Tim Bauer’s Running Thoughts

Ask 3 people what Live Mesh is you’ll get three answers. Ask 97 more and you’ll get blank looks. Good thing innovation is not a democracy.

Live Mesh was put to a ‘technical release’ last week to perhaps 20,000 of your closest friends. The interesting thing was as you listened to the jabber they all portrayed it differently. Some boring and some hinting at what could be. It was the latter that got my interest but it took three different webcasts (raw scribble from each below) to boil it down for me.

In summary, Live Mesh is worth pondering. What you see now is misleading. It is NOT is just a repackaging of what has been around for awhile (synching files between PCs, remote desktop connectivity). If what is hinted at above is realized it could become the platform for transparency of sharing all files … links, tweets, comments, images, blog posts, docs … across all devices … pcs, phones, OTHER SYSTEMS. If you ponder that prior sentence you can see how it disrupts the current centralized model (sites like MySpace, Facebook, Friendfeed) for social networking. There is no facebook or friendfeed required. All the pieces are pushed around … peer to peer … via live mesh. All you need is your favorite “Mesh” reader to see all the ‘file data’ being synch’d to you and rolled up the way you want it. And MSFT has leverage in that market (PC devices per consumer).

Consider me sold. MSFT’s vision of peer-to-peer when fully baked will trump the current centralized sites that drive it today.

