gOS Linux

gOS is a Linux Desktop Operating System based on the Ubuntu distribution. gOS 2.9 Space features Web Applications and Myspace apps on your desktop. 

gOS 3 Gadgets instantly launches Google Gadgets for Linux on startup, to the desktop. Google Documents, Calendar, and Mail launch in Mozilla Prism windows to closer resemble desktop applications. WINE 1.0 is included to support thousands of Windows software programs for advanced users. 

gOS Cloud is a browser operating system that combines beautiful design with sophisticated technologies to make the PC faster, safer, and easier. It's named "Cloud" as in "cloud computing" which is currently gaining momentum.

Nvidia Chipsets coming to iMac + Mac Mini

The next generation iMac and Mac Mini due for release at next month's Macworld San Francisco will feature similar Nvidia Graphics chipsets that were put in the MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. This will take advantage of the Open CL technologies that are a part of  OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Not  to mention make everything look stunning... 

Opera Browser Updates

Opera has recently updated it's current Browser to Version 9.63 which includes an improved rendering engine, search functions, speed dial and comes with a built in email client. It also has support for mouse gestures.

Opera 10 is also currently in development with a Alpha release available to download and try. It features an improved rendering engine that makes it 30% faster, scores 100/100 on the Acid 3 test for CSS and has lots of great new features for web developers.

Free Open Source Software for Mac OS X | iPhone

Here's a nice site with some free goodies for Mac OS X and the iPhone

Mac OS X

http://www.opensourcemac.org/

iPhone

http://opensourceiphonesoftware.com/

Microsoft goes to the Cloud with Azure

Microsoft Azure™ Services Platform (Azure) is an internet-scale cloud services platform hosted in Microsoft data centers, which provides an operating system and a set of developer services that can be used individually or together. 

Azure’s flexible and interoperable platform can be used to build new applications to run from the cloud or enhance existing applications with cloud-based capabilities. Its open architecture gives developers the choice to build web applications, applications running on connected devices, PCs, servers, or hybrid solutions offering the best of online and on-premises.

Virtual Box

VirtualBox by Sun Microsystems Inc, runs on Windows, Linux, Macintosh and OpenSolaris hosts and supports a large number of guest operating systems including but not limited to Windows (NT 4.0, 2000, XP, Server 2003, Vista), DOS/Windows 3.x, Linux (2.4 + 2.6), Solaris, OpenSolaris, and OpenBSD.

Mozilla Songbird Media Player

Mozilla-based iTunes rival "Songbird" supports Intel-based Macs, Windows and Linux platforms. Songbird is an open-source customizable music player that's a non-proprietary, cross platform, extensible tool that will help you create new ways to play, manage, and discover your music.

Microsoft Office Web

Office Web/14 will be appearing as an online Web App, much like Google Docs and will work in IE, Firefox and Safari Web Browsers on Mac, Linux, and iPhone. Private previews of Office Web will begin later this year...

Aviary - Online Creative Tool Set

Aviary is a suite of powerful creative applications you can use in your web browser. They're on a mission to make creation accessible to artists of all genres, from graphic design to audio editing.

Phoenix - image editor that has layers, masks, effects and undo history.

Peacock - does wonderful and amazing things, call it a visual laboratory.

Toucan - color swatches and palettes tool to help you find colors.

They are also developing new members of the Aviary family : 

Raven - Vector editor

Woodpecker - Smart image resizer

Eagle - Pixel pattern recognition

Owl - Desktop publishing

Penguin - Word processor

Ibis - Font creator

Pigeon - Painting simulator

Hummingbird - 3D modeler

Tern - Terrain generator

Myna - Audio editor

Roc - Music generator

Starling - Video editor

Apple How to's

Apple has a great section on it's site called "Find Out How" with video tutorials on Mac basics, iLife, iWork and MobileMe. So if you're new to the Mac it's a great place to learn how things work using Apple's software.

Apple Updates Pro Apps

Apple has released an update for the Final Cut Studio Applications.

