A Lotus Traveler gotcha, if you're a moron like me.

Okay, I admit it.  I pulled another dumb-Dom-Admin move this weekend.  I didn't R.T.F.D.  (That's read the fraking documentation for those that don't know.)  I now submit the following confession in hopes for absolution.
Our story begins two weeks ago at Lotusphere 2010 when I heard the great news that the new 8.5.1.1 patch for Lotus Traveler would allow users to accept meetings on their iPhones/iPod Touch's.  Happy day, I thought.  I had also heard that all that was involved was installing the patch, and magically that functionality would work.  Not sure who or where I heard that from, but at the time it was all I needed to hear.  So over this past weekend, I found 10 minutes to bring the server down and install the patch.  I was all proud of myself when I got into work today and had someone send me a test meeting invitation.  That's when I noticed that the functionality wasn't working.  I was still getting the message "This document is a meeting notice and requires the use of a Lotus Notes or iNotes® client to view the content."  Yes, I had a Monday morning moment of fail.  It wasn't working.  It was at this time that I started using the power of the Interwebs and found the document I of course should have read before hand.  The IBM Lotus Notes Traveler V8.5.1.1 release notes.  Yes, the documentation.
Clearly stated near the bottom of the document is the required steps you need to perform to get the meeting invitation functionality to work:
Meeting attendee invitation actions for Apple devices.

When this feature is enabled, attendees to meetings will now receive meeting notices on their Apple device and the mobile user will be able to accept, tentatively accept, or decline the meeting invitation. Using the Settings application on the Apple device, the user can enable or disable meeting notice alerts by selecting the Mail, Contacts, Calendars settings and then changing New Invitation Alerts to On or Off.

To enable this feature: (Note the magic word, enable!)

    * Edit the file \traveler\cfg\NTSConfig.xml.
    * In the section of the file under , add this line:
          "<PROPERTY NAME="AS_ALLOW_INVITATIONS" VALUE="true"/>
    * Save and close the file.
    * Restart the Lotus Notes Traveler server.

So remember kids, even if you think it's a slam dunk move, take a few minutes and R.T.F.D.

This years trophy added to the collection #ls10

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Posted via email from Andy Donaldson's posterous

Lotusphere 2010 Report - Lotusphere in the rear view mirror

I had every intention of doing a daily blog summary of the sights, sounds and events of Lotusphere 2010.  But this year, I just never seemed to find the time to get them done.  And, with so many others more eloquently giving the information, I didn't want to get stuck in the echo chamber with my ramblings.
But, it's been officially a week since the end of Lotusphere 2010 and I'm still impressed with this year.  I can't remember a prior Lotusphere where it went by with such a blur.  Learned many things. Got to FINALLY see William Shatner.  Saw a lot of people that I  enjoy being around and met several that I hadn't met face to face prior.  Still, there was a lot of sessions I didn't get to that I wanted to.  Learned that there is not a major on the immediate future.  Rather, Lotus is going to fix up 8.5.x properly and then work on the next release, Vulcan.  That give us plenty of time to get our environments upgraded without the pressure.
So how can I wrap up what Lotusphere 2010 was all about?  I can't.  But this can.



Hope to see you all next year.
Collaborate, peoples. Get after it!