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******** 1st VID - HANDS ON WITH LIVE MESH **********
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• http://on10.net/blogs/nic/Hands-on-with-Live-Mesh/
• 4/24/2008, 6:13 AM
………………○ Live Mesh Team
………………………………§ Noah
………………………………§ George
………………○ Referenced at MIX a few months back
• 4/24/2008, 6:14 AM
• Goal put you at center of your computers and stuff
………………○ Data
………………○ Application / Computer access
• Use cases
………………○ Tie to your rigs
………………○ Data synch
………………○ Remote Desktop (Bauer words)
• BAUER COMMENT - ISNT THIS A FANCY UI ON EXISTING FUNCTIONS?
• 4/24/2008, 6:16 AM
• Demo
………………○ Blue folders allow synch and share across mesh
………………○ BAUER COMMENT - Team file sharing?
………………○ Uses remote desktops (through firewalls and NATs)
………………○ BAUER COMMENT - Might press AMZN’s AMI model … relative to vendor play of on demand usage … but AMZN has payment engine behind usage .. Not clear here if they can
………………○ Through a browser
• 4/24/2008, 6:19 AM
• Browser
………………○ Browser experience is slower
………………○ Also have client experience
• 4/24/2008, 6:19 AM
• Folders
………………○ Live on ALL machines
………………○ Auto replication?
………………○ INCLUDING VIRTUAL DEVICE
………………○ Bauer comment — So they are pushing to virtual storage (backup) …
• Timeline
………………○ See members
………………○ See timeline
………………○ See presence
………………○ Bauer comment - Looks like office live
• 4/24/2008, 6:21 AM
• Data
………………○ See anywhere
………………○ BAUER COMMENT - Might be a killer for sharepoint … alfresco … for users that use those tools soley around document share
………………○ BAUER QUESTION - File locking … edit conflicts
• 4/24/2008, 6:23 AM
• How hard to add device to mesh
………………○ Add piece of software … connects to cloud
………………○ BAUER ? - can you connect to multiple mesh’s
………………○ Not on mobile and Mac yet
………………………………§ Working on it
• 4/24/2008, 6:25 AM
• Roadmap
………………○ They say this is the 1st step to putting users in center of all their stuff
• How convert folders to mesh
………………○ Simple right click ‘add to mesh’
………………○ Choose what machines get the ‘push’ (versus pull) and force immediate
• Sharing to friends
………………○ Use LiveID … but to invite just send via email
………………○ Share (bauer ? - not edit)
• Location of files
………………○ In the cloud … right now … for sharing outside of mesh
………………○ You can synch to your mesh machines
………………○ So they do push down to devices AND the cloud (offline file)
• 4/24/2008, 6:29 AM
• File types supported, size limits
………………○ None
………………○ Initial release is 5GB of data in cloud
• 4/24/2008, 6:30 AM
• How did this come about / fit into SaaS vision of MSFT
………………○ Everyone has many devices
………………○ How make work as one
………………○ Bauer comment - Kills (depending if not tied to workflow, tagging, etc functions) the salesforce ‘content management’ play … why would you do that .. Create a mesh for you company and put the files there
• 4/24/2008, 6:32 AM
• Products and Solutions that Work Now
………………○ Windows Live … exists and augments
………………○ This is a platform to bring together data and devices
………………○ Then build from there
………………○ Easier file / data sharing platform
• 4/24/2008, 6:33 AM
• Platform .. Will we see different solutions making products from it
………………○ Live Mesh based on synch feeds (ATOM, RSS, etc)
………………○ Other people can plug in and store data in feeds
………………○ App to synch favorites
………………○ App to store todo lists
………………○ App to track stuff
………………○ Could have apps in their UI (Bauer comment - requires MSFT) or as an API (Bauer Comment - like AMZN)
• 4/24/2008, 6:36 AM
• How get access
………………○ Mesh.com … invitation only
• 4/24/2008, 6:38 AM
………………○ SkyDrive / Foldershare
………………………………§ They are all one group
………………○ Bauer comment - If they are all one group it is unlikely this is a free play (pricing not mentioned … key in what isn’t said). However office live is free (but its in beta) and does a similar function (w/o synch local, provides cloud).
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******** 1st VID - END — *************** **********
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******** 2nd VID - AMIT KEYNOTE ******************
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http://blip.tv/file/854328/
Web 2.0 Expo
10m
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:30 AM
…………..○ Bauer comment - how about that pump up music at the start [wink]
…………..○ Amit
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:31 AM
……………………….§ Web is center
……………………….§ We connect via many devices
……………………….§ How to keep those devices in synch
……………………….§ Ours
……………………….§ And our trusted friends
…………..○ Settings and local favorites
…………..○ Device types - picture frames, macs, phones, laptops, towers, etc
……………………….§ Bauer comment - how many of those devices are on the web?
…………..○ Unified Device management
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:34 AM
…………..○ Feeds
……………………….§ Unified feeds
…………..○ Apps
……………………….§ Web based app management
……………………….§ Apps know devices and their capabilities
…………..○ Drop dead simple
……………………….§ Bauer comment - doesn’t jive w/ commentary so far on blog space
…………..○ Demo
……………………….§ Capture video of kid w/ phone
……………………….§ Dad sees on laptop real time on airport
……………………….§ Ims back
……………………….§ Shares a song to his daughter … next second
……………………….§ While kids next room are gaming
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:36 AM
…………..○ Everyone gets access to tech preview that is @ Web 2.0 Expo
…………..○ Device Ring is Core Metaphor
……………………….§ On windows PC
……………………….§ Mac / Mobile Next
……………………….§ Future more devices
……………………….§ Folder for anywhere access
……………………………………□ Bauer comment - interesting play … mesh compatible play on device sales like picture frames, touch tables, etc … fully compatible you get more features … becomes an iphone/ipod angle / barrier for MSFT devices
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:39 AM
…………..○ Mesh Bar
……………………….§ Single view of devices
……………………….§ Members in folder
……………………….§ News and events in the folder
……………………….§ Notifier lives on task bar … all up view of action on mesh
……………………….§ Also avail on live desktop to get webview
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:39 AM
…………..○ Use case shown is just ONE scenario
…………..○ Their focus is PLATFORM
……………………….§ Define model digital relationship between devices, people, assets
……………………….§ OpenAPI
……………………………………□ Yes, MSFT is about Open
……………………………………□ Shows Datamodel browser for Livemesh … dev can mesh format (xml, rss, atom, etc) … so you choose lang/tools … how you interact w/ live mesh
……Bauer comment - How is different than friendfeed?
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******** 2nd VID - END ***************************
