Some days I pinch myself because of the interesting people I get to hang out with and interview and talk business with. Here’s an example.
This morning I interviewed Joe Kraus at JotSpot’s offices (JotSpot is a really interesting Wiki set of services, which to my eye looks like a whole lot better than either Google or Microsoft’s vision for the future of how Office workers will work together, but maybe that’s just me).
Anyway, we talked about everything from whether we’re in the middle of a bubble: “yes” to what his favorite Google keywords were (he explained how JotSpot’s employees brainstorm interesting new keywords, then measure them, and get rid of any that don’t work after a couple of weeks). He wouldn’t share his favorites, though, saying that was his competitive advantage. That’s the third time I’ve heard that from CEOs this month, by the way. Until my video gets up sometime in September you should check out TechCrunch’s writings about JotSpot 2.0. Why take that long to get a video up? Cause I need a bunch in the bag so that I can bootstrap the show. Plus editing and compression are a real PITA. Nothing like slamming out a text blog.
I should have bugged Joe about why he hasn’t been blogging lately. But he’s a busy CEO so I was happy to get an hour with him.
Then it was onto visit Better Bad News, a funny video show. They have me under NDA, but their latest video hints at what I was meeting them about. The thing they showed me? Definitely interesting, I hope to use it soon. Oh, and Jeff Clavier, they said they’re interested in your money too. I’ll hook you and them up, you should see what they are doing. My pitch to them? “Better music and drugs.” Hey, a four-word pitch, what can I say? I told them I was really there to get them to sell their souls to me for $1 a month. They were tough negotiators, though, and talked me up to $1.50.
Then tonight I met up with Simon Phipps and Terri Molini after talking on the phone with Steve Gillmor who told me “don’t send me any traffic” (which promptly make me want to link to him and send him all the traffic he doesn’t want, heheh).
Simon is one of Sun Microsystems’ guys who are working on open sourcing Java and Terri is one of Sun’s PR chiefs.
Simon told us all about the cool places he’s visited and the open source computing trends. He asked me if I was going to get outside of the United States and I told him that I’d like to visit India and China. He’d just been, so figured he’d be excited. He, instead, told me that the bigger computing stories were happening in South Africa and South America where interesting open source movements have taken hold.
I hear Simon has started a blog for the PR team (I couldn’t find it cause it’s too new, but I’ll try to get the URL tomorrow) and that she has a new way to “command and control” bloggers inside Sun. Instead of sending them nasty notes she’ll just call them out in public. Hmmm, if she really does do that that’ll make her blog one that we’ll definitely follow. She was just kidding, of course.
Anyway, now I’m even further behind on answering email. Sigh.
Robert, you may want to check out NewTek’s TriCaster. I read an article on it this morning in the local paper (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA083106.01E.BIZnewtek.280f56a.html). Of course, you probably already know all about it, but it sounds as if it could shorten your production cycle.
Robert, you may want to check out NewTek’s TriCaster. I read an article on it this morning in the local paper (http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA083106.01E.BIZnewtek.280f56a.html). Of course, you probably already know all about it, but it sounds as if it could shorten your production cycle.
Eh eh, remember the VC/Angel investor twist, if you want money, ask for advice
. Happy to connect with BBN though it is not exactly the type of deal that I get involved in (just to set expectations at the right level).
Eh eh, remember the VC/Angel investor twist, if you want money, ask for advice
. Happy to connect with BBN though it is not exactly the type of deal that I get involved in (just to set expectations at the right level).
@Robert: Yes, I was indicating that South America is not to be missed. I recommend a visit to FISL next year in Porto Alegre.
@Granville: We talked about topics you’ll find summarised in various blog entries I’ve written, see http://weblogs.java.net/blog/webmink/archive/2006/08/thoughts_on_ope.html for an index.
@Robert: Yes, I was indicating that South America is not to be missed. I recommend a visit to FISL next year in Porto Alegre.
@Granville: We talked about topics you’ll find summarised in various blog entries I’ve written, see http://weblogs.java.net/blog/webmink/archive/2006/08/thoughts_on_ope.html for an index.
Robert, did you find out much about the open sourcing of Java i.e. what Sun are intending to do etc?
Robert, did you find out much about the open sourcing of Java i.e. what Sun are intending to do etc?
