It’s been 8 months since our last Episode, and almost a year since our first. Which begs the question: “Should the TAGCast slip from coma to the morgue?”

In this very brief, 4 minute episode, I propose:

• Let the TAGCast die gracefully.
• Let it live again – like Phoenix rising from the ashes – new hosts, new topics.
• Migrate it to the (perhaps) aptly named TWAT – This Week’s Aussie Technology

If we go with option one, I’m thinking of bringing back the Mobile Smackdown, only, on the web… Where we’ll talk all things Mobile. I’m looking for a Windows Phone 7, Blackberry, and Nokia/Symbian co-host. Also monthly we’ll do impossible challenges with our smartphones.

Your call, loyal listeners…

It’s that time of year, where everyone has a quick look back to see what’s happened, and then makes the wild predictions about what’s going to happen. The irony is two-fold:

1. The “future” doesn’t happen in a new year, but often on an unsuspecting Tuesday afternoon.
2. “Disruptive” technologies are lauded for successful businesses. By definition, to be disruptive, you’re creating something no-one is expecting.

Still, it’s fun, and we thought it fitting for our X and final episode of the year.

Rather than pontificate though, we decided to crowdsource, or at least ask people we know who’re in the know, what their predictions are first – then we pontificate. It makes for a somewhat longer episode, but I’m sure that you’ll all enjoy it.

So, who did we get to gaze into their Crystal Ball (soon to be replaced by the Google FutureSearch engine):

• Kate Carruthers – Digital Strategy Consultant, Lecturer, and Director of The Creation Nation
• Long Zheng – Blogger and author of  istartedsomething.com
• Iggy Pintado – Connection Expert, speaker, and author of Connection Generation
• Don Kerr – Product Marketing Manager of Windows Phone for Microsoft Australia
• James Bannan – Freelance IT Journalist and Systems Administrator
• Luke Harvey-Palmer – Personal Brand and Social Influence expert

Some trends are clear:

• With big tech companies (Microsoft, Google, Amazon) investing in super cheap Internet services, coupled with ubiquitous connectivity, more and more computing is moving to the “cloud.”
• More “features” in your phone, together with application development platforms, and an easy way for developers to sell applications, is pushing web access and computing to the mobile device.
• Social media in all it’s guises is proliferating exponentially – cheap video distribution, proliferation of digital media in cameras, audio recording, and both “what’s happening to me now” (aka Twitter) as well as “what happened previously (aka Facebook) type services.
• Combine these three and there’s any number of powerful combinations which companies are starting to exploit – from Augmented Reality on phones through to Location based services.
• Then there’s touch and other more “natural” interfaces to computing.

Nobody we interviewed wanted to go out on a limb and say who the next major smartphone vendor (Apple v Google) was going to be, or which Social Media site was going to take on Facebook – but we certainly gave our opinions

I also promised to link to:

• www.goodreturn.com.au – a way to help people out of poverty with a loan rather than a donation
• James’ Camp Quality Donation Page

Next Episode

We’re going to shake things up a little in Episode 11. We’ll be changing the format of the show, and with New Years Resolutions top of mind, we’ll discuss Internet Services to Revolutionise Your Life. Looking forward to you tuning in then.

As ever, send your comments, thoughts, and frustrations to tag@channel42.info

You can subscribe by clicking this link, or directly on iTunes.

Or you can just play the file from the web page.

See you on the Flipside

Oh how the iPhone has inspired a generation. All those applications. Apple doesn’t advertise the iPhone, they don’t have to, even the ads talk about the applications.

Of course, not to be outdone, other vendors are adopting the same strategy. Android Store, Windows Mobile Marketplace, Nokia Ovi Store (sounds like the right time of the month), Blackberry, Palm, they all want a piece of the action.

But with over 100,000 applications available for the iPhone, just which ones are worth downloading and buying? How do you tell? In truth, probably the same way you purchase any product from 100,000 on offer at K-Mart, David Jones, and Dick Smith. You trust the judgement of friends, people like yourself, and of course are aptly persuaded by the $2b marketing campaigns of the large vendors. Yes, there’s a reason that with few exceptions, the most popular applications even on the iPhone App Store, are produced by Google, EA, Activision and others.

In this episode we look at mobile applications along 2 axis, creating 4 quadrants: Frequency of Use (i.e. how often we use the app ourselves) and Impact/Importance (i.e. mission critical or frivolous). We talk at some length about the Frequent-Important apps, and mention the others.