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******** 3rd VID - AMIT KEYNOTE *******************
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Channel9
John Udell Interviews
http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=399578
4/23
36m
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:43 AM
…………..○ Whats it like to be @ MSFT (3yrs now)
……………………….§ Was @ IBM. Tremendous on potential impact
……………………….§ He does business, product strategy … intersection
……………………….§ So great job for him
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:45 AM
…………..○ What like taking over Gates role
……………………….§ SKIP
…………..○ GOTO 7:30 IN (MESH STARTS)
…………..○ Talk about environment MSFT faces
……………………….§ Mainframe was todays sexy utility. Timesharing. All was there in 70’s.
……………………….§ PC revolution was empowerment to consumer.
……………………….§ Swing of pendulum
……………………….§ Web grew in era of dialup … so built for that … force decentralized .. Thin terminal
……………………….§ Broadband penetration allows fatter clients
……………………….§ Both sides have good power (CPU, Storage) now
……………………….§ What design patterns work for backend and frontend
……………………….§ PC started for one computer for a subset
……………………….§ Moving now to not just one pc person … multiple devices per user … how to tie together … data … personal and cloud … MSFT wants to enable those solutions that balance leverage both
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:51 AM
…………..○ Internet OP SYS Space (AMZN, Google). How does MSFT history enable or drive action for them.
……………………….§ MSFT’s Approach.
……………………….§ Knew Bill / Steve since 1981
……………………….§ DNA of MSFT is a platform company … so need ISV community
……………………….§ Platform
……………………….§ Discussions of what different industry models will look like, be built like … given cloud computing … no specifics
……………………….§ MSFT wants to just enable that building … not be the buildings
……………………….§ AMZN. Ground up. Make raw resources (VMs, AMIs) to the developer. Power play.
……………………….§ Google. Tries to simplify cloud w/ constraints. So they serve a niche
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 6:55 AM
…………..○ 16:30 in
…………..○ LIVE MESH … folder share … screen share … can confuse true vision
……………………….§ MSFT core environment — multi device environment
……………………….§ Enterprise side … solved by MSFT via SMS
……………………….§ Now solve for consumer (device management)
……………………….§ So that is one path
……………………….§ 2nd is devices don’t / aren’t built well to work together
……………………………………□ Bauer comment - Is this their trump of OPENID … or could they push to use mesh to push data to various devices (including SYSTEMS)
……………………….§ Data flow … like feeds
……………………….§ Applications … be configured and liscensed
……………………………………□ Bauer comment … again … is this a slow entry to single user
……………………………………□ Bauer comment … msft takes what they have (user content, consumer) and uses mesh to push into systems they don’t control … devices they don’t control … they maintain relevance by owning/channelling the user profile
……………………….§ 4/25/2008, 7:01 AM
……………………….§ File and folder synch gives user a taste of power
……………………………………□ Bauer comment - I think it just allows the user to dismiss … now if the goal is to addict and get them using it (fits theories above) … then this is smart
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 7:02 AM
…………..○ Go beyond files/machines … bring people into the equation … Less obvious … connection to the web … How to optimize … spell that out
……………………….§ Two things (1) rich apps enable on PCs to share settings across devices (2) also websites extend their function to the world of devices
……………………….§ Groove reference … stumbled on … centralized websites … provision workspaces .. Invite users in … users want to take offline … wanted website to go offline … groove was peer sharing … so it do that well
……………………….§ Live mesh fills void of groove … infra … one service … manage synch to devices … data might be peer-to-peer or encrypted or through the cloud … but devices don’t care … developers don’t care … use infra … to push to devices
……………………………………□ Bauer comment - This is alert thingy on steriods … if all apps are synching real time … you go to your mesh console to see the same activity
……………………………………□ Bauer comment - majority of consumers are not sharing over web … in theory … msft has high ground if they can convert that user base via mesh
……………………….§ Use that simple tech … website … device … website … cloud
……………………….§ A feed of feeds … one thing a “mesh object” … represents a site … an element of that feed is other feeds … so an app can have many feeds … members, news, calendar, etc … or custom ones (transactions, recommended links, comments on a site)
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 7:08 AM
……………………….§ Folder is a mesh enabled Object
……………………….§ Item in feed is sub feed
……………………….§ Standard schema by item
……………………….§ News feed off a folder … see to right of folder … item by entry
……………………………………□ Bauer comment — So it would be like alertthingy or twitter offline
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 7:10 AM
…………..○ Banking example …
……………………….§ Local host and do stuff w/ an offline app
……………………….§ Developers want one way of working w/ mesh
……………………….§ Web version of live mesh … and client … same code
……………………………………□ Bauer comment — like AIR
……………………….§ Called MOE (mesh operating environment) … cloud MOE or client MOE same one
…………..○ 4/25/2008, 7:11 AM
…………..○ Synch problems .. How evolved from mistakes of groove
……………………….§ New team … he sponsored
……………………….§ There is a DNA trail … playdoh, lotus notes, groove, live mesh
……………………….§ More work w/ them during his CTO tenure not as much lately
……………………….§ Basic synch, interaction … that is similar
……………………….§ Groove power of adhoc invites … bypass centralized security … so groove users will get that part of mesh
……………………….§ Hope people feel that mesh is very lightweight … notthing there … works across firewalls, nats, double nats … few knobs to turn
……………………….§ Developer kit is NOT on mesh.com right now
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******** 3rd VID - END ***************************
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So this webcast (Salesforce.com - ADM 115 Fundamentals - Customize) started with me wanting to get a quick overview of the sizzle of Salesforce.com relative to configuration / customization options but quickly degrades into the story “If you give a mouse a cookie …” since … as I consumed the cookie of Salesforce.com as a on-demand CRM solution … I found a new desire/question in my head … could Salesforce.com could be a viable departmental collaboration platform (ala Sharepoint)?

