off the Hook

Strolling down memory lane today of a forum conversation that Nathan and I had on Notes.net 6 years before I became his boss (revenge is sweet), I also came across this posting from almost exactly 5 years ago (so close to Yellow Day) that showed the top 500 users of the Notes/Domino 4/5 forum to that date. I was # 378. Nathan was # 25 wedged between the infamous Ben's (Poole at 19, Langhinrichs at 26). Future Lotus Rock Star eeked in at #500. It was entertaining to browse through the list and see who was there and how much they participated back then compared to now. Are you on the list?

I frequently wonder why as much as 47% of global businesses (according to one source) continue to run a less secure, less scalable, less stable, less adaptable, and flat-out inferior email solution (i.e., Microsoft Exchange) and seem so content to do so despite basic human reasoning compared to the 43% or so that run Lotus Notes / Domino. Over the years I have developed a number of theories.


Yesterday, I was directed to an interesting press release stating that the Sierra Nevada Corporation (who runs Notes as their email and collaboration solution by the way) has announced that it is ready to begin production of a "ray gun" that is targeted at crowd control, but could theoretically be used to place thoughts in people's heads and may simultaneously cause brain damage. Thankfully, SNC has not tested the technology on their own decision makers. The technology itself has existed for a number of years, but only recently been practically considered for mobile weaponized use.


Connect the dots however you may, but my theory is that improper use of such a technology could potentially cause irrational decisions, such as paying over $300 per user to acquire an office productivity suite and then at least $100 per user per year to protect the ability to upgrade that suite (even though it historically has at least a 4-year release cycle), when there is a perfectly reasonable and free alternative that could work just as well for 80% of the user-base.


All I can say for sure is that the annual Annual Microsoft CEO Summit is much better than “Cats.” I’m going to attend again and again.

Today I decided to upgrade from Firefox 2 to Firefox 3 as I have heard that at least one strength is faster page loading, which is always good. I have used Firefox for absolutely all web browsing for at least the past 6 months EXCEPT for (perhaps most ironically) the online IBM Business Partner tools that I have to use and require Internet Explorer. But I digress.

The inspiration for this blog entry was that when I went do download Firefox 3 from www.firefox.com wiith Firefox 2, I was presented with a nice 4 step process of how to download and install it with screen shots. What struck me is that steps 1 and 2 were screen shots that assumed I was using Internet Explorer to download it! OK, so maybe that's their target audience, but could they not at least detect that I am using a previous version of THEIR BROWSER and present me with instructions specific to that?

Sad; just sad.
 

Everyone knows the iPhone is great. Almost everyone wants one. But  for a business email user such as myself, you just can't beat the Blackberry for best-in-class messaging, calendar, and contact synchronization, and the J2ME model for custom applications is pretty powerful too.  The iPhone has some PIM options, but they all pale in comparison to the Blackberry. Why reinvent the wheel? In this world of increasing virtualization, how hard would it be to add Blackberry functionality to an iPhone, or at least emulate a Blackberry on an iPhone? Really? Both already run on the AT&T network, so that's conquered. Maybe I'm oversimplifying. It is late after all .

I've just completed a week at Lotus "Top Gun" training, which is targeted at  updating the IBM sales team and Business Partners on the latest innovations in the Lotus portfolio and strategic direction, including solutions such as Notes/Domino 8.0, the Sametime product family; Quickr 8.0; Lotus Connections; the Portal offerings, including Web Content Management & e-Forms; Lotus Symphony; the Mobile & Enterprise Access offerings; Dashboards, and more. It's amazing how much has changed since Lotusphere just a few months ago. Lotus has delivered significant updates to each of these products and I got to see under the hood of what is coming in the next few months.

Along those lines, Lotus 911 has conducted some Lotusphere Comes To You (LCTY) events in a few cities, but I'd like to offer a "LCTY, NO REALLY" event to those who may be interested. Essentially, my idea is to set aside a full-day (less if you prefer) to come visit you at YOUR location and share these updates, do live demos, and perhaps even help you break through some admin and/or development barriers you may have. I will be in the central Florida area the second half of this week and in Chicago next week, but I'm pretty open the weeks after. Drop me a line if this sounds like something that appeals to you.

I have used Yahoo for my personal email for the past 10 years or so. The recent discussions about Microsoft acquiring Yahoo had me thinking about where to move my personal mail to should that happen. Thankfully as of last night, it appears that deal will not be happening. But it does make me wonder what I would have done.