Why I now dislike the iPad

Like everyone else in the land of Geektopia yesterday, I was glued to my monitor as the live blog spewed forward information about the iPad event.  I was in awe and amazement of this wonder product that will liberate us from the doldrums of being stuck with outdated devices.  I mean this thing has it all for $499.  It makes my 3rd generation iPod look like a reel-to-reel tape player.  16GB of storage, Wifi, iTunes, Safari, ability to use iWorks productivity software, movies, e-reader.  The list goes on and on.
But after 24 hours, the buzz has worn off and the hangover has made me see more clearly now. 
Why would I want to buy a device like this?  Seriously.  I have an iPod Touch and LOVE the thing.  It has my music, movies, games, web browser and email courtesy to the awesomeness that is Lotus Traveler.  But for $499 for the low-end iPad, why wouldn't I want to take that money and buy a netbook?
I know last week in Orlando walking between sessions and hotels, that multi-pound brick in my backpack that consisted of my laptop with extended battery.  I would of loved to have something like a netbook that would have allowed me access to Lotus Notes and the Administration client along with VPN access to the corporate network.  Sure, it's Windows.  Sure, it's only 1 GB of RAM, but, it can do so much more then the iPad can.  And in some cases, about $100-150 less! (If not more if you shop around)  Plus, if I feel like I'm missing out on my iTunes...well, I can install the software and authorize the netbook.  Movies too. And, most netbooks have a webcam built in as well.  Something lacking from the iPad.  Oh...I forgot to mention that multitasking thing too.  But, since it's a Windows device, that's a given.
So, will I want to buy one of these devices?  Likely no.  I have the iPod Touch and that thing is 'da bomb.  If I had an extra couple hundred lying around, I would likely buy a netbook instead.  Or a Nikon.  Do I think that this device has opened up an entire new category of connected user, oh ya.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out, but it's safe to say that Apple is going to make a lot of money off of this thing.

Lotusphere 2010 Report - Tuesday learnin's

Really just a quick report from Yellowverse central tonight.  Food coma is a terrible thing.  Then add to that  enjoying a nice cigar while going for a walk with the iPod and you have the ingredients for an early evening.
Today was an exercise in learning.  Started off the day bright and early in Paul and Gab's SHOW 101 - Step by Step: Install, Manage and Configure DAOS and ID Vault.  A fantastic session that truly does go through each step needed to set up and configure both of these Domino services. After that session, I began to realize that either cloning myself or having a "Time Turner" like the one used in Harry Potter would be a really good idea for me to get everything out of Lotusphere that I need to.  I mean this year, it seems like all of the really good sessions are opposite each other.  I'm not complaining about it. It's just a sign that there are so many good things are happening with the product line right now that it's hard to choose what to focus on at Lotusphere. 
So for now, it's off to bed.  Tomorrow holds another day of trying to find the time to fit it all in.

Lotusphere 2010 Report - Monday, January 18 - The Shat storms the Sphere

Several years back on The Turtle's website, I made a prediction and repeated it every year since.   That prediction has finally come true.  William Shatner was the special guest speaker this morning at Lotusphere 2010.  So with that, I guess I might as well pack up and head back to Ohio, right. 
Not likely. 
That was just a great way to kick off, what I think, is probably the clearest presentation of the future of the Lotus product family that I think I had really ever witnessed at a Lotusphere OGS.  Rather then try to brain dump and add to the echo chamber already blogged by others on PlanetLotus.org, I'm going to stick to some observations of the OGS. 
One that sticks out most is that there wasn't really any mention of, "here's what's coming in the next release of Notes/Domino" like we've seen in years past.  This year, a new tactic was played.  Instead of just focusing on the Notes/Domino future, those announcements were all rolled into the Project Vulcan one.  Project Vulcan, while still very conceptual, looks to truly revolutionize the playing field when it comes to that old Notes/Outlook debate.  That debate just isn't going to be there any more.  I look forward to hearing more about this one in the future.  Another aspect of the Project Vulcan announcement is that, (from what it sounds like),  Lotus is going to put a lot of hardcore effort into getting 8.5.2 out the door and make that work right and then start working on Vulcan.  That is great for us Admin's that are tired of constantly trying to catch up...like me.
But the BIGGEST news I heard about today that has excited me the most is the new fixpack for Lotus Traveler.  FP1 for Traveler 8.5.1 now allows for iPhone/iPod Touch  users to accept meeting invitations.  Something that was missing from the initial release.  Also announced today was support for the Android is coming later this year. For those that might be concerned about Android security, it was stated that the Android will have it's own client and not store the data natively to the Androids own PIM.  So that is something to look forward to and will hopefully be secure.
Today's themes and announcements still lead me to believe that the days of  "I AM" are gone forever.  Lotus software is not about the one, but the collective.  The collaboration tools that are there can make organizations strong.  But now it's up to us to go home and spread the message to those that need to hear it. 
But, there is one draw back to today.  Now that Shatner was the guest, who am I going to start guessing now?  Probably Dale Ernhardt, Jr.  For now, I'll stick with that.
Goodnight, Orlando.  Tomorrow comes too soon.

