TAGCast - Podcasting Technology for the Average Guy http://blog.rog42.net The lastest gadget, Phone, Operating System, or <Insert technology here> has been released. Do you care? Should you? Will this revolutionise your life? Susbscribe and get compelling reviews of the latest tech in a language that you understand. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:28:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 What is happening in the inscrutable world of technology and whether you should care. Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas Rayner no tag@channel42.info (Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick) (c)2009 Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick TAG - Technology for the Average Guy Rog42 - Bringer of Colour http://blog.rog42.net/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://blog.rog42.net (c)2009 Rog42, Jamesmcc, AussienickTechnology,Average,Guy,Tech,News,Rog42,Australia,Aussienick,Jamesmcc,Windows,iPhoneTechnologytag@rog42.netRoger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas RaynerTechnology,Average,Guy,Tech,News,Rog42,Australia,Aussienick,Jamesmcc,Windows,iPhone TAG 008 – So You Want to be the Boss? http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechAveGuy/~3/gXIXtfIOpSw/ http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/11/21/tag-008-so-you-want-to-be-the-boss/#comments Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:28:01 +0000 tag@rog42.net (Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas Rayner) http://blog.rog42.net/?p=247 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.

]]> http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/11/21/tag-008-so-you-want-to-be-the-boss/feed/ 0 TAG, Technology, Aussie, Guy, Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick, Broadband TAG 008 - TAGCast for Nov 21, 2009 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? Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick clean 1:07:12 http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/11/21/tag-008-so-you-want-to-be-the-boss/ TAG 007 – Whatever Happened to Broadband http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechAveGuy/~3/73A32JvDKVk/ http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/11/08/tag-007-whatever-happened-to-broadband/#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:41:55 +0000 tag@rog42.net (Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas Rayner) http://blog.rog42.net/?p=239 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:

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…

]]> http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/11/08/tag-007-whatever-happened-to-broadband/feed/ 1 TAG, Technology, Aussie, Guy, Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick, Broadband TAG 007 - TAGCast for Nov 8, 2009 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. Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick clean 44:07 http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/11/08/tag-007-whatever-happened-to-broadband/ TAG 006 – Video for everyone http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechAveGuy/~3/hPffCZzDnbI/ http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/11/01/tag-006-video-for-everyone/#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:26:43 +0000 tag@rog42.net (Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas Rayner) http://blog.rog42.net/?p=234 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:

Nick:

Rog42

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…

]]> http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/11/01/tag-006-video-for-everyone/feed/ 1 TAG, Technology, Average, Guy, Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick, Australia, Video, DVD, YouTube TAG 006 - Podcast for Nov 1, 2009 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. Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick clean 38:38 http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/11/01/tag-006-video-for-everyone/ TAG 005 – Technology for the Average Guy – Episode 5 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechAveGuy/~3/qI4Gr5BK6I4/ http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/10/10/tag-005-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-5/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:37:19 +0000 tag@rog42.net (Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas Rayner) http://blog.rog42.net/?p=217 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:

Nick:

Rog42

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.

]]> http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/10/10/tag-005-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-5/feed/ 0 TAG, Technology, Average, Guy, Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick, Australia, Games, Consoles, XBOX360, PS3 TAG 005 Podcast for October 10, 2009 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. Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick clean 58:43 http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/10/10/tag-005-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-5/ TAG 004 – Technology for the Average Guy – Episode 4 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechAveGuy/~3/2CIEggSPhcQ/ http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/10/03/tag-004-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-4/#comments Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:52:11 +0000 tag@rog42.net (Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas Rayner) http://blog.rog42.net/?p=211 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:

Nick:

Rog42

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

]]> http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/10/03/tag-004-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-4/feed/ 2 TAG, Technology, Average, Guy, Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick, Australia, Web, Development, Iggy, Pintado TAG 004 Podcast for October 3, 2009 This week in the TAGCast 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? Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick clean 50:47 http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/10/03/tag-004-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-4/ TAG 003 – Technology for the Average Guy – Episode 3 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechAveGuy/~3/8ohWLxz0RcU/ http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/09/28/tag-003-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-3/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:16:20 +0000 tag@rog42.net (Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas Rayner) http://blog.rog42.net/?p=195 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:

