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Want to work at Engadget? We're hiring news writers and review editors!
We know you're out there, dear future Engadget writer, but we need you here with us -- where we can touch you, teach you and pay you to write about all those gadgets you love so much. Professional writing experience is necessary, and preference will be given to those with experience in the technology space. If you're familiar with what we do, you'll know that we also require an ability to write about gadgets with wit, concision, accuracy and authority. And being obsessed with Engadget is good, too. Here's what we're after: Late-night freelance news writers: This position will require availability between 5PM ET and 3AM ET. Applicants can be located anywhere in the world (time zone converter here), but these hours will not change. To clarify, this is an Engadget US position, but location matters not. Primary tasks will include writing multiple news stories per day and assisting our staff in managing news. NYC-based freelance reviews editor: This position will require daily availability at our headquarters in Manhattan. The ideal candidate will work alongside our NYC-based reviews team, and will be expected to deliver in-depth, insightful and thorough reviews of smartphones, software, laptops, tablets and the occasional arcade dock. Experience writing consumer technology reviews is a must. Want to apply? Read on!
Ask Massively: How I mine for games journos
In the last few months, the Ask Massively inbox has received several letters about breaking into the games journalism industry and employment at Massively specifically. This first one came from a reader named Vernon: I rarely see current journalists write or blog about their own experiences of getting into the industry. I always told myself I would try to figure out how to make a go of writing about games if the opera thing did not work out. So, how did you get there (Editor in Chief), and how do you get there now? Short answer: the two skillsets rule.
Apple seeking engineers for 'next generation' Apple TV development
A new job posting on Apple's website shows that the company is seeking a software engineering manager to "help deliver the next-generation features for Apple TV." Alright, sure, they probably didn't need that article in there. But still -- Apple is clearly trying to put together a team to build up the software on the Apple TV, and it even asks applicants for the job to have experience managing several "high-priority projects." "High-priority" isn't how Apple has described its TV unit in the past, but if they're assembling a new team for a new era, we can probably expect to see some changes in the future around Apple's living room device. A job listing is of course just a job listing -- this just means it's a position that Apple wants to fill at some point in the future, not that Apple's halfway done with all of the R&D it wants to do. But I think it is fair to say that the Apple TV has a long future in Cupertino, and that we'll definitely see it move up on the priority scale over there very soon. [via 9to5Mac]
Google+ comes to Mountain View employment listings, lets you submit applications with fewer clicks
There's no doubt that Google recruiters have their hands full -- the company's lust-worthy salaries and legendary benefits have convinced many of the world's best and brightest to make the move to Mountain View -- but a new application enhancement could mean even more work for the talent acquisition team. Assuming you're signed into your Google account, you'll now be prompted to have your name, contact information, education and employment history filled in automatically, based on data in your Google+ account. Experience with the company's social media service may not be required to land a job at Google HQ, but it probably wouldn't hurt your chances -- if nothing else, it'll streamline the application process a bit. Head on over to the source link below to check out some current openings, and, if you're feeling lucky, link your profile and hit submit.
Calling all web developers: Engadget is hiring!
AOL Tech -- the team behind Engadget, TUAW, Joystiq, Massively and more -- is looking for a great front-end developer who can help us take Engadget and our other blogs to new levels. The job is a full-time remote worker position, so the ideal candidate has good time management skills and deals well with working outside of an office. It also means that you get to work with a great team for a great company, get great benefits and a chance to exercise your skills in a high-visibility job, all without having to relocate! The description: Front-end developer for AOL Tech (Engadget, TUAW, Joystiq, Massively). The ideal candidate is highly proficient in JavaScript/jQuery, comfortable with PHP / mySQL and experienced in web design, optimization and related technologies for desktop and mobile. A solid understanding of mobile-first design is a must. Requirements High proficiency in JavaScript/jQuery Familiar with spriting, lazy loading, and other general performance-optimized techniques. Mac access for compatibility with current tools HTML5/CSS3 Git SSH If you're interested in joining us, please send us a resume and contact information!
Massively is looking for San Francisco freelancers
If you follow Ask Massively, you're probably aware of Massively's ethics policy -- you know, the one that keeps us from accepting awesome "free" trips to check out awesome games from awesome developers in awesome cities where we do not happen to have staff. That's where freelancers come in. This round, we're looking for a freelancer in San Francisco, California, to attend events for us on occasion and write about the games previewed there. It won't be a full- or part-time staff position; you'd just be called on for these special events when they crop up. We'd like to think it'd be a nice way for a local to get some industry experience, have some fun, and make some pocket change. Here's the skinny on what we're looking for and how you can apply.
AMD could slash up to 30 percent of its workforce according to reports
AllThingsD and CNET are reporting that 30 percent of AMD's workforce could be laid off, though one of several unnamed sources notes the cuts could be as low as 10 percent. If these reports hold true, this would be the second round of layoffs for AMD within a year's time. The reductions will reportedly affect the firm's engineering and sales employees, and may be serious enough to cause a paring back of product lines. The silicon giant could potentially reveal its plans as early as next week, which would coincide with the announcement of its third quarter financial results. With the company expecting a ten percent revenue drop in Q3, it looks like the latest figures will continue the trend of less than ideal results.