However, we decided to neglect the obvious candidates such as email, calendar, contacts etc. They’re on every smartphone, and probably the primary reason to have one in the first place.

Rather unsurprisingly, many of our most valued apps are available across a number of platforms. Both James and I have come from many years in the Windows Mobile world, and recently bought iPhones. So having music, GPS, camera, video etc is not new to us. But it is true to say that we both have many more applications on this platform than any others.

Keeping Up

James is still digging into his Government Data, and I’ve been listening to Audio Books. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve listened to “The E-Myth Revisited” (again), “Losing my Virginity”, “Focus” by Stephen Covey, and am currently listening to “Persuasion – the Art of Getting What you Want” by Dave Lakhani.

Audiobooks by Audible, I can’t recommend them highly enough.

Next Episode

As Episode 10 will be the last Episode of 2009, we’re going to do some Crystal Ball gazing. From our knowledge of the Tech Landscape, people we know and work with, and reading of the trends, we’re going to take a punt at what 2010 is going to bring. Will Cloud Computing come into it’s own? Will Apple release a Tablet or Netbook? Will Google’s Chrome OS make an impact? What about Android, WinMo7, Palm Pre and the host of “iPhone Killers”

Tune in and take part.

As ever, send your comments, thoughts, and frustrations to tag@channel42.info

You can subscribe by clicking this link, or directly on iTunes.

Or you can just play the file from the web page.

See you on the Flipside

In this episode of the TAGCast we pay tribute to our missing third leg, Aussienick. It seems that getting to close to the TAGCast creates interesting dilemmas in your personal and professional life….

This episode, however, is all about just what you can do to make a living these days. No, not the job itself, but the technology that sets you free. Previously a startup or freelancer would have to pay through the nose to look as professional, and respond as quickly as someone working for a large Enterprise. But that has all changed.

Still questions remain – should you hack things together with Free Open Source, or should you invest in Commercial Proprietary SW? What is the basic starting kit for anyone going out on their own? Is there a really a difference in Smartphone, or will all do the same job? Should you invest in a Virtual Office?

Not only does Jamesmcc tackle these life changing (well, certainly business changing) questions, but we interview a non-Geek: Peter Black, ex-PWC Consultant, turned Executive Coach.

So that’s Episode 8 of Technology for the Aussie Guy. If you enjoy, please tell another 3 people, if you didn’t, then ping us at tag@channel42.info or call me – you can find my contact details at http://rog42.tel

To keep up, this week James was talking up Digg again, and I’ve just finished reading “The Back of the Napkin”. More on that in another post.

as ever, send your comments, thoughts, and frustrations to tag@channel42.info

You can subscribe by clicking this link, or directly on iTunes.

Or you can just play the file from the web page.

See you on the Flipside

Coming Soon in Episode 9:

What is the best Mobile Phone Application? Rog42 and Jamesmcc will discuss the life saving, bacon saving, and saving graces of mobile phone apps. If you know of people that rave about their iPhone, or couldn’t give a Rats, this will be the episode for them to listen to.

In this episode of the TAGCast, @Aussienick (Nicholas Rayner) takes us through the pitfalls common to hooking up with broadband in Australia, and how to avoid them. With the potential advent of a $46b National Broadband Network (NBN), you have to ask: “Why?” “Why now?” & “Who’s the best?”

We answer all of these questions and more.

Also, we’ve decided to change our name, from Technology for the Average Guy to Technology for the Aussie Guy.

1. We felt it just increasingly difficult to talk about technology without getting technical – we’re technologists at heart.
2. We continued to struggle to identify just who is “average” anyway
3. We’re hooking up with http://strine.net.au; a new Australian Social Media news site – check them out

We’ve also changed our final segment from Follow, Listen, and Read to Keeping Up!

Simply put, we just starting running out of people to Follow, Listen to, and Read for every episode. So we thought it made far more sense to continue to highlight how we keep up, and people/publications of interest.

Keeping up this episode then:

• James: data.australia.gov.au
• Nick: Seven Ancient Wonders by Matthew Reilly
• Rog42: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

That’s it for Episode 7 – we really do hope you enjoy the podcast, and we’re making the right changes, as ever, send your comments, thoughts, and frustrations to tag@channel42.info

You can subscribe by clicking this link, or directly on iTunes.

