OMEN
08-23-2010, 09:04 AM
WHEN it comes to modding and "jailbreaking", most big companies seem set against the idea of letting users play around with their hi-tech devices.
Of course, that doesn't stop people trying.
The first working "modchip" on sale in Australia can let PlayStation 3 owners store games on their hard drive and promises to be easy enough to be used by tech novices.
The mod actually comes on a USB stick, which, if inserted into the PS3 before the console is turned on, will disable system security, and allow users to backup games on the hard drive, or run third-party software.
The owner of ozmodchips.com, Ryan, who declined to give his surname, said Sony, the maker of the PS3, had a reputation for being the most concerned with keeping its systems tamper-free.
"The PS3's remained unhacked for four years," he told news.com.au."If this had happened a while ago it wouldn't have been big news. The reason it is big news is that Sony, out of this generation, have had the only 'unhackable' console."
Ryan said that because many of today's consoles were always connected to the internet, it was easy for manufacturers to close any holes in their software that let third parties muck around with it.
"Maybe they already know how this works, maybe next week they'll release a new firmware that blocks it," he said of the mod, that originated from overseas.
"As I said, with the current generation of consoles, all the power's with them."
Ryan's website sells several modifications for consoles and other electronic devices, but says they are not designed to be used with pirated games.
"If they want to do that, we just hang up. We keep ourselves very clean, we don't involve ourselves with piracy at all," he said.
The PS3 modchip for sale on his site wouldn't allow users to play burnt copies of games, he added.
Of course, the nature of Ryan's business means things can get a little dicey at times.
"It's one of the hardest things, this industry, to be in, because (of) the legality. If the laws change tomorrow, you can't... you're not going to do it illegally," he said.
The new mod follows the recent removal of a feature from the PS3 that let users install other operating systems, such as Linux, on their consoles.
In June, one Australian PS3 owner sued Sony claiming that the feature was one of the reasons he purchased the console.
News AU
Of course, that doesn't stop people trying.
The first working "modchip" on sale in Australia can let PlayStation 3 owners store games on their hard drive and promises to be easy enough to be used by tech novices.
The mod actually comes on a USB stick, which, if inserted into the PS3 before the console is turned on, will disable system security, and allow users to backup games on the hard drive, or run third-party software.
The owner of ozmodchips.com, Ryan, who declined to give his surname, said Sony, the maker of the PS3, had a reputation for being the most concerned with keeping its systems tamper-free.
"The PS3's remained unhacked for four years," he told news.com.au."If this had happened a while ago it wouldn't have been big news. The reason it is big news is that Sony, out of this generation, have had the only 'unhackable' console."
Ryan said that because many of today's consoles were always connected to the internet, it was easy for manufacturers to close any holes in their software that let third parties muck around with it.
"Maybe they already know how this works, maybe next week they'll release a new firmware that blocks it," he said of the mod, that originated from overseas.
"As I said, with the current generation of consoles, all the power's with them."
Ryan's website sells several modifications for consoles and other electronic devices, but says they are not designed to be used with pirated games.
"If they want to do that, we just hang up. We keep ourselves very clean, we don't involve ourselves with piracy at all," he said.
The PS3 modchip for sale on his site wouldn't allow users to play burnt copies of games, he added.
Of course, the nature of Ryan's business means things can get a little dicey at times.
"It's one of the hardest things, this industry, to be in, because (of) the legality. If the laws change tomorrow, you can't... you're not going to do it illegally," he said.
The new mod follows the recent removal of a feature from the PS3 that let users install other operating systems, such as Linux, on their consoles.
In June, one Australian PS3 owner sued Sony claiming that the feature was one of the reasons he purchased the console.
News AU