Low-power chip guru quits Samsung for Apple, with heavily implied implications
The iPhone 5 already proved Apple's desire to move away from existing processor designs and exert more control over these fundamental components. Is it too crazy to imagine that Cupertino would like the same sense of freedom with its laptops? Perhaps not, especially since the biggest company in the world just hired a guy called Jim Mergard, who helped to pioneer AMD's low-power Brazos netbook chips and who had only recently moved to Samsung. A former colleague of Mergard's, Patrick Moorhead, told the WSJ that he would be "very capable of pulling together internal and external resources to do a PC processor for Apple" -- possibly based on a mobile-style SoC (system-on-chip) rather than a traditional PC approach. That's pure speculation of course, but funnily enough it's where Intel seems to be headed too.
Lexmark announces detailed restructuring plan: 1,700 layoffs, inkjet business to be nixed
It's always a sad day when news come in of hard-working folks losing their cherished jobs -- and, unfortunately, today's one of those dismal days. In a detailed press release, Lexmark's let it be known it'll be be undergoing a company-wide restructure, but with the main focus being the exiting of the outfit's inkjet hardware development and manufacturing -- which, in the end, should save the printer maker about $95 million per year once the plan has taken place. Naturally, this doesn't come without any repercussions, as Lexmark's announced these restructuring actions will see around 1,700 worldwide jobs be lost; 1,100 of which are manufacturing positions, and also include the closing of an inkjet supplies manufacturing plant in the Philippines. Needless to say, we can only hope Lexmark sees better days. For now, however, you can peruse over the company's official word in the presser located right past the break.
Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter addresses player poll
Final Fantasy XIV Producer Naoki Yoshida has returned for another producer's letter, this time focusing on the recent poll sent out to players across the world. Yoshida personally addressed points regarding combat, crafting, the synthesis system, and version 2.0. Yoshida observes that two points of constructive criticism will be used as FFXIV continues to be revised: "Many of you said that combos are too restrictive... We also received many comments that character positioning is bothersome and difficult." In regards to the upcoming version 2.0, he notes that the most excitement seems to be swirling around the new classes and jobs, improved level design, additional maps, and the graphics engine update. "Interestingly," Yoshida writes, "Japanese players are the ones who're most looking forward to the new housing system -- a national trait, perhaps?" Yoshida also expressed concern that a good chunk of players do not read player blogs on the Lodestone, not to mention that a vast majority of them simply do not use the Lodestone to post their own articles. He hopes this will change with 2.0, as the Lodestone will be receiving a full renovation at that time.
The Soapbox: What it means to be a game journalist
The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. Additionally, this article is written in contrast to Jef Reahard's Soapbox on how video game journalists are not real journalists; Massively's writers' opinions on the subject vary. People have, on a few occasions, asked me for advice on becoming a game journalist. My usual response, which is only half-joking, is, "Don't." In just a handful of months, I'll be hitting my three-year anniversary for working Massively. That means I've had one of the longest tenures at the site, which is kind of staggering in my mind. I still fundamentally think of myself as one of the new kids on the block. But for better or worse, I've been doing this for a while and have a pretty good grasp of what the job entails. Of course, that's still a subject of debate. As with a lot of topics, people as a whole can't even decide on what makes someone a game journalist instead of just an enthusiast with some advertising revenue. To some people, it's not even a real job, just a hobby. I'm one of those people who never like to pin down an exact definition of something that's ambiguous... but I can define what I see as my responsibilities in this job.
NYC's Made in New York Digital Map lets you see who's hiring in the tech field
You can't deny Mike Bloomberg's often coming up with different ways to involve New Yorkers in tech-related bits. On this occasion, Mayor Bloomberg & Co. have introduced a novel way for citizens of The Big Apple -- and others who plan on making the move -- to find jobs in the technology sector. Dubbed "Made in New York Digital Map," the service aims to make it easier for folks to see which tech companies are seeking engineers, designers, developers, etc. At the moment there's more than 325 outfits looking for new hires, with over "thousands of jobs" being up for grabs. Mayor Bloomberg says this is only the beginning and he's encouraging startups to set up shop here in the City, as he believes this "is the place to be if you're a growing tech startup." You can take a tour of the Digital Map now via the source link below.
Lionhead seeks multiplayer level designer for game development, long walks on beach
Microsoft's Lionhead Studios is looking for a multiplayer level designer with "a deep understanding of online multiplayer games," a job posting reveals.We assume Lionhead also would like any new designer to be adept at making the public forget Fable Heroes ever happened.Lionhead's recent time in the spotlight hasn't focused on what games it may be creating, but instead on Fable creator Peter Molyneux's departure and what that might mean for the studio. With no other information or speculation on Lionhead's next title, aside from this multiplayer designer business, we're going to throw our best guess out there: A Team Fortress 2 clone that looks like Minecraft, plays like Call of Duty and is called "Half-Alive 3."
