Android - I'm just not feelin it (Yes I'm venting about Android, again)

Maybe it's because I'm getting older and don't feel like screwing around with stuff like I used to.  But when it comes to Android tablet devices, I'm just not getting it.  I've been using them for a couple of months now and they just don't stand up to an iPad.  At least for me. 
At Thanksgiving, I stayed up all night to snag an online deal for a Dell Streak 7.  When it arrived, I was like a kid at Christmas.  Immediately set forth on setting it up with all the cool stuff I could.  Skype, worked great!  I used it to talk with my family up in Michigan.  Google mail and calendar integration worked like a charm.  But when it came to other apps that I enjoy on my iOS devices, they just weren't there.  My biggest complaint is in the audio/video category.  I subscribe to SiriusXM and really do enjoy the service, (for now).  Howard Stern, the classic alternative channel and the big 80's are usually playing when I'm at home working or on the Back Porch of Cigary Solitude.  But when I went to download the app for it in the Google Market, it wouldn't work with my device.  The old Droid X I keep around for support reasons it works on, but not the Streak.  And unlike on the Apple App Store, there are no other apps to use to get access to the stream.  Nitpicky?  Maybe.  But I want what I want.  So, I continued to use the device up until a couple of weeks ago.  That's when I got lucky and won an HTC Jetsream tablet.  I really have to say, hardware-wise, this is a great device.  Very fast and the battery lasts for a good while compared to the Streak.  Oh, and its stylus is also a fantastic tool!  BUT, Android-wise, I'm starting to not like it.  Skype just has a hell of a time running on the tablet.  My iPod Touch works better with Skype then the HTC.  Apps like the SiriusXM streaming app and HBO Go won't run on it either.  Again, does on some Android devices and not others.  Why is it that they even have the apps available if they don't run on all devices?  When I go to the Apple App Store and I see an app I want, I know it's going to work on the iPhone, iTouch and iPad.  Am I being a little too critical?  I don't know.  I mean, I'm extremely thankful that I won the device.  But I really think the Android OS is just shooting itself in the foot here.  Would I trade the HTC for an iPad2?  I probably would.  Because I know what user experience I am going to have from an iOS device.  But when it comes to Android, it's a shot in the dark.
I know, I know.  Shuddup, Andy.  You won a nice toy. 
But if someone from the business side came to me and asked me if they should get an iOS or Android device,  I think I have to be honest and tell them to get an iOS if they want to have better app availability.  Granted, Lotus Traveler works great on either platform.  But I think most people that get tablets are looking for a greater user experience then just PIM data.  They want to be able to use what they want to use, wherever they go.  The fix, in my opinion, is for Google to come up with stricter device standards so that all of the cool shinny apps will work regardless of the device.  Maybe Ice Cream Sandwich will be a game changer?
Ok.  I'm done venting now and lunch is over.  Back to working on planning my Traveler upgrade.
(And please, don't let this post be a reflection on the fine people at HTC. They have a solid device and if you're an Android lover, this should be your tablet!)

LS12 SHOW103 - How to use InstallShield Tuner for IBM Lotus Notes

I've uploaded my slide deck from my presentation and now it's available for all in handy PDF format.  Click here to access the files.  Enjoy!

Lotusphere 2012. It Wasn't The End Of The World After All.

It's done and in the books.

I've started this blog post about 300 times in my head I think.  The run downs has been posted about what an incredibly awesome OGS it was last Monday morning and what an incredibly odd CGS on Thursday.  No need to repeat it here, so I won't.  Lotusphere, in name, still remains.  They even announced at the end of the OGS the dates for Lotusphere 2013.  I speculated on here that this would be the last one and next year the event would be under a different name.  I was wrong.  It will still be Lotusphere.  Which is a good thing because I think after what was shown last Monday, the community is on fire.  More so then in years previous I think. We'll have to see how things look a month or two from now.  I know I have a lot of work to do to make sure that we look towards where the product is going.  No promises on the social aspects.  I would love to see it.  I just need to come up with a strategy to sell it.  Put myself out there a little more, but in the right way, to show it's worth.  We'll see.