You can read the running thoughts below but my notables will be looking at the ‘cookie’ tangent above.

Not surprisingly, my closing thought is the classical …

“Use the framework that is best in its niche coupled with consideration on what your shop strategically is trying to support long term”.

If you aren’t a SFDC client then you probably should just pick a different collaboration framework (and if you want one that is easy for end users to extend - Sharepoint does well). However, if you are a Salesforce client you can achieve alot of what MSFT clients have in sharepoint with little work (and in the end potentially get more power and usability).

What do you think … is comparing the two just silly?

** START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

• Overview
……..○ URL - https://na5.salesforce.com/train/class_detail.jsp?class=admin2&loc=_na
……..○ Help & training / apex developer / admin fundamentals - customize
• Running Notes
……..○ 3/31/2008, 6:14 AM
…………….§
……..○ Adm 250 … virtual customer training opp
……..○ Customizing the homepage
…………….§ App / setup / homepage / setup
…………….§ Links to documents
…………….§ Basic portal concepts
……..○ Picklists (standard / modify)
…………….§ Max of 15k characters in picklist
……………………□ Sound you can’t list all employees for example (depending on size)
……………………□ Bauer comment - But you would use a lookup in that case
…………….§ Max of 40 char per picklist line item
…………….§ Very much like Sharepoint listpart setup (defining columns and valid values)
…………….§ 3/31/2008, 6:26 AM
…………….§ Dependant picklists discussed
……………………□ Point and click configuration
……………………□ Bauerr comment - Might be better than SP here
……………………□ Bauer comment looks good
……………………□ 3/31/2008, 6:27 AM
……………………□ Demo
…………………………..® Setup field dependancies on a picklist … can control 1:N fields from the value of one field
…………………………..® Field depenancy field … matrix … between master and slave … you pick the interection points …
………………………………….◊ Bauer comment - impressive
…………………………..® Automatic notes fields telling you why fields are disabled on dependant rules
………………………………….◊ Bauer commnet - impressive (again)
……..○ 3/31/2008, 6:31 AM
……..○ Custom Fields
…………….§ Caps … 500 per tab … 20 per activity / users
…………….§ Creating custom picklist
…………….§ Field level security by profile
……..○ 3/31/2008, 6:35 AM
……..○ Customizing page layouts
…………….§ Hide fields, show custom, create sections in pages
…………….§ Show, read only, visible on header / detail
…………….§ 3/31/2008, 6:36 AM
…………….§ Demo
……………………□ Visual drag and drop setup page (ajax like)
……………………□ Show how to make 1 field a required field
……..○ 3/31/2008, 6:38 AM
……..○ Custom objects
…………….§ Tabs, field history, sharing, etc
…………….§ Sharing
……………………□ Via sharing rules
……………………□ Manually share objects (records?)
……………………□ Sharing button … can share w/ anyone
……………………□ Field history tracking
…………………………..® Reduce cost on SOX
……………………□ Queues with any custom object
…………………………..® Distribution of custom object record … assign to queue so users tied to queue can access and take ownership
……………………□ Rename standard fields
…………………………..® Used universally
……………………□ Custom tab colors and icons
…………………………..® Bauer comment - Woot (not)
…………….§ Optional components on home page … common versus tailored
……..○ 3/31/2008, 6:45 AM
……..○ Understand custom links
…………….§ Go to other systems
…………….§ Pop up attributes on link are all controllable via config
……………………□ Bauer comment - nice
…………….§ Embed on object records (like a 1:N URL field)
……..○ 3/31/2008, 6:55 AM
……..○ Managing folders
…………….§ Store documents, email templates, reports
…………….§ 4 folder types - document folders, email template folders, report folders, dashboard folders
……………………□ Bauer comment - how does content manage suite fit into this
…………….§ Role can be used to control access
……………………□ Bauer comment - hierarchy by account?
……..○ 3/31/2008, 6:58 AM
……..○ Customizing display
…………….§ Can tailor your tab order, visibility
……..○ 3/31/2008, 7:00 AM
○ Advanced call scripting
…………….§ On AppExchange User guides on these application
…………….§ Design Q&A scripts for objects … author, branching, scoring, results
……………………□ Scoring engine
……………………□ Graphical authoring wizard
……………………□ Bauer comment … basic INDIRECT form … could you leverage the engine from the API on this?
…………….§ Dealing with lead … pass X number then pass to shortlist
…………….§ Questions in ‘tree view’
…………….§ Score each answer
…………….§ “Find Scripts” … avail scripts by object … custom links by admin to get to that
…………….§ Running score , passing score
…………….§ Can run script in any order (flexibility)
……..○ 3/31/2008, 7:05 AM
……..○ Service Level Agreements / Entitlements
…………….§ Validate a level of service a customer is entitled to
…………….§ Track which contacts get support
…………….§ SLA by 1st response
…………….§ Escalate cases
……………………□ Bauer comment - similar to a job search request
…………….§ Service level exceptions occur
……..○ 3/31/2008, 7:07 AM
……..○ Workflow
…………….§ 300 workflow rules per object
……………………□ Can assign followup tasks on case updated
……………………□ Email alerts
……………………□ Change owner of contract
……………………□ Trigger API externally
……………………□ Change value in field based on trigger
…………….§ Create workflow rule
…………….§ Approval processes
…………….§ Custom user hierarchies for approval
…………….§ Restricted field stops poeople from approving their stuff
……..○ 3/31/2008, 7:11 AM
……..○ Data validation
…………….§ Error condition formula to block save of invalid data
…………….§ Rules, criteria, message
…………….§ Error condition formulas is the key
…………….§ Select field type, field, check syntax button
……..○ 3/31/2008, 7:14 AM
……..○ Composite UI
…………….§ Custom S Controls
…………….§ Custom Button / Links
……………………□ Add, remove, override
…………….§ Build custom s control, new
……………………□ Label, descriptor, HTML / javascript in content section
……………………□ Salesforce.acrobat.com/customscontrols
……..○ End

