A Tale of Two Firmware Updates: Sony and Microsoft
Last nite Sony issued a firmware update to the PS3 bumping it up to 1.11. This new firmware was pushed out before Sony website could be updated to reflect the change. If i count correctly the PS3 is averaging about 1 update a week since release. This whole situation reminded me of the constant firmware updates I experienced on my PSP. The PSP updates in my opinion erred more on combating my ability to play homebrew games than improving my experience on the PSP. On the other hand the Xbox 360 updates which come 2 times a year in the form of a dashboard update are often met with elation and herald many anticipated features. The main issue I take with Sony and the firmware update model is that I believe it will be used to limit the usefulness of the console rather than enhancing the user experience. Could this firmware update have anything to do with an individual dumping Madden 07 to the HDD via Linux?
Finally will all of these firmware updates screw up different builds of Linux? I am not familiar enough with Linux to know the answer but imagine the need to recompile and reinstal Linux every time Sony spots a homebrew app on the rise. I mean isn’t Linux about homebrew in a sense? If Sony treats the PS3 like the PSP their firmware ninjas will be racking up loads of overtime over the coming years.
Will Sony use its firmware updates for Good or Evil?
Josh Smith is a blogger, database manager and adjunct professor of business and technology. 
