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The best of WoW Insider: March 17-24, 2009
The World of Warcraft is a strange and beautiful one. It can be hard to understand sometimes, but that's where Joystiq's sister site WoW Insider comes in: whether you want to know how to start playing a certain class, how to make money while leveling, or how to beat the toughest raids in the game, we've got news, analysis, and insight on everything Azeroth. News WoW Insider's Guide to Patch 3.1Everything you need to know about the upcoming content patch, and then some. Tier 8 set bonuses hit the PTRsTime once again to drool over gear you'll probably never wear. New addon policy makes selling addons against the rulesBlizzard says no to in-game donation buttons and outright selling third-party addons. World of Warcraft Mountain Dew coming soonGame fuel is returning, in a few Azeroth-inspired flavors. Confirmed: New battleground on the wayBlizzard is still planning on beefing up the in-game battleground situation. Features The Queue: Item level, attunement, and moreWe answer your questions... with answers. Spiritual Guidance: The Undying experience of a PriestHow to get 10 people through Naxxramas without losing a life. Encrypted Text: Why patch 3.1 won't transform RoguesHoping 3.1 will make your stabby dreams come true? Better not hold your breath. Arcane Brilliance: I still don't like spiritMore Mage updates in preparation for the new patch. Ready Check: Nearly Immortal10 people living through Naxx too easy for you? Try 25.
Video: Honda Insight's Eco Assist nags like a backseat hippie
Honda's new 5-passenger "Insight" hybrid just went on sale in Japan. The ¥1,890,000 (about $20,750) hatchback's 1.3l i-VTEC engine with Integrated Motor Assist features Honda's new Ecological Assist system that helps correct your wasteful driving habits. Eco Assist features an ECON mode (via dashboard button) that adjusts the engine output to conserve energy and increases regenerative recharging during deceleration. It also features Guidance and Scoring modes that adjust the background color of the speedometer and presents more (or less) leaves on the dashboard multi-information display to reflect your current level of fuel efficiency. The idea is simple: as your driving "improves" both your bank account and the environment will benefit. The Insight is expected to make its way to your local amber waves of grain or purple mountain majesty dealership in April, Europe in March. Skip ahead to 1:40 in the video posted after the break for the full Eco Assist rundown.
Insight Communications to raise cable rates in January
We already counted four major cable providers who either already have or soon will increase their rates in one aspect or another, and now you can make it an even five. Insight Communications will be hiking rates for many customers by around $3 per month come January, and while it would be easy to link said increases to the recent Digital 4.0 update, spokeswoman Sandy Colony says it's actually just due to "higher programming costs from various channels." Of note, those who subscribe solely to basic cable won't see a change, but anyone utilizing the "classic cable service" will be asked to hand over three more bucks per month. Ah well, at least this increase is easier to swallow than most -- having a full plate of HD to chew on for the next 12 months makes the pill go down that much smoother.
Honda's color-changing speedometer to drive out bad driving habits
So, you've a lead foot? What of it, right? Honda's hoping to make that bad little habit vanish by using the tried and true guilt trip method, or more specifically, the Ecological Drive Assist System. For starters, the technology's ECON Mode works with the CVT and engine to "support more fuel-efficient driving." The real kicker, however, is the color-based "guidance function" -- drive like a granny, your speedo lights up green, drive a little wilder, and things get a bit blue, and if you toss fuel economy to the wind and let 'er rip, expect a full-on blue screen and the voice of God to come thundering through your sound system instructing that those horses be held. The EDAS should appear in the automaker's Insight hybrid as early as Spring 2009, though there's no word if it'll be standard equipment on the rumored S3000.
Insight Digital 4.0 brings wheelbarrow full of HD stations to Columbus, OH
There's some serious competition for HD eyes in Columbus. Locals can choose from Wide Open West, AT&T, Time Warner Cable and Insight, and it's obvious the latter is looking to stay ahead of the pack when it comes to HD options. Tipster Joshua has chimed in to let us know that Insight Digital 4.0 has been unleashed upon the Ohio city, bringing with it too many high-def channels to count. If you're ready to be impressed, hop on past the break and scroll, scroll, scroll.[Thanks, Joshua]
Insight comes clean with 33 HD channels for Louisville market
Back in October, we heard that Insight Communications was fixing to carry 56 high-definition channels by early next month in the Kentucky region. Now, we're being treated to a delicious dash of confirmation. The Courier-Journal is reporting that 33 new HD channels will be added in and around Louisville, KY by December 18th as part of an upgrade program dubbed Digital 4.0. Wondering about what will be added? Try HD versions of A&E, AMC, The History Channel, USA, SciFi, Bravo, Sundance, National Geographic, FX, ESPNews, ESPNU, Disney, ABC Family and The Weather Channel -- and that's not counting the ten new HD on-demand options. Unfortunately, all this HD love won't be arriving as a gift for all, as fees for new subscribers to Insight's digital packages will be boosted around $2 to $3 per month. Ah well, at least you folks are getting something from your increase.