But for me personally, this was the year I felt like I put myself out there and won.  My session killed.  I can't thank Tom Duff enough for all his mentoring and support.  Also, Marie Scott for her advice and guidance.  Of course, I would be wrong not to mention Gab Davis for her giving me the nudge to do it in the first place.  I said it in the Gurupalooza session and I'll say it again here.  If you have an idea of a session you want to do at Lotusphere, do it.  Submit an abstract.  If you are not sure about it, network with others in the community.  Ask for help.  THEY WILL HELP YOU.  Still not sure, do a session at a local or regional user group to try your idea out.  It can be done.  Don't be afraid of it.  The one song I listened to all week leading up to my session was Eminem's Loose Yourself.  The first lines of the song say it all.

 

"Look, if you had one shot, one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted, In one moment
Would you capture it, or just let it slip?"

I seized it, I captured it.  I lost myself in the moment, I owned it and it's a feeling I never want to let go.  I got over my fear of public speaking.  So will I put in for another session next year?  Don't know.  We'll have to wait and see.  But don't let a moment like that slip from you, ever.  Taking that leap out of your comfort zone can sometimes land you on your feet feeling fine.  It did for me.

The one overlooked Lotusphere item. The Playlist.

Remember the mix tape?  Back in the day, it was the soundtrack of your life.  As soon as you got your drivers license it was one of the first things you did.  Well, that's not true.  I remember doing the "tape a song on your boom box off the radio" deal to get all the songs you like when I was younger.  But still, you wanted your music to go with you.
Now fast forward 30 years and most all of us of some form of iToy or DROIDDDDDDDDD.....  And those devices make it pretty simple to take tunes with you and not have to deal with all those cassettes.  Now, it's just power cords and sync cables taking all the space in your bag.
So here is my LS12 playlist.  What's yours?

Artist	Name
ABC	Be Near Me
Adele	Chasing Pavements
Al Green	let's stay together
Al Stewart	Year of the Cat
Bobby Darin	Beyond The Sea
Cee Lo Green	Bright Lights Bigger City
Christina Aguilera	Ain't No Other Man
The Cult	She Sells Sanctuary
The Cure	The End of the World (RS Mix) [Single Edit]
Dionne Farris	I Know What Your Doing
Dishwalla	Counting Blue Cars
Dramarama	Anything, Anything
Duncan Sheik	Barely Breathing
Echo & The Bunnymen	The Killing Moon
Electronic	Getting Away With It (Extended Version)
Eminem	Lose Yourself No skips
Fear Factory	Cars
Filter	Take A Picture
Flock or Seagulls	Space Age Love Song
Frankie goes to hollywood	Relax
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons	Who Loves You
Gin Blossoms	Follow You Down
Go West	What You Won't Do for Love
Icehouse	Crazy
INXS	New Sensation (Dance Mix)
INXS	Disappear
James	Born of Frustration
Jennifer Lopez	On the Floor (feat. Pitbull)
Jimmy Buffett	Come Monday
The Judybats	Being Simple
Kate Bush	RUNNING UP THE HILL
KD Lang	Constant Craving
Kid Rock	All Summer Long
Lady Gaga	The Edge Of Glory
Level 42	Level 42 - Something About You
Level 42	LEVEL 42 - LESSONS IN LOVE
LMFAO	Sexy and I Know It
Maroon 5	Never Gonna Leave This Bed
Maroon 5	Out of Goodbyes (with Lady Antebellum)
Missing Persons	Words (remix)
Nelly Furtado	Say It Right
New Order	Regret
New Order	NEW ORDER - TRUE FAITH
Nicki Minaj	Super Bass
Nicolette Larson	Lotta Love
Nik Kershaw	Wouldn't It Be Good (Extended
The Original 7ven	#Trendin
Paul Young	Come Back and Stay
Pearl Jam	Even Flow
Perry Farrell's Satellite Party	Wish Upon a Dog Star
Pet Shop Boys	Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)
Peter Gabriel	Solsbury Hill (Bonus Track)
Peter Murphy	Cuts You Up
The Prodigy	Firestarter
Psychedelic Furs	Pretty in Pink (12-inch Version)
Queen	Under Pressure
Queensryche	Silent Lucidity
R.E.M.	The Great Beyond
R.E.M.	Bittersweet Me
Robert Palmer	Early In The Morning
Robert Plant	Heaven Knows
Roxy Music	More Than This
Roxy Music	Dance Away
Run Dmc	It's Tricky
Sarah McLachlan	Possession
Sarah McLachlan	Sweet Surrender
Seal	Crazy
Sheila E	THE GLAMOROUS LIFE
Simple Minds	See the Lights
Simple Minds	Sancify Yourself
Sinead O'Connor	Mandinka
Smashing Pumpkins	1979
Stevie Nicks	If Anyone Falls
Sting	Fortress Around Your Heart
Stone Temple Pilots	Plush (acoustic)
Stone Temple Pilots	Trippin' On a Hole in a Paper Heart
Talk Talk	It's My Life
Tears For Fears	Pale Shelter
Third Eye Blind	Jumper
Toad The Wet Sprocket	All I Want
Train	Drops of Jupiter