Lotusphere 2010 Report - Sunday, January 17 Part 1

As the post-lunch sluggishness has begun to set it, I wanted to start jotting down a few highlights that I've observed so far with Lotusphere 2010.  Hey, it's what I do.
First, let's start with the overall theme of Lotusphere.  In case you didn't know, well, Lotus Knows.  Lotus Knows is the theme for the conference this year.  What once was a software of I AM, it is now really WE ARE focus.  Just look at the logo for Lotusphere 2010.  It's made up of an interconnecting community. 
Spent the morning in a developers session, JMP102.  Yes, I know.  I likely will be beaten by my fellow admins by the pool this evening while at the party, but I found it very helpful to understand coding a bit better.  Great job, Kathy and Tom.  After that session, Andy Pedisich and Rob Axelrod's SHOW105 presentation on SSO and multiple sites.  Any time I've seen Andy or Rob speak at a conference either together or as an individual, I've always found there sessions to have a lot of real life information in it because there are out there doing this every day.
Okay, well, that's it for now.  Wes Morgan is starting to talk Sametime, and that's something I really need to pay attention to.  More later.

Lotusphere 2010 Report - Look Ma, I'm on a podcast!

Can you feel the excitment, Lotuspherians?  Already as I write this on an early Friday morning, the mass pilgrimage to Orlando has begun for many with Saturday bringing the remainder of the lost Lotus children back to their collaborative home at Disney. 
Last night, I had the pleasure of joining The Taking Notes podcast team of Bruce Elgort, Julian Robichaux and community luminary Tom Duff to discuss all things Lotusphere.  It was a great time and a lot of fun to record with them.  Check it out here.
So now begins my countdown to departure tomorrow morning.  I'm looking forward to seeing many of you down there and equally saddened that many will not be joining us.  I'll be posting my take on things with my annual "Lotusphere Reports", (aka, daily brain dumps), as time permits and updating things via Twitter as well, so stay tuned.  It's going to be a busy week!
Safe, smooth journeys to all.

My Lotusphere 2010 Schedule, Revision 1

Like the old saying goes, "No battle plan survives contact with the enemy".  We'll see how well this holds up.

Posted via email from Andy Donaldson's posterous

So far, so good as of 01/06/2010

Posted via email from hossmacian's posterous

Has it really been 10 years?

Time surely does keep slippin into the future, but it just seems that it's slippin by way too fast. Over the past weekend I really got to thinking about how 10 years ago, December 31, 1999 to be exact, I was 30 years old and spent the day laying on the couch with my broke foot and watched with Peter Jennings, the dawn of the new millennium as it made its way around the globe.  First in the South Pacific Islands, then the major Asian cities, then Moscow, into Europe and finally, North America.  All the time wondering if the lights were going to go out at any time and the world come to a crashing halt.  It didn't, and we all had a good laugh out of the hype and stupidity.  Now that I'm 40, I've been trying to piece together the last 10 years and all I come back with is that it was a blur and how much things have really changed.  Normally, I would do one of those year in review posts.  But this past decade has just flown by and some much has happened both in the world and personally to me.  For example..

