New PS3 Slim, without support for OtherOS

[ffelagund]

Hello, I've just seen that the new PS3 Slim wont come with the option to install the OtherOS.
From Gamescon:
"Ø Removal of “Install Other OS” feature

The new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content, and users will not be able to install other Operating Systems to the new PS3 system.

Along with a vast line-up of attractive and exciting entertainment content with the new PS3 system, SCE will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new world of computer entertainment."

So, what will be the future of this Linux distribution for PS3? Will cease? will continue for the existing Linux compatible PS3?...

Thanks,
Jacobo.

[Taellik]

Yep, I saw writings on that as well, not suprising.

Since Sony killed off being able to mod the PSP to allow for user-programming on the unit, seems pretty much the current corporate policy then to take away the same capabilities for the console itself and dumb-down the console.

Another thing is the firmware updates, if the "fat" PS3 will now become bricks if Sony does something to the firmware updates that takes away the Other OS option from the media bar . . .


Taellik

[zerojay]

If true and established policy, not suprising.

Since Sony killed off being able to mod the PSP to allow for user-programming on the unit, seems pretty much the current corporate policy then to take away the same capabilities for the console itself and and dumb-down the console.

Taellik

Uh... it's not at all the same situation.

Sony *wants* people to make their own programs for the PSP, except that the way the PSP works keeps it from happening in such a way that pirate ISOs can't be used as well. It's this piracy that's the main reason why Sony blocks homebrew on the PSP.

The PS3 Linux situation is completely different and was included to allow people to make their own programs. Piracy wasn't possible through it. It's being removed because the average mainstream user won't know what to do with it and could lead them to major issues such as reformatting their hard drive.

[billb]

Wow. Here's an article with more info:

http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content ... wsAreaID=2

Note: This product is not compatible with PlayStation®2 games.

Ugh. I was hoping that would change ...

The new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content, and users will not be able to install other Operating Systems to the new PS3 system.

Oh, I'm glad they are going to focus on "delivering games and other entertainment content" ... uh ... they weren't doing that before?

Yes, this certainly brings up a lot of questions ...

Is that a feature of the firmware update and not just the new PS3 Slim? Or do existing PS3's retain the ability to install Linux after the firmware update? The question has already been asked on cbe-oss-dev ...

http://lists.ozlabs.org/pipermail/cbe-o ... 06952.html

If it is just the PS3 Slim hardware and not the firmware update, do they continue making models of the PS3 with the ability to install an "Other OS?"

And what about the idea that since the PS3 already comes with the ability to install Linux, there has been little incentive for it to be hacked ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtDTNnEvlf8

[ppietro]

So, what will be the future of this Linux distribution for PS3? Will cease? will continue for the existing Linux compatible PS3?...

Considering that this distro existed long before the PS3, chances are it will keep going.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Dog_Linux

for a brief history.

Currently, YDL supports IBM BladeCenter QS22, Fixstars PowerStations, Mercury Cell, Apple G4 & G5s, Sony ZEGOs and a few other hardware vendors. See here:

http://us.fixstars.com/support/hardware/

So - yes - if the new PS3s can't run YDL, we'll lose a nicely priced entry point for YDL. But, since they have the infrastructure some of the other PPC Linuxes don't - ps3ubuntu, I'm looking at you - they'll continue.

As for supporting existing PS3s, that won't change for the foreseeable future either. Fixstars sells PS3 clusters - they'll have to support them for a while. I don't expect much changes in YDL strategy near term.

Cheers,
Paul

[Taellik]

That'd be nice if it works out that way !

I have a hunch the 3.0 firmware update they announced is gonna remove the OtherOS option.

Without that option, won't be able to get back into YDL after updating the firmware . . .

Taellik

[ppietro]

Wow. Here's an article with more info:

http://www.scee.presscentre.com/Content ... wsAreaID=2

Note: This product is not compatible with PlayStation®2 games.

Ugh. I was hoping that would change ...

And the Sony BC flamewar storm begins. I'd stay away from the official Sony PlayStation Forums for the next few days.

Cheers,
Paul

[ppietro]

I have a hunch the 3.0 firmware update they announced is gonna remove the OtherOS option.

Without that option, won't be able to get back into YDL after updating the firmware . . .

Interesting.

The one press release quote, if read fairly literally:

Removal of “Install Other OS” feature

The new PS3 system will focus on delivering games and other entertainment content, and users will not be able to install other Operating Systems to the new PS3 system.

is inconclusive. Does system mean hardware or firmware? This quote though, might clear that up:

“Vertical Stand” for new PS3 (CECH-2000 series)

By utilizing the separately sold “Vertical Stand”, users will be able to set the new PS3 in vertical position*5, making it easier to place the PS3 system anywhere at home. The vertical stand will become available in Japan on September 3, 2009, at a RRP of 2,000 yen (including tax) and in North America at US$24

So - "PS3 system" would seem to mean hardware.