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Now this is a dead horse if I have ever seen one - “What is the meaning of a blog”.

Surely there is a new insight in here I thought … well maybe not (here is the 39 million google results for “Why Blog”) … but Scoble is amusing to listen to … so I pushed play.

In short, I think the daily process comment was the notable coupled with the realization that there are really categories of blogs (money, marketing, relationship is what I heard in this talk) and each has a unique dynamic and focus for its authors and readers.

What do you think … am I trying to market or build relationship or both here?

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Speakers
……….○ http://www.stickam.com/editMediaComment.do?method=load&mId=178620862
……….○ Pete Cashmore - Mashable.com
……….○ Robert Scobe - Fastcompany.TV
Running Scribble
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:27 AM
……….○ 1M - Overview
………………..§ Mashable - top 10 in world, top tech, biz week says most profitable, most valuable, 10 employees, 10 feature writers part time, pc mag most fav site
………………..§ Scoble - 1980’s BBS in garage. Blog start in 12/00. Interviewed 188 businesses on how using blog @ MSFT. Fastcompany tech innovators
……….○ Using Twitter to drive interview (audience to him)
……….○ Scobles start
………………..§ Scripting.com (Dave Weiner …) …
………………..§ Encouraged him to start
……….○ Cashmore - ran mashable for 1.5 years on his own. $ started rolling in
……….○ No moment of ah ha for Scoble … just happened
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:31 AM
……….○ Cashmore - Long form of blog outdated? Twitter?
………………..§ RS –> Lewis Gray (example) taking over
………………..§ RS –> blogs used to be like twitter … just recommendations
………………..§ RS –> Now you have to think more on post
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:34 AM
……….○ PC –> Are you brand building?
………………..§ RS –> No brand. Just surfing on stuff that interest him.
………………..§ RS –> Cussing
………………..§ RS –> Study interesting people and get them into his life
……….○ PC - - RS follows 16,000 twitters … how do you do it
………………..§ RS –> Uses google to get twitter vision … concept of ‘thought stream’ .. React to certain posts
………………..§ RS –> Multi-task … watch google talk, email, etc
………………..§ Jason Pontoon (sp?) mention
………………..§ Checks twitter in soft spots …
………………..§ Check in during day to see what is being talked about
………………..§ Mark Cuban mention - News comes to me if its important enough
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:38 AM
……….○ PC — Corporate blogging @ MSFT.
………………..§ RS book called “Naked Conversations”
………………..§ PC — Would you go back to MSFT?
………………..§ RS — Doesn’t care about personal atttacks …
………………..§ Theatre … don’t encourage … owen thomas @ Valleywag mention
………………..§ PC - Talks about it is personal brand …
………………..§ RS - Ran 100k person user group BBS … just to chat … bloggin is that … top level of blog is a person so brand is created but otherwise it is no different than a BBS
………………..§ [bauer thought -- … doh … lost it]
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:41 AM
……….○ PC - How decide on what to blog about
………………..§ RS -
………………..§ [bauer thought - they become a magazine as they strive to cover all to expand reach - lose focus]
………………..§ RS - talks about focus
………………..§ RS - reads 3000 feeds at one point … knows who covers what area and he picks his niche
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:43 AM
……….○ Pc - Effect BLOGGIN ON TRADITIONAL JOURNALISM
………………..§ [bauer comment - check chris anderson's post on this … it is only own 10% of market value]
………………..§ Rs - classified ads impact
………………..§ Rs - ran a camera store … $12k for full page ad in paper … now online .. Can target the ad $ more tightly online versus paper … that has nothing to do w/ blogging … its blamed but its really a [trend to targetted ads - bauer edit]
………………..§ Rs - doesn’t read newspaper
………………..§ Pc - doesn’t watch TV or read papers
………………..§ RS - old school jouranlism had connections to break stories .. Now bloggers begin to fill that void as it matures
……….○ [doh - have to slow down treadmill - old man]
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:48 AM
……….○ Pc - People don’t know what they want to read
………………..§ Appeals to gossip
………………..§ Point of sale (being the feeder online you use like usa today)
………………..§ RS - looking for audience looking for niche match … some entertainment spin but really his goal is a like group of minds
………………..§ RS - talks about some larger scale goals … getting into IBM
………………..§ [bauer thought - he is losing focus on what he does well … startups and unknown]
………………..§ Scoble survived with relationships from BLOG