• In 2000, a dial-up ISP business seemed like a really good and profitable idea.
• In 2000, pagers were king and cell phones were still a luxury.
• In 2000, high speed internet in the home was still out of reach for many.
• On September 10, 2001, we were drunk with our accomplishments and thought just how safe we were in America.  On September 11, 2001, the hangover occurred. 
• On September 12, 2001, America was a united country.
• Shortly after that, we splintered again over politics.
• In 2000, Molly was 6 months old. Now she's 10 and, well....the teenage years are going to take what dark hair I have left.
• In 2000, Alex was still just a little boy.  Now he's17 and becoming a man.
• It's going to be 2010 and still no closer to finding a cause/fix for autism.
• In 2000, I was the "Lotus Notes guy" on the Help Desk at work. Now, it's my baby.
• On January 25th 2003, I went to my first Lotusphere.  I returned home on January 31st.  The next day, February 1, we witnessed the Columbia disaster.
• In August of 2003, I started blogging.  Boy, did I suck at it back then.  Come to think of it, I don't know if much has changed.
• Though blogging, I found that I was a part of a much larger, close and sometimes dysfunctional family of bloggers that all share a common love for and sometimes hatred for a software product. 
  
• Remember back when SPAM mail didn't seem like that big of a deal.....
• I remember when I got my first Treo 300 and thought how incredibly cool that was and how lame the BlackBerry seemed.  
• Remember 10 years ago when .MP3's were something cool and we all wished we could play them somewhere other then our computers?
• Remember when the iPod just played music?
• In the past several years, I've rediscovered my love for photography.
• And through it all, the love of my life, Denise, has always been by my side. 

So my hope for you is that 2010 is a peaceful and prosperous year.  And, I hope the next 10 year slow down a little bit..

Andy's Guide to Lotusphere - 2010 Edition!

Wow! Can you believe that it's already that time of year again?

It seems like just yesterday when all us Yellow soldiers were huddled in the main hall trying to figure out just what all those words were for on the sheet of paper at the Closing General Session.  Well kids, it's Lotusphere time again which also means it's time for me to put in my two cents of what someone can expect from our pagan-like midwinter fest.  Especially someone that is a first timer and does not know what to expect.

(And now, the yearly disclaimer:)

What you will not find here is who the special guest speaker at the OGS . (As always, my money is on "The Shat", but that's just a guess. I've been guessing that for several years now and have never been right.)

What you will find is what I've learned from making the pilgrimage south each January and from what others have contributed to the comments section from my previous posts. My perspective on Lotusphere is that of a customer.  I'm not an IBM employee, vendor or business partner. If you've stopped by in the past to read my thoughts on the event, you may notice some copying and pasting, but there is some new stuff. So here goes!

This year, I’m going to try and break this into different sections.  The Prep for Lotusphere and what to do while you’re there.

The Prep:

1.  There are several web resources I recommend you check out ahead of time:

• The official Lotusphere website. 'Nuff said.
• Get to know, The Turtle.  For many years, Scott "The Turtle" Wenzel has put together numerous resources regarding Lotusphere on his website The Weightless Dog.  This year in addition to his site, Scott penned an article for the LotusUserGroup.Org’s website on how to economize your week in Florida.  You can check it out here.
• The Power of the Lotusphere Community - The Lotusphere blog! Back again this year is another great center for information from the four corners of the web regarding Lotusphere.
• Planetlotus.org - The list of lists for the Lotus blogsphere. If you have not yet dipped your toes into the vast ocean of knowledge that is there for the taking on this site, then you don't know what you're missing. As Lotusphere grows closer, I'm sure that the site will come alive with Lotusphere related rhetoric and information.
• If you’re on Twitter, follow the hashtag #LS10.  That’s the official hashtag for Lotusphere 2010.  Also, follow @lotusphere on Twitter for updates about the event. IBM is also running @LotusKnows for official news and announcements.  One other group to follow as well is the speakers for Lotusphere that have Twitter accounts.  You can find them at http://twitter.com/Lotusphere/ls10-speakers.

2.  Go and get yourself a new pair of tennis/walking shoes NOW. Wear them and break them in. This will save your feet some pain after the first day of walking around the conference. And you will do a LOT of walking around while you are there. You may also want to get a new pack of white socks at Wal-Mart or Target. The real cushy kind. Those help a lot too.

