The Public Access Weekly: They reminisce over you
If, like me, you are also a fan of The Walking Dead then you probably also spent most of Monday feeling a strange combination of shock, grief and melancholy. (Here, have sone virtual hugs.) Fortunately, we had a week full of Apple/Microsoft events and announcements to distract us, right? Continuing on the distraction train, let's get into some Public Access news!
As promised, we now have two different types of Public Access members -- those who can automatically publish stories, and those who need to submit their articles for editor approval first. (All new Public Access members will need editor approval on their first three posts; when a member has successfully completed three posts without requiring major changes they will be upgraded to full member status. Also, if you violate our rules often, you can expect to be moved to this new membership type.)
So far, it's actually going pretty well! I've gotten a chance to help some new members improve their stories with suggestions, and have been able to assist those who have submitted articles that needed corrections. While the goal is to have every story reviewed and published (or returned) within 24-48 hours, I have to admit the volume of incoming stories is much bigger than anticipated! I'll be working hard over the next few days to get a system in place to minimize the amount of time you're waiting to hear back about your articles, in the meantime thank you so very much for all your patience and feedback.
While we were working on the new membership type we did temporarily pause in reviewing registrations for Public Access, but now that the new membership is up and running, we're back to reviewing registrations as fast as possible! There are a lot of registrations waiting, and we're trying to get through them this week so if you've been waiting you should hear from us soon!
Looking for something to read? Check out:
Amandine Le Pape's first article for Public Access is a great analysis of the potential of instant messaging, AI, and bots to bridge other services and provide users with a comprehensive platform for all their web activity. It's a terrific read, imaginative, detailed and well-written -- and overlaps some with Yashasvi Raj Pant's first Public Access story on Google's Allo service.
Another new user, Imran Uddin, published a story on whether or not we're really and truly ready for a future of driverless cars (Hint: Not so much... yet). Uddin touches on the nitty gritty details that make the process so complex, from how insurance coverage doesn't address possible scenarios to the moral and ethical dilemmas that are presented by trying to program a car to protect both those inside and outside the vehicle.
Meanwhile, Keegan Green breaks down all the ins-and-outs of the Google Chromecast from design and set up to the 4K streaming offered by the Ultra version. The result is a great primer for those who are intrigued but not quite ready to pull the trigger yet. Props to Green for organizing the article into sections by commonly-asked questions (Are you up to speed? What do you get?).
Looking for something to write about? Mull over:
When it comes to wearables, the enthusiasm for smartwatches seems to be on an overall decline. But don't tell that to Fossil, who just launched a set of traditional looking watches that feature activity tracking, notification vibrations and auto time setting. Can traditional watchmakers beat the smartwatch market by adding features to their products? Is the smartwatch fad dying out completely? And would you prefer a smartwatch made by a tech manufacturer like Apple or Samsung, or a more standard watch that includes smart features?
One of the many announcements this week was the shuttering of short-video service, Vine, which prompted some Engadget editors to write a eulogy detailing the ways they used Vine, loved it, hated it, or came back to it. Will you miss Vine? If so, why? Alternatively, weigh in on the reasons why Vine was shut down and what implications the closure has for other video apps.
Jessica Conditt's coverage of IndieCade 2016 covered the ways in which the video game industry has increasingly focused on social issues from political upheaval to gang violence. The developers of titles such as We Are Chicago and 1979 Revolution weigh in on what inspired them to develop games that humanize an experience or perspective. However, such games are often criticized for being clumsy, or forcing a viewpoint. Is there a place for social commentary within video games? If so, in what way or aspect is it appropriate? And how should game developers use such inspiration in their work?
