October 2006 - Posts

Teched 2006 OFC Track - IW Community

Most of the decks from the Teched Africa 2006 OFC track are up on the Information Worker Community site. Get them here!

For everyone who wants to register, please be patient. We are still waiting for the list of people who registered at the stand at Teched. I will also open up the registration page to the public by the end of the week.

For anyone who wants to be actively involved in shaping the community, please contact me. My email address is on the IW community homepage.

Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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Social Point - more "Coopetition"

SocialText, the popular Enterprise Wiki company, yesterday announced the release of Social Point, allowing Sharepoint deployments to use the Social Text Wiki engine. Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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The Competition - cyn.in

According to the cyn.in site: "cyn.in (pronounced: 'sign-in') is an enterprise bliki service that allows teams, companies or communities to manage, organize, store, version, search through, collaborate & discuss upon, share and publish any kind of information or data".

Your wondering what a bliki is? Well, according to wikipedia : "A Bliki (also known as a WikiLog, Wog, WikiWeblog, Wikiblog, or Bloki), is a blog with wiki support. This means that after (or before) an article is posted to the blog, it can be edited, either by anyone or by some group of authorized users.

This combination of the two Internet concepts was conceived with the purpose of making the popular blogging experience more interactive. Another possible effect (especially for news blogs) is the improvement of the quality and accuracy of the articles posted by giving more people the ability to edit them"

From what i can gather, cyn.in coined the term bliki when developing their product. You can read more about what a bliki is from their site.

Features

You can read all about the features here, but ive pasted some from the site:

"Collaborate on Everything

cyn.in at its core, is a collaboration system. Any information or file stored in cyn.in can be collaborated upon. Be it the documents that you created for your project or the useful article that you published in the intranet, you can effortlessly share them with any other user such that all of you can work on the information or file together. cyn.in eliminates the need for sending files back and forth over email. All your information remains in a central place and is worked or commented upon by all designated collaborators.

Single Click Publishing

Some of the Information or knowledge that you or your peers co- create, is most useful if it can be displayed to your entire organization. cyn.in lets you quickly publish your web notes to a secure intranet space, where all the members of your organization can view it, find it and even discuss upon it.

If some of your information has to be published to the whole world, cyn.in lets its users with predefined rights, publish any note into the 'web space' of your organization. The integrated web space builds its menu automatically from the SlashTags of the published web notes, and supports advanced RSS broadcasting. The webspace can be applied to a wide range of needs. It can be used as a content management system that feeds content to all of your websites, or it can simply be used as a corporate blog or even a presence website.

Full Text Search Engine

The most important function of any system that manages knowledge is the ability to find required information quickly and effortlessly. cyn.in incorporates a lightning fast, advanced full text search engine. In simple terms, cyn.in lets you search for information from all across the systems. cyn.in even lets you search inside Word documents, PDF files, and all other common file formats even if they are inside a compressed zip file.

Due to its deep integration into cyn.in, the search engine's functionality and relevance far surpasses any externally implemented enterprise search engine or any desktop search engine available today.

Web based Word Processor

cyn.in has a full featured word processor that runs completely in your browser. This eliminates the requirement of purchasing expensive office software for every computer terminal that your team uses. The web based word processor has advanced features including:

  • Spell checker
  • WYSIWYG table editor
  • A resource and media manager, that allows you to add images and media inline into your contents.
  • Full screen editing workspace
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Interlinking of notes and SlashTags

and a lot more...

Alerts & Notifications

cyn.in keeps you informed and in-control of your information. cyn.in keeps you updated with all the activity that's relevant to you, in a variety of ways. Any one changes anything in a note that you are co authoring, or comments on a piece of information that you have created, you get a notification. Notifications can be selectively configured to reach you over e-mail or a configurable RSS feed. You can even get the cyn.in Notifier, that can be installed on your desktop and will pop up notifications from your system tray when you get an alert.

Advanced RSS Feeds

cyn.in has an extensive support for RSS, the emerging standard for content syndication and consumption. cyn.in provides an integrated, customized RSS notifications feed for each of its users. This allows them to always be updated of all relevant activity in the system.

Each SlashTag has its own RSS feed. This allows the 'web space' to function as an information broadcasting system. Unlimited number of RSS feeds can be created with cyn.in. Thus cyn.in can be used as a central content management system which provides real time content to various other sites or online systems. cyn.in's RSS feeds support podcasting and vidcasting, enabling you to deliver rich media to systems and devices that support it."

 

Want to know how this product compares to Sharepoint ? They have done a great comparison chart. Im not sure how accurate it it, but go have a look here.

In terms of Pricing: cyn.in is delivered as a Software-as-a-Service offering, like SalesForce.com, 37Signals etc. What are the benefits of SaaS?
Here are some pricing guidelines: Users: Per User/Month

  • 2 - 9:$30.00
  • 10 - 20:$28.00
  • 21 - 49:$27.00
  • 50 - 99:$26.00
  • 100 - 249:$24.00

You could also use the calculator on their site: Calculator.

