Veodia at Office 2.0 - Humanizing Communication

For the last 3 years, Office 2.0 has been a great opportunity for me to meet smart people, to learn about new technologies, and to experience new ways of getting business done.

I always look for the ‘human touch’ that's associated with this event.

This year, communication has reached a new level.
We are using a wiki to communicate and exchange ideas, and now we can make it even more personal — using video notes.

Veodia is again a proud sponsor, not only enabling the event with video recording of each session, but also allowing every participant to record his or her own videos — making Office 2.0 communication even more personal.

I am looking forward meeting you and having great conversations with you.
View complete Blog on Office 2.0 site.

ZendCon 2008

Looking for PHP knowledge and great networking?

The Zend/PHP Conference is the largest gathering of the PHP community and a unique opportunity to meet with PHP developers, luminaries and business leaders.

It is going to be a great event (I have my sources...).
Mark your calendars: Santa Clara, CA - September 15-18.




Do not miss the opportunity to meet Zend’s CTO, Andi Gutmans.


Registration

Have fun.

:-)

E.T.

Babylon for Mac - Online Version Only...

I was so happy to open my eyes to an eMail from Babylon announcing the Babylon for Mac.
I've waited for this version for a long time...

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So I clicked the link and got this:




Thinking to myself, online version or a desktop application...

Well - no need to think much, both versions are working only when you are online...

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So now I am disappointed.

I've worked hard to work-around the fact that there was no Babylon for Mac.

Alternatives for Babylon application for Mac:

On-line:

• Use Babylon online dictionary
  
• Use Google "Define: ... " tool
• Use online dictionary

Off-line:

• Use MacOS dictionary Widget
• Use MS Office spell checker
• Use Babylon application on a VMware/XP (I know... one of the only reason to boot XP...)

I was expecting the off-line capabilities.
I suppose the 'Beta' team feedback was so great and failed to push it to the top of the list...

Babylon - please let me know when you are serious about supporting Mac...

E.T.

Office 2.0 Conference | 2008

I am very excited to participate again in the up-coming office 2.0 conference.
Last year I represented SAP, this year I am part of Veodia.

The Office 2.0 Conference is a collective experiment organized every year in San Francisco, CA and aimed at discovering the future of online productivity & collaboration. It is a unique gathering of visionaries, thought leaders, and customers using innovative online services for getting things done at the office, at home, and on the go.

Please register before August 31st to benefit from the online rate.
All paying attendees get an HP 2133 Mini-Note PC.



See you all there!

E.T.

Vote for Veodia | 2008 STREAMING MEDIA

Friends, thank you for your support so far.
We won the Enterprise 2.0 conference demo context and now it is time to leave our mark at the 2008 Streaming Media Reader's Choice Awards.

Please vote for us in the following categories:
- “User-Generated Content Platform” category
- “Webcasting Platform” category


As you vote, you will get a change to win an iPod-Touch...



Thank you !

E.T.

Mac Mini 4 Mini Me

Should young kids have their own computers?
Yes, especially when the alternative is for them to destroy my computers...
Ever since they were 2.5 years old, they did.

At the beginning, we used Comfy. A great Israeli product that supports over 21 languages!

So, our kids utilized our old laptops/desktops.
As most of the content is online, we are using Glubble to control their access (Some great features include the capability to receive access request via eMail, easy bookmarks and kids friendly homepage).

So all was well.

Until few weeks ago when my son came to me and said:

"... I do not like my computer... It is too slow and I do not like to blue sky and grass image and it is too slow and I want a one like yours and like I have in my school..."

Well, what can I say... The kids want a Mac...

So, I took the 'old' MacMini, added a monitor and an old keyboard and the kids is MacNative...
And now, my iKid continues to ride his iBike, play with the iDog, annoy the iSister and love his iMommy. Not bad for a 4 years old...

:-)

E.T.

Aurora: Adaptive Path/ Mozilla Labs concept browser

Have a look at this interesting concept.

"...Aurora is a concept video presenting one possible future user experience for the Web, created by Adaptive Path as part of the Mozilla Labs concept browser series. Aurora explores new ways people could interact with the Web in the future based on projected technological trends and real-world scenarios..."