Insight testing 100Mbps high-speed internet in Kentucky
Details are exceptionally vague at the moment, but Insight Communications is currently testing an internet service capable of hitting (theoretical) download speeds as high as 100Mbps. Not that we haven't seen similar services offered from fiber providers or anything, but generally speaking, 50Mbps is the high-end of what DOCSIS 3.0 provides. Then again, the article never specifically mentions said protocol, so we're left to wonder exactly what's going on and when it'll expand from this so-called "trial" stage. Can you tell we're tense with anticipation?[Via DSLReports]
Insight to add more HD options in Kentucky
It's been a long, long while since we've heard any good news on the HD expansion front from Lexington-based Insight Communications, but at long last, the carrier has emerged from the woodwork to assure us all that it's still alive and well. The firm has just announced its intentions to carry 56 high-definition channels by "early December," with a few of the newcomers to include FOX News HD, CNN HD, The History Channel HD and SciFi HD. A spokeswoman for the company admitted that most of the additions would be available at no cost, though we assume a few of 'em may fall into pay tiers. Hang tight, Insight users -- help is on the way.
Comcast dropping a fresh dozen in former Insight territory
Unfortunately for those in areas that used to be covered by Insight, it seems that not all of you will be blessed with the full 22 HD channels that were announced for Bloomington, IL. A new report originating from Martinsville, Indiana asserts that programming changes are looming for Comcast subscribers in and around that city. Aside from many SD networks being shuffled around and even dropped entirely, a full dozen high-def channels are slated to land on May 1st. Of course, we can't know just how far these additions will spread from Martinsville, but feel free to jump on past the break for the full list (and cross your fingers come May).
Insight asks customers to select most wanted HD channels
Call us looney, but asking actual subscribers which HD channels they'd like to see most seems like an... astonishingly fantastic idea. Lo and behold, Insight has gone and done exactly that by hosting a survey for its customers to submit. Essentially, it asks respondents to select the top eight channels they'd love to see added to the high-def lineup, input what zip code they're in and toss in bonus comments if the mood strikes 'em. Of course, there's nothing there saying that the carrier will be using this data to bolster its high-definition offerings, but really, why else would it bother?[Thanks, Matthew]
TWC customers to see Cincinnati Reds in HD this season?
Considering that every single New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays matchup will be seen in HD in their respective markets, it's understandable for Reds fans to long for more than Time Warner Cable delivered last season. During 2007, TWC failed to carry the initial 33 Cincinnati Reds games on FSN Ohio in HD, but according to Karen Baxter, public affairs director for the carrier's southwest Ohio division, it's hoping to "be able to offer the Reds in HDTV this year." Notably, Insight brought these very games to its Northern Kentucky subscribers last year in HD, making Ohio residents that much more upset to be left in the pixelated dark. Still, considering that DirecTV and DISH Network has access to all 71 FSN Ohio HDTV games, we're hoping Time Warner steps up to the proverbial plate here and gives the local Reds fans a clearer picture this go 'round -- particularly since we know the channel itself is already on the way. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Image courtesy of Megan Construction]
Insight Digital 3.2 upgrade adds HD VOD
Insight Communication's right back with a followup to December's 3.0 upgrade, this time going straight to 3.2. High definition subscribers have access to Sundance, FEARnet and Starz content on demand, and digital music channels from Urge, replacing the existing Music Choice channels starting today. So now that there's some HD VOD to go with your new channels, Insight Subscribers, are you entertained?[via Light Reading; Warning: PDF link]
Comcast and Insight complete midwest transition
Just as expected, Comcast and Insight Communications have wrapped up the so-called "Insight Midwest Transaction." With the completion, Comcast now owns 100-percent of the cable systems serving Illinois customers in Rockford / Dixon, Quincy / Macomb, Springfield, Peoria and Champaign / Urbana as well as Indiana customers in Bloomington, Anderson, and Lafayette / Kokomo. It was also noted that Insight has full ownership of cable systems in Louisville, Lexington, Bowling Green and Covington, Kentucky along with those in Evansville, Indiana and Columbus, Ohio. Considering just how much area this deal covers, we've all ideas a reader or two has been affected one way or another -- if that's you, drop us a comment and let us know how things are faring, would you?
Comcast swallowing Insight in Greater Lafayette, Indiana area
For 69,000 cable subscribers in the Greater Lafayette, Indiana area, December 31st will be the last day you tune into cable provided by Insight Communications. As of January 1, 2008, Comcast will be taking over hordes of customers in the Lafayette-Attica-Kokomo markets and surrounding areas, but according to Comcast spokesman Mark Apple, there won't be any "immediate changes." It was noted that no price hikes would be throw in initially, but due to promises of extra HD programming and HD VOD, we can't imagine those bills staying flat for too long. Additionally, Comcast still hasn't worked out a deal to carry the Big Ten Network, which will certainly present a problem considering the proximity of Purdue / Indiana. From the outside looking in, this takeover looks like a mixed bag, but if Comcast finally figures out a way to carry the Big Ten Network and offer up more HD options at a reasonable price, we suppose things would look quite a bit better.