I present my poem, honoring Lotusphere 2012

Twas 10 days before Lotusphere and what have you done

To prepare yourself for the onslaught yet to come?

The early morning BOF's, with a quick breakfast to follow

A day full of sessions

Too much knowledge to swallow?

The showcase floor, full of bright shinny things

The receptions and parties

And plenty of networking

Away from your homes and family you'll be

The late nights with friends

Singing a little Karaoke.

So relax for now, and get plenty of sleep

Before you know it

You'll be rubbing your sore feet.

13 Years a Dad

Dear Alex,
It was on this day in 1998 that I "officially" became a Dad for the first time.  In a courtroom in Tuscarawas County, OH in front of a judge, I made my intentions known.  And after several minutes of Q&A it was done. I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was over before we knew it.  But I realized as I was dating your Mom that we were meant to be together as a family forever.  Your Mom, I know, agrees with that as well.  In fact, you were the one to call me Dad first without any prompting.  And that was before Mom and I got married.  Sometimes, I forget about this day all together because it just seems like I've known you all your life.  Now, you're a man.  You've just kicked your first semester of colleges ass and you're ready for more.  Know that I will never stop loving you or supporting you.  I will ALWAYS have your back.  Sure, there are times I get ticked at ya, but Dad's are suppose to do that.
I love you, kid.  Thanks for letting me be your Dad.

How to use InstallShield Tuner for Lotus Notes - SHOW103

That's right gang.  I'm one of them too

Stop on down the Swan - Osprey 1 & 2 on Thursday, January 19, 2011 and see my Show 'n' Tell session entitled....

How to use InstallShield Tuner for Lotus Notes

I was hoping to be able to get lasers, flashpots, orchestra, clowns, Bengal Tigers, Beagle puppies and magicians, but IBM wasn't going to go for it.  Instead, you get me.  

Ya.  Sorry about that.  But stop on down and check it out!

For now, I gotta get back on my slides before Tom and Marie yell at me.  Again.

Andy Donaldson and the case of the missing LotusNotes853.itw

So if you've been following my manic tweets lately, you may have picked up that I'm doing a session at Lotusphere 2012.  My session stems from a document I wrote up, and have tried to keep updated, several years about about InstallShield Tuner for Lotus Notes.  Great app, free, learn all about at my Show -N- Tell.  Since I am putting together the session slides, I have to go through and do step by step screenshots.  Not a big deal.  But, when you're using InstallShield Tuner, one of the required files you need, LotusNotes853.itw, is missing from the 8.5.3 Standard client installation download.  But of course, I didn't know that since I had not put one together yet for Notes 8.5.3.