Simon: sorry about that, I thought I told you I wanted to visit China and India and you initially told me about South America and South Africa. I think I had too much wine. I definitely remember you telling me a lot about China, so should have included that on the post here. I thought your point was that I shouldn’t miss what else is happening in the world outside of the big tech spots. We also talked about Eastern Europe and other places too.
Simon: sorry about that, I thought I told you I wanted to visit China and India and you initially told me about South America and South Africa. I think I had too much wine. I definitely remember you telling me a lot about China, so should have included that on the post here. I thought your point was that I shouldn’t miss what else is happening in the world outside of the big tech spots. We also talked about Eastern Europe and other places too.
Actually I said South America and China
I actually don’t recall mentioning South Africa at all…
Actually I said South America and China
I actually don’t recall mentioning South Africa at all…
There are a lot of bright geeks everywhere! China and India are in focus because that’s where the market is right now. Doesn’t mean that other countries are going to be ignored for long…
There are a lot of bright geeks everywhere! China and India are in focus because that’s where the market is right now. Doesn’t mean that other countries are going to be ignored for long…
One of the reasons I’m starting my nearshore development company in Panama is that it’s true that in South America a lot is going on. There are a lot of bright geeks in Latin America. Only one has to find them. Unfortunately all the focus is still on China and India, but that might change soon.
One of the reasons I’m starting my nearshore development company in Panama is that it’s true that in South America a lot is going on. There are a lot of bright geeks in Latin America. Only one has to find them. Unfortunately all the focus is still on China and India, but that might change soon.
I’m very surprised that Simon wasn’t more excited about China. I just got back from there (blogged it here http://scottmark.blogspot.com/2006/08/view-from-shanghai.html) and I think China is in a semi-controlled explosion. I found the technical climate very fascinating. They have extremely bright tech workers and labor rates that make India look expensive. Maybe Simon didn’t care for the apparent Chinese penchant for Microsoft??
Sure they have a restrictive government and technical infrastruture, but the dam has leaks. I think China is going to continue exploding and get more and more interesting. It’s a tenacious culture that chews through problems when they set their focus - check out the Three Gorges dam.
I’m very surprised that Simon wasn’t more excited about China. I just got back from there (blogged it here http://scottmark.blogspot.com/2006/08/view-from-shanghai.html) and I think China is in a semi-controlled explosion. I found the technical climate very fascinating. They have extremely bright tech workers and labor rates that make India look expensive. Maybe Simon didn’t care for the apparent Chinese penchant for Microsoft??
Sure they have a restrictive government and technical infrastruture, but the dam has leaks. I think China is going to continue exploding and get more and more interesting. It’s a tenacious culture that chews through problems when they set their focus - check out the Three Gorges dam.
Well, that was probably one of the most exhaustive name dropping posts you’ve done in a while. You visit Better Bad News to basically tell us you know something we don’t know? Great!!! That was real helpful!
Well, that was probably one of the most exhaustive name dropping posts you’ve done in a while. You visit Better Bad News to basically tell us you know something we don’t know? Great!!! That was real helpful!
You forgot Canada, specifically Ottawa
You forgot Canada, specifically Ottawa
You mentioned video production as a PITA … here are some appliances that work by simply inserting a USB key to start and stop recording with automated publishing:
podcast appliance:
http://podcast.webcastinabox.com/
webcast or vblog appliance:
http://webcastinabox.com/webcast.htm
(video codec needs to be swapped out)
I would love to show these to you some time … they might make it much easier to produce content.
You mentioned video production as a PITA … here are some appliances that work by simply inserting a USB key to start and stop recording with automated publishing:
podcast appliance:
http://podcast.webcastinabox.com/
webcast or vblog appliance:
http://webcastinabox.com/webcast.htm
(video codec needs to be swapped out)
I would love to show these to you some time … they might make it much easier to produce content.
Robert,
I’d be interested in hearing more about the South African stuff. Obviously Ubuntu has a strong South African angle, but is there something else significant that Simon mentioned?
Robert,
I’d be interested in hearing more about the South African stuff. Obviously Ubuntu has a strong South African angle, but is there something else significant that Simon mentioned?
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JotSpot is very easy to register for and begin creating Wikis. They are offering a two week trial.
Interesting concept -will be interesting to see how this business model evolves
.
JotSpot is very easy to register for and begin creating Wikis. They are offering a two week trial.
Interesting concept -will be interesting to see how this business model evolves