PS3 update kills hack
The PSJailbreak dongle and PSGroove software will no longer work with Sony’s latest “minor” update. Both the dongle and the freeware program allowed PS3 owners to play pirated games.
PSJailbreak began shipping in mid-August and according to the BBC, is no longer legal in at least Australia with a law suit in the U.S. against Zoomba the company that runs the online PSJailbreak shop. Obviously, PSJailbreak doesn’t bill itself as way to run pirated software.
Just like the jailbreak hacks for iPhone and Android devices, the program/dongle was designed to open up the console to play non-Sony sanctioned games, like those you might create yourself. The dongle also opened up the possibility that you could backup games to internal and external hard drives.
PSGroove specifically says "This software is not intended to enable piracy, and such features have been disabled. This software is intended to allow the execution of unsigned third-party apps and games on the PS3.” So the backup feature of PSJailbreak was disabled or rather never implemented.
As a result of Sony’s Australian lawsuit, distributors like OzModChips of the PSJailbreak dongle have to turn over their entire inventory to the court. Apparently other Nations have encountered similar issues with the Dongle. The BBC is reporting that the Netherlands also has banned the dongle.
The PSGroove code requires a Teensy++ USB Development Board or an AT90USBKEY. The program “is intended to allow the execution of unsigned third-party apps and games on the PS3.” As with all things that are designed to open up systems so that budding developers can tinker with the system, it can be used for downloading pirated software whether the developers intended it or not.
There is a warning on the PSGroove download site that warns:
NOTICE: To all the PSFreedom, PSGroove, PSJailbreak owners out there!
Sony has finally released the Dongle-Blocking v3.42 firmware to all the PS3′s around the world!
FOR NOW PLEASE DON’T UPDATE YOUR PS3, IF YOU WISH TO FULLY ENJOY IT!
It is only a matter of time before someone finds a new way around the update. Sony can continue to file law suits all over the globe but in the end, there will always be those who want to rise to the challenge of creating their own code and games.
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