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ICYMI: Control D-ing this show
Today on In Case You Missed It: When this show was announced on Engadget two years ago, we promised to find you the offbeat tech and science news you might have missed while following the previous day's big headlines. I've felt a great responsibility covering innovations from the likes of NASA and MIT, plus discovering promising cancer studies and environmental inventions aimed at saving us all. I've learned so much from writing this show for you. And let's be real, it's probably the best job in tech journalism since very few autonomous car inventions could go without a Russian dash cam montage and I've needed to (ahem) carefully review options before selecting the perfect moment.
Comet lander Philae says goodbye as communications are cut
Farewell Philae, it was a short but wild ride. In February, mission controllers said goodbye to the comet lander, but kept comms open with mother ship Rosetta on the slight chance it might wake up. "It's cold & dark on #67P ... but I won't give up just yet," Philae tweeted hopefully. However, controllers elected to cut Rosetta's "ESS" lander radio at 5AM ET today to preserve its precious remaining power.
So long, and thanks for all the fish
As you may have heard, TUAW is being archived by its parent company AOL. The 10+ years of content that our talented team of writers and editors have crafted are due be folded into our sister site Engadget, where you'll be able to check out the archives. It's been a long haul for us, from the heady early days of Weblogs, Inc. to the banner years when we had our booths at Macworld Expo. But unlike the popular annual Mac conference's official "on hiatus" status, this website will indeed be shutting down. Several of us plan to continue the fun traditions of TUAW, and then take Apple blogging to places where it didn't go on this site. You'll be able to see us over at Apple World Today starting on February 9, 2015, and we hope that you'll not only join us over at our new home, but help us craft a website that will become what you want it to be. As the TUAW blogging team scatters to the four winds, we all want to thank everyone who ever read the site, joined us for a TUAW Talkcast or TUAW TV Live, visited or partied with us at Macworld/iWorld, and followed us on Twitter or Facebook. Wherever we end up, if you see a familiar name on the byline of a post, say hello and let us know that you're still a part of the Apple community. Oh, and if you're not sure about the reference in the title of this post, you really need to read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. TUAW Bloggers, Present and Past Steve Sande (@stevensande, Apple World Today, podcast) Mike Rose (@miketrose, Geekparent, podcast) Victor Agreda, Jr. (@superpixels, site, video channel) Mike Wehner (@mikewehner, Daily Dot) John Michael Bond (@BondJohnBond, blog) Yoni Heisler (@edibleapple) Dave Caolo (@davidcaolo, Apple World Today, blog) TJ Luoma (@tjluoma, blog) Matt Tinsley (@mtinsleymusic, blog) Richard Gaywood (@PenLlawen, blog) Kelly Hodgkins (@kellyhodgkins, blog) Michael Jones (@tuxtoaster) Erica Sadun (@ericasadun, blog) Chris Rawson (@rawsoncj) Mel Martin (@melmazskies, blog) Brett Terpstra (@ttscoff, website) Mike Schramm (@mikeschramm, blog) Megan Lavey-Heaton (@savvyliterate, Namesake Comic) Christina Warren (@film_girl, Mashable) Scott McNulty (@blankbaby) Josh Carr (@joshcarr__ , ECIOV) Nik Fletcher (@nikf) Chris Ullrich (@ChrisU, The FlickCast) Randy Nelson (@DangerPenguin) Shawn "Doc Rock" Boyd (@DocRock, Macuser.Pro) Kelly Guimont (@verso, The Mac Observer) C.K. Sample III (@cksample, Meatgasm) David Chartier (@chartier, Finer Things In Tech) Dan Pourhadi (@pourhadi, blog) Laurie Duncan (@macsamurai, blog) Jan Kabili (@jankabili) Damien Barrett (@damienbarrett) Jay Savage (@jaysavage) Fabien Serriere Barb Dybwad (@doctorparadox, blog) Dan Lurie (blog) Cory Bohon (@coryb, blog) Robert Palmer (@honestcode, blog) Kevin Harter Casey Johnston (@caseyjohnston, Ars Technica) Joachim Bean John Burke Tim Wasson Mat Lu (@matonmacs) Joshua Ellis (@jzellis, blog) Kurtis Seid (@KurtisSeid) Jason Clarke (@jasonclarke) Brett Kelly (@mrbrettkelly, blog) Aron Trimble (@aront, blog) Samuel Gibbs (@samuelgibbs) Giles Turnbull (@gilest, blog) Rick Martin (@1rick, blog) Michael Grothaus (@michaelgrothaus) David Winograd George Tinari (@gtinari) Andy J. Williams Affleck (@aaffleck) Jessica Buchanan Regina Lizik (@ScarletRegina) David Gluckman John Emmert Lauren Hirsch Ken Ray (@macosken, blog) Sang Tang Kent Pribbernow Todd RItter Dan Fellini Lisa Hoover McGreevy (@lisah) Conrad Quilty-Harper Marc Orchant (RIP) Chris White (@chriswhite) Chad Mumm (@chadmumm) Josh Helfferich (@joshhelfferich) Sam Abuelsamid (@samabuelsamid) Justin Esgar (@justinesgar) Dana Franklin Paige Bierma (@paigebierma) Ross Rubin (@rossrubin, Backerjack) Ben Waldie (@applescriptguru) Ilene Hoffman (@ilenesmachine) Melissa Davis (@themacmommy, The Mac Mommy) My sincere apologies to anyone I missed or for anyone whose information is incorrect or missing. Unfortunately, it won't be fixed anytime soon.
