Features difference - CFW vs Dongle

[powerdrome]

As per post title:
I tried 1 year ago to install a cfw3.55 on my ps3, basically to test it and to solve a save file problem. Later I sold it, because i don't play so much, so i buy the few games that i like.

Now i knew about those new dongles and new CFWs.

So I kindly ask to the experts:
what are dongles?
what they enable to do on the ps3?
can u play online on psn?
can u access the disk ftp?

What about new cfw? any news from cfw3.55kmew?

Thanks

[Goku1992]

What are dongles? DRM material that is not really needed
What they enable to do on the ps3? Slight differences (IE Cobra) That enables PS2/PSP/PS1 playback (PS2 Playback On BC Units)
Can you play online on PSN? Yes but not recommended
Can you access the disk ftp? Yes OR you can always use multiman file manager (better way) to look at the files on your internal HD
What about new cfw? Kmeaw is still the same there is still others but I recommend just stay on kmeaw everything works.

[omegatron]

What are dongles? DRM material that is not really needed
What they enable to do on the ps3? Slight differences (IE Cobra) That enables PS2/PSP/PS1 playback (PS2 Playback On BC Units)
Can you play online on PSN? Yes but not recommended
Can you access the disk ftp? Yes OR you can always use multiman file manager (better way) to look at the files on your internal HD
What about new cfw? Kmeaw is still the same there is still others but I recommend just stay on kmeaw everything works.

So you recommend staying on a 2 year old firmware, and waiting for eboot patches each time comes out. OR learning to patch on your own and having to do so for each game update..


why would you stay on 3.55?

[corpse101]

So you recommend staying on a 2 year old firmware, and waiting for eboot patches each time comes out. OR learning to patch on your own and having to do so for each game update..


why would you stay on 3.55?

4.30 Rogero CFW works great for me, you still have to upgrade from 3.55 though.. It has all the features of 4.30 like comptibiltiy with latest blu-rays, 3D etc that 4.30 OFW has, plus backups work without patches (if they come out with 4.35 keys or soemthing patches may be needed.) Plus you have PSN access (like CFW 3.55) but you dont have to worry about PSN purchases not being compatible and needing patches for 3.55. Plus some PSN purchases you cant even activate to download (even if they are free)

There was some risk of bricks on the first round of 4.21 CFW on certain models of PS3 but now it seems as stable as any other firmware install as long as you follow directions!

[Goku1992]

@Omegatron
3.55 CFW haves everything a user needs whatever games you can play I can play also on 3.55

On my OFW ps3 I use that for all online purposes and psn purchasing

Kinda funny I used to have a dualbooted console then sold it then I wound up buying another 3.55 Ps3. Oh well

[powerdrome]

What are dongles? DRM material that is not really needed
What they enable to do on the ps3? Slight differences (IE Cobra) That enables PS2/PSP/PS1 playback (PS2 Playback On BC Units)
Can you play online on PSN? Yes but not recommended
Can you access the disk ftp? Yes OR you can always use multiman file manager (better way) to look at the files on your internal HD
What about new cfw? Kmeaw is still the same there is still others but I recommend just stay on kmeaw everything works.

Goku thanks for your answer; anyway is still not clear to me the comparison between the 2: dongle vs cfw
when u say "is it possible to go online or access ftp to internal files" you referr to cfw? or both?
if it refrr only to cfw (as i guess) what are the dongles for? I thought they were like an external and temporary cfw that u can switch on and off to play backups.

Thanks

[Goku1992]

@powerdrome
The only dongle that I know of is still out and in production is the cobra usb dongle. Basically a couple of months ago you needed a dongle (True Blue) to make newer games work since there was a game freeze around a year ago. But ever since TB gotten cracked by NODRM and the public key leaks there hasn't been a reason for another dongle. I guess you would have to thank bluedisk for doing whatever in the hell they was trying to do by resulting in the three musketeers to release the LVO keys which brought up all the public key leaks.

3.55 is the firmware to do stuff on anyway and Kmeaw can bring you all of those things. The only usefulness that cobra usb dongle brings to the table is making PS1/PS2/PSP games work. But considering how terribly those games look on an HD screen I don't see why people bother playing out-dated games on a newer gen consoles.

To finally answer your question a Dongle is not needed AT ALL. It's just DRM that does the same things that CFW can do for free. I can see if it was in the (True Blue Era) when you NEEDED the dongle but in the state that the scene is in now a dongle is never needed again. You cant really go online with CFW/Dongle anyway because your psn account can get banned but it can be done.

Cobra will have it's day maybe today or tomorrow but in the future Cobra will get cracked like the rest of em.

[powerdrome]

@Goku
thank you dude! Doubts solved, very complete and exhaustive answer!