continuity
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T-Mobile customers can use iOS 9 beta's Continuity over cellular
The Continuity feature that allows you to continue text convos and calls across devices used to require those gadgets to be on the same WiFi network. With the iOS 9 beta, though, the functionality can be used over cellular and T-Mobile is the first to flip the switch for its customers. The tool allows users to send texts and make calls from your iPad or Yosemite-equipped Mac if you don't have that iPhone handy -- so long as you also have the iOS 9 beta software installed, of course. If you aren't the adventurous type and want sit out the public beta, you can rest easy knowing that the feature will arrive for everyone when the final version of the mobile OS becomes available later this year. And yes, we'd imagine other carriers will follow suit shortly.
Samsung's cross-device sharing app arrives on Google Play
Last November, Samsung introduced Flow, which lets users seamlessly share activities between devices. (Yes, much like Apple does with Continuity.) And while the software still isn't fully baked, the South Korean company is now letting people give it a try -- so long as they have compatible Android hardware. The beta application, available on Google Play, offers a taste of what Flow can do, like allowing you to start reading an article on your smartphone, pause it and pick up where you left off on, say, a tablet. Flow Beta is only available to some Galaxy devices at the moment, and Samsung's encouraging developers to make their apps compatible with its new feature as soon as possible.
Beware two-factor authentication using SMS forwarding
The Continuity features, and SMS Relay in particular, are my favorite part of Yosemite so far. Using my iMac as a giant speakerphone is beyond awesome, and group texts in Messages can finally include the one BlackBerry-toting holdout among my friends. (You're invited, too, Mike.) But in certain situations, SMS Relay can have unintended security consequences. When logging in to Google on my MacBook Air the other day, I got a text message on my iPhone, like I always do, with a code to confirm my identity through two-step verification. Only this time it showed up on my MacBook as well thanks to SMS Relay's text message forwarding. It was actually convenient; I was able to mindlessly copy and paste the code into my browser, but it got me thinking: What happens if someone makes off with my computer and also gets hold of my password? Over at Macworld, Glenn Fleishman mulled over the same situation. However unlikely that scenario (most password theft happens out in the electronic ether, away from personal devices), it's still a possibility. Fortunately, there are ways around this. The securest form of two-factor verification uses two devices, and you can ensure that by having Google or whoever is trying to confirm your identity do so by a phone call. That way there's no chance of the text falling into the wrong hands. (While someone could answer that call to your iPhone with your Yosemite Mac, the phone would have to be within Bluetooth range, in which case you likely are as well.) Although this is a concern for Mac users because of Yosemite's new features, the problem is nothing new. Anyone using a Google Voice number for two-step verification who also has text-to-email turned on could be at risk as well. In fact, that would only require one stolen Google password and no devices, so you might want to rethink that setup as well, even if you're not an iPhone user. The moral of the story is that if you're serious about two-factor verification, and you should be, consider how your second factor is being delivered and to what device. And yes, I realize this creates one more opportunity for BlackBerry Mike to bring up his phone's security features. At least he's getting invited to more parties now.
How to disable taking iPhone calls on your iPad
While there are a number of how-to's on the topic of enabling your iPad to take iPhone calls in iOS 8, there are unfortunately a lot of people spreading FUD about the ability to turn it off. Yes, you can turn it off. It's the same as turning it on, but you switch to OFF... So, no, this isn't a "conspiracy" as some have called it, to "get you to create more Apple IDs!!!" Yes, these people love those exclamation points. And yes, people are actually positing this conspiracy theory in Apple's forums. Sigh. Anyway, you open your iPad and go into Settings, then FaceTime settings, and switch iPhone Cellular Calls to off (the switch will be green if on). This same toggle is in the Mac version of FaceTime as well, in Preferences for the app there. If only there were a switch for paranoia.