Joystiq Photo Album
Like all good photo albums, our look back at ten years of Joystiq is a hot mess of nostalgia, out-of-focus shots, and GIFs (you've been warned). Now, gather round and mind the edges. >>Joystiq Photo Album<<
Joystiq Presents: That's a wrap
Our final Joystiq Presents podcast gives members of the staff a moment to thank the Joystiq community and say a final farewell. Listen to the MP3 Listen to other Joystiq Presents episodes.
Games of a Lifetime: Xav's picks
After more than ten years devoted to video games and the people who make them, Joystiq is closing its doors. We won't be reporting on the best games of 2015, so join us for one last hurrah as the Joystiq family reveals their Games of a Lifetime. Chrono Trigger In my recent Joystiq Presents episode I talked about the profound impact the strategy guide of Chrono Trigger had on my love of games. Being able to finally play the game, just thinking of the first time I had that chance, still gets me a little choked up. It still stands as my favorite game of all time. I've played it a countless amount of times on so many platforms. It has wonderful characters, a story about fighting fate and shaping the world. I don't know if was supposed to be so "heady," but I think of it that way. It was meaningful, it showed the consequences of action, it had a talking Frog and a badass Robot. To me, Chrono Trigger is perfect.
Hyperspace Beacon: Seven things I learned while writing about SWTOR
This travel through hyperspace cannot be compared to anything else. Not many people get an opportunity to work on something they love professionally, like my writing about Star Wars: The Old Republic. With Massively as we know it coming to an end, it's time to say goodbye to this passenger. Before I actually say my final farewell to Massively, I'd like to leave you, fans of Massively and the Hyperspace Beacon, with a list of things that I've learned from writing this column.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Alas, and so we go
Everyone heard the earth-shattering roar that shook Tyria this past weekend, right? No, it wasn't another Elder Dragon awakening; I'm talking about the fan response to ArenaNet's presentation at PAX South in which CEO Mike O'Brien and Lead Developer Colin Johanson revealed what Heart of Thorns means for Guild Wars 2. Yes, Virginia: It's an expansion pack. The irony is a little too much, to be honest. Heart of Thorns is the most exciting thing to happen to GW2 since launch, but I won't be able to cover it in this column. I'm going to get all maudlin if I dwell on that, so let's cap things off by talking about the game. And since I want to end my last FSC on a happy note, I'm going to talk about all of the things I'm tremendously excited for in HoT. Once more past the cut, dear friends!
The Mog Log Extra: End of an era
By now you know. I wrote my first column of The Mog Log almost exactly five years ago. I've been writing it for the entirety of Final Fantasy XIV's run now. I've been talking about the online Final Fantasy games since before I was married, and it's been a wonderful experience. I had every intention of continuing to do so for another decade. As long as there was a place to talk about it here, I was going to make use of it. This isn't just a farewell for the column; it's a farewell for something that's made up a huge portion of my life and changed my life in huge ways. As the fall comes to Eorzea, it also comes to us, and I wanted -- insisted -- that I would at least get to have one final chance to say goodbye. So let's take one last look together before we say farewell.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Prepare for crazy Karka in Guild Wars 2
I hope you've all been enjoying your time in sunny Southsun Cove. We talked about it last week, so if you're a little lost as to what's going on, I'd suggest reading back a bit. Wooden Potatoes recently posted an excellent recap of what's changed and happened in Guild Wars 2 from launch to the present day. It's an good reflection, which will hopefully give us a good perspective as we look at where the game might be going. At almost precisely nine months of launched life, Guild Wars 2 is at something of a defining point. It looks as if the team is going to be moving to a more rapid cadence. That's not a guarantee, but as we're seeing more consistent releases, I'm prepared to get my hopes up a little bit. We're also seeing more sPvP and WvW features coming down the pipe; the last few updates set that in motion, and the preview for today's patch seems to be following up in support of those.
