75: Don’t mention the noisy neighbours!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:09:06 — 63.4MB)

Episode 75, recorded on Thursday 26th October 2011.  We discuss IBM’s new CEO, Lotusphere 2012 abstracts and news, the London Social Business Breakfast earlier this week and more…

Hosts

Stuart McIntyre (blog | twitter | company) & Darren Duke (blog | twitter | company)

Guests

Carlos CasasCarlos Casas (twitter | blog | rockteam | leonline | aboutme) is an IBM Champion and Managing Principal of RockTeam and Lotus Education Online (LEOnline.Net). RockTeam/LEO is an award-winning IBM Advanced Partner for ICS as well as an authorized training center for IBM Software.
Handly CameronHandly Cameron (twitter | blog | company) is an Enterprise Software Architect at Softchoice and an IBM Champion
Simon VaughanSimon Vaughan (twitter) Deputy IT Director at Cardiff University and IBM champion (and TWiL Virgin)

Topics

IBM announces Sam Palmisano moving to Chairman, new CEO named (IBM taps Virginia Rometty to succeed Sam Palmisano as CEO)

  • Thoughts on Virginia?
  • Is gender significant, or are we past that now?
  • How about her background in Services and Consulting?
  • How about Sam’s reign?  Positive for IBM? Continued good work of Lou Gerstner? How will he be viewed in history?
  • Do we think Steve Mills stood a chance of being CEO?
  • Where does IBM stand in terms of brand right now?
  • Good example of succession management?

Lotusphere

  • Call for abstracts open
    • Slight confusion over fields on form
    • Thoughts on tracks?
    • Two weeks to get abstracts in (November 6th), sounds ok?
    • Will you be submitting?
  • Connect conference (was Social Business Symposium)
    • Over in Y&B
    • 2 days
    • Aimed at LOB
    • Will this one day be the bigger of the two conferences?
  • Ed queried future of Ask the PMs, put back on agenda.
  • Anything we are particularly looking forward to?
  • Wishes for LS12? What would we like to change or improve?

Social Business Breakfast (IBMSBB) event in London on Wednesday

  • Discussion-based breakfast briefing
  • Mostly vendor neutral
  • Almost no slideware
  • To be run every couple of months in the City

New Connections ECM offerings announced at IOD

Tips

Darren:
MS broke Skype MP3 Recorder. Download the new version 2.1.1 that allows it to work again.

Carlos:
KM Camp Philly is on Dec 2 and I will be presenting a session on the impact of social software with regards to knowledge management and specifically IBM Lotus. KM Camp will be held at DeVry University in Ft. Washington, PA (just outside of Philadelphia) Register here

Handly:
1) ATLUG (Atlanta) is November 10th at IBM, who is providing free lunch. I am presenting on WebSphere 101 for Lotus people, Michael Brown on the new 8.5.3 entitlements, and Lisa Duke on Quickr.
2) Take advantage of the new step up licenses for Connections!

Simon:
1) If you are a Social practitioner or want to learn from others, Join the Dachis Social business council
2) If you use Connections, join the Connections user community on Greenhouse. A great resource to influence what we want to see if future versions + a chance to connect with other users and share experiences
3) Come to Cardiff on December 9th for Social Connections II – it promises to be a truly ‘Exceptional Welsh experience’
4) If your Soccer team lose by a large score, do not poke fun at rival fans and control your noisy neighbours!

Stuart:
1) Social Mythbusters presentation by Louis Richardson
2) How to fill in fields on abstracts form! Register speaker profiles first…

[Music this week courtesy of the Stone Roses who announced they are reforming last week. Go buy their music on iTunes!]

74: The X-Rated Show. XPages, XSnippets and Xtensions – what have OpenNTF and IBM done to Xtend Domino Development?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11:15 — 65.3MB)

Episode 74, recorded on Wednesday 19th October 2011.  We discuss the latest release of the XPages Extension Library, the IBM XWork Server offering, the XPages Contest, DANNotes and more…

Hosts

Stuart McIntyre (blog | twitter | company) & Darren Duke (blog | twitter | company)