………………..§ [bauer - again the point of the relationship … not the oration]
………………..§ RS - newspaper 15 years ago was a shrinking industry … so he couldn’t get hired
………………..§ [bauer - again check the long tail blog post today … he is misstating facts … high growth in news industry then per those stats]
……….○ Pc - what are blogs good for
………………..§ Good lifestyle … excuse to read and learn about new stuff (which is what he likes)
………………..§ Rs - uses blog to get relationships … twitters when in city … people twittered back
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:53 AM
……….○ Pc - mashable thinks about if its any good (submitted post)?
………………..§ Personal situation is not the key
………………..§ Rs - got on twitter when 20 some people asked him to get on twitter
………………..§ Rs - told him to get on friend feed … now he is addicted to it and its his homepage
……….○ Pc - from audience - blogs for self promotion is US only?
………………..§ Rs - if you take the time to write a post … you want to read it
………………..§ Rs - wife posts and promotes to friends
………………..§ Pc - UK has emphasis on humility so that is the driver to US perception of pumping up
………………..§ Rs - never submitted to digg, and redit, wiki …. Does use twitter for friends
………………..§ Pc - ego is still there,
………………..§ RS - bbc and guardian isn’t a brand
………………..§ Pc - mashable was very humble for 2 yrs … getting good content … started using twitter and facebook
………………..§ [bauer comment - use of those networks for marketing spiked them]
………………..§ Rs - humility is the listening … writing on what you are hearing … ability to comment … NY time articles was false … he did it … journalism messes w/ people .. If valleywag gets stuff wrong … doesn’t get stuff right point it out
………………..§ Rs - Dave weinert … used to communicate directly
……….○ PC - trigger happy on getting story out
………………..§ Get double traffic quick
………………..§ Rs - google world rewards stuff for being 1st … a little impact on being wrong but not if you correct and listen when wrong
……….○ 3/30/2008, 8:02 AM
……….○ Audience ? - responsibility for blogsphere for approach to match journalism
………………..§ Rs - competition drives quality …
………………..§ Pc - did $ ruin blogging
…………………………□ Rs - removed techmeme off home page due to that
…………………………□ So it changes it … how you report
…………………………□ Worry about impact on employees, partners on what you say / do
………………..§ Pc - mashable did $10k or $100k at stake
………………..§ Honest - well researched
………………..§ Rs - didn’t cover friendfeed for 3-4 weeks … it continued to spread without him
……….○ 3/30/2008, 8:05 AM
……….§ RS - talks about QUICK (live video on cell phone)
……….○ Done (8 minutes left … but they were waxing on and its time for church) Speakers
……….○ http://www.stickam.com/editMediaComment.do?method=load&mId=178620862
……….○ Pete Cashmore - Mashable.com
……….○ Robert Scobe - Fastcompany.TV
Running Scribble
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:27 AM
……….○ 1M - Overview
………………..§ Mashable - top 10 in world, top tech, biz week says most profitable, most valuable, 10 employees, 10 feature writers part time, pc mag most fav site
………………..§ Scoble - 1980’s BBS in garage. Blog start in 12/00. Interviewed 188 businesses on how using blog @ MSFT. Fastcompany tech innovators
……….○ Using Twitter to drive interview (audience to him)
……….○ Scobles start
………………..§ Scripting.com (Dave Weiner …) …
………………..§ Encouraged him to start
……….○ Cashmore - ran mashable for 1.5 years on his own. $ started rolling in
……….○ No moment of ah ha for Scoble … just happened
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:31 AM
……….○ Cashmore - Long form of blog outdated? Twitter?
………………..§ RS –> Lewis Gray (example) taking over
………………..§ RS –> blogs used to be like twitter … just recommendations
………………..§ RS –> Now you have to think more on post
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:34 AM
……….○ PC –> Are you brand building?
………………..§ RS –> No brand. Just surfing on stuff that interest him.
………………..§ RS –> Cussing
………………..§ RS –> Study interesting people and get them into his life
……….○ PC - - RS follows 16,000 twitters … how do you do it
………………..§ RS –> Uses google to get twitter vision … concept of ‘thought stream’ .. React to certain posts
………………..§ RS –> Multi-task … watch google talk, email, etc
………………..§ Jason Pontoon (sp?) mention
………………..§ Checks twitter in soft spots …
………………..§ Check in during day to see what is being talked about
………………..§ Mark Cuban mention - News comes to me if its important enough
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:38 AM
……….○ PC — Corporate blogging @ MSFT.
………………..§ RS book called “Naked Conversations”
………………..§ PC — Would you go back to MSFT?