Pro Applications Updates improve reliability for Apple’s professional applications and are recommended for all users of Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, and Logic Studio. Pro Applications Update 2008-04 addresses general performance issues and improves overall stability. 

Applications included in the update: 

Final Cut Pro 6.0.5 | Compressor 3.0.5 | Color 1.0.3 | Shake 4.1.1

Intel Core i7 Chips

Intel's Core i7 (Nehalem) processors officially launched on November 17th, 2008. The company has extensively tested the chips in an effort to avoid previous show stopping bugs.

It has been speculated that Apple will be migrating the Mac Pro to these Nehalem Xeon processors which are due to be updated at Macworld San Fransico in January 5th-9th 2009. 

Apple is also amongst several vendors awaiting the release of three new low-power desktop CPUs due in January. Intel will launch the Core 2 Quad Q8200s (2.33GHz/4MB L2), Core 2 Quad Q9400s (2.66GHz/6MB L2) and Core 2 Quad Q9550s (2.83GHz/12MB L2) Apple is reported to have decided to launch the new chips in it's iMac line which has been rumored for a revision at Macworld 2009.

Parallels Desktop V 4.0

Parallels Desktop Version 4 has been released. So you can run Windows Xp, Vista or Linux on your Mac without having to restart your computer. It can also use the BootCamp Windows partition you may already have.

Parallels also has some great resources online including User Guides, How To Tutorials and Videos.

Adobe CS4 Demos Now Online

Adobe has released the CS4 Suite 30 Day trials for download earlier this morning, available for Mac and Windows. The Mac versions are quite big this time round : 

Photoshop (1012.8Mb)

Illustrator (1.44Gb)

Indesign (1.08Gb)

Flash (1.36Gb)

Dreamweaver (634.9Mb)

After Effects (1.31Gb)

Premiere Pro (1.96Gb)

Be warned it'll put a serious dint into your download allowance for this month.....  Adobe has also released a series of Trial DVDs with these programs on them. Considering the size of the downloads and the time involved this could be an attractive option. Adobe is currently offering free shipping till December 1st, 2008.

Master Collection $29Au | Design Premium $26Au | Web Premium $26Au

SEOmoz's Web 2.0 Awards 2008

SEOmoz's Web 2.0 Awards for 2008 lists 174 Web 2.0 sites in 41 categories. With everything from Bookmarking to Widgets. Well worth a look, even if you don't know what a Web 2.0 site is.

Adobe CS Icon Colours

Ever wonder where the Adobe CS program icon colours come from, a colour wheel of course ! Speaking of colour Adobe Kuler lets you design a colour scheme online. Very cool stuff. There's also some nice links on Kolor Theory. Requires the Flash Player plug-in for your Web Browser.

Adobe CS4 Shipping

The Adobe CS4 suite is now shipping and available to purchase here in Australia. Demo versions should be available sometime in Novermber 2008.

Cult of the Amateur

Whilst egalitarian access to digital technology empowers people, creating more opportunities that may not have been there before. It cannot be done at the expense of standards. Content can't be all good, all true and all in good taste. Or is it all about self indulgent individuals with over inflated opinions of non existent skills and abilities, on a massive ego trip.

Cult Of The Amateur : How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture by Andrew Keen raises some very interesting issues. Some of which are currently being played out in the education system at both the Secondary & Tertiary levels.

Social networking gives people a voice and a way to express themselves, but does making a MySpace or FaceBook page using a template make you a Web Designer ? Does creating a mash up with other people's work really make you an Artist ?

Twittering Away

Twitter is a quick way to get information up online, it's text only limited to 140 characters per post, but there again sometime's being short and sweet is a good thing.

http://twitter.com/sixem

A Social Web Butterfly

It seems that in order to be in the "real world" you have to have a "virtual" one. Some of my colleagues are currently at a 2 day seminar on the subject, in relation to how it can be implemented into educaton systems such as TAFE colleges.

learntelconf08.blogspot.com