Lastly, you can check out some screenshots here: Screenshots

Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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Teched Africa - Information Worker Community

Jeepers, where is the time going? Teched is fast approaching...still so much to do :)

Im presenting OFC207 - Microsoft Office Sharepoint Server 2007: Overview and whats new. Im also doing 2 Chalk n Talks. One will be with Uriel from Microsoft on Enterprise Content Management. The other, will be used to introduce the Information Worker community. I dont want to say too much about the community, but if you are going to teched, and you are interested in Sharepoint, Groove, Office, etc, come visit us at the Chalk n Talk on Wed, 25th Oct, 9am-10am, Chalk n Talk Room B. Come meet some of the community members, including some of the Microsoft People. We also want to use this time to get ideas to move the community forward.

Other than that, im just excited to get off work for a few days...hehe. Kimberly Tripp is doing a sound check after me, so should also be cool meeting her. Its going to be great to catch up with some old friends etc. Dont think im going to be jumping in the pool fully clothed agian, but Ernst, Armand etc might have other ideas.....lol....

See you all there, and for those not going, watch this space for the Information Worker community.

Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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The DVD Rewinder

Now this cracks me up. Its an actual product that you can buy.

"Too many DVDs, and CDs and not enough time to rewind? Are your DVDs running a bit too slow? The DVD rewinder is the perfect solution! This novelty rewinder comes with the exclusive Centriptal Velocity Spindle providing the world’s fastest DVD rewind!

The DVD Rewinder is a great gift for the technical savvy, the couch potato, teens with too much time on their hands, and the gadget buff! Novelty for you or gag gift for a friend.

The DVD Rewinder has a great black and fluorescent green color scheme with high tech styling! The DVD Rewinder will spin discs backwards and plays a “rewind” sound. You can also record your own “rewind” sound which provides unending possibilities. For the tech hip, the DVD Rewinder also has an additional MP3 port and plays a separate “rewind” sound. Rewind all types of disc media DVDs, CDs, and Console Games. But not just novelty, the DVD Rewinder has utility. It has a built in compartment that holds a disc cleaner. This compartment can be used to hold the cleaner, loose couch change, tooth picks, keys or other small items. A truly unique product with a truly unique design!"

Buy it here

Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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Today's Webcasts

MSDN Webcast: Build Serious Applications Using SharePoint Server 2007 (Level 200) - "The many advances in each of the products in the 2007 Microsoft Office system together create an optimum platform for building applications and products. In particular, enhancements in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Project Server 2007, and Windows SharePoint Services make the 2007 release a compelling platform for faster application development. We explain some of these new capabilities in this webcast and provide details of how they can be used, complete with demos and examples."

MSDN Webcast: SharePoint Server 2007 Web Content Management for Content Owners and Authors (Level 200) - "The Web content management technology in Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 represents the first major Microsoft release of Web site content management tools since 2002. Join this webcast to learn how to use these new content management tools for creating and editing content pages, working with page and document versions, and building content workflows. We also describe the functionality of the reports list in SharePoint Server 2007 and how to set up alerts when newly submitted content awaits your approval. The presentation concludes with a look at authoring SharePoint Server 2007 content using Microsoft Office Word and InfoPath 2007."

MSDN Webcast: Introduction to Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office Second Edition (Level 200) - "Join this webcast to learn how to use Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Microsoft Office Second Edition Beta (VSTO 2005 SE Beta) to create application-level add-ins for the 2007 Microsoft Office system or earlier versions of Microsoft Office. VSTO 2005 SE is an add-in to Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Professional Edition and is intended to accompany the release of the 2007 Microsoft Office system. In this presentation, we demonstrate the features in VSTO 2005 SE Beta, which include support for the programmable task pane and Ribbon UI in the 2007 Office release, and we describe how these features help you to create solutions. We also cover the differences between VSTO 2005 SE Beta, Visual Studio 2005 Tools for Office, and Visual Studio Tools for Office “v3” Community Technology Preview (CTP), so you can determine which product is the best for your solution development."

Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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EMC and Microsoft Form New Enterprise Content Management Alliance

According to Presspass : "EMC Corporation and Microsoft Corp. today announced a new enterprise content management (ECM) alliance aimed at helping to enable organizations to become People-Ready with their compliance, regulatory and other critical business data"

Basically what this means is that there will be richer integration between Documentum and the 2007 Microsoft Office system.

View the PressPass article here

View the EMC Press Release here

Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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Thank you MindJet

A big thanks to Mindjet for sponsoring a license of Mindmanager. "Mindjet MindManager 6 is the market leading productivity software for visualizing and managing information, allowing individuals and teams to more effectively think, plan, and collaborate."

 

Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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Open Text Acquires Hummingbird

  "Waterloo, ON - 2006-10-02 - Open Text™ Corporation (NASDAQ:OTEX, TSX:OTC), a leading provider of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) software, and Hummingbird Ltd. (NASDAQ:HUMC, TSX:HUM) today announced that they have closed the transaction pursuant to which all of Hummingbird’s common shares were acquired by a wholly-owned subsidiary of Open Text."

