.

Not to forget, C4E/TeamJungle/TeamHades are working on the BR firmware hack as we speak.

PS3 isn't the fortress everyone believed just over a couple of days ago.

http://twitter.com/TeamJung...

EDIT

@ the guy below^

"Not really, they aren't more vunurable since a simple firmware update could easily fix the problem by changing the boot sequence, making the millions of PSN members update and destroy the hack. "

How are you so sure they can do it? It might be low level access they got in there themselves for repair purposes. If thats the case, it cannot be easily fixed, and they have the iPhone approach at best, getting every new fw jailbroken within days/weeks.

2nd

BluRay burner: 100 bucks, BR discs what 4, 5 bucks. Two games and someone that would copy earns back its costs. Just be real, PS3 is hacked more so than the 360 is and there are 40 vulnerable PS3's out there. Not everyone is connected to the interwebz either on their PS3, so firmware updates wouldn't cover all...

[azazin]

Not really, they aren't more vunurable since a simple firmware update could easily fix the problem by changing the boot sequence, making the millions of PSN members update and destroy the hack.
Once a update comes out, there will be no chance of any form of hack, unless somehow the PS Jailbreak is updated.

What makes the PS3 more harder is also the fact that it has Blu Rays, instead of DVDs (which just about everyone has).

[morganfell]

Correct azazin. And it what Shadow Flare said is correct. It is a remarkable achievement that the best hackers went after the PS3 and have been stonewalled. The PS3 isn't hacked yet. Hacked is when you have almost no exclusives and the biggest of the few you do have is leaked onto the web.

The PS3 workaround isn't a magic bullet. I don't think it will last another week.

[BeOneWithTheGun]

Well said.

[azazin]

@theMART

Read the threads over at www.elotrolado.net,
their research shows that this USB only acts like a JIG (like the PSPs Pandora) but it's only software based, the hardware found on the USB can be bought from any electronic shop.

Also considering the fact that the blu ray games are large in size (most people in countries have slow connections in comparison to the average connection) and also the fact that you can't simply burn a .iso and play it with this USB (this USB only allows you to play games that have been installed with it).
When Sony releases a FW update it will delete the games from the console and won't allow the USB to make the Retail PS3 pretend to be a Debug PS3.

[ipe]

1. For future consoles sony ll do motherboard revision and eliminate boot from usb. Jigstick uselles
2.Let alone online users, FW, bans incoming
3. Future retail titles ll most likely be incompatible with device menager or usb, u wont be able to back it up or run without dics
4. People who dont go online most likely re on low FW but for jigstick u need 3.41, by time this hack goes public there ll be 3.5 on psn or ps site
5. Usb and device re sony property for internal use stolen from them, so selling these is illegal. Thats why ozmodchip and others re trying to sell it fast as ey can before ey re closed.

this might work for some people but it wont ever be widespread.

ps. there is no BR burners or disks, u need original title to back it up. In most eu, asia, south america countries renting of games is non existent

[raztad]

"If Sony's piracy safeguards have indeed fallen, I propose that Sony should bring back Other OS. After all, once the integrity of the console is lost, there's no point in protecting it at the expense of users who did no harm"

WOW. What a dumb argument. I guess instead of one open back door Sony needs two? lol.

This whole jailbreak is a still in development story. You can predict many things Sony may do to counter it, but for certain Sony is not giving up and abandoning the PS3 in hackers hands.

[jdigitalseven]

LOL@ the xbox fangirls starting to show up thinking Blu-rays are easier to hack than DVD's....eventhough DVD's have been hacked for a decade.

[Bnet343]

It's not hard to rip a blu-ray disc, it's just hard to torrent a rip of one.

[Dellis]

CFW is the only way this would blow up, if sony can kill it via firmware updates then this usb mod is worthless.

[despair]

I'm guessing sony will stop this before mass retail, they said it would be available in the next 2 weeks or so and thats plenty of time for sony to plug the hole. At least thats the hope.

[coojo]

i hope they dont block it if not now i dont have to buy games on any console i own Kappa

[N2G]

yes you can have OS back.here you go .... enjoy

[tiamat5]

Okay first of all these hackers are pathetic. Without stealing Sony's tech to get around their security these hackers, that you idiots are praising for ruining our console, couldn't do squat. Also the morons that wrote this article are talking BS. If Sony allows the other OS back they will just make another door for hackers to get in. 'Hey Sony I know that your busy trying to stop the idiots from ruining you but since you might be screwed anyway could you give me back the other OS in the mean time so someone else could break in and you have to combat that too?' When I am on this site sometimes I swear I am listening to and talking to 5 year olds.

[dorron]

I want my linux back...

[commodore64]

Dude, you are not allowed to say that.

According to the ultra-Sony defenders on n4g, NO-ONE uses ps3 linux.
According to the ultra-Sony defenders on n4g, NO-ONE misses ps3 linux.

