Key points from this below blog entry:

• Sony is practically forcing users to do firmware updates by limiting device use until detected available updates are complete.
• Sony is spying on users. They have the ability to see the files being moved to/from the PC and Vita.

I get that they're trying to protect their asset by blocking hackers but using the motto "the ends justify the means" has led to some horrific events on earth. I know, I know, this is just some software but it's sigificant because when the Vita goes worldwide some of these practices carried out outside of Japan may/will be illegal activities. Personally, I don't like the idea of being forced to update firmware and I don't like the idea of someone spying on what I'm doing. I hardly ever immediately run system updates on my 360, PS3, Wii, PSP or 3DS when they drop unless I need it to play a specific game. I like to wait and see if there are any issues with it. If I get a Vita I pretty much have no choice because they'll otherwise block some important core features. That sucks. As for the lack privacy, well, it's even more concerning. Sony is overstepping their boundaries here and they could land themselves in hot water in certain countries if they try to pull this stuff. Here's an idea, if they're so worried about security then why the hell don't they spend more time writing better code and by maybe hiring some of these hackers to find the exploits so that they can block them before they're found by the pirate community? There are other ways to protect their assets which don't involve pissing on their fan base. Sony continues to toss crap on gamers' shoulders because they stink at covering their own . Maybe the crap sales in Japan is something that should cause them to pause and consider their ignorant and arrogant ways?

Today as I was using the PS Vita “content manager” in order to copy some files to the PS Vita, the content manager refused to start until I updated my firmware to official update 1.510. (This literally happened 10 minutes ago)

What surprises me is that the vita was disconnected, so I am assuming the update order came from the client on my PC (Update: confirmed. And the Vita refuses to run the content manager if the PC is not connected to the net).

A friendly advice to anybody who tries to “investigate” the Vita like I do: install the content manager on a PC that has no network connection (Update: I think “bastards” is the first word that came to my mouth when I saw that the vita refuses to connect to the PC if the Pc is not connected to the internet. This is really really concerning, and I hope a few people will have a look at the code of the PC “content manager” client. I’d be extremely happy to know why Sony is spying on me through the content manager when I’m copying my porn movies to the vita…), and disconnect the Vita as well. It seems Sony has a possibility to prevent anyone from playing with the Content Manager too much. This also confirms that the PSP Exploit we’re working on is more or less moot, since as soon as it is made public, Sony will prevent people from copying the files to their Vita with an obligatory firmware update.

This is really twisted, and I could swear a compulsory update in order to use such a core feature of the console might be illegal in some countries…we’re far from the “you have a choice to stop using linux” here, it’s more of a “you have a choice to stop copying mp3 and movies from and to the console”.

I have no clue what this update is for, but I’ll have a look. I assume it patches some of the weird bugs that people reported, including (but not limited to) the weird “demo mode” glitch, and other “freeze in the xmb” type of errors…

Source: http://wololo.net/wagic/2011/12/27/ps-vita-compulsory-system-...

If you have a problem with they way they run their company, then don't buy their products. It's just that simple!

This. Sony and developers lose massive amounts of money to pirates every year. What they are doing is protecting their company as well as smaller developers. It keeps money going to the people that deserve it which in the end is great for gamers. More money in the companies pockets equals a lot more quality games.

As far as privacy I don't see what anyone would be hiding on their gaming consoles......except for pirates.

Mr. Apollo:

May I have your name, address and Social Security number, please?

Jack Tretton

What's your email address and password? Unless you have something illegal to hide there is no reason for you to protect your privacy, your rights. That's your message, right?

One more thing. The quality of games has only continued to increase with time. This despite a rapid rise in piracy so there goes that idea. And for the record before we get into finger pointing, I'm not condoning piracy but I don't appreciate the digital intrusion of gadgets into our personal lives. It's not necessary to these products functions to know what I said in an email, what pages I surf or who I called and me being against a big corporation knowing this stuff doesn't not imply I'm doing illegal things, it just means I enjoy my rights and don't like watching them slowly whittled away. Sony loses their money mostly due to mistakes in product development, manufacturing and implementation and not from a bunch of computer nerds who probably wouldn't have bought the games regardless.

I think you guys missed the point. The issue isn't entirely ethical, but a lawsuit waiting to happen (if it works a certain way). I especially do not like the part about a PC disconnected from the internet.

Exactly. It's illegal in a bunch of countries. It's about to hit the fan.

So what I'm reading is that this is on the scale of wars and ethnic cleansing?

That's not very good logic though, because that's just quitting. As a consumer whining is your only power besides not buying something. Complain and whine as hard as you can (so long as those complaints are legitimate) if you don't voice your opinion and just submit then you will get taken advantage of.

In general Sony has been doing alot of shady business practices lately. When I was a child I was the biggest Sony fanboy ever I had an addiction to my PS1, and I still consider the PS2 to have one of the greatest software library in the history of game consoles. However with my purchase of a PSP and a PS3 I've come unhappy with certain aspects about how the company runs. I don't want to stop buying products as I still think the good out ways the bad, so I will complain and complain until I'm happy with what I have. Sony isn't too bad at listening to their fans, they don't always listen, but they do on occasion. You just have to slap them around a bit.

Keep in mind if people hadn't complained Xenoblade might have not been preparing for release in North America, and Capcom might have made more of their 3DS games with undeletable save files etc. Once you give up your right to complain you give up your freedom.

Pffffffffffft, this is hilarious!!

You honestly think you have that much privacy? I don't think it's as "illegal" as you think it is. Honestly I think piracy is a bigger deal than privacy.

This this this. What the heck are you so freaking worried about? If you have something to hide, then you're obviously doing something illegal or frowned upon by Sony, which is why they're doing this. You honestly think they care about what you browse on a daily basis anyway? Like I said earlier, privacy is overrated.

Just ask the advertising agencies and search engines that watch your every move

I would totally face-palm if face-palms were still permitted.

If you're on the 'net, and think you have any real privacy, you are sorely, sorely mistaken.

I like how you act like they've never done this kind of thing before. As others have already said, if you don't like their business practices, don't buy their products.

I think it's funny that the original blog post quoted is clearly a pirate complaining that his psp exploit isn't going to work or something. don't get me wrong I'll complain about crap like not being able to delete save files, but I love me some pirate hunting. It's not like Jack Tretton is going to come down and tell your boss you've been watching porn or something, it's for pirates. If all of your media is legit you're good to go, and it sounds awesome.

So does Machiavelli!

only thing i can understand from that is that they require you to be online constantly for thier security to work which many dont have?

am i understanding this right?

Good luck playing anything or doing anything online

I'm guessing the percentage of people without Internet with a PC full of songs and movies and a ps3 full of downloaded games they want to put on their vita is pretty small.

ok maybe i need to word it properly everything is wired well most of it anyways except for my 3DS and wii for obvious reason, stinking wireless can fail sometimes but the wired stuff will work regardless

so what i mean is do i need to be online constantly with the vita in order to use features that otherwise would be blocked as the article claims because i wont be using online unless im playing an online game or download something so i turn the wireless off to save power

make sense?

I think the only thing you can't do w/o Internet is the actual file transfers, at least that's what the pirates have told me in this thread

theres pirates in this thread i didnt notice