Read more here

OpenText havent wasted any time re-branding the Hummingbird website

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Useful Windows Applications

Startup Delayer - "Startup Delayer allows you to setup how many seconds after Windows has started, to load each program."

 

Folder2MyPC - "Having shortcuts for the most used applications in your My PC window can be very useful because you can safe lot of time and simplify your tasks."

TuneXP  - "is the single most easy and featured XP tweaker, you'll ever find. Designed with easy-to-use dropdown menus, it will make your Windows installation go from its sluggish state to a red-blooded, optimized mode. All for free".

Unlocker - When you get this

use this

 

KeePass - "KeePass is a free/open-source password manager or safe which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. You can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key-disk. So you only have to remember one single master password or insert the key-disk to unlock the whole database"

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2 Brilliant new Technet Articles

Get into the Groove: Solutions for Secure and Dynamic Collaboration : "Office Groove 2007 lets users collaborate dynamically and securely with people from around the world. Find out how the Groove client can fit into your organization."

Building an Emergency Operations Center on Groove and SharePoint : "Take an inside look at how Groove and SharePoint help the Louisiana State University Emergency Operations Center respond to disaster."

Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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Records Management Whitepapers

Not sure if anyone has seen the KM World site. Its packed with Whitepapers. Check out this months Records Management articles. CLICK HERE to download complete PDF

 

From their site:

The Compliance Imperative

To be “compliant” can mean a dozen things. Regulated industries and government are accustomed to being regulation-driven; that’s a Thursday for them.

Is It Time to Take The Spotlight Off Compliance?

In the five years since 2001, the electronic records management landscape has become dominated by pressures and compliance requirements that reflect a shift...

The World is Flat—Compliance Goes Global

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act has been a catalyst for increased, intense focus on financial compliance, corporate governance and business best practices...

Understanding the ERM Challenge

Corporate executives are painfully aware of the need for “compliance,” thanks to regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, industry-specific...

E-discovery—The Courts are Evolving, are You?

It’s spring of 2007 and you are evaluating a court order to produce highly detailed electronic documents, records, emails and voice mail messages.

How to Optimally Manage Email in the Enterprise

Many organizations today are confounded by the question "how and where should we store email files for peak performance and iron-clad compliance?"...

Facilitate Email Records Management via Backup and Archiving

As enterprises struggle to manage their ever-growing stores of email and other unstructured data, many are finding their backup and recovery process...

ECM:RIM—Programs that Matter. Programs that Last.

In a survey of more than 700 enterprise content management (ECM) system users by AIIM—The Enterprise Content Management Association, 89.7% agreed...

Five Best Practices to Enable Records Management

“There is a significant changeover occurring in the architecture of records management solutions away from a separate records repository...

Records Management and the Recipe for Cost-Effective Compliance

Forty years ago, General Electric produced the first self-cleaning conventional oven, an innovation that, over the course of its creation, incurred 100 new patents.

Quantity Does Matter Records Management for Billions of Documents

In the age of increasing litigation and compliance regulations, being a packrat finally pays off. Hoarding files may protect corporate officers...

Compliance and Content Governance

Two major incidents coincided in the last several years that fundamentally changed the value we put into the word "protect." The first was 9/11...

Don’t Forget the Paper

Despite early visionary cries of a pending “paperless office,” in reality, we’re still a long ways away. The truth is: much business knowledge

Email Management Brings Harmony to Discovery, Compliance and Storage

Everyone’s talking about it. It’s a top issue at industry events. It’s permeating the entire organization—from the CFO, to legal counsel...

Preserving Key Business Information

After several years of soaring revenues, lots of available capital and the “dot.com bubble,” many companies loosened their corporate controls.

Six Stages to Reduce Costs, Risks and Complexity of Compliance

Regulatory compliance is an absolute necessity in today’s business environment. With growing numbers of regulations...—it has never been more important...

Funding: The First Best Practice for Records Management and Regulatory Compliance

We're four years into Sarbanes-Oxley, even longer into our new understanding of records compliance management...

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Best Kept Secrets for Personal and Team Productivity - Free Webcast

There is a free webcast by David Allen, sponsored by Mindjet: View here
(appently some folk use MindManager to implement GTD)

From their site:

"In Getting Things Done, the groundbreaking work-life management system, David Allen discusses how to transform your personal 'overload' into an integrated system of stress-free productivity. The system and philosophy have been adopted by millions worldwide to manage everything from daily tasks to complex projects.

Join us for a scintillating hour with Allen as he reviews best practices to increase your productivity, both at home and at work. Find out how technology - in particular Mindmapping and web conferencing - are powerful tools that Allen considers part of anyone's productivity 'bag of tricks'. Leave this web seminar with new ideas and concepts on how to increase your productivity in the four key areas of Allen's model:
Externalizing information and capturing notes
Defining current reality
Generating new ideas and perspectives
Organizing information

We all know we should probably be more thoughtful, creative, focused, and organized - join us for this 60 minute web seminar with the person that Fast Company cites as "...one of the most influential thinkers on productivity" to find out how!"

Cross Posted from ArnoNel.com
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