With all the attention on iPad, iPhone and iPod in the last quarter, you might have started to think that Apple forgot about their Mac business. Seems not.

On 20 October Apple is hosting a “Back to Mac” event with their familiar cryptic invitation card shown above. You can clearly see the Lion in the background. True to Apple’s codenames which stick to the cat family names. Past codenames included Cheetah, Puma, Jaguar, Panther, Tiger, Leopard and the most recent Snow Leopard. Will the next won be called Lion? I really do not expect them to announce a launch date, but just give a preview, similiar to what they did with Snow Leopard. My big expectation for the next OS X is multitouch. Cannot wait to see a touch enabled iMac, but only if it has the recently patented hinge we wrote about earlier. If you have a look at the Apple logo in the invitation, you will see that it’s on a hinge, so maybe that hints at the new hinge patents. But I really doubt they will upgrade the iMac by now already, but maybe in future.

So what else can we expect? Well the Macbook Air hasnt got an upgrade in more than a year. The standard Macbook Pro has also seen its last upgrade in April 2010, and the XServe hasnt gotten any love since April 2009. I also expect a bigger focus on enterprise features for new Macs and new versions of OSX Server, with better iOS mobile device management coming in future (or at least I am hoping for that).

By the way – if you are planning on buying any Apple hardware, take a look at the MacRumors: Buyers Guide. It shows the upgrade cycles for all hardware and gives recommendations on the purchase timing of the hardware you are interested in. For example their guide clearly states to not buy a Macbook Air at present. Its not a great feeling buying an expensive computer only to see it being upgraded 2 weeks later…

Give us some feedback – what do YOU expect to see on 20 October?

Free WiFi for Tech-Ed Africa? You’d better believe it, thanks to an agreement between Microsoft and MTN Business that will effectively see a 50Mbps international pipe being bolted onto the side of Durban’s ICC for the duration of the event later this month.

Tech-Ed Africa 2010, Microsoft’s premier event for IT professionals and developers, runs from 17-20 October at Durban’s iconic International Conference Centre (ICC) – and is expected to attract 2 500 hard-core geeks for three days of in-depth workshops, demos and insights from an array of top local and international speakers.

MTN Business’ participation means users will be able to access websites and applications using the WiFi provided, as well as take part in presentations that will be done using video conferencing. Microsoft will be splitting the connectivity between free browsing and streaming international presentations.

“We’re proud to demonstrate our highly resilient, low latency technology capabilities to such a tech-savvy audience,” said Angela Gahagan, Managing Executive at MTN Business. “We look forward to making their experience at Tech-Ed a fantastic one.”

Tech-Ed delegates will also get the unique opportunity to get hands-on and personal with the two jewels in Microsoft’s consumer crown, the upcoming Windows Phone 7 and the controller-free Kinect gaming system.

Katrien De Graeve, a Developer Evangelist at Microsoft BeLux, will be showcasing the Windows Phone 7 platform for developers. She plans to make her sessions interesting, practical and above all hands-on.

“I want to show all the capabilities of the phone. In these sessions, we will actually build sample applications end-to-end. After all, Tech-Ed is as much about fun as it is about learning,” said De Graeve.

Windows Phone 7 is a completely new offering when compared to Windows Mobile 6.5: the new device offers a music player, social network integration, Xbox Live games, Office applications, as well as the typical e-mail and contacts integration.

The one thing I cant wait to see is Kinect, Microsoft’s new control scheme for Xbox games:

The highly-anticipated Kinect brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways, with full body play – no controllers. Microsoft believes the natural, intuitive interface will herald a new era in how people interact with devices in the future.

More details on how to attend the event, as well as links to videos, blogs, product downloads, and other information about this year’s event, can be found at www.teched.co.za. You can also follow the pre-event activities on Twitter on @MicrosoftSA or @TechEd_Africa, using the hashtag #TechEdAfrica.

