The Ars Technicast

Most computer and gadget owners have lived through the nightmares of failed hard drives, fried circuits, cracked screens and other horror tales. Here at the Ars Technicast, we have had our own shares of tech mishapss. On this episode, Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng, Ars Contributors Andrew Cunningham and Casey Johnston, and Social Editor Cesar Torres share their own tech horror tales, but they also share some of the ways they solved the problems. You'll also want to watch this archived clip of the day Jacqui's phone shattered, and everyone at the table laughed. 

What is your tech horror story? Leave us a message in the comments and tell us what you did to resolve it. If you have pro tips on how to dry out hardware or perform extensive backups, share those with us, too. 

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Sure, a little bit of mystery is not a bad thing. Mystery helps us feel a bit of anticipation, and in the case of Sony, they are teasing us with the PlayStation 4, the follow-up to the Playstation 3. It’s been seven years since the release of their last console, and this time around, Sony held an event in New York City to tells us a lot, but not to show us a lot. We know the specs of the machine and some of its social features, but what about the casing, and what about the games? Sony were so vague that they also didn’t indicate what countries get the PS4, or when they can buy it. In this episode of the Ars Technicast, we talk about what we want to know more about, and what we think this might mean for gaming for the consoles and for PCs. Host Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng is joined by Gaming Editor Kyle Orland, Ars Contributor Casey Johnston, and Social Editor Cesar Torres. 

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Automation has long been relegated to the nerd realm and the home tinkerer. Back in 2008 we reviewed automated thermostats like the Ecobee, and the Ars OpenForum also discussed it. Fast forward to 2013, and now general consumers can now also enjoy a lot of automation inside their homes. Automated gadgets like the Nest, and the Phillips LED lightbulbs, which come with an open API for inventors to devise their own solutions. Today on the show we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of automation, and we take our chat one step further into automated lifestyle gadgets, like Fitbit and the Withings scale. Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng is joined by Senior Reviews Editor Lee Hutchinson and Social Editor Cesar Torres to talk about the issues.

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According to our gaming editor Kyle Orland, video games are in a real transition point. Nintendo just released the Wii U, its next generation console, but many of us are speculating about what’s to come from other major players like Sony and Microsoft. What’s more, more open-source projects like Ouya and the Oculus Rift could really impact the way in which people play games. And then there’s mobile gaming. What can gamers expect in 2013? In this episode of the Ars Technicast, we talk about where we think the industry is headed, and what new players might have real impact. Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng, Social Editor Cesar Torres and Senior Reviews Editor Lee Hutchinson join Kyle in a discussion of hardware, software, and indie development issues. 

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CES 2013, that giant, tangled web of a consumer electronic show, concluded last week, and the Ars Technica crew was there to cover it. But now that it’s over, we took some time to think about what makes this giant trade show useful, and the ways in which it has changed in recent years.  On this episode of the Ars Technicast, Associate Writer Andrew Cunningham and Reviews Editor Florence Ion tell Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng and Social Editor Cesar Torres share their stories of adventure while covering CES. With the absence of Microsoft from the event, the show brings more focus to the latest gadgets and electronics makers, catering to more interaction with journalists who are covering the event. But, is CES no longer a show that’s just open for anyone?  Flo answers that question, and in the process, we also talk about what happens when journalists get to play a little bit on the Vegas strip, while covering the ground. And inevitably, we also discuss the weirdness of the Qualcomm keynote, and the notorious Internet fridge.

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey finally arrived a week ago. For fans of J.R.R. Tolkien, the new film could be the best adaptation ever—or perhaps a movie that has lost the tone of the source material. In this episode of the Ars Technicast, we discuss the role The Hobbit played in Tolkien’s grand mythology of Middle Earth, and how Peter Jackson’s films have re-imagined The Lord of The Rings and The Hobbit to serve the needs of movie audiences. Peter Jackson has also caused some controversy with viewers by filming the movie in 48 frames per second. Cesar saw it in 48fps, and you might be surprised at his final verdict of the new technique. Host Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng is joined by Staff Writer Andrew Cunningham, Lead Developer Lee Aylward, and Social Editor Cesar Torres. And yes, this podcast episode is full of spoilers, so if you don’t want to hear them, you have been warned.

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This week we discuss PC vs. console gaming, Which platform holds the crown?

Gaming Editor Kyle Orland and Reviews Editor Lee Hutchinson talk about their dedication to each platform. Thouygh gamers cans sometimes live squarely on one side of the PC platform debate, there’s a surprising amount of crossover, now that ports are released simultaneously nowadays. But as Kyle and Lee go head first into the pros and cons of each, preferences remain strong. Join Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng and Social Editor Cesar Torres join in the discussion as we talk about the platforms we grew up with, cost considerations, game selection, and whether it’s a good idea to go shopping in Dark-Knight Batman voice. 

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Why is it that so many people have not read Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species? This seminal work of science and literature has been one of the most influential and hotly debated works of the modern age, and yet, not everyone has read it. In this episode of the Ars Technicast, Editor and Chief Ken Fisher, Senior Science Editor John Timmer join Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng and Social Editor Cesar Torres in a discussion about Darwin’s book. What are the merits of Darwin’s writing style? How is the book incorporated into academia, and how should that change? 

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This week, Microsoft Editor Peter Bright shares his honest opinions on what the Microsoft Surface lacks, and why. There’s niggling small details that don’t make the cut, and there’s some big problems with it as well. But there’s also lots to be said for Microsoft’s bold new tablet. To find out what went right and wrong, join Peter, Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng, Social Editor Cesar Torres, and Ars Contributor Casey Johnston on this episode of the Ars Technicast. 

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This week in the Ars Technicast we talk about the iPad mini, which Apple announced earlier this week, along with an update to the larger iPad. Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng, who liveblogged the event, shared her first-hand impressions with Apple's new tablet, and we discuss the merit of a smaller screen size, as well as ways in which the mini might compare to other mobile devices. Senior Apple Editor Jacqui Cheng, Social Editor Cesar Torres, Reviews Editor Lee Hutchinson, and Associate Writer Andrew Cunninghman. Do you have opinions about the iPad mini? Share your thoughts with us below. 

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