Nokia 808 PureView: officially the last Symbian phone
So long, Symbian. Nestled away in the company's financial announcement this morning, Nokia confirmed that its pixel-punching 808 PureView phone will be the last release powered by the increasingly creaky Symbian OS. In no uncertain terms: "The Nokia 808 PureView, a device which showcases our imaging capabilities and which came to market in mid-2012, was the last Symbian device from Nokia." The company still managed to sell a total of 2.2 million Symbian devices during the last quarter, half the number of Windows Phone 8 devices shifted in the same period -- presumably thanks, in some way, to that as-yet unparalleled PureView camera sensor. We'll be pouring one out (and capturing it in 38 megapixels) if you need us.
A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The end of the city of heroes
"Name?" "Mr. Swift." The small man on the other end of the table sighed as if he'd heard the punchline too many times already. "Sir, I understand that you're unhappy about recent events, but this is a necessity. I don't want to keep you here longer than necessary, but I can throw you in jail for a night for obstructing this audit. I'm not asking for your moniker; I'm asking for your name, and it's only out of politeness." He tapped the side of his laptop for emphasis. "Now before I have to look it up -- your name." It was a little thing, really. But it felt huge. "Orson Herschel Siegal," Swift replied, purposely looking away from the auditor and searching for something in the stark white room to pull his attention away.
Farewell and thank you!
Well, the time has come. After almost five years at Massively and over three and a half at the helm, it's time for me to step down as Editor-in-Chief. On September 30th, I'll be handing the site over to the capable hands of Bree Royce, who has been such an integral part of the behind-the-scenes goings-on at the site already that it should be a seamless transition. It's certainly been a wild ride, and as much as it pains me to leave everything I've helped build with my blood, sweat, and tears, it's a necessary change at this point in my life. As a guy who has been everything from a graphic designer to a police officer to the Orkin man, I can honestly say this has been the best job I've ever had.
BioWare lead writer Drew Karpyshyn leaves BioWare
Beyond his brief stint in 2000 as a Jeopardy contestant, BioWare lead writer Drew Karpyshyn has spent the last 12 years of his life serving as a story lead on various BioWare franchises. From heading up writing on Jade Empire to creating the world of Mass Effect, Karpyshyn has shaped arguably the most important aspect of BioWare's legacy in the game industry -- its stories. And now, after finishing up work on his latest project, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Karpyshyn is taking his leave."I'm leaving to focus more time and energy on my novels and other non-video game related projects," Karpyshyn wrote in a blog post on his personal site. Though he won't say where he's going just yet (if anywhere), he promised continued work on an upcoming SWTOR companion novel (like his work on the Mass Effect books).To help assuage concerns about BioWare's writing post-Karpyshyn, he points out that, "The story and dialog in any BioWare game is the result of an entire team of writers working together, and I often felt I received an excessive amount of the credit for the games we created." He cites Mass Effect 3 and Dragon Age 2 as proof that "BioWare can get along just fine without me." And though he apologizes to those who will miss his work in the gaming world, he promises that he'll finally put the finishing on his own "original fantasy series," should you wish to keep up with his fantastical worlds.
Goodbye Nokia 600, we hardly knew ye
Symbian just scored another blow. The Belle-installed Nokia 600 was announced in late August, destined to be a great music-centric phone for anyone trying to stay on a budget. Sadly, it appears its fate has been sealed before its release, as the company's taken down any pages on its websites that are related to the product. Then, if that weren't enough confirmation, it also broke the news of the handset's demise to a disappointed Facebook fan. We haven't been given a reason for the sudden decision to cease and desist, but we're not discounting the coincidence of this happening so shortly after the Lumia series was revealed.
Breakfast Topic: A message to someone who's left a lasting impression
This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the AOL guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages. I've played World of Warcraft since October of 2006 and during that time have seen many realms, their communities, and the special people that have made a lasting impression on my WoW memories. Many of my friends and family have also switched their character's names, transferred to other realms, or even faction-changed (or some wicked combination of the three!) -- but when that happens, you lose that factor of recognition, and you sometimes even lose a friendship along the way. When I was in my PvP is my all and everything mode, I hopped across realms, switched names, and swapped races to try and find the right teams, the right realms, and the right players so I could maximize my Arena ratings and potential. But in doing so, I burned many bridges across the way, until I met a particular Undead rogue who made a lasting impression on me. He guided me through class-by-class duels when I was a novice. He never hesitated to give me constructive criticism and helpful advice when I lost 0-100 against a death knight. And he certainly never told me to "get good" or any of the other >9,000 ways someone can insult you. And when I left my home realm, I felt I owed it to him to write him a letter before I left. I didn't know this guy in real life, but something just told me I had to. I told him I was grateful for his kind words, his encouragement, and his patience and that I wished him the best in his WoW career, as he had in mine. And there it is! This is what I said to the person who made the most lasting impression. What would you say to that someone?