Guests

Niklas HeidloffNiklas Heidloff (blog | twitter | OpenNTF blog) is is an architect in the IBM Lotus Domino development team and leads IBM’s engagement in OpenNTF including XPages.info.
Martin DonnellyMartin Donnelly (linkedin) is a software architect and tech lead for the XPages runtime team in IBM Ireland and has worked on all three XPages releases from Notes/Domino 8.5 through 8.5.2, Prior to this, Martin also worked on XFaces for Lotus Component Designer and on JSF tooling for Rational Application Developer. In the 1990s while living and working in Massachusetts, he was a lead developer on Domino Designer. Now, once again based in Ireland, Martin lives in Cork with his wife, three daughters, and two greyhounds. When pressed, he confesses to playing soccer on a weekly basis, and salmon fishing during the summer when the opportunity presents itself.
Chris ConnorChris Connor (company | twitter | blog | linkedin) is a Consultant / Developer in XPages, Mobile, Eclipse, Java. Worked with Lotus Notes and Domino for 16+ years. Based in Hamilton (just outside Glasgow) in Scotland. Works for customers throughout the UK.

Topics

XPages Extension Library update 

  • What is the Extension Library?
  • Why did IBM release this as an extra library?
  • What’s new in the release?
    • Mobile controls
    • Social Enabler
    • Extlib tooling plugin for Designer
    • New discussion and teamroom template
    • Upgrade to support accessibility and localization
  • What version of Notes/Domino is required?
  • What happens to the Mobile Library?
  • How does the Extension Library get deployed and how does support work?

Reflections on IBM XWork Server launch 

  • What has the reaction been like from customers?
  • Beyond the 4×4 and 8×8 restrictions the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

Uplift parts for Connections entitlements announced 

  • Just 60GBP list price
  • Effectively discounts Connections sales into N/D customers by ~40%
  • Difficult to know how to handle customers where only some of the users need the uplift

XPages Contest 

  • Goals: Mobile apps or social applications
  • Awards: 3 iPads/iPhones/vouchers and 1 Lotusphere 2012 ticket
  • Deadline for submissions: 12/02/11

XSnippets – Next Generation of the OpenNTF Code Bin 

  • Contributors: Frank van der Linden, Serdar Basegmez, Bruce Elgort, Niklas Heidloff
  • Other goal: Document how we do things, not only the results

DANNotes coming soon 

  • Niklas, Chris and Stuart all speaking there
  • 23-24 November, 2011 in Korsor, 75 minutes West of Copenhagen

Tips

Darren:
Lose hours and hours (via twitter, sorry can’t recall who) – http://www.drawastickman.com/
Niklas:
http://xpages.info/videos has 10 hours of free XPages videos
Martin:
New books:
XPages Extension Library – ETA April 2012 (Amazon US | Amazon UK)
XPages Portable Command Guide: A Compact Resource to XPages Application Development and the XSP Language – ETA January 2012 (Amazon US | Amazon UK)
Chris:
Look at building XPages apps more around java instead of SSJS.
Stuart:
SocialNotes – fixed price deployment of Connections Files & Profiles for Notes/Domino customers

[Music this week courtesy of the Stone Roses who announced they are reforming yesterday. Go buy their music on iTunes!] 

73: Interviewing a star

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:20 — 31.5MB)

Episode 73, recorded on Friday 14th October 2011.  We discuss the the role of an analyst, the state of the social collaboration marketplace, the new Connections entitlements for Notes/Domino customers and much more…

Hosts

Stuart McIntyre (blog | twitter | company) & Darren Duke (blog | twitter | company)

Guests

Alan LepofskyAlan Lepofsky (blog | twitter | company) lives in Toronto and work as an analyst at Constellation Research where he covers the collaboration software industry. Alan plays a lot of sports, loves to travel on adventurous vacations and tries to take a few good photos along the way.  Prior to joining Constellation in Oct 2011, Alan was Director of Marketing at Socialtext (from June 2008).  Before that, he worked at IBM for 14+ years.

Topics

Just moved to Constellation Research Group from Socialtext 

  • Why the move to analysis and research?
  • What does the role entail?
  • What does Constellation do differently?
  • What did you learn from your time at Socialtext?
  • Did working for smaller software house give you any new perspective on working for IBM?

The state of the union 

  • First up, what do you call ‘it’? (Enterprise2.0, Social Business, Social Collaboration, Collaboration?)
  • Where do you see social collaboration today?
  • Where do you see adoption?  Who gets it?

Connections entitlements now available to all Notes/Domino customers on maintenance 

  • What’s your perspective on this?  Good move?
  • Do you think it will hit or help full Connections rollouts?

