Collaboration Insider

I'm Baaaaaaack!!

2010-11-17T13:57:00.001-08:00

Hello all. Finally getting back around to the old blog site. As we can all see, I haven't been out here too much.

Much, much has happened in the last year. Hard to list it all. But as this blog is really more for me to blather on about my new electronics and collaboration services that I run across daily, I thought I'd start with an update on the technology.

From the PC perspective - no change really. Still utilizing my Gateway Tablet PC running XP (SP3). It's been a VERY good laptop for the last 2.8 years. But it's seen better days. The cover is cracking and chipping off, and the hinge is getting rather loose. The HD is filled, so there are those issues as well. But for the most part, especially considering how I abuse it and travel with it, it's done OK.

I did finally move over to Windows 7 at home, and my new laptop will be Win7 as well.

Speaking of which, I was just informed that my lease is up and it's laptop renewal time. I am leaning toward a Dell E6410. The reviews are good, and a number of other folks have the i7 version of the unit and are happy with it. It's no tablet, and I'll miss that aspect, but...

...most of that I can do with the new Droid X smartphone that I am now carrying for the company. Received this little puppy about two months ago, and I have to say, I am very pleased.

The device is amazing and it runs circles around my old Samsung Windows Mobile smartphone. Android Froyo 2.2 is stable, fast and more than functional. The out-of-the-box connectivity with Exchange was great. I was up and using within 10 mins. I am not a huge "apps" person, but some of the things this phone will do are absolutely amazing.

Mostly I love the big screen. Now, I was a very big and vocal proponent of full keyboards. Going with the DX meant foregoing that option. I thought I'd hate the on-screen keyboard. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I have this loaded with Swype and I may never use anything else again. I like it that much. Best keyboard/text input tool I've ever used. Period.

My one big gripe is battery life. This puppy just sucks down the juicy-juice. I am slowly learning ways to optimize it, but it's pretty bad. I just received an extended battery yesterday, but honestly didn't see any improvement today. I am going to do the whole "turn the device off and fully charge" trick tonight and see if that helps.

Ok, gotta fly. Write more soon.

New GVDialer App

2009-05-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

Going to try the GVDialer app on the demo Storm from work. This gentleman said it totally works and enhanced the value of GoogleVoice.

http://blog.nathanmabry.com/2009/04/google-voice-blackberry-storm-gvdialer.html

Now testing...

2009-04-12T14:45:00.001-07:00

I have few devices that I am trying out. Want to see how they work with Blogger.

The first is this Samsung Saga (i770) from Verizon. I am just posting from the e-mail client. Seems like the easist method.

I like the keyboard a lot. It makes a simple posting like this one very simple. I have been asked to compare it to a blackberry - a real BB, not the Storm. I'd say it's close, but the BB keyboard is a bit better.

But the Saga has the mouse pointer thing which just rocks, so it's about even over all.

Robert

Sent from my Windows Mobile® phone.

Have a Very Merry Christmas

2008-12-22T07:10:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

I can't drive 55....and blog

2008-07-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the last post. I know, it was a little disorganized. But it was really an experiment to see how useful mobile blogging really is.

Last month I set up a Jott account to allow me to audibly blog while on the road. This worked very well, allowing me to set a speed dial button on my mobile and to have Jott take may ramblings, convert them to text and pass that to Blogger for posting.

A couple of caveats: first, Jott isn't 100% on the transcription, so you run the risk of having your thoughts translated into some wacky text. Second, the post gets posted automatically, before you have the opportunity to clean it up. Dangerous. Although that may just be a setting that I can change.

So, yesterday, I wanted to put it through the "acid' test. I wanted to try the same thing, but from my car, with the top down and using a wireless bluetooth headset for the phone. I figured that all of these audio variables should lead to some ammusing posts.

However, I have to give Jott a big kudos. Not only did it hear me pretty well, but it did a reallly great job of the transcritption. It wasn't perfect, but hey, I was traveling 50 miles an hour down a highway with the top down on a 1999 Pontiac Sunfire convertible. Not exactly the quietest car in the world. Jott was probably 97% accurate. That's pretty darn good, IMHO.

I really like the overall ability. Being able to post from anywhere at anytime, in near real-time, is awesome. And if that phone has a camera and e-mail access, you become a one-man reporting machine.

Not bad for combining the tools of two services that cost me absolutely nothing.

This is Robert, I am...

2008-07-29T14:44:00.001-07:00

This is Robert, I am currently traveling in my car. I am trying out some new tools today, I've got a Blackberry 8703e with a Jabra bluetooth headset. I am attempting to use Blogger from the car, audibly blogging via the Jott service. And you know, it's a convertible with the top down for that matter, so we will see how it turns out. Thanks.