3.  Before you leave on your adventure, stop by that section in cosmetics at the Wal-Mart or Target that has all the neat little travel sized stuff and pick up anything you can think of that you may need! Aspirin, Advil, Tylenol, Nyquil, baby powder, Qtips, etc, etc. But most importantly PEPTO-BISMOL. I got REALLY ill once and had to dish out a lot of money at the little store in the Dolphin for supplies. Bringing a small drug store with you can really save you some bucks. It's usually 3-4 times more on site.  After all, you are staying at Walt Disney World.

4.  Download the Lotusphere 2010 Agenda database here.  This is a FANTASTIC tool by Ben Langhinrichs that is been based  on the Notes Journal database that contains the sessions, their descriptions, location and times. It has a handy add to calendar button that puts the session right in your Notes calendar. And if you have a BlackBerry, Traveler device or something else hooked up to your Notes calendar, it's on there too!  Very useful when planning your time.

5.  If you need to, order more business cards now. You will go through a lot of them. Downside - Your phone will ring for a couple of weeks afterward. Upside - You use them to win cool stuff like iPods!

6.  Pay attention to the weather forecasts leading up to Lotusphere. Orlando can be really nice and warm in January but it can also get downright cold at night. Pack appropriately.

7.  Dress for Lotusphere is casual. Jeans, shorts, polos and t shirts seem to be the norm. Even kilts for some!

8.  Bring a plug strip with you. Most hotel rooms are limited on power outlets and having several outlets extra can always come in handy.

9.  And don't forget all of your accessories power cords for charging your stuff! You don't want to show up Saturday and realize that you are short a power cord for your BlackBerry. Not that I've ever done something like that, ever.

You're There!:

So now that you packed all your power cords and plug strips, you arrive in Orlando to hopefully warm, sunny skies and are ready to begin drinking from the fire hose of knowledge that is Lotusphere.
1.  Since Orlando is a tourist mecca, there are several ways to get to and from the airport.  The most expensive option is of course a private car or taxi.  But those can be a little costly.  For $33 (plus tips) round trip, you can take advantage of the Mears Shuttle.  This will get you to the hotel and back relatively easy.  But, you do need the coupon.  Click here to download it. If you are staying at a Disney property (non-Swan or Dolphin hotel), you can also look into using the Magical Express for free.  See your hotel information for details.
2. If you are staying at the Swan or Dolphin, great.  You're right where the action is.  The Yacht and Beach is the next closest offical hotel right within walking distance of the event.  If you are staying at one of the other Disney properties, get to know early where the conference shuttle pick up and drop off is at.  It's usually right out front of the hotel and you can always ask an ever helpful Disney cast member where they are.  My first year down there, I missed Saturday night registration by 10 minutes because I used the Disney transportation to get me to Downtown Disney first, then back to the Dolphin.
3.  To go along with point #2, don't be afraid of getting stranded at the Swan or Dolphin after the conference shuttles run.  You can use the Disney buses to get around.  From the hotels, the go down to Downtown Disney and from there you can catch a bus back to your hotel.
4.  Once you checked into the conference DO NOT LOSE YOUR BADGE!  There are no mulligans.  You are Gollum and that is your precious.
5.  Meet people and make contacts. Very useful and fun. Sitting in your hotel room at night is no fun. Get out and mingle, network and collaborate! If you arrive on Saturday and have nothing to do, wander on down to the Boardwalk area and stop in to the Big River Grille & Brewing Works. On Saturday afternoon, the Bloggers -and friends- Annual Lotusphere Dinner, BALD, takes place. It's nothing more then a bunch of Lotus geeks hanging out for a few adult soda pops and enjoying each others company. Then later in the evening on Saturday, wander on down to the ESPN bar for The Turtles get together. Always a fun time!
6.  While we're on the topic of getting out and having fun, go to the vendor sponsored events usually on Tuesday night. They are always a lot of fun! (And saves you from having to find something for dinner that fits your expense account.)
7.  Your first time at Lotusphere is like your first day at college. You will be wandering around wondering where in the hell SW10 is. Ask people! Or if you look lost enough, (like I did my first year), someone will help you out.
8.  If you are certified take advantage of the Certification Lounge. Hang out, get some eats, and get a chair message.
9.  Stop by the Jamfest. The name says it all. After the product showcase reception Monday night, it's over at the Atlantic Dance Hall on the Boardwalk.
10.  Don't miss breakfast and lunch. I've really enjoyed the food that the catering folks put out for us. Especially at breakfast, drink lots of OJ, eat a bran muffin or two and have a bowl of cereal. Really pays off for the rest of the day. Also, be sure to thank the nice folks that are there taking care of us. They are always real nice people and seem to appreciate someone thanking them.
11.  During the morning and afternoon, there are break stations set up throughout the conference.  Usually coffee, water/juice and a snack. Grab couple extra waters and snacks and throw them in your bag for either a late night snack or just to have the water around.  Keep yourself hydrated while you are on the go down there.  A full day of sessions and running between hotels can be draining. 
12.  Stop into the developer labs and have all your burning questions answered! All of the top folks from IBM are there to help you through all of those tough questions you've been meaning to ask! Also, if they have the User Experience lab again this year, it's really cool! Check them out!  Stop by and say hi to Mary Beth and crew.  They are there to listen to us, the customer!
13.  Take Visio's with you of your environment. What better way to explain the layout of your environment than to have the graphical representations of it with you.
14.  When Lotusphere is over and you're getting ready to jump a plane home, be sure to check your receipt from the hotel. The Swan and Dolphin are notorious for charging you for things you didn't use, like the mini-bar in the hotel room. They almost got me one year. I'm sorry, $3 for a Snickers bar is just insane!
15.  Now here is the MOST important thing you can take away from this blog entry:
Lotusphere is what YOU make of it! Take advantage of everything that you can, but pace yourself. You will be drinking from the fire hose of knowledge and sometimes by Wednesday, you may start burning out. Take it easy, take care of yourself, but just have fun!