XWork Server 

  • Domino a good platform for Social apps?

Will you be blogging? 

Tips

Sorry no tips this week – they’ll be back in the next episode!

[Music this week is by Pomplamoose, taken from the track ‘Centrifuge’.  Get it and more from their site at pomplamoose.com or on iTunes!] 

72: That explains the pants!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:06:57 — 61.4MB)

Episode 72, recorded on Thursday 7th 2011.  We discuss the passing of Steve Jobs, IBM’s new XWork Server offering, the release of Notes/Domino 8.5.3 and its new entitlements, Lotusphere 2012 and more…

Hosts

Stuart McIntyre (blog | twitter | company) & Darren Duke (blog | twitter | company)

Guests

Tim ClarkTim Clark (blog | twitter | company) has been working in the Information Technology industry since 1987 and has a wealth of experience in all sorts of areas. From September 2011 Tim became the Technical Services Manager for GSX Groupware Solutions. Tim is enjoying his new role immensely and gaining new skills, talking to customers and learning a new product set.  For the previous 17 years Tim was working for IBM UK in customer support, technical sales and business partner technical roles. Tim has specialised in Lotus technologies and has a gained a reputation for being the go to technical person for the business partner community. Tim is an accomplished speaker and for the past 2 years he has co-presented the extremely popular XPages session in the Lotusphere Show and Tell track. Since it’s launch Tim has been enabling business partners all over Europe on Lotus XPages. Tim is also a Lotus Certified Professional (Domino Administrator) and a RedHat Certified technician. When not working Tim is passionate about playing rugby, riding his motorbike, playing drums and spending time with his new family.
Julian WoodwardJulian Woodward (blog | twitter | company) has been working in IT since 1987. He started as a C and Assembler developer, moving through Clipper (remember that?!) to Lotus Notes 3 and all subsequent versions. He’s seen the world from the ISV, customer and partner perspectives, and has lived in London his whole life (so far). In 1995-6 Julian did a Post-Diploma course in singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London …but the lure of IT was strong, and he returned to work for a business partner before setting up Axiot in 2005. He’s still primarily working as a developer, in Lotus Notes/Domino and Microsoft C#, SQL-Server, etc. He is a member of the London Developer Coop, and Axiot is a Penumbra Group company. Julian is a keen Facebooker, a reluctant Tweeter, an occasional blogger and an on-the-fence GooglePlusser. He’s passionate about music, singing, real ale, real cheese, his wife, rugby (watching, not playing) and his children. Although not necessarily in that order.
Larry HawesLarry Hawes (blog | twitter | company) is the Principal and founder of Dow Brook Advisory Services, where he advises enterprise software vendors on product roadmap, positioning and messaging, go-to-market, and merger and acquisition strategies. Larry is also an internationally recognized expert on the application of information management technologies to drive high-value business transformation. His research and consulting work is focused on collaboration and knowledge management practices in the technology domains of enterprise social software, unified communication and collaboration, enterprise portals, document and content management, and business process management.  Larry’s previous work experience included three and a half years as an analyst and consultant at Delphi Group and almost five years as an IBM consultant and program manager. Most recently, he was Lead Analyst, Collaboration and Enterprise Social Software at the Gilbane Group. Larry holds a BA in Music from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a MA in Historical Musicology from the University of Michigan. He earned the MBA degree, with honors, at Babson College. He lives on a beautiful property abutting the Dow Brook Reservoir in Ipswich, MA with his wife, two sons, a dog, and a cat.

Topics

RIP Steve Jobs

  • An incredibly sad day
  • What has Steve Jobs meant to us?
  • What did he do that has made a difference to our careers in tech?

IBM XWork Server released

  • Sans “Lotus”(Domino without the ‘Lotus’or the ‘Notes’?)
  • Good name?  Anyone else struggling with the singular?
  • Larry, any thoughts on how this competes with MS and others?
  • ISVs – will they show interest?
  • $2,000 per year every year

Lotus Notes and Domino 8.5.3 released

Lotusphere 2012 Registration Open

  • Who’s going
  • Abstracts are MIA right now. Are they cutting it close?