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Looks very cool and intuitive at first, but I do have my concerns, especially in the areas of information overflow and cross generation UI.
It seems as the mobile experience is too similar to the desktop one. Squeezing all this date into a smaller screen will not be as effective.
As for older generation usage, I think the UI should be simplify more, including non-visual interaction, such s voice commands.

E.T.

Randy Pausch Last Lecture

Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose "last lecture" about facing terminal cancer became an Internet sensation and a best-selling book, died Friday. He was 47.

"Almost all of us have childhood dreams; for example, being an astronaut, or making movies or video games for a living. Sadly, most people don’t achieve theirs, and I think that’s a shame. I had several specific childhood dreams, and I’ve actually achieved most of them. More importantly, I have found ways, in particular the creation (with Don Marinelli), of CMU’s Entertainment Technology Center of helping many young people actually *achieve* their childhood dreams." - Randy Pausch

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E.T.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

I know I am one day late to comment on this.
(Well, I do have a day job).

What can I say.
Zoli saved me a lot of typing...
http://www.zoliblog.com/2008/07/21/the-techcrunch-fablet/




Maybe they would have called it redux-model-2...


UPDATE:
Ismael comments in his Blog:
http://itredux.com/2008/07/23/where-is-the-redux-model-1/



E.T.

BlackBerry Thunder | I know why...but why?!

I saw this post on Techmeme today.

It seems as Blackberry is exploring / going towards a touchscreen keyboard.



I know why... But WHY?!

I think that the Blackberry's keyboard is may be the last big advantage for business users, when it come to the Blackberry VS. iPhone question.

I hope the Blackberry Bold will be good enough...




E.T.

i<...>

The Blogsphere is full with echo of the iPhone G3 release fiasco, that could be summarized as:

• iPhone 3G
• iLine
• iFail
• iBrick
• iToldYouSo
  
• iDoNotCare...

E.T.

How to reduce noise in your Facebook homepage

Problem description:

You open your Facebook homepage in the morning and see that more than 50 new news/events/photos and other activities were added to your page.
You cannot find interesting updates from your friends...

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Problem source:

1-3 of your "friends" keep sending updates, links, posts, pokes and other "useful" inputs to you.

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Solution:

Find this "friends" and remove them from your list...

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Result:

Read updates and stay connected with people that care about you and appreciate your time. Some may define them as FRIENDS.

E.T.

FireFox 3...Not on my Mac (yet)

I did try.

I've waited to the 'official' version.

I've contributed to FireFox 3 download record.

I've updated all the add-ons what where available (based on my previous post).

I've re-installed Flash player and other tools.

And what did I get? A 'Windows Vista' experience... Crash after crash and ugly fonts in Hebrew sites.

Back to FireFox 2.

E.T.

Mac Tip: Display Date on the Menubar

In the recent years, more and more business people are using Mac for their daily activities.
I would imagine you would agree that viewing the current date on the screen is a common feature you would expect in the Mac OS.
Well, it is not a default feature.
(Maybe everyone should know the date or it is not cool to be in jet lag and loose your 'date anchor')

I found this post while searching for a solution:
http://lifehacker.com/software/mac-tip/display-the-date-on-the-menubar-316029.php

I would like to offer you the updated version for Mac OS 10.5.2.

Step 1: System Preferences > International > Formats >Customize...

Step 2: Select "Medium" and add "[" or "|". Copy the whole string.

Step 3: Customize Times.

Step 4: Paste the date string before the time setting.

Step 5: Click "OK" and see how it effected the menubar.

I hope that would help you.

E.T.

B1B = Blogging 1st Birthday

Mazal Tov! == Congratulations!

My Blogging 1st Birthday.

75 posts so far == once a week on average.

Thank you for your comments and feedback.

E.T.

Father's Day

This year for Father Day I got a special treat.
I flew with my kids to Israel to visit the family
(and to do some business as well).

There is nothing better for gaining back perspective than to spend 24 hours with 2 redheads... For example:

Strategic planning:
How to manage a 2 hours line(s) in LAX, while providing a hot lunch and 3 stops to the bathroom.

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Technical challenges:
Find a replacement for a Nintendo DS Lite stylus while your daughter's pokemons are under fire...