Try a video

2008-07-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

Playing with more tools today. I am trying out a couple o screen capture and post tools.

The first one - Jing - I highly recommend. It is very easy to use to capture both desktop video as well as straight-up image shots. I use it regularly to grab images to throw into e-mails or notes. the only downside to thsi free application is the time/size limit of the video capture - set at 5 minutes. This is fine for most things, but is a little short for product demo movies.

The second tool, by the same company(Techsmith), is called Camtasia Video. You can check it out at at the Techsmith website. I downloaded the 30 day demo and I am giving it a spin. It has no time/size limitations and a whole lot more advanced editing capabilities.

Hopefully I will shortly post a quick demo of our CONTEX Summit/Unyte integration.

Here is a link to a test: Click Here

OK here is the sample:

New tool test for Polls

2008-07-23T08:47:00.001-07:00

I am testing a new tool for polls. Stick with me here.

Try it out and/or leave a comment.

2008-07-02T14:42:00.000-07:00

So, it's been a week or so since I've had a chance to write, but it's been a busy few days. Upon returning from the sunny confines of Lost Wages (106 degrees F) I've been catching up on new stuff back at IX headquarters.

I don't know about you folks, but it seems like with the more tools that get rolled out - IM, web conferencing, new Office versions, RSS feeds, web site tools, adobe tools, IP phones, Blackberrys, Facebook, Talkcasts, MP3 players, cell phones, bluetooth earphones, webcams, IR ports, digital cameras, etc... - there are a couple of things that I now have bigs needs for:

1. Something to haul all the cables around in. Whatever happened to the notion of having one USB cable that connects with everything? Yeah, right. Between laptop power bricks, mobile sync cables, picture transfer cables and verything else, I almost need a sepeate carry bag just for the cables.

2. USB 2.0 ports. Just can't get enough it seems. My new laptop (Gateway 17 inch widescreen tablet) has three 2.0 ports on the side and another 2 in the docking station when I'm plugged in. And they're all full. Everything wants those USB ports it seems.

I just got delivered a 4-port USB hub (Belkin). I guess I'll try that tomorrow for all of my permanently connected devices such as mice, external backup hard drives, keyboards, webcams, etc...

The InfoComm show was good. We met a lot of interesting people that will hopefully lead to some additional business. That's the whole idea, right?

Speaking of trade shows/exhibitions, has anyone out there heard from the VON folks at all. We were regular exhibitors at VON Fall and VON Spring, but that company seems to have disappeared. I'd heard rumors before VON Spring that the company was in serious financial difficulties, but I guess I didn't know how bad. Nothing has change on their website since Spring VON, and at this point I have to assume that Fall VON is off the table.

I just heard a rumor the other day that VON neglected to let exhibitors know that VON Amsterdam was cancelled and that exhibitors showed up - in country - only to find out that there was no event. Boy, talk about ticked-off.

In any case, if you know of any concrete news, please let me know.

Compunetix business is brisk. Many of our new developments are taking root. CONTEX Report is finally released. This tool enables CONTEX owners to easily collect all events from the system in a SQL off-board database and thenuse crystal reports to schedule and generate standard and customized reports from the data. Pretty good stuff.

In our extensive work with CSPs, we found that no two provider customers have the same requirements with regard to what they want to report on. CONTEX Report allows them to dig as deep as they want into the raw data and create very sohiticated reports in a variety of formats. The reports can be scheduled to run regularly or just once, and can be automatically delivered to a seperate system for further processing or via e-mail to a collection of recipients.

It's the reliable, scalable reporting solution that we've been looking to develop.

OK, gotta run. I am going to try and blog later from my borrowed Blackberry. I am NOT a berry addict. In fact, I'd not used one before this week. I am using a friend's 8703e until my new Samsung SCH-i760 Windows Mobile smartphone arrives.

I can't say that I hate the Blackberry, but it's not what I would have chosen for a converged device. I DO really like the whole e-mail at your fingertips. I was always a little afraid of having an e-mail mobile client. I figured it would be too addicting. To some extent I was right, but the benefits clearly outweigh any downside. My wife might disagree.

But this specific device has no audio and no photo capability, so it's not the one for me. I also don't really care for the keyboard, although I understand that's a bit heretical. These boards are supposed to be the bees knees. Frankly I'd take my original LG EnV keyboard over this one. Everyone has caustioned me to just wait, that it'll take time to get used to. Well, maybe, but I've been using a keyboard phone for years. I just don't like feel or layout of this one.

