I don't think this will be bad for Sony. Bad for the publishers, yes... All I care about is can we unleash all SPU in linux / folding. Because if PS3 can be unlocked it has awesome power for computation.
Is not as bad as if this jailbreak had been available near launch (like PS2s) specially now that sony makes a profit on every unit (or at least breaks even) but sony still gets a cut of every game with the licensing deal, and I cant say if all R&D costs have been covered by now. About folding, well there are 12-core x64 CPUs now, sure way more expensive than a PS3 unit (and thats without counting the really fucking expensive server-grade mobo) but also much more flexible and customizable.
Of course it will be bad for Sony. Whilst yes, they are not losing money on making PS3s anymore, they still make most of their money through resale and licensing rights on the games that are released. Regarding the 'noone would download 50G of data': you should not underestimate people's patience to get something for nothing. A 50Mbps connection via cable in the UK (which is not very expensive) means you could have a full-disc game in at little as 6 hours (50GB * 8 = 400Gb. 400Gb / 50Mbps = 8000secs = 5.56hours).
50Mb connections rarely download at 5MB/sec, but essentially you're right. People are happy to wait a few days if they don't have to spend £45. Where were you in Europe? This is not usual.
This actually is bad for sony/consumers as sony will now most likely hold back on any further price drops that would put them at loosing money on hw production as this most likely will start to hurt software sales a little and sony won't be able to count on recouping hw loss via software. So if this explodes, I doubt we will see a $250 or less PS3 in the next 8-12 months. Also one already had SPU access in linux. If someone did not care to use them there, they sure as hell won't care now. The part people bitched about in linux was lack of GPU access.
As Subbie said if this turns out how the PSP did with custom firmwares at ease then things could really go wrong. But we will have to see because from the PSP free method to the PS3s 99 pound one its risky business for something that could be patched.
My only real interest in this is the playing of debug code. Do Dony release required firmware updates often for the newer games (like the XDK's for the 360 dev units)? If so, how difficult would it be to play future dev code if you can't take your retail unit online?
I'm wondering why the PS3 can start an unencrypted ELF from external storage at all. Sony did the right thing of requiring encryption+signature on all files from untrusted sources on the PS2, so I don't get why they should have removed such a basic security feature from the PS3. (Remember: neither the encryption nor the signing process for the PS2 were ever broken; it was an implementation fault that allowed stuff like FMCB). Blocking the exploit via firmware update should be straightforward (without shutting down USB; credits to whoever had that idea first, you made my day :lol as long as the routine reading the USB dongle is not in ROM. They could even make it such that no new dongles would have to be shipped to their service centers. However, these are great results, and I can't wait to get such a dongle. Its finally time for some homebrewing... :drool: Sadly, this is very true; although I believe you won't be able to use the full speed of a 50MBit connection for something like this. It is a shared medium, and even if you were the only one using it, you'd still need someone seeding the file at the same speed.
By past standards we should've seen a U$S199 PS3 two years ago, one tops. Since sony is planning to push the same hw for the next 5 or 6 years I don't think they're in a rush to lower prices, specially now that the slim X360 turned out to cost as much as the old one did.
If you remember ps2 had dongles too, you would set the media and key for the dongles. No one really made use of them though.
I regularly max out my internet connection (about 13Mbps) when downloading, so I wouldn't be surprised if a 50Mbps connection could get you at least 2MBps. OK, so that means 10 hours instead of 5, but still. What kills torrents is that many ISPs provide upstream at a ridiculously low rate (even my fairly decent connection only provides 1Mbps upload). Unless it's a popular site with some people on fat networks, then these things are sloooooooooow to get started. However, if seeding is encouraged then I'd imagine you'd get a decent speed, and might even get full speed.
I for one will be buying this and a xbox slim 4gb, then wait for awesome homebrew and play backups on it, use my xbox for online gaming h0h0h0h0
China will be selling these for $30 in a few months no doubt. @SilverBull: How do you know it is unencrypted?
Well...with a 10Mbps line you can download over 100 GB in 24h... 2 full BD50s a day. 100Mbps lines are supposed to be widely available even in third world countries like Germany within the next 18 months. 20+ games a day? Sounds "reasonable". SL BD-Rs now have the same GB/€ ratio as 3.5" HDDs, 110€ get you a 10x BD writer. This is most certainly very inviting to the warez crowd. @Alchy Around here you can find a handful console modding stores in every major city, plus the back alley modders in smaller towns. Many of the small ones even offer complementary warez with your modding service purchase. Then look to the Czech Republic, 2 years ago (no idea if anything actually changed since then) you basically couldn't throw a stone near the border without hitting some sort of bootleg store, be it fashion with misspelled labels, cigarettes or porn/games/movies/apps. Sometimes you got shut in inside a container with lots of fake merchandise when the cops come to make their "controls".