This would make some sense. If the PS3 slim is as much of a redesign as they claim, it might have a completely different hypervisor layer, since the hardware is so different. If they're engineering a new hypervisor, they may not have bothered with an OtherOS option.

Based on what I know of Sony, they'll probably just leave the existing PS3 OtherOS support in place. I wouldn't expect any changes to it - except for a bug fix or two. I'm basing this on the way they handled the hardware/software PS2 hybrid emulator in the U.S. 80 gig machine. They didn't remove it - they just stopped updating it.

Cheers,
Paul

[thendless]

Based on what I know of Sony, they'll probably just leave the existing PS3 OtherOS support in place. I wouldn't expect any changes to it - except for a bug fix or two. I'm basing this on the way they handled the hardware/software PS2 hybrid emulator in the U.S. 80 gig machine. They didn't remove it - they just stopped updating it.

Cheers,
Paul

That's a good point. I have a 60Gb PS3 and I can still create virtual PS2 memory cards even tho that's not possible in the current PS3 models.

Of course, the firmware can just screw something important in the OS (like wi-fi, in the past) since the Sony techs are no longer considering it. So the question is: if eventually that happens, will we still get official support or even new releases of YDL to fix the problem?

[ppietro]

That's a good point. I have a 60Gb PS3 and I can still create virtual PS2 memory cards even thow that's not possible in the current PS3 models.

Of course, the firmware can just screw something important in the OS (like wi-fi, in the past) since the Sony techs are no longer considering it. So the question is: if eventually that happens, will we still get official support or even new releases of YDL to fix the problem?

New releases of YDL to fix an issue? Yes - most likely. Remember - Fixstars sells PS3 clusters - they have an interest in keeping YDL running on the platform. (For a while, at least.)

Official support? Uncertain at best.

Cheers,
Paul

[Jester]

That is why we have this place. The best place I have seen for support regarding YDL on my ps3. Now I almost feel like getting this new slim for my ps3 actions and then reformatting my current 80GB to give linux 70GB and keep 10GB on my ps3 since I have the model that has the virtual memory cards. If i had a spare 300 laying around I may just do that... man, I need to hurry up and get a real job so I can buy all the crap I want to buy.

[Tobe]

Hello, I've just seen that the new PS3 Slim wont come with the option to install the OtherOS.

That's a real pity because the PS3 was the first machine after 15 years which gave me the old "Amiga feeling" back... (or at least some kind of it.)

If these developments continue at SONY my actual PS3 would be the last game console I have ever bought (I use my PS3 more for YDL than for gaming, but I own a two-digit amount of PS3 games yet).

To me it's really important that I can rely on the decisions that the manufacturer of my system has taken in the past. In this particular case this means that I was appreciating YDL getting better and better and our community getting bigger and bigger! This was giving me hope that some unsolved problems of our system could be solved in the future (like flash support and so on). But from now on I have to rely on the hackers - a real real pity!

So - what now? Do I really need pure game consoles?? And do I really want to struggle with the hackers proceedings for installing another OS???
As posted in another thread I have shortly bought a MacBook Pro 15" for my girlfriend - in my opinion a very fine engineered product. This is where I will go if Sony have bricks in their hads! Just waiting for USB 3.0 and some other goodies (maybe blu-ray) to be implemented and than continue "Linuxing" (or even using OS X) on the fine hardware platform of a MacBook Pro 17"!

Bye bye SONY - you've made it
G A M E O V E R ! ! !

P. S.: Funny that this poor looking PS3 Slim will be released on my birthday. What a nice present...

[Taellik]

Welcome to the People's Linux Court

The defendant : SONY

The prosecution : Linux user community

The charge : Willful dumbing-down of Playstion console product lines

Evidence for the prosecution, please...

Exhibit #1 : Original release PS2 "fat" could run Linux with add-on accessories
Exhibit #2 : Revised PS2 "slim" could not run Linux

Exhibit #3 : Original release PS3 "fat" could run Linux
Exhibit #4 : Revised PS3 "slim" cannot run Linux

Jury's verdict:
SONY is found guilty of taking back functionality previously made available thus dumbing-down its Playstation consoles.

Sentence to be decided at a later date . . . .

Taellik

[Efaustus9]

The loss of other os only applies to the slim model.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009 ... tion-3.ars

Q: "Why was the ability to install Linux removed from the system?"

A: There are a couple of reasons. We felt we wanted to move forward with the OS we have now. If anyone wants to use previous models and change the OS, they can do so." Koller said. "We wanted to standardize our OS."

[Taellik]

Q: "Why was the ability to install Linux removed from the system?"

A: There are a couple of reasons. We felt we wanted to move forward with the OS we have now. If anyone wants to use previous models and change the OS, they can do so." Koller said. "We wanted to standardize our OS."

The Kryptonian Science Council hereby sentences SONY to the Phantom Zone.

Taellik