SOP 2006 Tech Roundup Article Repost

So you thought, since you don’t have the Inquirer sent to your house, or since you aren’t able to load Inq7.net on your browsers today due to an earthquake in Taiwan that severed many underground cables, that you wouldn’t be able to read my article on The Year That Was In Tech 2006 now did you?

Well guess again. Here it is in its full, unedited version, fresh from my hard disk into your monitor, the pixels burning into your eyes, onto your brain, and into your deepest subconscious. And remember. As you sleep at night, that there is no escape, NO ESCAPE, from me and my articles. I am like… a cockroach. A COCKROACH I tell you.

Tech Roundup 2006
Gabriel H. Mercado

T�was the year of the Apple, 3.2 mpx cellphones with gigabytes of memory, Celebrity Bloggers, and channeling our inner [tag]Spielberg[/tag] for the whole world to see. Here�s my roundup of the tech world, 2006.

Itube, YouTube, WeAllTube � [tag]TIME Magazine[/tag]�s [tag]Person of the Year[/tag] is the User who generates content. An almost direct tribute to YouTube�s legions of loyal users who view up an incredible 100 million times and upload 65,000 videos of their own EACH DAY. Varying from videos of kids goofing off to snippets of t.v. shows and thousands of amateur productions, YouTube stole hours of our time and captured the imagination of anyone who�s ever wondered what it would like to be to produce, direct or act in a video for a mass audience. [tag]Andy Warhol[/tag] once said we�d all have our 15 minutes of fame. [tag]YouTube[/tag] gives you 10 (unless you have a paid account), and 100mb.

[tag]Pro Blogging[/tag] � Professional bloggers are people living the dream. While dishing out their thoughts and opinions on their online journals, they have gotten so famous that they command advertising rates that compete with news websites. Blessed with wit, tons of personality and an often strong point of view, this year has seen the arrival of a new type of celebrity, the Pro Blogger, with earnings that allow them not only to quite their jobs, but to live quite comfortably from their blogs.

Intel�s [tag]Core Duo[/tag] � Unlike years past when the arrival of a new processor was a much-heralded affair, these days it�s almost run of the mill. In spite of that, this latest version from Intel gained hype. Once again, it goes faster, runs cooler, and does more than recent models, but as previous models developments have shown, we should expect a replacement would likely be on its way approximately mid next year.

Intel based Macs and [tag]Boot Camp[/tag] � In a move that had Mac faithful frothing at the mouth, Apple allowed Mac users to run (gasp) Microsoft Windows on their machine after they adopted Intel processors for all their computers. Apple CEO [tag]Steve Jobs[/tag] hoped to lure Windows users and allow Mac users run applications made for Windows, such as many popular games. While controversial at the start, after the initial �hey cool it runs Windows� factor, the issue faded into the background, possibly indicating that while the ability to run Windows can be made available, it didn�t necessarily mean people would do it.

[tag]Game Console[/tag]s and [tag]Gaming[/tag] � When the [tag]Sony Playstation[/tag] and, more recently, the [tag]Nintendo Wii[/tag] were sold their first day, the news showed pictures of hundreds of adults lined up for hours outside stores. This showed what gamers have known for a long time � gaming has matured to mainstream entertainment. Far from the realm of just teenage boys, it is now a family � oriented activity just as anticipated by mom and dad as well as their kids, who all look forward to hours playing together. Which is great, considering at their prices, the Playstation (approx. $900.00) and the Wii (approx. US$750.00) is way beyond any kid�s allowance.

8-10 Mega pixel standard � For Digicams, the mega pixel race seems to have plateaued at 8 to10 for both the Pro SLR and Point and Shoot categories, with the focus now shifting towards the types of accessories you can use, quality and adaptability of lens, type of memory card, and traditional factors like build quality, ease of use, cost and local after-market support.

3.2 Mega pixels and Gigabytes of space � While I�ve tried a 5 megapix camphone, 3.2 megapix seems to be just right for this form factor, with anything more getting difficult to use for lack of a proper lens. This year has seen some of the easiest to use models ever. Tiny hard disks also power new models that promise more space than you can ever hope to fill.

Mainstream [tag]VOIP[/tag] � These days, we take talking on GTalk, Y! Messenger and Skype for granted. But the year before, who would have thought we�d even have access to it? VOIP means the end of the myopic landline and inflated IDD / NDD rates – a sign that truly helpful technology can disrupt the ways of the repressive old.

Incidentally, I originally named my article Tech Roundup 2006, which of course, was renamed by PDI as “Talkin’ Tech”, quite likely the DUMBEST article title ever. Howell.

2 thoughts on “SOP 2006 Tech Roundup Article Repost”

  1. I believe it’s the Core 2 Duo thats “hot”, though for the mobile space it is the Core Duo.

    As for the prices of the PS3 and Wii those are the prices here in the Philippines, and they are unbelievable expensive here :(

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