So there you have it! These are the most important points that I have to offer about making the most of your Lotusphere experience. If you have anything to add, PLEASE feel free to leave comments to add to the list.  I will be updating this list as needed as the event gets closer.

See you in Orlando!

Adding to the echo chamber: Lotus Traveler ROCKS!

Recently, there has been several in the Lotus blogging community giving input about their positive experiences with setting up and using the product Lotus Notes Traveler.  After really using it myself this past week, I'm adding my geek love for this product too.
One of the challenges that I've always had in my company is the ability to have multiple, different devices used by the employees to take their PIM data with them.  It's simple, not everyone wants the same device.  Over the years, I've had to rely on Pylon, (both the cradled desktop solution and the server based version), or an Intellisync server for wireless handhelds like Treo's or the Palm TX.  And of course, a plain old BlackBerry server has been running too.  But with each of solution, there has also carried along a certain level of "feed and watering" that can get crazy at times.  For example, Intellisync and BlackBerry both rely on some form of SQL database to keep track of what the user's device is up to.  Now most of the time, things work okay and you don't have to worry about it.  But if disaster struck, would you be able to jump right in and figure out what's wrong with all of the extraneous "stuff" that's attached to the product?  Well in my case having been the only person administrating and trouble shooting not only the Domino environment but also handhelds in my enterprise, I wanted simple.   Now, I can honestly say that Traveler is that "simple" solution.  You set up a Domino server or use an existing one, install Traveler, take a few minutes to configure it, set up your firewall to get into it from the outside and your done.  It is really is pretty much that simple!  Don't belive me?  Well, take some time to look around at what others have done and said about the product on Planet Lotus. 
Clearly to me, this is one product that I feel with help push the ROI argument for the Lotus product line.  Most any of the other vendors in the mobile arena charge not only for the server product, but also for each user that you attach to the product.  With Lotus, it comes with your Passport Advantage agreement!  As long as you have the right licensing for your environment. But if you see it available for download, GET IT!  So far I've set up my iPod Touch, 3 Windows Mobile devices, and an Andriod using the emulator and the steps that both Mitch Cohen and Luis Alejandro blogged about.  And with all of those devices, the product works like a champ.  Now this product does not have anything set up to allow back end access to other applications, but in my experience people only really care about their calendar, mail and contacts on their handheld.  And they also want it to be the same both on the device and in the Lotus Notes client.   So if you are looking to make a change off of one of the other solutions, this is the product to look at.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for it.

