Earlier today my Lynda.com video series “Up and Running with IBM Connections” reached 500 viewers in 57 countries. I continue to be humbled by the feedback subscribers and IBM Connections users are leaving.
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I’m extremely happy to report that my “Up and Running with IBM Connections” video course has now been viewed by 250 Lynda.com subscribers in 43 countries. All of this in one weeks time. Today I received my first “user feedback” and it was extremely positive and encouraging.
You can view the first 5 videos in the series for free. There are 38 videos in total.
If you are not yet a Lynda.com subscriber you can sign up for a free 7 day trial.
I’m in the process of developing several more courses for Lynda however, I’m not yet able to disclose what they will be. Many thanks to my friend Jess Stratton, Lynda.com staff author and my producer Jonathan Sears for all of their help, patience and guidance.
You can now access the 38 video course “Up and Running with IBM Connections” on Lynda.com.
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Today I am flying down to Carpinteria, California to record the “Up and Running with IBM Connections” video learning series for Lynda.com. The current course outline has some 35+ videos covering, Profiles/People, Communities, Files, Activities, Blogs, Ideation Blogs, Forums, Status Updates and much more. I will be returning on Saturday, August 9th. Let the fun begin!
If you are interesting in a free 7 day Lynda.com trial, you can start right here.
I’m happy to announce that I have been hired by Lynda.com to author a video series entitled “Up and Running with IBM Connections”. I have been collaborating with IBM’s Luis Benitez on this effort and he has been great to work with. My producer at Lynda, Jonathan Sears is awesome as well. I have to say that the experience has been amazing. A huge hat tip also to my friend Jess Stratton for hooking me up with Lynda.com and for being an amazing coach and resource. Stay tuned.
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Following up on the IBM Mail.Next poll I conducted a few weeks ago, I now want to ask you again to take the same poll, now that you have seen much more about Mail.Next on today’s webinar.
In just a few weeks IBM will be providing an update on Mail.Next which was announced at IBM Connect 2014. Based on what you know so far about Mail.Next, how interested are you in this new Mail app?
The results of the poll will be shared soon.
| Date: | Apr 23, 2014 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (Eastern Time) |
| Hosted by: | SocialBiz UG.org |
| Presented by: | SocialBiz UG.org, Kramer Reeves (Director – Messaging & Collaboration Solutions, IBM Software Group), Scott Souder (Program Director and Sr. Product Manager responsible for IBM Mail Next) |
One of the hottest topics at IBM Connect 2014 was the introduction of IBM Mail Next, announced during the opening general session. IBM Mail Next will help you Focus on, Find and Take Control of your mail-based actions and priorities. Register today to join Kramer Reeves, Director – Messaging & Collaboration Solutions, IBM Software Group, Scott Souder, Program Director and Sr. Product Manager responsible for IBM Mail Next, along with members of the Mail Next team to learn about the design advancements since January and see the plan for releasing IBM Mail Next to market.
Attend this webcast to learn:
Join this webcast to learn how you and your organization will be able to reap the benefits of IBM Mail Next!
Yesterday I wrote a blog entry entitled “This is exactly what IBM Connections needs“. The entry now has over 20 comments and there is a comment by my friend and collegue Adam Brown that stands out. Adam and his company ISW produce several software products for IBM Connections including Kudos Badges and Kudos Boards.
Here is what Adam wrote:
I have been watching this conversation with interest. Now that Daniele has been so complimentary around Kudos (Thanks for the feedback Daniele) I can’t help but get involved.
From my perspective IBM Connections/SmartCloud Connections are already platforms for Apps. I am actually very excited about what IBM is delivering in this space.
Can users build Apps/Utilities like Bruce describes? No not yet. But there is nothing stopping ISV’s from building great solutions that extend Connections. I agree there is a place for user built apps in Connections (and we are already thinking about that with team Kudos!). I have more ideas for solutions built on and around Connections than we can possibly execute on!!!
Has IBM provided everything that App developers need yet? No not yet. But they have done a lot and it is improving all the time. I see Connections 4.x like Notes version 3-4. The ecosystem around Notes 4 was just getting started. Some great ISV’s started to built neat apps. Soon after it really started to get some momentum. Connections is the same. There are some great solutions, a few ISV’s building specifically for Connections, but quite a few intergrating their solutions into Connections. This market is developing most certainly, and has a way to go, but it is progressing well.
Anyway I am of the camp that Connections is becoming a platform for 3rd party Apps. I know IBM is encouraging this and if you reach out to them are very supportive.
Personally, I love the work that ISW has done with their Kudos products. Now the question becomes: “How can an ecosystem of more than a handful of ISV’s develop, that produces apps for IBM Connections?”. This is something I would love to see.
[This is a bit rough, but I wanted to get it out there]
Or does it….
Let’s face it, we all love the app dev capabilities of IBM’s (Lotus) Notes. We are able to design, build and deploy apps of all kinds for enterprise users in organizations. In fact, the users we develop these apps for absolutely love them as they help make the job that they do easier. Tie this together with email, instant messaging and IBM Connections services and you create collaborative “system” that people use to get their work done.
There was a point in time in the history of IBM Notes when line-of-business users (LOB) were able to create “utility” apps. Utility apps apps helped LOB people to better serve their customers. It was a wonderful environment where staff could be empowered to create, with very little programming knowledge these apps.
Now enter the world of IBM Connections. IBM Connections like IBM Notes is a place where people go to get work done to serve their customers. One currently noticeable difference is the way in which IBM Connections lacks the ability to create utility apps. There is no way to currently do this. There are some great developer toolkits available, however these are focussed at pure-play developers.
Now take a look at this video and see how Microsoft Sharepoint users can create utility apps.
I really want to see IBM Connections develop into the portal-of-portals for people to go to and do their work. Currently, it’s another application “destination” rather than the “primary” Lotus Notes like place to go and do their work.
Would you like to see IBM Connections have some capabilities to have users create “utility” apps? If not for utility apps, full fledged apps – an app dev platform.
Bruce Elgort 