Sony Playstation 3 will discontinue its functionality of allowing the use of open source operating systems on the older PS3 model (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/). This feature was removed from the PS3 slim version, but has remained on the older PS3 and apparently has never served as a security problem until now.

So what? Who needs the other operating systems? Well you do! What if you got a bug up your ass to install Yellow Dog, or Fedora and wanted to expand your computer/gaming experience. Why does Sony gives us the option to use their platform for things other than gaming and watching blu-rays, then just strong arms us into taking it away.

If you choose not to update, it comes an unreasonable price. You LOSE the :
•    Ability to sign in to PlayStation Network and use network features that require signing in to PlayStation Network, such as online features of PS3 games and chat
•    Playback of PS3 software titles or Blu-ray Disc videos that require PS3 system software version 3.21 or later
•    Playback of copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server (when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings)
•    Use of new features and improvements that are available on PS3 system software 3.21 or later

Yeah I’m not sure about you, but for me not to be able to watch Blu-Ray discs, or go online and chat is a little suspicious. Why has Sony stuck the knife in and twisted it? Well it may be that in January all the leaks about a PS3 hack. I hope that hack comes out soon in its entirety and I hope they hack the PS3 fucking hard. I can get a Blu-Ray player for $99. The fun I could have screwing Sony for is priceless. They still owe me for blocking my PSP for going online due to its modification. Hey Sony we’re gunnin’ for you next…

Revenge is best served cold, with a side of hot pants.

Eve Online Robbed

So in an unexpected move yesterday a bank was robbed. How horrible that people lost all there money. Plus the FDIC did not insure the bank so this makes this even more horrific for the people involved. However this bank was virtual, along with the money. So there was a virtual heist. The guy “Ricdic” who was in control of the bank on EVE Online traded $1.2 million of fake money ISK (the fake currency) for $5,000 bucks real life cash. He used the money to pay off debts. Would you trust a banker with the word dic after his first name? I wouldn’t. I say put fake money into a fake account, and it gets fake stolen, deal with it. I never did trust that little creep from Monopoly. That’s why I keep all my Monopoly money in a safe deposit box, cause anybody with a monocle cannot be trusted. Goes for Mr. Peanut too.

Found: One mysterious iPhone
There’s a prototype 16gig iPhone 3Gs on eBay right now. It was found at an airport and it can’t be restored. An Apple Genius has looked over the phone, and did confirm it is an apple product however it was never registered in the apple database, as every product should be. The serial number apparently never made that list. It’s going for $365.00 right now on eBay. Who knows maybe its open source or even more in tune with reality plays FLASH!, which in any case would make the phone priceless .  I’ll keep you posted if anything comes of this iPhone.

Lower Prices or make your own damn games
Another company jumped on Sony’s back to lower the prices of the PS3. This time it’s Tecmo Koei. Activision has already threatened to pull development for future PS3 games if the price does not drop, and Tecmo is “maybe” thinking the same thing. They are just suggesting they would like the prices to lower. These developers are not necessarily losing money, but they’re not making as much money as they are with Xbox360. I think it’s about time somebody spoke up too Sony about their outrageous prices. Also to add my cons against Sony they killed the Hulu ability of the PS3, that’s a whole other rant.  However I think this is just a big ploy by Sony to make everyone happy and they’ll lower the prices in time for Christmas so they’ll be a hot seller.  They move all digital crack with dust building it up on it.

Why the three articles? I’m extremely busy this 3 day weekend. So hopefully this will keep you over till I can clear more time to write a longer post.

So Elonex has finally put out its small but powerful eBook reader. Sure there are other eBook readers out there, such as Amazon’s, and Sony’s, even the iPhone. This one however boasts a 6″ screen, is 9-millimeters thick and a 4 gig expansion slot to boot. The eBook reader will hold about 8,000 books, which is more than enough books if you ask me. Sadly this only available to UK consumers right now through Borders bookstores. With the popularity of the who’s who in eBook readers I’m sure we’ll be seeing this in the US within the year.

It runs $189 pounds in the UK, or  $311 US Dollars. This may seem a bit pricey for it being a fairly unknown brand however you get to download 100 eBooks free from Borders, and a charger and data cable. Yes, I know a data cable and charger are not those impressive. Your grandmother got one with her hand crank personal massager but a hundred free eBooks is though. From Amazon they run about 10 bucks a pop. So if you’re a serious reader who has yet to discover how to “borrow” eBooks from torrent sites then this is probably your best bet. There’s no official release date for the US, but its on its way rest assured. Perhaps as far away from the hand crank personal massager as possible.

The company that never gives up.

When Nintendo introduced its portable DS system in 2004, many longtime fans were skeptical. Its innovations — the dual screens, the stylus-based controls, the built-in microphone — seemed gimmicky. How could this clunky slab ever replace the beloved Game Boy?

Five years and 100 million units later, no one doubts that Nintendo knew what it was doing. The second version of the hardware, the slender DS Lite, has been particularly popular; in December, Nintendo sold 3 million in the United States, breaking the one-month sales record for any video-game console.

So it’s almost foolish to quibble with Nintendo when it comes to portable gaming. The new DSi (US$169.99) has some features I love and some I can live without, but there’s no denying it’s a nifty piece of hardware.

The most visible change is the addition of two still cameras, one facing toward the user, once facing away. The cameras are low-resolution, but they serve their purpose, allowing you to take photos and manipulate them. You can distort faces, add colors and graffiti, morph two faces together or create a kaleidoscope effect.

The DSi Sound application is less inventive. It lets you take voice or music files and change their speed and pitch, or add assorted effects, like a trumpet or an electric fan. I suspect kids will have a lot more fun making goofy faces with the camera than creating annoying sounds with the microphone.

In the long run, the most significant element of the DSi will be its ability to download software from the Internet. In this respect, Nintendo is playing catch-up to Sony’s PlayStation Portable — and certainly reacting to the threat posed by Apple’s iPhone, whose App Store has gotten a lot of people used to the idea of downloading games.

Wanting for Wares

Nintendo’s DSiWare only has five games at launch, and none of them are essential. For $2, you can purchase “Master of Illusion Express: Funny Face,” a cheesy magic trick, or “Bird & Beans,” a needless extension of one of the five-second microgames in the “WarioWare” series.

For $5 you can get “Art Style: Aquia,” an unusually difficult color-matching game. Or you can get “WarioWare: Snapped!,” which uses the cameras but only works in optimum light — a problem if you’re playing on the go.

Finally, “Brain Age Express: Math,” which recycles the math problems of the original “Brain Age” games, will set you back $8.

The DSi does play the hundreds of DS cartridges that are already on the market. Best of the recent releases: Nintendo’s “Rhythm Heaven,” Electronic Arts’ “Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure,” Rockstar’s “Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars,” D3′s “Puzzle Quest: Galactrix” and PopCap’s “Peggle Dual Shot.”

Of course, you could play all those on a $129.99 DS Lite. But if you don’t have a Nintendo portable, the DSi may be worth the extra $40 — once the DSiWare offerings get up to speed.