Lotusphere Idol - Just do it!

Having been off the grid for the past couple days while I was busy rebuilding our environment at the disaster recovery testing, I noticed that those who had submitted abstracts for Lotusphere 2010 had heard back.  While some were happy that their sessions were accepted, it seemed that others were upset that theirs weren't.  Okay, it happens.  But my advice to those that didn't get in and really to ANYONE that has even considered submitting an abstract to speak at Lotusphere is to consider submitting one for Lotusphere Idol.  I did and wow, it was an incredible experience.  Okay, I didn't win and that's not the point of this post.  My point is that if you feel you have material that is Lotusphere quality, put in a submission for Idol when it's time!  Give it a shot.  But what if you're not sure if you're ready for the big leagues?  Know of a Lotus user group in your area?  Present there!  Get the experience and the feedback.  And when all else fails, BLOG IT!  If you blog it, they will come.  My point is give it a shot.
Now if you're asking if I put a submission in for this years Lotusphere or will for Lotusphere Idol, the answer is no.  I learned an important lesson last year.....I'm a terrible public speaker in my opinion.  Well, at least I need more training at it.  I'm okay doing it at our local user group, I've done that twice, but at Lotusphere...the big league.  This is the place where people spend thousands to get to and sell their souls and existence to their managers to attend.  Ya...no pressure.  I mean look at the picture of me.  Go ahead, I'll wait.
You can see the "choke" written all over my face.  I barely looked up once.  It was like that scene in Talladega Nights when Ricky Bobby was being interviewed for the first time.  You know what I'm talking about if you've seen the movie.  But this also isn't about "if you're not first, you're last", it's about don't give up on it and keep trying.  Maybe next year I'll submit, but this time I'm going to sit back and soak up the knowledge.  After all, that's why they're sending me there ;-)

BlackBerry 9550 Storm 2 - I love it

Around this time last year, the first generation BlackBerry Storm was released to the public with much hype. But the problem was, the device, in my opinion, was terrible. I had a device for a while and ended up sending it back. I even blogged about it here.
Well, a year changed a lot of things. BlackBerry has finally got the device right. The BlackBerry 9550 is a fantastic device for a BlackBerry lover. Let's face it, the iPhone is cool and all, and there is now support available for that and the iPod Touch in Lotus using Traveler, but this device I feel will give those a run for it's money. First of all, the device is available on Verizon wireless and the radio in this device is acting a LOT better then in previous world phones. I've had fantastic coverage everywhere I've used the phone so far. The battery drain is also a lot better. I've gone a lot longer on this device then with the previous one without having to plug it in.
The on screen typing has taken a little getting use to, but I'm now almost as quick typing on it as I was on the Tour. Another thing I love on this device is the QWERTY keyboard available while the phone is in the state it is in the picture to the left. Before, the "TruType" keyboard like what was available on the Pearl was only available in portrait mode.
Another HUGE plus to this device is the response time 0n when switching between portrait and landscape mode. I've experienced almost zero lag. Oh, I'm also happy to report that Verizon has finally allowed a device with WiFi on their network! Yes, WiFi is an available option on the 9550 and it has sped up the surfing and downloading on the device in areas that I have it configured for.
If you're on the fence about getting one of these devices, I really recommend that you go to the Verizon store and check it out. The pluses really out weigh the minuses in my opinion.
Finally, this is the cheerleader you've been dreaming of! (You have to read last years post (via the link above), to get the joke.)