Sony removes install “other OS” from PS3 (part 4)

Well after 7454 posts (150 pages worth) Sony has locked the blog entry http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/ due to it being over 30 days old.

Kmart

Yesterday was the first time that I’ve purchased anything from Kmart this year (It wouldn’t have been my first trip…. BUT there was that issue with them and there “bait and switch” coupon). The $10 off a $50 purchase was burning a hole in my pocket (That I got for whining about there “bait and switch” coupon). Sadly I was charged for the same product multiple times on my receipt and will have to go back to demand my refund.
I had purchased 2 bottles or mouthwash. It was BOGO 50% off. Seemed like an ok deal. That is till they charged me for 4 bottles when I only bought 2 🙁

Sony removes install “other OS” from PS3 (part 3)

Well I tried to login to PSN (Playstation Network). Seems like they blocked the DNS settings everyone was using to bybass the new firmware update 🙁

Luckily Netflix still works!!!!

PS
There are now 7,145 comments on Sony’s blog entry announcing the firmware “downgrade”. 143 pages worth!

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/

Sony removes install “other OS” from PS3 (part 2)

04/01/2010
I am unable to login to the PSN (online playstation network on the PS3). It requires me to update to the latest firmware first. Sadly that firmware will remove the install other os feature. Which was one of the selling points for the PS3.

So I called Sony.

5:36pm
The automated system says the current expected hold time is 3 mins

5:39pm
I reach Arcila(? I should have really asked her how to spell her name.)
She advises that you can not play online unless you update to the latest firmware
She also states that “any new Blu-ray movies will require firmware 3.2.1 or higher”.

A few other memorable quotes from her were:

“that’s the way it is”

“We are not allowed to hang up on you.”

I advised her that it was advertised to have “install other OS” support which was one of the reasons I bought it.
She stated “the install other OS option was a free feature that we’ve chosen to remove”
I asked “Well backwards compatibility is a “free feature” in the original PS3s. When is that going to be removed?”
She stated “Most PS3s don’t even have that”

I again asked when will you be removing the PS2 backwards compatibility support.

She stated “The new ones don’t have that anyways”.
She wouldn’t answer my question. Just kept implying that if you have that “free feature” you should feel luck you do…. For now.

“my hand to God we will not issue you a refund”

I’m sure you don’t want to deal with 500 calls like this a day?
“Don’t mind. It’s my job.”

I asked her for the address to send small claims court paperwork to.
Took her a few mins to find it. She was muttering under her breath the whole time as she looked for it.
She did state a min or so into looking “can’t find a address” then she went back to muttering and finally found it. Same address I had received before. Though she didn’t give me the ATTN: Correspondence bit at first. I had to ask her if there was anyone I needed to address it to and she then provided that part.

ATTN: Correspondence
SCEA
PO BOX 5888
San Mateo, CA 94402-0888

5:58pm she hung up.

6:07pm
I gave my attorney generals office a call on the off chance they were still open.
They weren’t.
I doubt the will be open tomorrow for Good Friday. It’s worth a shot though.

6:15pm
I change my DNS settings and I am able to avoid the software update and get on PSN.

NOTE:
The blog entry on Sony’s website
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/
that started it all now has 5287 comments on it totaling 106 pages!!

Sony removes install “other OS” from PS3

03-29-2010
I read this http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/03/28/ps3-firmware-v3-21-update/ today while at work.

I’ve copied it in case it gets removed by Sony. Hopefully they do change there mind about releasing this “update” (or as The Internet is calling it today a “downgrade”).

PS3 Firmware (v3.21) Update

Posted by Patrick Seybold // Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Social Media

The next system software update for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system will be released on April 1, 2010 (JST), and will disable the “Install Other OS” feature that was available on the PS3 systems prior to the current slimmer models, launched in September 2009. This feature enabled users to install an operating system, but due to security concerns, Sony Computer Entertainment will remove the functionality through the 3.21 system software update.

In addition, disabling the “Other OS” feature will help ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system.

Consumers and organizations that currently use the “Other OS” feature can choose not to upgrade their PS3 systems, although the following features will no longer be available;

• 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

For those PS3 users who are currently using the “Other OS” feature but choose to install the system software update, to avoid data loss they first need to back-up any data stored within the hard drive partition used by the “Other OS,” as they will not be able to access that data following the update.

Additional information about PS3 firmware updates, including v3.21 (once it becomes available), can be found here:
http://us.playstation.com/support/systemupdates/ps3/index.htm

PS3 owners who have further questions should contact Consumer Services:
http://us.playstation.com/support/ask/
800-345-7669 (800-345-SONY)

5:32 pm
I called Sony as soon as I got home.
Mark answered.
I asked him about the above article and how I can get a full refund.
He said he was very familiar with the press release and said my best bet is to sell it for online for a really high price. More than what I paid for it.
I explained to him that isn’t the reason for my call. I would like a full refund from Sony since they are removing a “feature” that was a selling point for the PS3 for me.