Or you can just play the file from the web page.

See you on the Flipside

Coming Soon in Episode 8

Technology and Tools for Free Lancers – do you run your own business, consult, or contract for someone else? What are the technologies and tools that make your life easier, more profitable, or even possible…

Well we recorded on time, but it turns out that working on a start-up creates a priority list that impacts on extra-mural activities like posting podcasts. So apologies for the delay for this post.

This week we talk about video, for personal and business use, from capture to distribution. All you need to know (and probably a lot that you don’t) to select your equipment, thoughts about shooting and editing, and how to get it onto a computer or TV for people to enjoy.

Video has been one of my passions for the last 9 years or so. From MiniDV to AVCHD and everything in-between, I’ve produced videos for training, proposals, enterprise clients like HP and Vodafone, church, and of course family. From vox-pop videos on my phone, to interactive stories on stage. There’s a couple of really basic tips that will change your video to looking professional rather than looking like a home video. We’ll cover these.

If you listen to people speak, you’d be mistaken to believe that you have to have a Mac to produce video. You’d be wrong. Although Final Cut Pro on the Mac is widely used in commercial circles, so is Adobe Premiere (now in CS4) and Sony Vegas Platinum Pro. Premiere has versions for both the Mac and the PC. Vegas is only available on PC. The truth is, most people will be using a Consumer or Prosumer product (not having budgets that stretch to >$1000 just for software), and in this price range there is more choice on the PC platform than the Mac.

Of course if you’re like most people, your computer won’t be a dedicated video production facility, but likely used for more tasks. In fact chances are that you’ll be connecting to business systems. With this in mind, the PC platform provides the most versatility, not to mention value for money – especially now with Windows 7. So don’t agree to feel like a 2nd class citizen because you produce video on a PC. The computer, like the camera, the software, and the lights are just tools. Learn how to use them well, and have fun producing video.

This week’s FLR:

James:

• Follow – @Digg_tech
• Listen - Diggnation
• Read - Digg.com

Nick:

• Follow -@TathamOddie
• Listen – The Home Server Show
• Read – MobileJaw.com

Rog42

• Follow – @TheDVShow
• Listen – TechNation with Moira Gun
• Read - Technation Australia

As ever please email your questions, thoughts, comments, suggestions, and angry arguments to tag@channel42.info

You can subscribe to the TAGCast at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42

or directly on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42-iT

I would also like to acknowledge this week’s tune “Slowly Divide” by Powderburn. Note, I did speed up the track a bit.

Enjoy, and see you on the flipside…

This weeks episode is all about gaming. Chances are, unless you live in an alternate universe, without electricity, video (are they even called that anymore) or computer games are part and parcel of your life.

Computer games have become big business. If you believe the stats of Game Publishers, they make more money than does Hollywood. Hollywood, of course, disagrees. Game publishers are quick to point out that the Movies actually only make more than games with DVD and Blu-Ray sales, but the actual movie industry…

…Hollywood responds with, yeah well, games can only be experienced by buying a disk (or download) – so there…

Anyway, we’re starting to get into the Christmas Spirit on the TAGCast, and preparing episodes to help our listeners work through the quagmire of “what to get. – PS3, xBox360, Wii, DS, a broadband connection (I think the NBN is a bit like Father Christmas) for their PC. James discusses which console is best for you. Of course he didn’t mention if you want to play games, a Mac is not the computer to buy (just zero games). James manages to record an interview for the first time ever…  …unsure whether he’s paying underage children, or just forcing them into slave laboour.

(Note: It’s ok – it’s with his son)

I talk about the games themselves. What’s hot right now, and what’s going to be unwrapped with glee in about 10 weeks… I also get a quick surprise interview in.

Nick brings us back to reality and discusses the essential element in all of this. What you’re actually going to be looking at when you play the game – Plasma, LCD, Projector….

This week’s FLR:

James:

• Follow – @eotw
• Listen - Man with no Blog
• Read - Byteside Games

Nick:

• Follow -@rtrgrrl
• Listen - The Boy Genius Report
• Read - Gotta Be Mobile

Rog42

• Follow - @Zazz
• Listen - BBC Global News
• Read - Jason L Baptiste

As ever please email your questions, thoughts, comments, suggestions, and angry arguments to tag@channel42.info

You can subscribe to the TAGCast at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42

or directly on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42-iT

I would also like to acknowledge this week’s tune “Hey, Now Now,” by Chris Huff, who plays Folk-Rock-Reggae Fusion.

