First Podcast Edition

Download OhioITNow-Podcast-1-15-06.mp3

And be sure to subscribe to the podcast through iTunes or your favorite podcast aggregator - via the "Subscribe to my Podcast" link in the right-hand column. (This edition is 17 minutes long.)

This entry is the first edition of what is expected to be a weekly podcast, covering information of interest to the Ohio IT community.

Items mentioned include:

• Consumer Electronics Show - there is so much coverage of this event it's difficult to choose any handful of sources that could do an adequate job combined.  However, the Engadget people do a great job, and this site at least will whet one's appetite.


• MacWorld - the only event that Apple's Steve Jobs seems willing to attend - because he can control the stage, no doubt - was the site once again this year of a series of announcements that will please music and media lovers of all types (consumers anyway), as well as Mac-0-philes everywhere.  Aside from the news that over 850 million legal tracks of iTunes music have been sold, combined with 14 million iPods in the last quarter alone - is the much sooner-than-expected appearance of Intel-based Macs - the beginning of a complete change-over.  Faster, better, more and more.  In addition to the Apple site itself, don't miss the blow-by-blow description of Jobs' presentation - a master of industrial show business!


• One Ohio-specific item - news from an exciting new start-up in Athens - the Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab, an initiative of the College of Communication at Ohio University.  With funding from local sources plus a contract with the Smithsonian, the new organization promises some new developments for Southeast Ohio.

Lastly, there is an announcement about a pending launch of a new initiative from the Ohio IT Clearinghouses and other organizations concerned with education and IT in the state.  It is the Ohio Computing Unlimited initiative.  It will promote courses that enhance basic computing skills for Ohioans - as well as making available a certificate called the International Computer Driving License - a credential with worldwide recognition.  In addition to the discussion in the podcast, more information will be available online soon.

(-- originally posted by Rich Bowers, Coordinator, Ohio IT Clearinghouse)