He stated that no “they” (he kept referring to Sony as “they” made it seem like he wasn’t part of the company) are within there right of there EULA/TOS/whatever to remove a features at anytime. He stated that since the PS3 is now hacked “they” (referencing Sony as an almighty company again) will be locking it down. He actually said “locking it down”. I believe his exact quote was “Not putting up with people hacking it so there locking it down.”

He provided me with an address I can send small claims court papers to:

SCEA
ATTN Correspondence
PO Box 5888
San Mateo, CA 94402-0888

He also advised to file a complaint on the Sony website under the contact us option.

5:38pm
End call.

11:38pm
NOTE: Currently there are 1750 (nice round number) replies to the blog entry on Sony’s website totaling 33 pages worth!

DeepDiscount.com ships duplicate item

Ahhhhh DeepDiscount…. I swore I would never use them again. But they were having a crazy crazy sale over the summer.

07-16-2009 I placed an order for $410.22 worth of merchandise (the sale was crazy crazy crazy good!). Quite a few took awhile to ship. They were in a “backorder” status forever.

07-18-2009 they shipped the Album Twitch by the band Ministry. I received it a few weeks later (which is standard shipping time for DeepDiscount (but it’s free shipping!)).

08-17-2009 I received an email advising me that the album Filth Pig by Ministry was shipping with an ETA of 08-26-2009 through 08-31-2009.

09-28-2009 I received an email stating that they were applying me a credit for the price of Ministry’s Filth Pig to my credit card. I guess they hadn’t shipped it when they said they were going to in the previous email. I had totally forgotten about it or I would have contacted them earlier about it.

09-29-2009 I received an email from them that the album Filth Pig by Ministry was shipping with an ETA of 10-08-2009 – 10-13-2009.

10-14-2009 I received a package from DeepDiscount (a day later than the ETA had stated) and sadly it wasn’t the correct item. Instead of sending me Ministry’s Filth Pig they sent me the Ministry album Twitch. I had previously received Twitch from them in July. I sent them an email immediately about there mistake.

10-16-2009 I received an email from them that they would be sending a prepaid postage label to send back to them the incorrect CD. Once they receive it they will credit back my account. Then charge me for the correct CD. They then will ship out the correct CD with an ETA of 5-10 Business days.

10-28-2009 I just realized today I never received this prepaid shipping label and sent them an email…

DAMN you Netflix

So I am on hold yet again for the evening with Netflix.I like to call it Netflixs it sounds better with the s to me.
Yesterday I decided I needed some Office (season 2 (USofA version)) it’s like 35 bucks so I go and reopen my Netflixs account.
I go to the bank and deposit $37.00 into my account. With my previous balance that’s a whopping $38.18.I get home sign up for some hot Netflixs action.While I’m signing up after I click submit on the last “agreement” page not a damn thing happens there site wigs out and eventually after 3 mins times out.
I go back to the site and and try and resign up. BUT it states that I don’t have enough $ in my bank account to pay them. since 6 mins earlier they had placed a hold on my $ in my account for the unsuccessful sign up.
So around 4:00pm ish I give them a call. wait and eternity to speak with a rep. explain to her what’s going on she takes a look at my account says no problem and goes ahead and finishes signing me up.
Hours later I’m checking my email and see that I got an automated message from Netflixs sent to me at 5:30pm saying that there is a problem with my credit card (debit card whatever) I call them at hmm lemme see where are those notes from last night at…. ahh here we go…
called Netflixs 2007-01-09 9:48pmfor the second time todaydo to the email I got that said there was a problem with my transactionstill holding after it hung up on me it’s now 9:59pm and they close at 10 pm so…I have a feeling no one is going to answer tonightgave up at 10:08pmand put on speaker phone and played some unreal 2004 randomly I got a lady on the line.she states it’s a problem with my bank and that deposits take longer to go through.I EXPLAINED to her that it is NOT a bank problem it’s just that Netflixs had already taken the $ and that you can’t take it again.she said that if it’s not through with in 24 hours shoot her an emailsgoans@netflix.comend call 10:22pm
so today in class I log in to my Netflixs account and see a huge message saying that there was a problem with my payment and that the charge has not gone through.and my bank account is lower than the $38.18 that I have in there… by oh the exact amount after taxes for the Netflixs 4 out at a time plan.
I out of frustration just click the giant cancel button on Netflixs page and fill out the why I’m leaving survey it prompts me to.I get a cancellation email and another 2 emails from Netflixs.
1 a request by Netflixs to fill out a survey (THAT I HAD JUST DONE) why I was leaving them as a customer.
2 an email inviting me back to enjoy a free 2 weeks.
so it’s around 8:30pm ish and I just got off the phone with my bank (cause my balance still isn’t at the correct amount) and they said call Netflixs to get a refund of the money they took… and if there is any problem with Netflixs call back (I guess I could just visit a branch) to get the ball rolling of fraud paper work if my money doesn’t come back to me.
so here I’ve been sitting hold waiting on hold for some one to pick up at Netflixs for over 20 mins so far this eveningdamn it!I’m wasting my day mins I’ll call back after 9:00 pm