So picture this if you will.  Our hero, a strapping figure of a man, Andy, sitting at his downstairs desk working away madly on trying to come up with awesome content for a Lotusphere slide deck.  A bead of sweat at his brow as his works madly into the night.  Screen shot here, document there. "I've got a good pace going!", he excited says to himself.  "Okay, now click here, do this, look for the file LotusNotes853.itw.......look for the file LotusNotes853.itw......WHERE THE HELL IS THE LOTUSNOTES853.ITW!?" he yells out into the cold, December night.  He hastily unpacks the download installation files again, missing from there too.  Off to Google he goes to find the answer.  Yup.  It's not in the download package.  Harrumph.  But, as glimmer of hope appears as he reads that the file is available from IBM Fix Central!  Away with great speed he went to the site, selected the following options

Clicked continue, clicked continue again and beheld before his tired eyes, the missing file!

Hazzah!  He was once again victorious and continued on with his assigned tasks!  The End!

But the moral to this story kids, is IBM seems to have overlooked placing the LotusNotes853.itw file in the installation package and if you use InstallShield Tuner for Lotus Notes, you're going to need that file.  But, IBM Fix Central has what you're looking for.

Going to the big leagues. Speaking at The 'Sphere

Yesterday like many others, I got word that my session abstract for Lotusphere was accepted.  I'm speaking at Lotusphere!  So stay tuned to your local conference guide for date and time of my Show 'n' Tell "How to use InstallShield Tuner for Lotus Notes", presented in living color!
Let the freak out begin!

My 2 cents review: Dell Streak 7

If you have been following me at all on Twitter or the Facebook, you know that I am a tech whore.  I love gadgets.  Drives my wife nuts.  I have always been all about having information on the go.  Back in 1999, it was my Philips WinCE device that I just HAD to have.  Neat and fun device.  Even had the built in modem, 14.4 I think.  But that started my addiction.  From there, it went on to Palm Pilots, Treo's, Kyocera Palm smartphone, BlackBerry's, iPod Touch, Droid X, iPhone....iPad.  Ya, I have a problem.  Luckily, work has payed for most of those because I have had to support them.  Hey, isn't that called an enabler?  Anyways, that's been part of the problem.  They haven't been mine.  So at the beginning of the year, I started putting money back to buy an iPad.  But then something more sinister came up that stole my savings away.  My son's graduation party.  Then college expenses.  Dang kids.  So in the meantime, I kept using works devices. And waited for a good sale to come along.  Finally last week, one did.  I stayed up all night waiting for Best Buy to start the sale and I was lucky enough to score a Dell Streak 7 Android Tablet.  $159!  A steal!  The 7" form factor is perfect for taking it around.  The one thing I didn't like about the iPad was it's larger size.  Doesn't fit in a coat pocket easily.  Or my camera bag.  One of the reasons I wanted a smaller device was to be able to carry it around with me when I got shooting pictures in case I needed to take notes.  The Streak comes loaded with Android 3.2 and has 16GB storage.  The 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra T20 is very fast. But, it's also the tablets Achilles heel.  I've noticed that when I use processor heavy applications like video chat, the battery gets eaten VERY quickly.  That seems to be a common thread with Android devices, but with proper application management, you can extend the battery life.  Besides that, everything else about the device I really enjoy. This is not the end all be all of tablets, but for the price tag it can't be beat. And the fact that it has the true Android Market on it is a HUGE plus.  I almost got caught up in buying one of those $100-ish devices, but none of them had the true market on it.  Or a forward facing camera.  This one does which comes in handy for my favorite application.