Nextbit is bringing iOS-like app continuity and 'limitless' storage to Android
You may just about recall that Nextbit, a startup formed by ex-Googlers, has been collaborating with Cyanogen on a "really cool" secret project. As it turns out, this is all about the continuity experience across Android devices -- very timely given the recent launch of OS X Yosemite and iOS 8.1, which boast a set of continuity features. Nextbit's offering is dubbed Baton, and as the name suggests, it lets you quickly pass an app's state from one Android device to another, meaning you can continue playing on the same level in a game, editing the same document in an app or browsing the same web page right away; with the precondition being the second device must also have Baton and the same app installed. Better yet, app developers don't have to do anything at all; existing apps should just work.
Apple releases iOS 8.1 with Apple Pay support, expanded Continuity features
Apple today released iOS 8.1, bringing the version out of beta and making it available to the public. As announced last week, the latest version of iOS brings Apple Pay to supported devices and adds Photo Library access to iCloud. It also enables Continuity features, such as Instant Hotspot and SMS relay, for users who own both an iOS device and a Mac. Instant Hotspot is a convenience feature that allows Mac owners to connect automatically to a Hotspot-enabled iPhone with minimal configuration. Another phone-centric feature, SMS relay expands text messaging, forwarding all iPhone text messages to an iPad and Mac. SMS Relay also allows owners to send new text messages and respond to existing messages from any device. iOS 8.1 brings back the Camera Roll, which had gone missing in iOS 8.0. iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners can download the iOS 8.1 update over the air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Owners also can connect their iOS device to their computer and install the update via iTunes.
iOS 8.1 is coming on Monday, will bring Apple Pay and added Continuity support
Craig Federighi, Apple's senior VP of software engineering, has just announced that iOS 8.1 will bring Apple Pay compatibility to the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 6 Plus. That's good news, because Apple Pay launches this Monday with support from Starbucks, Macy's, Target and others. It'll also bring back the Camera Roll, which should be good news for iPhone users who missed that feature when it was taken away. Additionally, those who update to the new firmware will get access to the public beta of iCloud Photo Library, which gives you the ability to access the full resolution of all your photos and videos without any downscaling. The big news though, is that iOS 8.1 will finally bring Continuity compatibility when it comes to SMS and Instant Hotspot (as long as you have OS X Yosemite installed on your Mac, of course). That means you'll be able to make and receive texts from your Mac and get online via your phone's cellular connection. Those with iOS 8 and Yosemite could already enjoy other Continuity features such as handing off a half-composed email from your Mac to your iPad, sharing Keynote slides and making and receiving calls. And if all of that sounds intriguing to you, well good news: iOS 8.1 will be available this coming Monday. Update: We previously mentioned that iOS 8.1 will add Continuity compatibility, but iOS 8 already had some Continuity features. iOS 8.1 will add SMS and Instant Hotspot features specifically.
Apple's Continuity texting won't arrive until after iOS 8 launch
On a page for iOS 8's Continuity offering, Apple updated the section about SMS/MMS messaging to state that the feature won't arrive when the new OS does on the 17th. Back at WWDC, the folks in Cupertino touted the new tool that would allow users to send texts and make calls from an iPad or Mac, but now it looks like the messaging bit it won't go live until next month. Of course, OS X Yosemite is scheduled to arrive sometime this fall, and it's quite possible you'll be able to leverage Continuity's texting by the time the desktop software starts to roll out. Apple doesn't have the best track record for releasing cloud-based features though, as we saw with MobileMe's issues in 2008, so we'll let it take some time to work out the kinks.