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Negotiations:
Manage expectation and execution of demands as 'I need to go...NOW!" while landing a 777.

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:-)

E.T.

Veodia won the Enterprise 2.0 launch pad!

We had a great time at the Enterprise 2.0 conference in Boston.

This year, most of the energy was focused on 'how to' enable companies with 2.0 methodologies and capabilities and not just 'what is E2.0?'.

Many great vendors and a lot of the big players were presenting applications and services.

We were happy to have the opportunity to present as part of the launch pad, together with GroupSwim, NewsGator, Project SocialSite (SUN) and Spaceo.us.

The demo went very well. We streamed live video from the session as well as demoed or plug-in for Jive Clearspace.

Many thanks to the Veodia team in San Mateo for their support !! and to Tom and Guillaume for a great team work!!


Thanks to the audience - we received 39% of the votes and won!


(Photo by Alex Dunne)

View the demo, the votes and an interview with Sam Lawrence, Jive's CMO.



Some nice links and quotes:

Veodia Wins At Enterprise 2.0 Launchpad

The people have voted, and Veodia won at the Enterprise 2.0 Launchpad an hour ago. Congratulations to them, and best wishes to them and the other four finalists.

The finalists:

Veodia -- 'live streaming video that puts your work in motion'
Project Socialsite -- 'delivering social networking functionality by adding social networking platform support based on the OpenSocial standard to any community site.'
Groupswim -- 'On-demand Social Collaboration and Community for Your Business'
Spaceo.us -- 'Bringing the REAL Enterprise 2.0 to your business' (they need a better tagline, I think).
Newsgator -- ' Deliver social computing business value with NewsGator Social Sites for Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) 2007'

The process worked pretty well, although I think next year we might start with a Twitpitch as the first round.

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Veodia Blog

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ondemandbeat
"...So, this was a contest, consisting of brief (three minute) elevator stories presenting their products by five of this week's vendors. The winner was to be voted on by the audience ("crowdware") using cell phone texting. The first four presenters did high-speed runthroughs of their highlight PowerPoint presentations. The last one, Veodia, a provider of high definition video as a service, featured live video of the event and the audience, very high definition. By far the coolest, and the audience agreed, voting them the winner with 39% of the overall vote, a 2:1 margin over the next highest score. An exhilarating way to end the morning..."

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Wins Launch Pad Competition at the Enterprise 2.0 Conference.

Large crowd nominates Veodia via live voting

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Enterprise 2.0 conference ‘Launch pad’ contest winners

"...Veodia were the victors in the Boston Enterprise 2.0 conference ‘Launch Pad’ contest for up and coming technologies, beating a strong field. Here’s Etay Gafni of Veodia, who recently left SAP to join this promising start up, demonstrating their winning technology with his opinion of why their enterprise video service won…"

It was a great show case for our capability to contribute and to provide video capabilities to vendors and customers.

Thx,

E.T.

Education.com - new design

Education.com, an education & child development site for parents, with parenting & educational resource, just got a new homepage design.



Good work Eliad!


E.T.

Veodia at Enterprise 2.0 + New Website + New Product

So, we finally made it to the Enterprise 2.0 Conference in Boston.

It was a long week+weekend but we have a lot to show, so all is good.

Some updates:

We updated www.veodia.com.





We also partnered with Jive Software and released the Veodia Plug-in for Jive Clearspace.


(demo, press release).

Tomorrow we will present in the launchpad.
We plan a live demo and some will share additional information about Veodia's services, products and directions.

Thx,

E.T.

10 Minutes eMail = 0 minutes for spam

http://www.10minutemail.com

This is a great service for all of us, who are 'forced' to have spam eMail accounts to be used in all kind of eMail verification processes for 'I just want to test it' kind of services, applications and sites.

(Very good for parents who need to sign in for every Webkinz/Penguin/Toon there kids would like to have - and to forget after 2 weeks... While the parent get alerts that the poor thing is dieing / alone / sad...)



It takes just one click to get a temp eMail and you can use it for 10 minutes (or more if you really need to...). The service is so simple, you actually receive the eMails within the same page, so we can access them and do what you need to do, without even deleting them...

Check the Video Tour (QT).


E.T.