“It’s like Dylan and Bowie jamming in Jamaica”

If you like the music we slip into the show, send us an email and let us know; otherwise, simply drop your MP3 player into some Coca-cola. (joshin) If you don’t like the music, definitely let us know. Oh, and point us in the direction of good Indie, and Podsafe, music that you love as well – always happy to try out new toons.

Coming soon in Episode 6:

Video: What it can do for your business, family, and how to get it from scene to distribution (disk or web)

See you on the flipside.

This week we speak all about Web Development. Do you need a website for your business? How much should it cost you? Are web developers simply charlatans that aim to fleece the uninitiated? How should you engage a web developer?

James speaks about contracting web developers and the things you should know. I vainly attempt a challenge to prove that you can set up a website http://cart.tagcast.info, with a shopping cart within the time it takes us to record the podcast, and also get to interview Iggy Pintado, who wrote “The Connection Generation.” Nick points us to resources where you can learn to develop your own website.

This is a longer edition than previously, but I’m sure you’ll agree, the best episode yet.

We are looking to expand the podcast to areas our listeners want to go. So although we’re planning our next episode to be about Game consoles, games, and TV’s (helping our listeners prepare for Christmas) we will answer your questions on the show.

This week’s FLR:

James:

• Follow – @liaise
• Listen – Byteside Tech
• Read – demo.com

Nick:

• Follow -@GordonRyan
• Listen – MrMobileBlog.com
• Read – TheTechGuy

Rog42

• Follow – @IggyPintado
• Listen – The DVShow
• Read – Anthill Magazine

As ever please email your questions, thoughts, comments, suggestions, and angry arguments to tag@channel42.info

You can subscribe to the TAGCast at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42 or directly on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42-iT

Well we had a couple of interruptions to our usual programming, which we’re working hard to remedy. Firstly, James and I were up on the Gold Coast for the Microsoft TechEd Conference. Both of us were there in a speaking capacity, which proves a rather heavy workload. Then just to top us, Nick went and contracted Pnuemonia, (as you do) and was out of action.

However, I did manage to catch up with James Bannan, IT Administrator and Journalist for the APC. So he works with your average teacher, and writes for the non-professional IT user all the time. It was great to get some of his insights for the technologies launched at TechEd, and what he believes will be a game changer for 2010.

This week our FLR people:

James:

• Follow – @Chr1sa
• Listen - Free: The Future of the Radical Price
• Read - The Long Tail

Rog42

• Follow - @JamesBannan
• Listen - TED Talks
• Read - Keeping the Door

As ever please email your questions, thoughts, comments, suggestions, and angry arguments to tag@channel42.info

You can subscribe to the TAGCast at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42 or directly on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42-iT

Thanks for all of the positive comments and feedback from our first episode. Well, we managed to find some time to get together, and this week we look at:

• Online Accounting Software – what are the pitfalls, the benefits, and should you consider this for your business?
• Netbooks - 18 months since the release of the Asus EeePC the Netbook genre seems to be the latest craze, but are they really worth it?
• Cloud computing – for the average guy, should you fork out your hard earned moolah on a grunty PC and expensive applications, or can you really run everything through your browser over the Internet?

Website links featured in this weeks show:

Accounting Software:

• www.saasu.com
• www.xero.com
• www.clarityaccounting.com

Synch Services:

• Live Mesh
• Dropbox
• Sugarsync

Applications in the Cloud

• Google Docs
• Picnic (Flickr online photo editing)
• Evernote (All your memories, for life, on all your devices)

Follow, Read, Listen

As promised in the Podcast, links to this weeks: Follow, Read, Listen

James:

• Follow - @Saasu
• Listen - Diggnation
• Read - icanhazdot.net

Nick

• Follow - @CraigBailey
• Listen - commandN
• Read -  www.alanjlee.com

Rog42

• Follow - @StephenFry
• Listen - Technation with Moira Gunn
• Read - Engadget

Thanks for listening, as ever please email your questions, thoughts, comments, suggestions, and angry arguments to tag@channel42.info

You can subscribe to the TAGCast at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42 or directly on iTunes at http://tinyurl.com/TAG-C42-iT