Handoff feature in OS X Yosemite may only work on Macs with Bluetooth LE 4.0 support
The upcoming Handoff feature that allows users to seamlessly transition between workflows on their Mac and iOS device seemingly only works on Macs that support Bluetooth LE 4.0. For starters, MacRumors points out that Apple engineers during WWDC explained that the feature does in fact utilize Bluetooth LE. What's more, the recent release of the second OS X Yosemite beta includes a field for continuity support within the system information pane. The content of the field appears to be a function of which machines support Bluetooth LE With this in mind, the website Apfeimer compiled the following chart detailing which Mac models support Bluetooth LE and, by extension, will be able to run the Handoff feature. The red bars indicate which Mac models can run OS X Yosemite while the green bars represent which models come equipped with Bluetooth LE 4.0. A video of the Handoff feature in action can be seen below.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for June 16, 2014
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
The TUAW Daily Update Podcast for June 2, 2014
It's a special WWDC Keynote edition of the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get some the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the player at the top of the page. The Daily Update has been moved to a new podcast host in the past few days. Current listeners should delete the old podcast subscription and subscribe to the new feed in the iTunes Store here.
Storyboard: Only mostly dead
Dead is dead. I can't stand when comics endlessly bring back dead characters, I can't stand when shows bring back dead villains, and I can't stand when death is treated less like the final note and more like a brief inconvenience. If you want someone to come back from the dead, don't kill the character in the first place! Death needs to be permanent to have any impact. So this week's article is all about ignoring that and bringing characters back from the dead anyhow because the only reason to have rules is to know when to occasionally break them. Roleplaying deaths are already rare, of course. I can count how many characters I've actually killed on one hand, and that's stretching back to roleplaying in Final Fantasy XI (abortively). But sometimes you decide that you want someone alive after all. And when it's done carefully, you can actually make the revival interesting again because you're not doing it for shock value so much as making a point.
The Mog Log: You got your Final Fantasy XIII in my Final Fantasy XIV
If there was any doubt about it before, it's a known fact now: Lightning of Final Fantasy XIII will be showing up in Final Fantasy XIV, and players can go so far as to earn a copy of her outfit to wear out and around Eorzea. Odds are pretty much absolute that it will be purely cosmetic, but that doesn't make it any less unusual. Aside from ruffling the feathers of anyone who particularly dislikes Lightning, the inclusion opens up the weird snarl of non-continuity along the entirety of the franchise. I like Lightning, but this certainly does feel unusual. Even without seeing the quest, I have plenty of questions about how the games tie together, what the possible explanation could be, and how this will affect both worlds (as Naoki Yoshida has said specifically that this is Lightning herself, not someone who looks and acts as she does). So let's talk about crossovers, let's talk about Final Fantasy XIV's existing fanservice, and let's ask ourselves if this is the straw that breaks the camel's back. Metaphorically. I don't think there are camels in Eorzea.
The Mog Log: Final Fantasy XIV's five-year gap
Right now, the world of Final Fantasy XIV players is made up of two separate but equally important groups: the Legacy players who are doing secret things in a beta that they cannot talk about, and everyone else sitting on the sidelines and desperately hoping for an NDA breach that unveils huge amounts of information. (The second group also spends some time hating the Legacy players. It's a delicate balance.) As a result, it's even harder than usual to write something interesting about the game. So, as prompted by some discussions over on the RPC, let's talk a little bit about what we do know regarding the state of the world. It isn't great, but at the same time, it's better than it could be. There are three main time period to be concerned with, and when they're taken as a whole, there's a lot of opportunity for interesting conflict and storytelling as well as roleplaying if that's your cup of tea.
Guild Wars 2 weaves together three story types
ArenaNet Continuity and Lore Designer Jeff Grubb claims that there are three types of stories that players will encounter in Guild Wars 2, and he's written up an informative post explaining how the team has woven these tales into the game. "This is an underlying theme of the game -- people coming together and cooperating to fight a greater foe," Grubb explains. The first type is what he calls Story of the World. This is the over-arching narrative that deals with the biggest threat to the world (the Elder Dragons) and how it is to be countered. ArenaNet chose to use dynamic events to tell these stories so that players are gradually made aware of the threat. The second story type is your personal one, which tells of your own rise to power, fame, and glory in a variety of ways. Finally, there's the story of the five central iconic characters in the game (Destiny's Edge) and how they relate to you and each other.