Rumor: Harmonix prepping 'unique motion-gaming IP' ... with storylines
We thought Harmonix had its hands full with Rock Band Blitz, but the Cambridge-based developer may also be preparing a new IP – and for the next generation of consoles. According to several different job listings, the developer is looking for narrative, content and level designers, and one software engineer to help out with "a unique motion-gaming IP.""Harmonix seeks an accomplished Narrative Designer to incorporate creative story lines into gameplay on a unique motion-gaming IP," reads just one of the positions discovered by Supererogatory. This particular gig is a 12-month contract position, while the others make mention of a "music-based motion-gaming IP" and seem to be for more established positions.A narrative-driven, rhythm-based motion game? Sounds a lot like one of our favorite games ever. [Wait, surely you meant this? - Ed.]
Skype recruiting Xbox developers for 'next generation services'
A llsting on Microsoft's job site reveals that it's looking develop Skype products for the Xbox. The company has kept pretty quiet on its plans for integrating its Skype purchase into its various hardware pockets. While a beta for Windows Phone continues to tick along, this is the first salient sign that Skype and Xbox are looking to team-up. According to the listing: "As a member of the Skype Xbox Engineering Team in London, you will have a strong technical background developing client and/or embedded software." On top of those recent vacancies for browser-based Skype engineers, it's no stretch to see Skype bringing its telephony skills and heavily integrating them into Xbox Live, also giving the internet phone group a huge inroad to people's living rooms. However, the job ad doesn't clarify whether the result will be a simple stand-alone Skype client or something with a little more spice. We'll have to wait for some successful applicants.
Microsoft job ads hint at a browser-based version of Skype based on HTML5
There's something thrilling about using job postings to parse a company's strategy, especially when the advert is so gosh darn low on secrecy. Take Microsoft, for instance, which posted four openings for developers to work on its Skype for Browsers project. If that weren't self-explanatory enough, the various ads each explain that Microsoft is looking for code monkeys to help "bring [the] Skype experience on to the Web," a position that calls for HTML5 know-how, along with proficiency in C#, Java or C++. That's as official a heads up as any, though if you've been paying attention you know Skype already powers Facebook's web-based video chat service. So it shouldn't exactly be surprising, then, that a Skype-branded version is likely in the works as well. Armchair investigators can find the postings at the source links, where any brilliant, Europe-based developers can try their hand at one of the four openings.
The Mog Log: Head of the newer class
The Final Fantasy series, particularly the online installments, is all about class. This is not entirely surprising, since the series has built up a series of character types that, while sometimes kind of random, are beloved just the same. The jumping spear-wielding Dragoons, dual-wielding and sword-throwing Ninjas, the ubiquitous Summoners... if these concepts don't exist in some form within a game, it raises some eyebrows. It's a symptom of the linking the games by certain broad pseudo-mythological concepts rather than by any actual continuity. We've gotten our Job system in Final Fantasy XIV, we've got our classes to the point that they're at least somewhat balanced, and we've got a new version on the horizon. The question, then, is what we're getting next. What new classes or jobs can we look forward to? What do we need? What gaps are obvious within the Final Fantasy pantheon, and what is just lacking in terms of a traditional MMO setup?
T-Mobile to eliminate 1,900 US call center jobs, says more 'restructuring' ahead
T-Mobile USA CEO Philipp Humm sent word to his employees today that the company will be shuttering seven call centers, cutting a total of 3,300 jobs in the process. Affected employees will have the option of relocating to any of the 17 remaining call centers throughout the country, where 1,400 new positions will be available, essentially bringing the net job loss to 1,900. The call centers affected include Allentown, Pennsylvania; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Frisco, Texas; Brownsville, Texas; Lenexa, Kansas; Thornton, Colorado; and Redmond, Oregon -- so if you're based in one of those locations and want to stick with T-Mob, now would probably be the time to communicate your intentions. Other employees, including technicians and "front line" workers, will be able to stay put, though Humm did allude to further reductions, adding that "we will also be restructuring other parts of the company." You'll find the CEO's message in its entirety just past the break.
Want to work for Engadget? We're hiring a copy editor!
Do you love gadgets? Do you hate typos? Do you have experience working as a copy editor or proofreader? Are you looking for work? Lucky you! We're looking for a dedicated freelancer to join our team and kill those dreadful dangling participles. Here's what we're looking for: A Copy Editor / Proofreader: Part-time (freelance) living in or around New York City or San Francisco with at least two years experience working at an established publication.Want to apply? Read on!
Get a job in Final Fantasy XIV
With patch 1.21, players in Final Fantasy XIV will have a new way to improve their characters. Leveling a class won't be changing, but the job system will allow characters to reach the full potential of a given discipline. The latest preview goes into depth about the process of unlocking and improving each of the new jobs, with each job requiring a primary class at level 30 and a supplementary class at level 15. Once a job is unlocked, players can equip the job's Soul Crystal to switch to the specific job. This will allow the player access to job-specific skills, but it will also carry limitations -- players will be limited in the number of actions that can be equipped from other classes, and they can only use actions from specific classes. If you're more of the crafty sort, of course, you won't be getting in on the new jobs, but you will be able to take advantage of the newly streamlined recipes for accessories, food, and medicines. So there's a little something for everyone.
