Cobra Updates once again!

[Strizay]

did Dean sell the rights to MM to the Cobra team? We haven't heard from him in a while and they get new updates.. Just wondering.

[SwordOfWar]

MM is open source and does not require people to buy a license to use/modify it. The only requirement is for the modified version to include the original GPL license, which MM-Cobra Edition does. Dean has already stated he is fine with Cobra building onto Multiman since it now allows Cobra users to use it, which is good for the community.

The "new" updates MM-Cobra Edition is getting are based on Cobra's features, which require you to have their dongle.

Cobra has had these features a long time now, and are simply updating MultiMAN to support it's features, so users don't have to use Cobra's own crappy backup manager anymore.

If your waiting for Cobra to release a free version of MultiMAN that supports all of Cobra's exclusive features, why do you think they charge for their dongle? That's not going to happen, folks.

Just stating the obvious here.

[FRESHCOOK]

This dongle still doesnt allow 3.60+ firmware game playablity unlike true blue so whats the point ??

[SwordOfWar]

This dongle still doesnt allow 3.60+ firmware game playablity unlike true blue so whats the point ??

The ability to play PS1, PS2 and PSP games from HDD? And the ability to play PS3 games on the external drive even if they have files > 4GB. Some of those games that have black screen problems or just won't work, work just fine in Cobra's ISO format.

You also get the neat feature of playing DVD/Bluray complete ISO files.

That sounds like some pretty solid features to me. Can True Blue do that? No.

Also, Cobra's dongle is half the price of a True Blue dongle.

I can get a lot more value from games I never got the chance to play on the PS1, PS2 and PSP (and even replay them now in 1080p on my big TV) than I will get from playing the 3-4 games I'm interested in that's 3.60+...

Also, if the keys are ever released to the public, it should be easy for Cobra to add the keys into their CFW (and for people without a dongle). Then everyone could play 3.60+ games. It is more likely that this would happen before we see other CFWs with cobra's exclusive features.

[krytonic]

The ability to play PS1, PS2 and PSP games from HDD? And the ability to play PS3 games on the external drive even if they have files > 4GB. Some of those games that have black screen problems or just won't work, work just fine in Cobra's ISO format.

You also get the neat feature of playing DVD/Bluray complete ISO files.

That sounds like some pretty solid features to me. Can True Blue do that? No.

Also, Cobra's dongle is half the price of a True Blue dongle.

I can get a lot more value from games I never got the chance to play on the PS1, PS2 and PSP (and even replay them now in 1080p on my big TV) than I will get from playing the 3-4 games I'm interested in that's 3.60+...

Also, if the keys are ever released to the public, it should be easy for Cobra to add the keys into their CFW (and for people without a dongle). Then everyone could play 3.60+ games. It is more likely that this would happen before we see other CFWs with cobra's exclusive features.

Lol.... Playing a PS1 game on the PS3 does not make it upscale. I've checked, it keeps it's original resolutions I imagine it is the same with PS2 and PSP games. Not sure what makes you think it goes up to 1080p.

Even with the keys Cobra have no intention of releasing any of their dongle's features for free on a CFW.

[SwordOfWar]

I don't think you understand what I was saying. If the keys become public domain, any CFW can have support for 3.60+ games, and since 3.60+ game support is the only unique feature of True Blue, the dongle would be devalued considerably.

As for the 1080p, playing these games do look better through the PS3 and it upscales, actually. I can pull out some retail PS2 discs, pop em in, and appreciate the larger image with smoothing enabled.

It looks better than what you would see with an original PS1/PS2 connected, using those out-dated composite cables. It would look really jagged on a big TV, where as on the PS3 it uses a smoothing filter to make it look more decent on a large HDTV like what people use now.

In my opinion it looks better.

[xtrem3x]

Cobra are just another team closing the PS3 scene down. If they wanted to drive the scene forward they would ditch the dongle and just release the software. Instead just like the TB team they have decided they want money for their work so released it with a drm dongle.

[_cmx_]

You fail to realize, that cobra is made by the same maker of true blue, look at the internal chips, fpga, etc...

[cboushell]

Cobra are just another team closing the PS3 scene down. If they wanted to drive the scene forward they would ditch the dongle and just release the software. Instead just like the TB team they have decided they want money for their work so released it with a drm dongle.

"they want money for their work", I guess you work for free, if so I've got a bunch of jobs for you.

[SwordOfWar]

You forgot that the first public jailbreak was from a 120$ dongle. If anything, dongles are what started the scene, since before this happened nobody was really interested. The free solutions that came soon after were all based on what that dongle did.

The truth is that those skilled enough obviously don't care to either develop or release a free alternative. Whatever the reason is, it is obvious that the dongle makers are the only ones releasing new features ever since CFW 3.55 first came out.

I don't think it is the scene you're talking about xtrem3x. I think your just frustrated you have to open your wallet to get a feature your interested in.

I understand your anger. I was once there in that same position. But, you know what I did? I bought one and never looked back. I'm enjoying some nice features and I'm happy with the investment.

I mean, Cobra is less than 1 new game purchase, and True Blue (although I consider it expensive) is less than 2 new games. If you can afford a system with 60$ games, surely you can manage to save up a little while for a dongle?

You guys are just too cheap. You want all games and features 100% free. You should be happy we have what is available now. Cobra + shipping to the USA is a total of about 45 bucks from the official reseller. If you can't manage that, you need to go find a job, or get an allowance from your parents.