………………..§ RS — Doesn’t care about personal atttacks …
………………..§ Theatre … don’t encourage … owen thomas @ Valleywag mention
………………..§ PC - Talks about it is personal brand …
………………..§ RS - Ran 100k person user group BBS … just to chat … bloggin is that … top level of blog is a person so brand is created but otherwise it is no different than a BBS
………………..§ [bauer thought -- … doh … lost it]
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:41 AM
……….○ PC - How decide on what to blog about
………………..§ RS -
………………..§ [bauer thought - they become a magazine as they strive to cover all to expand reach - lose focus]
………………..§ RS - talks about focus
………………..§ RS - reads 3000 feeds at one point … knows who covers what area and he picks his niche
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:43 AM
……….○ Pc - Effect BLOGGIN ON TRADITIONAL JOURNALISM
………………..§ [bauer comment - check chris anderson's post on this … it is only own 10% of market value]
………………..§ Rs - classified ads impact
………………..§ Rs - ran a camera store … $12k for full page ad in paper … now online .. Can target the ad $ more tightly online versus paper … that has nothing to do w/ blogging … its blamed but its really a [trend to targetted ads - bauer edit]
………………..§ Rs - doesn’t read newspaper
………………..§ Pc - doesn’t watch TV or read papers
………………..§ RS - old school jouranlism had connections to break stories .. Now bloggers begin to fill that void as it matures
……….○ [doh - have to slow down treadmill - old man]
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:48 AM
……….○ Pc - People don’t know what they want to read
………………..§ Appeals to gossip
………………..§ Point of sale (being the feeder online you use like usa today)
………………..§ RS - looking for audience looking for niche match … some entertainment spin but really his goal is a like group of minds
………………..§ RS - talks about some larger scale goals … getting into IBM
………………..§ [bauer thought - he is losing focus on what he does well … startups and unknown]
………………..§ Scoble survived with relationships from BLOG
………………..§ [bauer - again the point of the relationship … not the oration]
………………..§ RS - newspaper 15 years ago was a shrinking industry … so he couldn’t get hired
………………..§ [bauer - again check the long tail blog post today … he is misstating facts … high growth in news industry then per those stats]
……….○ Pc - what are blogs good for
………………..§ Good lifestyle … excuse to read and learn about new stuff (which is what he likes)
………………..§ Rs - uses blog to get relationships … twitters when in city … people twittered back
……….○ 3/30/2008, 7:53 AM
……….○ Pc - mashable thinks about if its any good (submitted post)?
………………..§ Personal situation is not the key
………………..§ Rs - got on twitter when 20 some people asked him to get on twitter
………………..§ Rs - told him to get on friend feed … now he is addicted to it and its his homepage
……….○ Pc - from audience - blogs for self promotion is US only?
………………..§ Rs - if you take the time to write a post … you want to read it
………………..§ Rs - wife posts and promotes to friends
………………..§ Pc - UK has emphasis on humility so that is the driver to US perception of pumping up
………………..§ Rs - never submitted to digg, and redit, wiki …. Does use twitter for friends
………………..§ Pc - ego is still there,
………………..§ RS - bbc and guardian isn’t a brand
………………..§ Pc - mashable was very humble for 2 yrs … getting good content … started using twitter and facebook
………………..§ [bauer comment - use of those networks for marketing spiked them]
………………..§ Rs - humility is the listening … writing on what you are hearing … ability to comment … NY time articles was false … he did it … journalism messes w/ people .. If valleywag gets stuff wrong … doesn’t get stuff right point it out
………………..§ Rs - Dave weinert … used to communicate directly
……….○ PC - trigger happy on getting story out
………………..§ Get double traffic quick
………………..§ Rs - google world rewards stuff for being 1st … a little impact on being wrong but not if you correct and listen when wrong
……….○ 3/30/2008, 8:02 AM
……….○ Audience ? - responsibility for blogsphere for approach to match journalism
………………..§ Rs - competition drives quality …
………………..§ Pc - did $ ruin blogging
…………………………□ Rs - removed techmeme off home page due to that
…………………………□ So it changes it … how you report
…………………………□ Worry about impact on employees, partners on what you say / do
………………..§ Pc - mashable did $10k or $100k at stake
………………..§ Honest - well researched
………………..§ Rs - didn’t cover friendfeed for 3-4 weeks … it continued to spread without him
……….○ 3/30/2008, 8:05 AM
……….§ RS - talks about QUICK (live video on cell phone)
……….○ Done (8 minutes left … but they were waxing on and its time for church)

