Ben-DutkaWe normally avoid any stories related to hacking but in this case, it pertains to a new firmware update for the PlayStation 3, so…
Today, Sony has announced that firmware update 3.42 is available for download, and it's strictly a security-based update. It's necessary if you wish to access the PlayStation Network and although Sony wouldn't say whether it disables the functionality of the PS Jailbreak, a spokesperson did say the update is "an overall security related issue." If you didn't know, the PS3 was hacked at the end of last month by a group calling themselves PS Jailbreak; they released a USB dongle onto the international market that lets the public mod the system, too. Basically, it lets an owner install homemade or pirated software onto the PS3's hard drive, which would negate the software disc requirement. Sales of the device were stopped in Australia, where Sony is now taking legal action but no news on what's going on concerning Sony vs. PS Jailbreak in this country. For the most part, this doesn't really affect you if you don't care about modding your console, but at least you know what update 3.42 is all about. Good to have that info.
You just need 168MB of free space to install it, so go for it. Remember, you can't log into the PSN until you do.
I have a confession. I used to download the ISOs for older games online. Games that you can't find in stores anymore. Mostly ps1 games and such. This was way before Sony started releasing the many PS1 classics on the PSN. I wouldn't do it anymore though now that I can find them on the PSN. Will this site ever forgive me?
I will, because I'm still doing it and don't feel an ounce of guilt.
Last edited by LimitedVertigo on 9/7/2010 7:24:01 PM
Not you LV, I was more than sure of your misdeeds. 🙂
If the game isn't available to buy then do what you gotta do man.
I like the concept of abandonware. If a rights holder is not exercising their rights of distribution, there has to be a limitation on how long they can hold something without actively publishing it. Unfortunately copyright durations in many countries are being lengthened, not shortened. But especially with software, the duration of a copyright needs to be shorter. After all it's not like you can buy many of the old classic games 'new' any more. They are so out of print that the cobwebs have dust.
As much as I support copyright and the rights of creators and publishers. There do need to be restrictions on how long something can sit in the back-catalog without going public domain. That way if a publisher doesn't make a work available, they can lose the right to control it. It's something that would help consumers more than just about anything else, and it would force publishers to do more to make their properties available to consumers.
I'll just say I agree with everything Highlander said.
Even about the killing of the kids and the burning of the homes?
Wow…dude.
@LV
::raised eyebrow::
Oh? Are you channeling a parallel dimension again?
nono, that was the piling of skids and coercing of Holmes.
I would mostly want to mod my PS3 so that HD MKV files would work on it. I know they can, it's just a matter of letting it. That and maybe play a few old ROMs of games that I OWN on the SNES and Sega Genesis. Playing Super Mario World, Kirby Superstar, and the Sonic games would be great. Which reminds me… when is Sonic 4 coming out?
Also: Been playing Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep ll day today, great game! I'm at Level 12 at the Forest Clearing, which is at the start of the first world on Critical Mode. Gonna gett he secret ending for sure!
Why don't you just stream your MKV files in HD? It's extremely easy. All you need is a computer (hell an e-machine) and your ps3 and computer on a network.
Last edited by LimitedVertigo on 9/7/2010 9:47:38 PM
I would not support this if Sony had kept all those features that a PS3 is capable of. If the PSJailbreak can allow someone to play PS2 games, run Linux, and .mkv files on a PS3, then it should be appreciated. I am not supporting game piracy, but it's disheartening how Sony disables features like Other OS when they shouldn't. I have a modded XBOX and use it as a Linux PC for basic works, but never play pirated games on it. Modding opens up a lot of possibilities to use your console, not just pirating.
id normally curse these people, and would string them up by there own entrails if i was to meet them.
but since sony STOLE features i paid for they have no one else but themselves to blame!
they want to act like criminals, thats fine ill treat them like one!
as i always said karma is a b*tch, justice is swift, and revenge is a dish best served cold!
haven't they ALL been security updates? this is just the first openly labeled as such. While I'm sure the corporate entity that is Sony cares not about their reputation, they took a big hit amongst actual 'techies' (those who actually code applications, build hardware, etc) when they pulled Linux away in lieu of 'security', and now with all this of the past few weeks it's clear they took away a huge feature pre-emptively which has in no way resolved the 'security' issue. thanks, sony. what's next, disabling the USB ports permanently? despite what Highlander and some others think, 'homebrew' does not equate to 'piracy'. and jailbreaking does not equate to 'hacking'. in fact recently laws were changed in the United States which makes 'jailbreaking' legal if it's to run legitimate applications that have been crippled manually by the manufacturer. it'll be interesting to see Sony try to stop the new, homebrew rootkits as they pretty much fall under this law. there are people who'd rather try to develop applications and custom o/s's than spend their time twatting on twitter or facebook. Piracy is in still no way rampant on the PS3 and as others have said between the size of a bluray image, both in bandwidth and hd space terms, it's hardly worth it to pirate most of the PS3 games and those which people would they most likely would not buy in the first place. same as the music industry. in fact Sony should welcome piracy as it then gives them an excuse for any game title released that they hyped up but sucks and no one ended up buying in the end (like the music industry). let's all remember that before there was ANY hack/etc for PS3 Sony was bleeding money fine on their own.
Sony has begun the eternal dance with 'hackers' which will never stop. The 'hackers', most not motivated by money and having a technical vision not restricted by a business model, will ALWAYS find another way in to the system. Sony will keep putting out firmware updates that remove features one by one in an effort to keep up with the threat of piracy, and the only folks who will suffer will be those who follow the rules. i gave up on them after they removed the other o/s option, it was a clear downward spiral at that point. i hardly use my PS3 anymore between the lack of any new titles this summer and the fact it's now been lobotomized.
Home brew folks keep up the good work! Sony will keep digging themselves into a hole and spend all their time trying to undo your efforts but we know with your limitless time and vision you'll always stay one step ahead.
You must have a reading comprehension problem. I do not equate Homebrew with piracy. I clearly equate the motivation of modding a console as being piracy in about 995 of cases. But I did not equate homebrew and piracy.
^^^^
Edit
^^^^
99% of cases – '995 of cases' is a typo.
I found an interesting article from Digital Foundry on the Jailbreak and what Sony's doing about it…….
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-vs-psjailbreak-article
DF seems to be a little skeptical of Sony's ability to patch the USB boot process. Sadly for them, Sony just went and did exactly that, they patched the firmware to block USB booting from these cloned service keys. It's actually been confirmed that they did not disable USB booting entirely, but it looks awfully like they essentially perma-banned whatever service key was cloned.
So, as predicted Sony won in the courts and have patched the PS3's firmware to prevent this service key based 'hack' working at all.
I believe that the cat caught the mouse in this instance.
Next up, a firmware that actively looks for signs of mis-use, and a PSN authentication process that uses authentication specific to each firmware revision making all of the known firmware bypasses irrelevant. The more people push, the greater the push back will be. Every one of these instances enhances the security that Sony is justified in including. Every one of these breeches in security adds to the case for hardware manufacturers locking their products down.