My first thought was of course Google, but I firmly believe that IBM Lotus and Google will find themselves in increasingly competitive situations over the next several years and I long ago swore I'd never go back to AOL or ever tie my personal email address to my "ISP du jour". There are plenty of free email services out there, but none of them appeal to me as much as my good old DWA 8.0 or Yahoo mail. So for now, I'll stay put, but (ahem IBM), it sure would be great to see Bluehouse offer free lighweight public mail services. I bet Amazon beats them to the punch though.

 Sorry for the delay on this - I decided to take one of those vacation things.

 

To be fair though, these stats (thank you Chris) were pulled on 2/20 after just 32 days of existence (and BEFORE the recent Taking Notes podcast about BleedYellow.com and bevy of other recent activity):

 

1,440,419 hits  (around 46,000 hits per day)
263,384 page views (around 8,200 views per day)
13,119 direct hits to the /blogs url

73 blogs with a total of 215 posts and 157 comments - with new blogs being started pretty frequently

1,067 registrations

 

I haven't counted the dogears, communities, or activities, but there has been some significant activity there too.

 

Also interesting to me is that a google.com search of bleedyellow.com returns 5,320 hits (not too shabby).

 

Thank you to all of you who have participated in making this fantastic and still growing community a success. I can't wait to see the next month's stats!

 There are times when I want to include my detailed contact info at the bottom of an email and other times when I don't. In Notes, I can just turn the auto-signature off and use Tools / Insert Signature, but I probably send more than half my email from my Blackberry. So here is the tip:

If you type in sig and then hit the space bar on your blackberry, it will insert the text that you have stored into the Information field of the "Owner" page on your Blackberry (under Options from the main menu).

Got any other useful Blackberry tips? Please share in the comments.

Declan pitched the idea of Forum Friday's on his blog about picking a question on Notes.net and responding to it with a blog entry. I think this is a great way to get forum readers into the Domino blogging community, so I gave it a shot. I went to notes.net and picked the first entry I saw without a comment: Create Dialog Box Like Mail Address. I'm not sure if this is what Mr. Dressler is looking for, but it occurred to me that newer developers may not realize the power of @DialogBox or notesuiworkspace.DialogBox in LotusScript (and maybe even some guru's don't think of it). Basically, you can design any form you want and use it as a pop up box to collect or modify information on the underlying form (even if the fields on the underlying form are hidden). This is an effective way to move lesser used and/or non-printed data off of the main form to keep it clean, or to implement an interview-style "wizard" to collect user input in steps. The Lotusscript version can be further used to collect information into documents that are not open or even into a temporary document that is used just to get answers to questions, but never saved. Check it out in the Help file and start improving your user interfaces today.

 

Making a dialog box that does what this user requested should be relatively simple:

1. Create the form with two fields and a hotspot button between them. Tip: Put your form design elements in a table and use the [SIZETOTABLE] to make the best use of screen space
2. The first field is an editable single-value listbox field with an @DBLookup of the possible choices. Tip: make this a list of key values with the Doc UNID as an alias (e.g., key value | @DocumentUniqueID)
3. The second field is a single-value computed text field that equals itself (@ThisValue)
4. The hotspot button sets the second field to the selected value of the first field (since they only want ONE value).
5. Add a button to the calling form that runs script that calls notesuiworkspace.DialogBox and then copies the document that was selected using whatever method you want, such as.

Dim workspace As New NotesUIWorkspace

Dim session As New NotesSession

Dim db As NotesDatabase, otherDb As Notesdatabase

Set db = session.CurrentDatabase

'Set otherDb

Dim doc As New NotesDocument(db)

Call workspace.DialogBox( "Form", True, True, False, False, False, False, "Title", doc)

If doc.fieldname(0) <> "" Then

'Set your document, for example

Set doc = db.GetDocumentByUNID(doc.fieldname(0))

Call doc.CopyToDatabase( otherDb )

End If

By running it from the main form in this way, the dialog box becomes just a way to temporarily complete the action then throws away the temporary data AND bails out if the user clicks Cancel or no value is selected (because doc.fieldname(0) will equal "".

 

There are of course other variations that would work with things like embedded views, etc. If I understand the stated problem correctly though, I'd probably simplify the approach and just use a view picklist to capture the selected document's UNID then do the copy without adding the complexity of a dialog box with a hotspot button.

 

Regardless, the point is that dialog boxes are a powerful and flexible way to collect user input without junking up a main form.