Rog42

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

]]> http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/09/28/tag-003-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-3/feed/ 0 Aussienick,Australia,Average,Guy,Jamesmcc,Rog42,TAG,TAG003,Technology This week the Tech for the Average Guy Podcast speaks to Journalist James Bannan from the APC, and what happened at the Microsoft TechEd Conference. This week the Tech for the Average Guy Podcast speaks to Journalist James Bannan from the APC, and what happened at the Microsoft TechEd Conference. Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick clean 24:50 http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/09/28/tag-003-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-3/ TAG – Technology for the Average Guy – Episode 2 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechAveGuy/~3/HmyZjGQoMfU/ http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/08/30/tag-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-2/#comments Sat, 29 Aug 2009 15:01:04 +0000 tag@rog42.net (Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas Rayner) http://blog.rog42.net/?p=165 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:

Synch Services:

Applications in the Cloud

Follow, Read, Listen

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

James:

Nick

Rog42

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

]]> http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/08/30/tag-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-2/feed/ 2 TAG, Technology, Average, Guy, Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick, Australia, Netbooks, Accounting, Cloud TAG Podcast for August 29, 2009 Welcome to Episode 2 of TAG, Technology for the Average Guy. The podcast that seeks to bridge the gap between what's new in Tech, and whether you should care. In this Episode James looks at Online Accounting Software, Nick takes a peek at Netbooks, and Roger asks whether we're really ready to run our applications in the cloud. Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick clean http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/08/30/tag-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-2/ TAG – Technology for the Average Guy – Episode 1 http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TechAveGuy/~3/MxAQdaYwNnE/ http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/08/16/tag-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-1/#comments Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:25:09 +0000 tag@rog42.net (Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas Rayner) http://blog.rog42.net/?p=159 Welcome to the first ever episode of Technology for the Average Guy. A new podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the latest tech news, and what it means to the average person.

In Episode 1 we discuss:

  • Smartphones - should you change your current phone to a smartphone? If so what is really the best on the market. If you already have a smartphone, should you change yours? What phones do we, the podcasters have? Does it matter what technology we work with, or whom employs us?
  • Windows 7 – The latest client operating system from Microsoft for PC’s. Should you upgrade? Really?
  • Tablet PC’’s - Wired reckons 2010 is the year of the tablet. Live Digitally disagrees. What do you think? Have tablets come into their own, and is it worth getting one? We interview Hugo Ortega, Principal of Tegatech Australia. The distributor of Tablet PC’s in Australia and NZ for his take on this.

Update:

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

James:

Nick

Rog42

Thanks for listening & 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

]]> http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/08/16/tag-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-1/feed/ 2 TAG,Technology for the Average Guy Podcast TAG Podcast for August 16, 2009 Welcome to the first ever episode of Technology for the Average Guy. A new podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the latest tech news, and what it means to the average person. In Episode 1 we discuss: Smartphones - should you change your current phone to a smartphone? If so what is really the best on the market. If you already have a smartphone, should you change yours? What phones do we, the podcasters have? Does it matter what technology we work with, or whom employs us? Windows 7 - The latest client operating system from Microsoft for PC's. Should you upgrade? Really? Tablet PC''s - Wired reckons 2010 is the year of the tablet. Live Digitally disagrees. What do you think? Have tablets come into their own, and is it worth getting one? We interview Hugo Ortega, Principal of Tegatech Australia. The distributor of Tablet PC's in Australia and NZ for his take on this. Rog42, Jamesmcc, Aussienick clean http://blog.rog42.net/index.php/2009/08/16/tag-technology-for-the-average-guy-episode-1/ Roger Lawrence, James McCutcheon, Nicholas RaynernonadultTAG - Technology for the Average Guy