Expect a lot of updates from TechEd, right here on BandwidthBlog.

Sun, sea — and a hall filled with 2 500 technology geeks. That was the deal clincher for Microsoft’s chief technology officer (CTO) of Worldwide Services, Norm Judah, who has been confirmed as the keynote speaker at this year’s edition of Tech-Ed Africa 2010 in Durban.

Tech-Ed Africa 2010 is Microsoft’s premier event for IT professionals and developers, and runs from 17-20 October at Durban’s iconic International Conference Centre (ICC).

Judah is no stranger to South Africa: he earned his first degree (in electrical engineering) from Wits University before heading abroad. He has worked for Microsoft for the past 20 years, and has built an impressive reputation as a speaker and a strategic thinker around IT.

Apart from Judah, Microsoft has assembled a formidable line-up of local and international speakers for this year’s event, which will include more than 200 in-depth sessions. They include internationally recognised technology expert, bestselling author, and public speaker Michael Noel, and self-confessed geek Lynn Langit, who co-host’s the MSDN Channel 9 geekSpeak series at http://channel9.msdn.com/shows/geekSpeak/.

One of the key discussion points at Tech-Ed this year will inevitably be around cloud computing – and Microsoft South Africa’s CTO, Fred Baumhardt, says the focus will be on companies embracing the cloud on their own terms.

“Cloud computing has been a significant part of many conversations I have had recently, and the IT Professionals I talk to are looking for more guidance, standards, support and clarity as they begin to plan for cloud. To get it right, we’ll have to collaborate with the business on the answers to these key questions and about business goals and how best to bring IT experience and innovation to the table,” said Baumhardt.

Tech-Ed will also feature the announcements of several new and upcoming technologies that Microsoft believes will help enable IT professionals and developers to help their organisations save money and improve efficiencies.

These technologies include the next version of Office Communications Server, the much-awaited Windows Phone 7 Series, as well as recent releases like SQL Server 2008 R2 and Office 2010. “It’s all about ensuring that IT professionals and developers continue to have the platform and technologies to drive maximum value and business results. Getting the most out of IT investments is even more important in today’s economy,” said Baumhardt.

More details on how to attend the event can be found at www.teched.co.za. I attended last year, and I have to say it is one of the most well organized, informative conferences I have ever attended. The sessions are informative, and I really appreciated the information on upcoming products, and how businesses should ready themselves.

Every year in September Apple has its music focussed event which normally focusses on new iPods, but occasionally Apple also releases interesting new devices as well…

Now if we look at the invite for the event its a guitar with a Apple shaped hole behind the strings, so clearly Apple is sticking to the music theme this year. But this might also hint towards Apple’s iLife suite which has the Garageband app. Its been 18 months since iLife ’09 was released. The typical release date for past releases of iLife was in January at the Macworld conference, but since Apple does not go to Macworld anymore, an announcement for a new version of iLife might be very possible.

Captain Obvious will also tell you that new iPods are on the way. Updates to the current iPod might look something like this I reckon:

iPod Classic: All evidence suggests that the hard drive based iPod is on the way out. With all of Apple’s focus on touch based interfaces, it would be very strange of Apple to keep selling the Classic. But there is a sizable number of people out there with massive music libraries that want it all in their pockets. So if Apple drops the iPod Classic, expect some outcry.

iPod Nano: There are currently pictures out there from case suppliers that suggest that Apple might be changing the Nano a lot. Expect a small clip like device, almost like the second generation iPod Shuffle. Bizarrely this device will use a 3 inch touch screen.

I am somewhat skeptical of this, and I guess I would have to see how one would pull off a touch based interface on such a small screen that actually works well. I am instead hoping for a smaller sized iPod Touch shaped device.

iPod Touch: My opinion is that the iPod touch and Classic would be fused into one product. I reckon the iPod touch might change its name to simply “iPod”. Looking at the iPhone 4 its easy enough to predict what we might see. Expect higher resolution Retina displays, front facing cameras for using Facetime calls and a more iPhone like design scheme that uses matte steel and black steel.

iPod Shuffle: In the past year, the Shuffle was the dud of the iPod lineup. Without a decent control scheme, I expect Apple to shift to another design. Or alternatively, if the rumors of a much smaller iPod Nano is to believed, it might be entirely possible that the Shuffle can be scrapped altogether.

