I’ve been thinking for awhile, since I started this publication actually, about what I really want techNtalk to be about. There are a host of websites that flash the latest and greatest in tech and gadget wizardry, but I don’t want techNtalk to be like them. Besides, aren’t there enough of those clones out there anyway?

Lately I’ve been leaning more towards simple opinion, or maybe reviews if you will, on simple technology tasks (like how to organize email and setup SPAM rules). Don’t get me wrong, I still want to keep posting news and opinions, but I am curious to find out how many people would benefit from simple tutorials and basic opinions on the future technology that’s becoming more and more everyday technology.

So, please post a comment letting me know your thoughts on what you’d like. As always, I want this blog to incorporate the sense of community and I think tutorials can get more people involved, especially those that want to figure out how to download and install those funky cell-phone rings that you hear on TV commercials

Earlier, Avid Technology introduced its new Xpress Pro Roadshow program. The program is a series of on-site demonstrations planned for Windows and Mac usersof its non-linear editing suite (NLE).

The events are expected to cover HDV editing for PC, HDV acquisition, Avid DNxHD?? encoding, Avid Open Timeline technology, and multi-resolution multicam editing Tiger OS integration for the Apple Macintosh.

Cities and dates announced so far include the following:
Chicago, IL - November 1
Vancouver, BC - November 3
Detroit, MI - November 3
Miami, FL - November 3
Cherry Hill, NJ - November 8
Las Vegas, NV - November 10
Washington, DC - November 10
Montreal, QB - November 15
Los Angeles, CA - November 15 6
Dallas, TX - December 1

refusing to comment on the class action lawsuit launched against the company in the US concerning allegations of design flaws in its iPod Nano media players

The word is on the street, Apple’s running from its problems. The iPod Nano is a hit, regardless of the current backlash and pending class action lawsuit. I have not purchased, nor do I have any immediate plans to buy, an iPod Nano. However, if I did buy the iPod after the news broke of the screen cracking issues, I don’t know if I could truly hold Apple accountable, completely - anyway.

But, Apple has admitted to knowledge of the issue before releasing it, and that presents a major problem. It will be interesting to see how the big Mac company handles the situation and its devoted following. Certainly Apple’s customer base has grown tremendously recently, but I doubt that its the newly acquired customers putting up such a hoot.

Let’s keep an eye out and see what Apple does. Maybe this time next year I might have an iPod Nano, all screen resolutions aside

Apple sometimes doesn’t stop announcing new things, especially this time of year and after an extended drought of G5 announcements.

First things first, barring any excuses, the G5’s speeds are not where they should be at this point. Apple did some great innovation work with the most recent changes of the dual core processing on a single chip, and certainly the ‘quad’ version as well. But, the quad is well over $3,000. Are you buying it for me? Sure, the power will kick ass and rustle feathers, and if I had 3k to spend on it, I would. But, I would rather get:

Apple’s 30 inch display. The price drop to $2,500 is great. Unfortunately, the graphics cards needed to run the display don’t come standard with the G5 boxes. You need to spend atleast another $400-500 for the graphics cards that will power the screen.

Apple did make some unique changes and now you can run something like eight 23-inch Apple Displays from the quad, the only problem: where are you going to find a desk that they all fit on

Perhaps the most dreaded key combination to use on a Windows machine. Fortunately, I prefer the Macintosh. Unfortunately, I spend about the same amount of time on a Windows PC.

No operating system will ever be perfect, and we’ll always want something different. But, I really feel like ranting about the still awaited Longhorn, or Vista, or Windows version WHATEVER. When it comes, it’ll still be behind. Why? Microsoft is too big for its earlier britches.

Microsoft has never really been a company of innovation. They made some smart business decisions, but from a technical side they have consistently unimpressed most technologists.

For 30 years, the company has played follow the leader. And now, perhaps more than ever, are responsible for hundreds of thousands of jobs. From anti-virus protection, to Windows Network Administrators, to everything in-between. Does this company make anything that just simply works? I’m not sure about you, but I have many friends that can barely get their printer to work with their Windows machine.

So, the dreaded key combination of CTRL + ALT + DEL ends up becoming a Windows users best friend more often than not. And, how slow can that process take to complete?

;-)

Yesterday Apple made their long awaited, “one more thing”, announcement. I don’t really want to write about the new G5 iMac, so I won’t. Although, it does look cool but I’m hoping for one with atleast Hi-Def resolution available on the monitor, then it becomes something to write about.

What I want to focus on briefly is the new, and much anticipated iPod Video. Great, we know the specs, but I’m curious as to how we get our own video content, or videos from other services than iTunes. Sure, maybe I want to watch Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas shake her ass on a 2.5″ screen, but what if I want to download video elsewhere. How simple will that be? Should I drop the $299 to find out?

What’s in store for us? Well, certainly whatever is announced won’t be ready at the stores for a little while, otherwise we’d know for sure what the announcement was going to be for sure.

My bet, and hope, faster Power Mac G5’s, or atleast a G5 PowerBook.

You can find hundreds of speculations all over the web as to what Apple will announce Octoboer 12, 2005. You won’t, however, find any here. That isn’t to say we don’t have our own ideas as to what the Think Different company will be launching (i.e. faster power macs, and upgraded iPods ## no, not video). On the contrary, I’d like to speculate as to how Apple will continue to grow over the next few tech-cycles.

The oncoming adjustment to Intel boards will not be easy. That makes progress with the current G5 line-up difficult, and difficult for consumers to buy into. Apple’s software will continue to be market-leading, and will most likely branch into other markets as the years go by.

iPod-craze sees no end insight, and neither do we. I don’t think the ROKR cellphone is going to be anything great in revenue for Cingular, nor do I think Apple’s getting much in the way of licensing revenue from the cell phone company. That said, Apple will no doubt make more hedge-way into the mobile market, and it might not be a cellphone.