Fantasy Earth Zero shutting down on March 24th
Sad news today for fans of Fantasy Earth Zero -- after officially launching less than a year ago, the game will be shutting down in North America in just under two months. Gamepot USA has posted a full statement explaining the game's shutdown schedule as well as the policies on refunds for any game currency purchased within the last month. The game's cash shop has been closed, with all servers set to quadruple experience and money so that players can enjoy the time that's left. Fantasy Earth Zero took the long way around to get released stateside in the first place, after being developed by Square-Enix and then nearly shut down in Japan due to poor sales. An emotional farewell letter has also been posted, something fans of the game will no doubt wish to read. There's still time left to enjoy the accelerated servers before the shutdown, but when the lights go out on March 24th, they won't be coming back on. [Thanks to Jeffrey for the tip.]
The Daily Grind: When have you said goodbye?
Spend enough time in any game, and you're bound to form connections. It's the structure of MMOs, after all -- they aren't meant to be played all alone. And yet as time wears on, no matter how close a friend you've found in another player, you will find yourself going in different directions. There comes a point when either you or your best friends in-game are leaving, and you have to say your goodbyes. Even though you never mean to lose touch with your friends from an old favorite, it's hard to maintain a friendship when your point of common interest is gone. Sometimes you can manage it, but frequently you have to accept that the good memories of the past are just that. So when have you had to say goodbye to your friends from a game? Was it a friendship that came back in a later game down the road, or do you look back wistfully at the good times you had? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
C-Mac shuts down: You may now switch off your Macintosh safely
After nearly two years of blogging (see my first post), tweeting and talkcasting for TUAW and Download Squad, I'm moving on to other things. Writing for TUAW has been a true privilege and I will be forever grateful for the experience, the opportunities, and most importantly the people that have come my way as a result of this job. I was going to try to be funny with this post, drawing allusions to Brenda leaving Beverly Hills or Catherine leaving WNYX, but in the end, schmaltz and sappiness won out. I want to thank every member of the TUAW team (past and present) for being such awesome colleagues and always offering up fantastic insights, suggestions, humor and love. Your commitment and dedication is what makes TUAW TUAW. Thank you for letting me join your world. To Michael Rose and Dave Caolo -- thank you for being such awesome lead bloggers for being so supportive. Victor Agreda -- thank you for being such a fantastic producer and for fighting to hire me in the first place. To the TUAW readers (and Talkcast listeners), thank you for reading and chatting with me over the years. As Steve Sande has often commented, the TUAW readers and commenters are some of the best around. You guys are sharp, witty and knowledgeable about so much more than just the Apple-sphere. When we get something wrong or miss something cool, you let us know and I sincerely thank you for that. Two years ago (today -- freaky), Scott Mcnulty posted a "we're hiring" notice for TUAW. As a longtime reader (even before I went Mac full-time), I applied, thinking that it might be something cool I could do while finishing school. This opportunity has been so much more than that. If you want to keep up with what I'm doing, you can check out my personal site, follow me on Twitter or listen to me talk movies. I might be leaving TUAW, but the rest of the Internet won't get off that easily! Thank you.
The Daily Grind: Leaving your last love behind
Let's face it - we invest a lot in our characters over time. Maybe you have that one devoted main that you come back to, no matter what happens. Perhaps you've spread your love over a series of alts. Whatever the case may be, the truth is that many of us tend to get emotionally invested in our characters as time passes. We've worked hard, gotten them nice gear, picked up a nice mount, gotten an in-game house, etc. (depending on game). So, when the shine has worn off your old favorite game, and you're at the point where it's time to move on, how do you say goodbye?The team here have done everything from visiting favorite zones one last time; logging out in a particularly pretty area; throwing a party with friends as a way to burn off back-stocked food/drink; or logging out in the place where we felt we had the most fun in the game. There again, others on the team just logged out and didn't really care, although it seemed like more often than not, that was the case in games we didn't really click with anyway. This morning we thought we'd ask you - when you've moved on from game to game, retiring your old adventuring 'friend' as it were, did you do anything special before you signed out and shut the account down? Or did you just sign out without a second thought? If you did something special, what did you do?
