Tonight's show is jam-packed!
We'll be discussing home entertainment systems, including Windows Media Center, the XBox 360, and the Open Source software, XBMC. We'll also talk about Senator Stephen Conroy's plans for Internet Censorship, with his recent appearance on the ABC's Q&A program. Also, a review of Foxtel's IQ2 product, and some advice on how to set up network printing at home.
As always you can e-mail us during the show onair@joy.org.au, SMS 0427 JOY 949 (0427 569 949), or follow our Twitter feed twitter.com/Technogaze.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
Show #4 (23/03/09) Mac vs. PC
Tonight we discussed the pros and cons of Macs and PCs.
- The history of Apple, compared to the history of Microsoft
- Hardware - how does the PC platform compare to the Apple platform
- Operating System comparison
We featured the "Mac or PC rap" - available on Youtube.
The podcast will be available shortly. A link to subscribe to the podcast, and the latest episode, can be found from our page on the JOY website
Thursday, March 19, 2009
"Screen culture" may be changing our brains?
Watching the 7.30 Report on the ABC tonight, I came across a lady by the name of Baroness Professor Susan Greenfield. She is an Professor from the UK over here doing talks to drum up funding for research in her area of expertise, being Neuroscience, or studying the human brain.
Here is a link to the story on the 7:30 Report website.
One thing I found interesting was her comparison of computer gaming, to reading a book. She explains that during the process of reading a book, you become very closely involved with the characters within the book, that there's apparently long-term emotional attachment with those characters. She says that the same doesn't occur in the setting of a computer game. You 'save the princess' and then the game ends, and that is it.
One question that comes to mind from that comparison is: what happens when you close the book, when you finish reading it and place it back on the book shelf? I would suggest, the same thing that occurs when you finish a game.
On the flip side of her coin, I would also ask whether she has taken into account the more persistent games out there e.g. World of Warcraft, and the like. You are very much attached to that game, and the characters you create within them, and the journey you embark on with other players within the game.
I would argue that, fundamentally, she is correct. I think "screen culture" (such a generic phrase) is changing our brains. But perhaps, it is just that: change. Perhaps, and a scientist of here stature of all people should be the one arguing this, such new mediums and methods of interaction inevitably lead to changes in the ways we think about things.
It is oh so common these days for people of older generations to at best, lament, and at worst sound a 'call to arms' over the dangers of the changes PCs, the Internet, and software are bringing about.
Perhaps, though, my brain has changed so much that I just don't get it.
Here is a link to the story on the 7:30 Report website.
One thing I found interesting was her comparison of computer gaming, to reading a book. She explains that during the process of reading a book, you become very closely involved with the characters within the book, that there's apparently long-term emotional attachment with those characters. She says that the same doesn't occur in the setting of a computer game. You 'save the princess' and then the game ends, and that is it.
One question that comes to mind from that comparison is: what happens when you close the book, when you finish reading it and place it back on the book shelf? I would suggest, the same thing that occurs when you finish a game.
On the flip side of her coin, I would also ask whether she has taken into account the more persistent games out there e.g. World of Warcraft, and the like. You are very much attached to that game, and the characters you create within them, and the journey you embark on with other players within the game.
I would argue that, fundamentally, she is correct. I think "screen culture" (such a generic phrase) is changing our brains. But perhaps, it is just that: change. Perhaps, and a scientist of here stature of all people should be the one arguing this, such new mediums and methods of interaction inevitably lead to changes in the ways we think about things.
It is oh so common these days for people of older generations to at best, lament, and at worst sound a 'call to arms' over the dangers of the changes PCs, the Internet, and software are bringing about.