BleedYellow.com has been a wonderful success. With over 750 global registrations, dozens of new blogs and communities, and thousands of hits in just the 10 days since its launch, I think it's safe to say that we have interest. So what's next? Well, we certainly plan to keep the site up to date with the latest versions of Connections as quickly as IBM will let us. In the coming months, look for a variety of enhancements, including disussion forums, presence awareness, an enhanced home page allowing personalization, and other features that are slated to be delivered with Connections 2.0. In addition, we hope to attract some additional bloggers to perhaps migrate to this site as well as some developers to dig into the Lotusscript API that we have developed for Connections to build integration between Domino applications and BleedYellow.

 

Finally, stay tuned over the next few weeks in particular for some special post-Lotusphere surprises that we really think you'll enjoy.

 

The bottom line is that this site is here to stay and we are committed to continuing to enhance its value based on your feedback - so enjoy, and get involved.

 

Sincerely,

Scott Hooks

VP of Services, Lotus 911

We are very proud of the more than 600 registraions, dozens of blogs, dogears, and communities, and thousands of hits that bleedyellow.com has gotten in the 5 days since its launch (stay tuned for official stats after Lotusphere. Someone asked me today if I thought it could become the next Notes.net, which made me recall a conversation I had with a colleague where we discussed how participation in Notes.net (now developerWorks) has started to fall off, and how the truly useful information is now most commonly found in blogs. So how do we capture all that knowledge into a single searchable source? Google is great, but often returns way more irrelevant information than relevant information. PlanetLotus.org's RSS consolidator is my current favorite one-stop shop, but you need the operator's approval to be added to the list (sorry Yancey. Oh, and can you add the bleedyellow feed?). More importantly, how do we INSPIRE those with the knowledge to share it?

 

Our answer is bleedyellow.com. One central place where the Lotus faithful can gather to start blogs that will have high visibility and searchability, as well as find each other, share bookmarks, and form communities. Furthermore, what if you find the answer, but need a quick clarification? Just add im.bleedyellow.com to your Sametime communities and hit the author on chat.

 

Let me assure you that bleedyellow.com is not a "Lotusphere stunt." We are committed to keeping this site going, applying the latest innovations from the Lotus Development team, and adding our own enhancements as well as folding in enhancements from the community itself.  As Nathan just posted on his blog, we are pleased to announce a LotusScript API for Connections that will provide a bridge for Notes/Domino developers to build applications that integrate with Connections using the skills you already have.

 

So it it the next Notes.net or something else entirely? Only time will tell.

We were enetertained before OGS by the Orlando Symphony Orchestra rocking hard. Mike Rhodin opened with the theme of Emergence and introduced special guest: Bob Costas. Rhodin returned and emphasized the continuing demand growth for collaborative software and the changes in business technology needs being driven by the new generation of professionals, who expect tools like instant communication and social software in the workplace. He then announced an IBM partnership with RIM that showed a screenshot of a Blackberry with Lotus Connections on it. We at bleedyellow.com will get right on that. 

 

Project "Atlantic" is a new initiative focused on integrating SAP Business Suite with the Lotus Notes client. It sounds like Notes will be able to used as a front-end to SAP for certain workers. "Demo King" Ron Sebastian showed an "Atlantic" sidebar application that inferred it will allow real-time interaction with SAP based on documents selected in the Notes client..

 

Alistair Rennie introduced Jeff Eisen and Russ Holden (chief architects of Notes and Domino) who confirmed that Notes/Domino 8.0.1 will include Notes Traveler and some DWA enhancements, including a web-based interface for the iPhone. They also confirmed client support for Ubunto and Mac and emphasized the improved performance of Domino server. Ron demonstrated features like a better mail quota indicator, Sametime Unyte integration with meeting invitations, and a sidebar "Widget Palet" that allows a user to easily add widgets from Notes views, web services, or Google Gadgets. Widgets can be distributed to users via an online catalog, or by email, which install with a drag and drop to and from the email message. These gadgets can be automatically linked to text in Notes documents by using a pattern-matching scheme. They are calling this "Live TEXT". The new DWA "lite" looks and functions astonishingly similar to Notes 8. Ron then did a live demo of DWA access from an iPhone.

 

For Notes/Domino 8.5, they announced support for a server ID vault allowing easier ID management, an intelligent attachment store they project will reduce attachment storage by as much as 35%, and an Email security appliance emerging from the ISS acquisition. This is the release that will include project "Atlantic". there is also a great looking new discussion template. Domino Designer 8.5 will run on Eclipse and include an xPage design element that allows easier development of Web 2.0 applications. There is a drag and drop palette and class browser similar to WSAD.