Apple iPhone 4s

Tips

Darren:
Don’t take a week off. You really don’t want to come back 😉
Tim:
Don’t believe the hype. Apple is a prime example this week. Also OSX Lion is rubbish, but Apple will tell you otherwise. ;o)
Julian:
If you use OS/X Lion, you can implement the reverse scrolling direction on Windows using XMouseButtonControl freeware from http://www.highrez.co.uk/.
Larry:
Honor Steve Jobs’life by following his example. Believe in your talents and live your life on the edge.
Stuart:
Steve Jobs’ address at Stanford.  And my real tip… Notes/Domino customers – implement Profiles and Files now.  Perhaps even using SocialNotes offering!

[Music this week is by Pomplamoose, taken from the track ‘Centrifuge’.  Get it and more from their site at pomplamoose.com or on iTunes!]

71: Getting Bold with Sandy Carter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:07:27 — 61.9MB)

Episode 71, recorded on Friday 30th September 2011.  We discuss Sandy’s new ‘Get Bold’ book, the adoption of Social Business, the role Lotus has to play in IBM’s Social Business strategy, how IBM has learnt from the Lotusphere 2011 OGS and much more….

Hosts

Stuart McIntyre (blog | twitter | company) & Mat Newman (blog | twitter | company)

Guests

Sandy CarterSandy Carter (blog | twitter) is a recognized leader in social business, a best selling author, and one of the most influential women in Web 2.0 technology.  As IBM Vice President, Social Business Evangelism and Sales, she is responsible for setting the direction for IBM’s Social Business initiative, a $200B market opportunity. Her numerous industry awards include: “Brand Leader of the Year” from the World Brand Congress, “Top 10 Women in Social Media” from Altimeter Group and Fast Company’s “Most Influential Women in Technology.” She is an avid social business evangelist, blogger, and twitterer. She holds an MBA from Harvard and a Bachelor of Science degree in math and computer science from Duke University.

Topics

Introduction

  • VP of Social Business Evangelism – What exactly does that mean?
  • What have been your highlights of the first year in the job?
  • How have you found it – specifically interaction with the community?

Get Bold adThe book

  • Why did you write the book?
  • Why ‘Get Bold’?
  • Is the timing right?
  • Who should read the book?

The AGENDA methodology

  • Can you outline the key elements in the AGENDA methodology? How did this come about?
  • How essential is it to have the ‘right’culture in place?
  • In the section on Gain Social trust, you write extensively on building relationships – what approaches would you recommend considering ‘internal’social compared with ‘external social’?
  • How does engagement work for B2B organisations?
  • “Business processes are the ‘soul’of your company – to truly be a Social Business, you must embed social into your soul.’ Is that the key, that an organisation needs to add social into their business, not try to change the business into a social business?
  • You mention 48 hours being too long to respond in a social world, does that mean businesses must plan for every eventuality before they engage in social to ensure they are able to handle any situation that arises?
  • What does ‘Return on Everything’mean?  Have businesses accepted this, versus a strictly financial ROI analysis?
  • Recognition of audience feedback during LS11 OGS – what part has this played in the organisation of this year’s conference?
  • Much of the focus of the book is on external social business, yet IBM’s most well known solution of Social Business is primarily an internal tool (IBM Connections).  What can internal social offer the business? How ‘big’does a business need to be before it needs to or can get social internally?

Future of email

  • Phil Salm wrote an excellent blog post earlier this week that pointed out the obvious and gained a lot of attention – Email is still ubiquitous, by pushing Social, could IBM be seen to be foregoing the email market too early?

Lotusphere

  • Sandy, you’re famous for your blue jacket – Now that Mary Beth Raven has departed, will you take on the yellow shoes?
  • Is the old Lotus brand (now IBM Collaboration Solutions) still core to the Social Business vision (as it was in 2010/2011), or is it more about Analytics and Business Intelligence now?

Looking forward to 2012

  • What are you expecting to be the major trends in Social Business to be in the next year?

Tips

Mat:
With the star of this weeks TWiL being Social Sandy how could I not mention WildFire! the Social Plug-in for Lotus Notes, post your status and get your activity streams from all the major networks, including IBM Connections, Sametime, Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin delivered right into your Social Dashboard – Lotus Notes, see http://wildfire.openntf.org for details and to get the latest download.
Sandy:
On Sandy’s behalf – buy the book! (Amazon US paperback | Amazon US kindle | Amazon UK paperback | Amazon UK kindle)
Stuart:
The Lotusphere Blog is back… We’d love to share your Lotusphere story, either via a podcast or in Q&A form on the site.  Contact us if you’d be interested!