If a free solution comes along, then great. I won't be holding my breath though.

[tpmjb]

"they want money for their work", I guess you work for free, if so I've got a bunch of jobs for you.

You somehow fail to understand the concept of Open Source. It is run by donations and isn't made for the purpose of making money, but in order to push forward development/enrich the community. Your analogy doesn't actually fit the issue. That said there are people who think just like you in the community who want/expect devs to work for free so they can pirate/homebrew. If I were a dev I wouldn't want to help greedy people either.

It is sad that a "dongle" is required to ensure that groups like trueblue get their money. How many years has it been since we stopped using dongles?

Also, am I the only one who has a PS3 collecting dust on his desk?

[SwordOfWar]

You somehow fail to understand the concept of Open Source. It is run by donations and isn't made for the purpose of making money, but in order to push forward development/enrich the community. Your analogy doesn't actually fit the issue. That said there are people who think just like you in the community who want/expect devs to work for free so they can pirate/homebrew. If I were a dev I wouldn't want to help greedy people either.

It is sad that a "dongle" is required to ensure that groups like trueblue get their money. How many years has it been since we stopped using dongles?

Also, am I the only one who has a PS3 collecting dust on his desk?

If you bought a Cobra dongle you would have a reason to dust it off, ha (Just a joke, but also serious).

As far as I know, Cobra and TB were never Open Source, so that doesn't really apply to them. Also, Open Source doesn't necessarily mean that it is free. Donations would be more accurately described as a way to help or show appreciation for someone's work.

That said there are people who think just like you in the community who want/expect devs to work for free so they can pirate/homebrew

Are you implying that devs should be paid so you can pirate/homebrew? This is conflicting with what you said about how the scene should be open source and donation only (no mandatory payments). Donations + releasing something means your willing to accept the possibility of getting no payment (working for free).

It seems to me that you desire devs to do the same work, offer a donation alternative, and have people willingly donate about the same amount of money that would be obtained if payment was mandatory (or any decent amount proportional to the work required for the project). From past examples, I doubt any decent amount of donations would be sent.

It is sad that a "dongle" is required to ensure that groups like trueblue get their money.

I'm willing to bet these dongle features wouldn't exist if there wasn't a way to monopolize on it. The people who make these dongles are people who want money, not people who want to share free open source solutions to the scene/community.

Instead of considering dongles as someone stealing features from the scene, you could also view it as someone adding extra features to the scene for a fee/compensation. Weather you like the idea of paying for exclusive features or not, it's something that is an available option and everyone has their own right to pay for it or reject that offer.

I don't think Dean ever got any considerable amount of donation money, and look how long he worked on developing MultiMAN (I give my hat off to the guy).

What would be interesting is if Cobra/TB set a donation goal and when met, they would release their work as open source to the community. Similar to what happened with those RSX drivers/documentations.

[dialtone]

CMX: I was thinking the exact same thing that TB and Cobra could be one of the same cause you would thing one would try and implement the others features and push them out of the market, but if they are the same entity it would be better to make a separate dongle and add a major new feature to that and profit off selling 2 separate dongles. Then again they could be 2 different companies and just can't crack each others work, other devs haven't yet.

tpmjb: I very much agree with you. I personally miss the good ol days when the community would keep it free but on the other hand things have changed quite considerably, there are droves of these new greedy kids strolling on these websites demanding things, never appreciating, never donating, nor are they ever satisfied and this has got to make people feel as if their efforts are not valued as much as they used to be. Original scene mentality is a dying breed and it sickens me how things are changing but all I can do is offer my support, toss some donations, and give my appreciation to others who are selflessly keeping the scene alive and even more to those who have done these best to ignore these droves of new kids and keep sticking to their morals and know there's still lots of us old guys who are still kicking and will keep supporting them as best we can while continuing to point out to the new generation how far respect, appreciation, and admiration really does go and how their negative attitudes are only going to hurt them and others in the end. Were nearing the end if the 'keep it free' era and I can't really blame em.

SwordOfWar: I've got no problem with purchasing something and rewarding someone for their efforts but what would not be great is taking the chance then a day later someone else comes up with the code and releases it to the community and then there's no need for the dongle. Personally I'd rather my money go to the dev (via donation) who gave to code back to the community and got rid of an unneeded piece of hardware. Sucks though because the fact is the devs who live on donations are not nearly as well compensated as those who force a product to get paid although money used to not be much of a driving factor as it is today but again I can't blame em. Personally I've stuck to the x360 and use the ps3 for exclusives so I haven't justified getting one yet but the day may be coming.

Either way it's nice to see work continuing and driving the scene forward either from paid products or scene released work, keep up the good work fellas and I'll continue doing my part as one man.

[Drakma675]

ahh dont know if to get this or the true blue

[SwordOfWar]

According to the new article what True Blue does is simply use newer firmware SPRXs on v3.55

Now, the real question is that if it is really that simple, how come we went so long without 3.6+ support, and why didn't the talented devs in the PS3 scene think of this sooner? The truth is that the top devs don't care about enabling 3.6+ game support (probably due to Sony legal risks). It wasn't until a dongle was made and started profiting off the scene that devs became interested.

Dongles can be a good thing if it takes a dongle to motivate the devs to release/hack it for everyone else.