But i'll try it out for a couple of weeks and then report back.

Take it easy!

2008-06-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Well,

It's been such a busy show that I haven't had a great deal of time to write. But what a show! Huge doesn't begin to describe it. I was out here in Vegas for CTIA in March and this show seems even larger.

That being said, it's mostly and A/V show and conferencing and collaboration are clearly a distant cousin.

Of course Carol Zelkin and the IMCCA are doing all they can to change that. IMCCA is sponsoring the Collaboration Pavilion on the show floor - giving thouse of us in this segment a chance to highlight our solutions and they're doing a magnificent job. This pavilion allows the collaboration market to be group together and give attendees and easy why to locate and identify vendors that they want to visit.

IMCCA is also providing a great deal of content for some of the educational tracks for the Infocomm seminar sessions, as well as holding their annual forum for collaboration end users on Wednesday. This year was especially exciting with the increasing awareness, and interest in, telepresence and HD videoconferencing.

Compunetix VP Jerry Pompa participated in the organization's annual Lunch and Learn session on the status and future of collaborative technologies - hosted by the ever insightful Ann Earons. And a lively discussion is was. Jerry may have been outnumbered by the video vendor respresentatives (including Polycom, Tandberg, Radvision, and others) but he provided a nice balance by reminding the audience that very few succesful meetings occur without good, quality audio.

And yours truly gave my two cents in a well attended session on Web vs. Video conferencing. Great session, terrible title. Hosted by JPMC's David Danto, this session explored the critera that should be considered when deciding on the correct collaboration "tool" for your meeting. I'd like to say that I starred, but real props go to Martha Degraw of Intercall. Man, this is someone who really knows her stuff.

I'd like to post some more pictures of actuall show floor sights, But frankly, I haven't had a lot of time to go shoot pix. Between the speaking gig, meetings with customers and prospects, trying to stay up-tp-date with the office back home, and just genrally working the booth; it's been going a mile a minute. Hopefully I'll get out there a little later today.

That assumes that the old Kodak holds out. Apparently I have an issue with my camera or with the mem card. Started about two weeks ago and continues. I guess I'll try a new card first, although it may be time for a holiday upgrade on the hardware.

Lastly, for now, I'd like to give a shout out to the folks from Sonic Foundry. We managed to hook up last evening and thouroughly enjoyed every minutes. if you don't know them, get to know the product - MediaSite. You won't be sorry.

Ok, here's one picture from Aethra's exhibit that came through OK. Once again, some of the best looking video hardware on the planet.

2008-06-19T13:17:00.001-07:00

Jerry Pompa on panel discussion on the Future of Conferencing at InfoComm 2008.

2008-06-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

Action Shot of the IMCCA Web vs Video Conferencing Panel session.

Picture proviede by Dan Watkins.

Setup complete. All VoIP devices

2008-06-17T13:51:00.001-07:00

Setup complete. All VoIP devices are communicating properly. Show looks like it will be great. Stay tuned...

2008-06-17T12:37:00.001-07:00

Dave and Michael setting up the Compunetix booth at InfoComm 2008. Let the games begin!

Test Mobile Post

2008-06-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

Here is a nice shot of my son Luke and his buddy Tony at a Pittsburgh Pirates game.

Obviously not collaboration-related, but I am trying out some new blogging techniques, and this picture was on my phone. Great stadium , BTW.

This is in prep for next week's InfoComm event - did I mention that Compunetix is in the Conferencing pavilion, booth 3380? I want to be able to snap photo's and send them directly to the space. Looks like it should be possible now.

I tried to use Blogger's Mobile Blogging tool, but for whatever reason, I could never recieve the token e-mail back from the service (required to activate) on my VX9800. In fact, everytime I tried, it caused the handset to reset and power cycle. Nice. Apparently a Verizon issue. Go figure.

InfoComm 2008!

2008-06-14T09:20:00.001-07:00

Just a quick post to talk about next week's InfoComm exhibit.

Compunetix will be at the InfoComm Show exhibit from Wednesday through Friday, and if you're looking for us, you can find us at Booth 3380 in the Conferencing Pavilion.

You can also catch us at some of the IMCCA Events that are happening throughout the week. Jerry Pompa (CSD Division Manager and IX VP) will be speaking at their Lunch and Learn on Wednesday (18th) and I amd sitting on a panel debating Web vs. Video Conferencing later that afternoon.

I'll post more and some pictures next week.

BTW, this was post via the very nifty Jott (http://www.jott.com/) service which I use regularly when voicemail just doesn't get it done.

Okay, well not much...