Massively Exclusive: Jim Lee talks Batman, canon, and DCUO
This is a big week for DC Universe Online, mainly because Sony Online Entertainment is forging ahead with its "megaservers" population consolidation. To mark the occasion, we sat down with DC Comics legend Jim Lee for a brief Q&A. OK, you got us. We sat down with Jim Lee because he's Jim Lee, and we're unabashed Batfans who will jump at every opportunity to talk to the artists behind the cowl. In any event, Lee did have some interesting things to say about MMOs in general, canon in particular, and his experiences with SOE and DCUO. Join us after the cut to read all about it.
Portabliss: Continuity 2 (iOS)
Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Continuity 2! If student-developed Flash game Continuity's unique blend of tile-puzzle swapping and platforming was too much for your brain to process, you might want to go explore some other corner of the internet for a while. Look! Here is a video of a duck. Isn't that nice? Continuity 2: The Continuation stacks so many other components on top of the already-confusing formula that even its most cerebral players will likely suffer a meltdown during one of its 50 levels. Switching panels to make a path between points A and B might not be the most taxing exercise -- but doing so while also manipulating gravity and building mechanical circuits is a lot for one measly brain to handle.
Alter-Ego: A closer look at Update 2's troublesome trio
One of the best things about playing DC Universe Online, in my opinion, is the great deal of rich history there is for all the characters. There is also the fact that the iconic DC characters aren't just relegated to the shelves of your local comic book store. Even if you're not the biggest comic nerd on the face of the planet, you've undoubtedly seen at least a few of the iconic characters from the DC universe like Superman or Batman in cartoons on television or at the movies. With Update 2 now live in DC Universe Online, three more names have joined the ever-growing list of in-game characters who have crossed from popular culture into the online world. The Penguin and Two-Face are busy scheming over the future of Gotham, while Mister Mxyzptlk has taken to the streets of Metropolis to play his strange tricks. This week, I thought it would be fun to look a little deeper into the origin stories of the troublesome trio, as the same popular culture that makes these three characters recognizable may also cause some confusion when you run up against the in-game versions -- and their current motives. I should also note, lest the continuity fiends jump on me for it, that these origins are sourced directly from the DC Universe site.
DC Universe Online's developer reading list
Whether or not you're a fan of DC Universe Online, the game clearly goes out of its way to make nods to comics that spawned the franchise. That naturally has to lead to a question -- what books has the team been reading? After all, it makes a lot of difference if the team is reading The Killing Joke when it comes to designing the Joker. Fortunately for all of us who know more about DC than may be entirely necessary, ComicsAlliance has unveiled the reading list for the game's development team, replete with all of the recommended books for getting a feel for the universe. The resultant list has a number of expected entries (The Killing Joke is indeed among them) and a few unexpected ones, covering both recent events in the continuity and studies of individual character behaviors. It also contains a few surprising omissions and a couple of questionable inclusions, even with the caveats of the comics not being in continuity (Watchmen is an excellent book, but not really in the game's milieu). Still, even if you can find fault with some of the choices, it's certainly a good primer for what to expect from DC Universe Online's in-game continuity.
The Soapbox: Respect the IP (or, why MMOs can't)
Disclaimer: 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. Luke: What a piece of junk! Han: She'll make point five past lightspeed. She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself. But we're a little rushed, so if you'll just get on board, we'll get out of here. Luke: Lawlz. You can't pilot that thing. It's a YT-1300 and you're a Rebel-aligned Smuggler! Han: %&*$ ... Ah yes, continuity. It might as well be a four-letter word, at least when it comes to MMORPGs based on existing intellectual properties. Sure, producers pay a lot of lip service to faithfully recreating beloved works in an online space, but the reality inevitably ends up looking like the love child of Frankenstein's monster and a duck-billed platypus. Why then do we keep seeing MMOs riffing on Star Wars, Star Trek, Tolkien, and even Battlestar Galactica? Easy money, of course. A better question, and one I hope to answer at the conclusion of today's Soapbox, is why "MMORPG" automatically equals butchered continuity. In a nutshell, why is it so hard to respect the IP?