Perhaps, though, my brain has changed so much that I just don't get it.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Show #3 (16/03/09) Social Networks
News:
Main Topic:
Social Networks: Facebook, Twitter and live social interaction
Product Review:
NAS drive: MyBook World Edition II
Privacy on the Internet:
- Recommendations for FaceBook privacy settings by Sophos - http://www.sophos.com/security/best-practice/facebook-profile.html
Advice:
- We spoke about how to remain secure on the Internet
Other notes:
For Sarah, the name of the second song played within the show was "So Dramatic" by Crowded House. You can find it on the "B side" of the "She Called Up" single, which is available online from Bigpond's music site, and iTunes.
Thanks everyone for listening. The podcast will be available shortly.
Tune in next Monday 7pm AEDST for our face off - Mac vs. PCs.
Main Topic:
Social Networks: Facebook, Twitter and live social interaction
Product Review:
NAS drive: MyBook World Edition II
Privacy on the Internet:
- Recommendations for FaceBook privacy settings by Sophos - http://www.sophos.com/security/best-practice/facebook-profile.html
Advice:
- We spoke about how to remain secure on the Internet
Other notes:
For Sarah, the name of the second song played within the show was "So Dramatic" by Crowded House. You can find it on the "B side" of the "She Called Up" single, which is available online from Bigpond's music site, and iTunes.
Thanks everyone for listening. The podcast will be available shortly.
Tune in next Monday 7pm AEDST for our face off - Mac vs. PCs.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Podcast for show number 2 now available
To subscribe, enter the following URL into your favourite podcast software:
Show #2 (09/03/09) - Digital Music
News:
Main Topic:
-Audio file formats - checkout Wikipedia for more details
-Computer Based Music Players
-- iTunes - Mark
-- Windows Media Player - Brendan
-- Winamp - Paulo
Product Review:
- Apple AirTunes (Mark):
- Apple's product information: Airport Express and Apple TV
- Links for Apple's software downloads: Airport Utility for Windows, Airport Utility for Mac OS X and iTunes
- Alternative software for iTunes, to send music to your Airtunes speakers: Airfoil
- Other comparable systems: Sonos, and Windows Media Center with Linksys Media Center Extender
Technology & Policy:
- Internet & Copyrights (Brendan)
Advice:
- Purchasing music online (Paulo)
Compare purchasing digital music with iTunes, Bigpond and Nokia Music online services
Main Topic:
-Audio file formats - checkout Wikipedia for more details
-Computer Based Music Players
-- iTunes - Mark
-- Windows Media Player - Brendan
-- Winamp - Paulo
Product Review:
- Apple AirTunes (Mark):
- Apple's product information: Airport Express and Apple TV
- Links for Apple's software downloads: Airport Utility for Windows, Airport Utility for Mac OS X and iTunes
- Alternative software for iTunes, to send music to your Airtunes speakers: Airfoil
- Other comparable systems: Sonos, and Windows Media Center with Linksys Media Center Extender
Technology & Policy:
- Internet & Copyrights (Brendan)
Advice:
- Purchasing music online (Paulo)
Compare purchasing digital music with iTunes, Bigpond and Nokia Music online services
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Show #1 on 02/04/09
A great new show on JOY - where we look in to the past, observe the present, and GAZE towards future developments in the Technology world.
Hi everyone, and welcome to the blog for Technogaze on JOY 94.9 (Melbourne) - joy.org.au.
So you may have listened to our first show, last night (Mon 2 March 2009) at 7pm AEDST. If so, thankyou for tuning in. If not, put it in your diaries! 7pm every Monday night :)
Just a re-cap of the topics we covered in our first show...
- We compared 3 mobile phone operating systems: Google's Android, Microsoft's Windows Mobile, and Apple's iPhone
- Paulo brought you a review of the HTC Touch mobile phone
- I spoke a bit about the way governments, particularly the US and Australia, have used new media to promote themselves, both pre, and post election
- And finally, Brendan gave us some advice on what you need to do to sign up for an Internet service here in Australia
So, stay tuned to JOY 94.9, and listen in next week - Monday 7pm AEDST. It's a public holiday here in Melbourne that day, so you have no excuses!
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