One more thing: New AppleTV (or iTV). I expect a more simplified version of Apple TV to arrive soon. Current rumors suggest an iOS based interface, smaller on board storage and an much lower price. I have no idea how they would implement iOS on a screen without a decent control scheme though. Maybe a Wiimote like pointer?

The big what if for me: When is iPad users getting iOS4? Apple told us that we can expect it Fall 2010. Well – its that time Apple. Problem is that there has been no public beta of 4.1 for iPad. Therefore I expect at least the announcement of the iPad iOS Beta program to start. Call it iOS 4.1, iOS 4.2, heck, call iPadFixed, just give us some feedback Apple. But I don’t want to get off on a rant here – you can read my current issues with the iPad here.

But its only a day until we will know how wrong I am…

This year’s Tech-Ed conference is once again in Durban, and is one of the premier training oppurtunities for just about anyone who works with Microsoft’s suite of products, technologies, solutions and services. If you are a technology professional involved with building, deploying or maintaining IT solutions, Tech-Ed Africa is a great conference that will give you many insights into dealing with present and future challenges.

I attended last year, and I have to say it is one of the most well organized, informative conferences I have ever attended. The sessions are informative, and I really appreciated the information on upcoming products, and how businesses should ready themselves.

This year there is more than 200 technical solutions, all delivered by Microsoft and industry experts. These technical sessions are very open, and attendees always get an oppurtunity to get there questions answered.

Tech-Ed is running from 17 to 20 October, and if you book within the before 30 July, there is a super early bird special.

If you want more info on Tech-Ed 2010, click here.

Source: Mashable

Quirk Education’s new digital marketing course, Applying Social Media to Business Challenges, kicks off on 28 June.

The content for the 5-week online course is largely drawn from Quirk’s own recent case studies, including campaigns that Quirk eMarketing has run for brands such as Mweb, Sun International, SA Tourism and Neotel.

Amongst other things, the course will look at:

• the challenges and opportunities in the social media landscape
• using platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and blogs
• building communities around brands or topics
• how businesses can take a strategic approach to social media
• how to run integrated campaigns using both online and offline elements
• best practice for social media campaigns

This is not a basic introductory course, but rather an in-depth look at practical application.

“In the past year we’ve had amazing success with Social Media implementation for some of our big clients and they’ve reaped huge rewards as a result,” says Lyndi Lawson, Minister of Education at Quirk Education. “It’s on this experience that we’ve based the content for the course.”

Places are limited, and registrations close on 25 June. The cost of the course is R5,900 (including VAT), and there is a 10% discount on group registrations of three or more, and a 20% discount for OPA members.

Visit the Quirk Education site to register.

FEMTECH is a six-month business support programme aimed at women who own and run technology-enabled businesses.

Participants will

• learn how to determine whether their concept is feasible
• learn how to develop a plan to take their new product or service to market
• get help and support from a business coach
• become part of a peer network of women facing similar challenges and opportunities

The course includes workshops, ongoing personal mentorship and coaching and women-centered peer networking.

To be eligible for the programme, you must be a female business owner with demonstrated entrepreneurial skills, who is currently running a business, preferably one that is technology-enabled. Alternatively, you must have plans to introduce an innovative product or service into an existing business, or to spin out a business from a corporate environment.

You also need to be within travelling distance of Pretoria, and must be able to attend training and mentoring sessions at least once a month between July and October.

Applications close on 31 May 2010. Twenty applicants will be chosen to complete the programme. Visit the FEMTECH website for details of how to apply.