 

Symphony: Kevin Cavanaugh stated that there have been 400,000 downloads of Symphony. In February 2008, they plan to deliver API's that will allow integration with the document, spreadsheet, and presentation editors in Symphony and Notes 8 with full compatibility. He illustrated a "translater plug-in" that translates documents into different languages with a few simpe clicks.

 

Unified Communications and Sametime: Ron Sebastian showed "Broadcast communities" and "SkillTap" for Sametime 8 Advanced version, which also has the notion of persistent chat rooms and instant screen sharing. Nothing new there.

 

Portal: Larry Bowden recapped the past year's Portal enhancements and wins, which now has the #1 market position in this space, Ron showed Portal integration with Lotus Connections, client side integration of portlets, such as drag and drop data moves between portlets, "tear-away portles", and a web-based rapid forms development interface. A quick look at Ed's liave blog also clarified that there will be "support for WebSphere Portal applications in Notes, Sametime, Quickr, and Blackberry devices.  Portlet Factory portlets can run in the client.  Deploy to Portal, run in Notes."

 

Quickr: Jeff Schick indicated that Quickr 8.1 will ship in March and include integration with the Symphony suite and Outlook (whatever that is) as well as team space template improvements, Future versions may include document ratings (ala Netflix), tags for documents, and integration with Connections and FileNet.

 

For Connections 2.0 and beyond, they are working on an improved home page, discussion forums, wiki support, language translation tools, widgets, federated search across all Connections services, the "Atlas" relationship visualization tool, Quickr integration, and offline and mobile device support (including Blackberries). I can't wait to get these into Bleed Yellow for you. Activites will also be beefed up and easier to use.

 

Now for the new product announcements:

 

Lotus Mashups is a lightweight browser-based creation of mashup applications using widgets and content feeds that can be easliy layered and wired together. 

 

Lotus Foundations is the acquisition of the small-footprint autonomic Nitix flavor of Linux from Toronto-based Net Integration Technologies, which includes the Nitix Blue offering that includes an integrated Domino server, This solution is targetted at the SMB space as a Microsoft SBS killer, sets up in under 30 minutes, and can run on an appliance that fits in an 8 x 11 envelope as Rhodin illustrated on stage. Lotus 911 and I have personally been working with Nitix for over 2 years, so this announcement has a special place in my heart. Foundations will also encompass "bluehouse", which is a new software as a service offering of the key features across the Lotus Collaboration portfolio. It is also targetted at organizations with less than 500 users. Ron demonstrated the bluehouse web interface, which includes "live charts", an integrated visualization tool for data on the screen.

 

Links to other OGS blogs:

http://edbrill.com/ebrill/edbrill.nsf/dx/liveblog-lotusphere-2008-opening-general-session

http://www.lotus911.com/nathan/escape.nsf/d6plinks/NTFN-7B3GXA

http://www.timtripcony.com/blog.nsf/d6plinks/TTRY-7B3H9N

http://smokey.rhs.com/web/blog/PowerOfTheSchwartz.nsf/d6plinks/RSCZ-7B3HEZ

http://www.curiousmitch.com/CuriousMitch/mitch2.nsf/d6plinks/MCON-7B3HD8

http://www.alanlepofsky.net/alepofsky/alanblog.nsf/

 

 

 In case you missed it in Chris's post, registered users can sign in to im.bleedyellow.com using your Sametime client and your email address and bleedyellow.com password and chat with other yellow bleeders. Want to know who's online? Just add the YellowBleeders public group to your chat list.

Thank you to those who have already started participating in BleedYellow .com. We have over 250 registrations and thousands of hits in just 2.5 days. Wow! This is a great opportunity to start a blog and gain visibility from the community. As of today, we are announcing an initiative that will allow Domino developers to build applications that integrate with BleedYellow.com or your own Lotus Connections implementation. So, I'd like to know... What other features you want to see added to BleedYellow.com? With this community, the sky is the limit. Share your ideas and let's start collaborating and building this community together.

Even with a satellite internet connection, 10 people on the same uplink gets congested. BUT, we all have Blackberries too, most of us on the Edge network. Sooooooo, I just connected my blackberry via USB cable, fired up Blackberry Desktop (which I don't use for any other purpose now that its all wireless), and created a dial-up network connection. BAM,  I'm on the web at 460 kpbs, which ain't bad.

Here's a link to setup the network connection:
http://www.blackberryforums.com/blackberry-guides/2019-user-howto-use-blackberry-modem-laptop.html

Note: This won't work on GPRS.