** END RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

When you gaze at Sharepoint as of right now … which horse do you see? Secretariat or the Trojan Horse? I guess it depends what side of the walls of Troy you sit on … but lets ponder a bit anyway.

(** I skipped BI above on purpose as the BDC, to me is the primary unique value statement there **)

In short, I think the core of Sharepoint is about team collaboration and in reality there are better cheaper answers in the market. Study what true collaboration enablement is in your ORG then jump for the shiny widget (which may be MSFT … but may not).

What do you think?

** START OF RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

– No running notes today … spent too much time typing off this article (have to move on the inspiration)

** END RAW SCRIBBLE TAKEN WHILE RUNNING **

Watched this webcast this morning

Building Collaborative Applications with the Next Version of Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services

A very interesting discussion of enablers that are coming w/ SP 2.0. I was curious in that we have seen a build in interest in pipeline around our collaboration framework which, while not focused on a specific product, definitely has strong ties to SP as part of the ways an organization can change the interaction dynamics of thier teams.

The keys I heard was:

1. Alot of focus around the usability of the application. Which is interesting in that that is the core of how we approach defining collaboration models for clients. If it isn’t perceived as usable by the users you have built a monument not a tool. SP had some gaps. Features outlined below make strides to closing those.

2. Great to see email integration. Clients have been hardwiring this in to thier collaboration solutions. Making it native is awesome.

3. The change tracking of all list items at a FIELD level is another great feature to enable collaboration. People want to know what changed and filter on specific types of change. The older versions were to global (library or doc level) and didn’t tell you in the alert (w/o customization) what changed.

Here are my rough notes from the webcast.