Don't you dare insinuate that you are one of the heathens that did use it and was disadvantaged by its removal!

/s

[XactGamer]

A lot of people want Linux back on the PS3

[dkgshiz]

No flash support, ran like a turtle. LOL... linux on the PS3 was useless for your average consumer. I mean just install linux on your computer. The only thing worth using the other os for was a server cluster.

[dorron]

I'm using linux on my computer. Why do you care what I want my linux on my ps3 back for? that's not your business...

[dkgshiz]

I wasn't necessarily talking to you. Either way its a very lack luster experience. Yeah, I love linux. I'm using Ubuntu 10.04 netbook remix as of right now. I'm just saying Ive used it and it was a horrid experience. Its a chore just to get the wifi working.

[tiamat5]

Another thing I don't get. Look at the logic of this. You, the gamer, are going to buy a PS3 (or two), pay up to $160.00, which you could buy games with,to buy a USB that might be flawed or easily blocked to put your system at risk of being banned or bricked, while Sony plays cat and mouse with the hackers, on the off chance that the overconfident hackers will be able to dodge Sony's attempts to stop them forever, if they already haven't come up with a solution already, all based on the fact that you MIGHT be able to get free games and put back a feature that most of us barely used while forgoing multiplayer, important updates and PSN and God knows what else? Just to save a little money for something that may not be worth it in the end? Gamer logic is a strange thing.

[games4fun]

if the ps3 didn't have free online maybe it would be worth buying this psjailbreak. unless of course you don't game online.

but your forgoing free online, something a similar console charges 50/year for.

so you buy a new ps3 just for hacked games, then you pay another 150 for jailbreak. Thats basically 450 dollars which is 7 new games. But many singleplayer only games are out there and are they brand new $60? or are they more like $20 because they are old. It turns out to almost equal out in that case.

but this is all theoretical because maybe there is someone who wont mind missing out on DLC,Firmware upgrades, and Bug Fixes/free updates. Not to mention free online.

At that point though i wonder why the person didn't get a computer and play the limitless ammounts of games online for free or just go and buy a 360 and mod that.

As it stands the only exclusive sony games which are single player only worth taking are:
Mgs4(has online but...),Uncharted 1&2(#2 has online), infamous, and ratchet. Most of which are all greatest hits at 20 besides uncharted 2 which is almost the same as buying psjailbreak in price.

[Thecraft1989]

Your jumping to the conclusion that there will be no way of spoofing the firmware and playing online games will work fine. online is not totally out of question yes it is a low chance with how good Sony are with security but not impossible there will CF or like i said spoofing FW.

[Bathyj]

Its called

"Since a burgular brioken in through my back door, I'm going to remove all the security screens from my windows,"

or "Even thought I never used the feature, I still want to whine about it months later like its a big deal."

[saint_seya]

i wont get any pirated games, i love to show my suport to devs, they work hard, without our support will be less good games, those who think piratery is good, are blind, if everyone were like u, we will be seen the end of video game era, thats it, cause if u dont buy a game original, devs dont get the money, without money, theres no devs, without devs, theres no more games.. easy as that, to those who can u use their head for something more than wearing a hat....
also if ure gonna tell me how much u paid for games, i have to tell u that i live in argentine, here every game is more than $80 so i know games are expensive, but i work for them, u should do the same.

[likedamaster]

Look at the bright side, at least they get to sell more consoles now.

*I don't condone piracy.

[TimmythePNDA]

The truth in the matter is, as bad as this may be, it is necessary. Why? Because if games weren't so overpriced this wouldn't happen. Especially if games were equally priced to there real value. When the PS3 first came out I payed $80 for "The Darkness" which surly did not deserve that kind of a price tag. Was a F@#KING GARBAGE GAME. Where as Uncharted 2 ($59.99) was a great game and I'd happily pay that price any day. I shouldn't have to pay $60 for a half ass'd game that doesn't deserve even $20. I will still continue to support and pay for games that DESERVE $60.

Point being this piracy measure only happened because people WANTED it to happen. People have to understand that if good games were constantly coming out with fair prices than even with the piracy many people would not resort to it. With half the shit ass games I see come out these days and the developers putting $60+ price tags on games, I say copy the shit out of games. Copy as many as you like just pay for a game if you enjoy it greatly. In that sense your actually paying someone for good work.

The problem is if you buy a crappy game you can't return it, and some developer just took your hard earned money. Is that not stealing too?

[Tres21]

ok im confused, couldnt someone figure out how 2 bring back the Other OS or sumthin close 2 them?

[tdogg06051991]

Look what happened after Geo-hot hacked the PS3 they spammed firmware updates. He couldn't even rile up a new one before the next one came out. It made Geo freeze then force quit. They are gonna pull the same for this and people are just gonna quit. It's hilarious watching because Sony is all like that cocky 13 yr old bastard on Xbox Live you couldn't beat and don't want to listen too.