2008-06-14T09:02:00.001-07:00

Okay, well not much as happened this week so I am just gonna leave a quick update and tell everybody do enjoy a Happy Father's Day.

Powered by Jott

Microsoft's Unified Theory of Conquest

2006-06-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

I have now read about 15 reviews of Microsoft’s big Unified Collaboration press event, including the ones from Elliot Gold and company. It seems, from everyone’s description, to be classic Microsoft – all style and no substance. This is exactly what they did in the CRM market a few years back. They come out and announce their vision, freezing the market while everyone stands around and waits to see what they’ll come out with. It could be grand. Or it could be much ado about nothing.

On one hand, they seem to have finally found a unified vision of what they’d like to accomplish. They now control business desktop software. They want to control business communications. They are going to start where business desktop software meets business communications – rich-media desktop collaboration. Makes sense to me.

But, as with most interesting things in life, the devil is in the details. And Microsoft knows that they’re going to have to find some partners to bring this vision to life. Specifically, big telecom infrastructure partners like Siemens and Cisco and Polycom. They can do the software and server stuff, but they still need the pipe layers to get the rich media (read audio) to the desktop. There are a lot of things/relationships/partnerships that could go sour in there.

Also, they’ll be under fire from the consumer (read Skype and Vonage) side of the telecom house. They’ll have to fend them off while they’re realizing this vision.

As for business conferencing, it’s been my experience that businesses are very practical. They’ll use whatever tool helps them to achieve their own strategic goals. While Microsoft may want to “give away” desktop collaboration in order to maintain their dominance in that space, businesses will stick to methods that help them achieve successful communications and successful meetings.

I didn’t see or hear anything in the MS announcement that says that they can do that better than existing conferencing/collaboration service providers. Cheaper, maybe. Lots of bells and whistles, certainly. Actually more productive – hmmmm, I wonder.

I certainly believe that the market will continue its move toward verticalization - with the mass-market, low-hanging (and low-margin) conferences handled internally on hosted equipment. IP and VoIP will help to drive this. But specialized verticals will continue to exist. The need for publicly attended webinars will continue. The need for large mixed media IR calls will continue. The need for instantaneous, right-now-or-never group calls will continue. The expanding roll of wireless will continue.

We’re nine (9) years into the era of the CPE on-premise collaboration server era (starting in 1997). Overall minutes of conferencing use have continued to grow dramatically (while margins have shrunk). Over that timeframe, end-user systems have account for an average of 28% of all ports shipped (29.8% in 2005, down 15% from 2004). This tells me that businesses are continuing to outsource their collaboration.

MS says that is all going to change and that they’ll enable that change with LCS and Communicator. Maybe. But it’s further than 3-5 years. LCS takes a literal “collection” of MS server applications installed in order to use it, and Communicator requires LCS. It’s sort of an all-or-nothing proposition.

Collaboration is about working together to achieve a goal. “Working together” is not something that MS gets accused of very often. And I am not a MS basher. I like my Windows machine and my Office application. But I mostly like them because there is no compelling alternative.

I think that we (the collaboration industry) provide a compelling productivity and economic alternative to MS’s new unified “vision” of the future of business communications.

Gotta Start Somewhere

2006-06-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

We've decided to launch a new blog to openly discuss Compunetix media processor platforms (www.compunetix.com) and the overall collaboration industry in general - trends, stories, successes, rumors and threats. This is intended as forum to develop thoughts on what direction this industry is headed, what works from the end user point of view, and what holes are still out ther that need filling.

Conferencing and collaboration is a rich ground for this discussion. As a very mature market in North America and a staple of English-speaking businesses processes around the globe, group communication and electronic meetings are rapidly growing in all emerging market spaces and fueling the explosion toward distributed and multinational work teams. As a major player in this space, Compunetix has helped move this technology into the core communication tool that it has become. Since the introduction of the first all-digital CONTEX switching systems in the early 1990s, Compunetx - along with our service provider partners - have listened intently to the to users, and continuously developed the features and functionality demanded to more easily work together effectively in small and large meetings and groups.

Now that the proof is evident- now that collaboration is not only validated, but is highly valued - we are starting to see a sesmic shift in our core area. IP (and VoIP) transport is changing the landscape. New players like Microsoft and Cisco and Seimens are jumping into the fray and realizing that this particular area of value-added services pulls together a lot of what people want when they work - simplicity, convergence, consistancy, value, productivity and immediacy.

So, where are we headed next? What's down around the next bend? Conference Call 3.0? Seimens handheld collaboration tablets? Automobile and airline video terminals?

How will we find each other? What will we share? How will it make us more effective, productive and profitable?

OK, your turn.

Hobson?

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