Insight cable customers get six new HD channels, NFL Network included
Over a year after Insight Communications launched its InsightDigital 2.0 service and threw in a trio of HD channels to boot, the cable company is now giving its loyal customers five more high-definition options along with the Digital 3.0 upgrade. Reportedly, users can now tune into Discovery, Animal Planet, The Learning Channel (TLC), TBS, National Geographic and yes, even the NFL Network in glorious HD. The Digital 3.0 package will automatically be available to digital subscribers at no extra cost, but it should be noted that Insight will raise prices in January. Additionally, the operator has nearly doubled its on-demand library and includes VOD channels for HOB, Starz, Showtime, Cinemax and The Movie Channel, but we're still left with no word on any HD VOD plans.
Are the forums necessary?
Here's something I'd like to hear all your thoughts on. Glue from Nagrand quotes the fact that "only a small portion of the playerbase read the forums," and he claims that those people are the most important players Blizzard has-- they care enough about the game to visit the forums and voice their opinions. But I'd like to play the devil's advocate on this one. What if (and stay with me here) Blizzard deleted the official forums completely?Do we really need the official forums? They do help-- besides giving us all kinds of fun reads and, yes, occasional insight, they're the main link between the CMs and the player base-- patch announcements and upcoming changes all are made known mostly through the forums, and day-to-day player feedback and questions are centered there. But they don't have to be-- Mythic's Dark Age of Camelot actually runs a daily blog featuring community news and game updates and changes. And it would be just as easy for Blizzard to announce things on their own website, and get player feedback and questions from sites just like this one.And getting rid of the forums would wipe out all of the lunacy that appears on there-- all the insensitive comments, the jeering and rickrolling, the flaming, the drama (well, actually I'm down for keeping that one), and all of the other wackiness that goes down there every day. If the CMs didn't have to deal with that stuff, wouldn't they be able to spend more time communicating player ideas to the devs? If Blizzard didn't have to pay Timbal to ban rickrollers, couldn't they use that money to come up with a new 5man, or Heroic Deadmines, or any number of other ideas they've had but couldn't carry out? If we lost the forums, wouldn't we have a better game?Food for thought. It's highly unlikely (at the very least) that Blizzard would ever shut down the official forums. But, even though they may have been necessary in the beginning, WoW's community survives in many other places now. Are the forums really necessary?
NC State preps Lotus Elise for 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge
If the Cardinal (or Tartans) think that the 2007 DARPA Urban Challenge will be a gimme, they may want to sneak a peek at the looming competition. Students from NC State's College of Engineering are readying a highly modified Lotus Elise for next year's autonomous vehicle contest, and are working with Insight Technologies as well as Lotus' own engineering group to craft what's likely to be the sexiest unmanned vehicle on the track. Dubbed the Insight Racing team, the crew is loading the whip with "sensors and onboard computers that have been programmed to autonomously maneuver it through an urban setting complete with traffic, intersections and traffic circles." Moreover, the highly-coveted machine will be able to handle its own parking duties (and pose for glamour shots) when the day's done. After finishing 12th overall with just a Chevrolet Suburban in the 2005 Challenge, the Pack hopes its newfangled toy (and subsequent cornering abilities) can propel them to the top come next November.
Insight Communications launches InsightDigital 2.0; adds 3 HD channels
Cable customers in Louisville and Covington, Ky.; Columbus, Ohio; and Rockford and Macomb, Ill woke up to an upgraded digital cable package today, as Insight launched its InsightDigital 2.0 service. The upgrade brings new features as well as 5 new SD channels and 3 new ones for HDTV owners: ESPN2-HD, TNT-HD and MHD. Other Insight customers should expect to have the upgrades by early November. A look at Insight's website indicates a new InsightDigital 2.0 package with HDTV and DVR, including the three new channels plus the five existing national channels (Discovery HD Theater, ESPN-HD, HDNet, HDNet Movies and Universal HD) for $15.95 over the basic cable rate. Our fourth grade education indicates eight is better than five, so we can't help but applaud this move. How about some HD VOD Insight?Read - Insight adding channels, shifting channel lineupRead - Insight to Launch Next-Generation Digital Cable Service in All Markets
Columbus cable subscribers can now enjoy ABC and Fox in HD
Sinclair Business Group, a Baltimore-area company that owns several mid-western broadcast stations, has recently reached agreements with Insight Communications and WideOpenWest to allow them to provide their stations in high definition on their cable service. In Columbus however, Time Warner has most of the market and as yet has not reached a deal for their high definition services.The channels now broadcasting: WICS/WICD (ABC 15/ABC 20) in Champaign/Springfield, IL WDKY (FOX 56) in Lexington, KY WYZZ (FOX 43) in Peoria, IL WSYX (ABC 6) and WTTE (FOX 28) in Columbus, OH (WideOpenWest also) WSTR (WB 64) in Cincinnati, OH WKEF (ABC 22) and WRGT (FOX 45) in Dayton, OH WZTV (FOX 17) and WUXP (UPN 30) in Nashville, TN and WMSN (FOX 47) in Madison, WI will also be available on a limited number of Insight cable systems in certain markets. Sinclair indicates they will not reach deals without receiving "adequate consideration", so Time Warner subscribers, you may have those rabbit ears out for a while.