 

Skype.  Being able to video chat with my Mom and Dad whenever is an awesome thing.  They are in Michigan and I am in Ohio.  Only get to see them a couple of times a year and so far, I think I've seen them more in the past week with this device then I had seen them all last year.  So if you see this device around for a good price, grab it!  I'm glad I did.  And yes, Lotus Traveler has been installed.  And it works.  Awesomely. 

Today, I am thankful

Here in the states today we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. So I want to take a few minutes and post my thoughts about what I'm thankful for.
- I am thankful that I have the love and support of my best friend and partner, Denise. I can never fully put into words the amount of love I have for her.
- I am thankful for my son Alex. For being a part of his journey through his life.
- I am thankful for my beautiful daughter, Mary Elizabeth, aka Molly aka peanut. Seeing her mothers beauty and my sense of humor grow as she gets older both scares and inspires me.
- I am thankful for my parents for being my safe harbor to go to when I just need to talk.
- I am thankful for my brothers and sisters and their families.
- I am thankful for the mentoring over the years, asked for or not, from my oldest brother.
- I am thankful for my friends. To me, they are like extensions of my family. Blood isn't always needed to consider them that way.
- I am thankful for my job. Somedays, I take it for granted. But I am blessed to work for such a great company.
- I am thankful that I took a couple steps toward expressing myself more with photography this past year.
- I am thankful for my friends whom I only see about once a year in person, but speak with daily on the interwebs. You know who you are.
And finally, I am thankful got you, dear reader, that stops by my blog and reads my ramblings.
So as we dive into this holiday season, don't forget all those things that you are thankful for. We are only here for a short period of time. Make it count. Laugh often and love much. Life is too short to hate.
God bless and Happy Thanksgiving.

(PS - I am also thankful that after staying up all night I was able to score my tablet!)

Andy's Guide to Lotusphere 2012 - It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine edition!

2012

It's mention brings to mind images of apocalyptic scenarios that have been predicted for years! Plague....wars.....famine.....Lindsey Lohan in Playboy.  Pretty scary stuff.
And like in many January's before, in a little known town in the heart of Florida, an event will once again occur.  But will this be the end?  Will this be the last Lotusphere as we know it?  The signs are there.  The Lotus name is disappearing...  I even saw this at the store the other night

The signs man, the signs.....
Wait.  It doesn't matter.  (See previous blog post) The Lotusphere name, or whatever it may be called in the future, if it IS called something different, doesn't matter.  It's the event and it's the people. So even *if* this is the end of the Lotusphere world, big deal. Rejoice in the dawning of something new and prepare yourself for a rocking good time! And that's where Andy's Guide To Lotusphere comes in to help you prepare for a week that if your not careful, can make you feel wiped out like the end of the world.

(And now, the yearly disclaimer:)

What you will not find here is who the special guest speaker at the OGS . (In the past, my money was always on "The Shat", and it payed off a couple years ago!  So now my guess is either Optimus Prime or Dale Earnhart, Jr.) 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 the Lotusphere event is that of a customer and blogger.  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!

Chapter 1 - The Prep:
First things first.  If you are an Domino administrator, Domino developer, someone that manages a Sametime environment, someone that manages a Connections environment or someone that wants to see that there is other life out there beyond Failpo...I mean Sharepoint, the Lotusphere conference is the place to go to learn from IBM and others what their software CAN do and how people ARE using it. It is also the place to get the inside track on things to come!  So, if you haven't already, GO ASK YOUR BOSS!  I'll wait.
Oh, you're back.  And the answer was...yes!?  Great.  Okay now that you are allowed to go you have to prepare yourself for a week of drinking from the fire-hose of knowledge.  This will be my 10th Lotusphere and every year when I get back it's the same thing.  Soar feet and brain overload.
Here are some of my usual tips that have not failed me yet!  Remember, preparation can save you some time and money later. 

1.  Internet Resources

• 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.  Last 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.  Very helpful if you are footing the bill for the week.
• Bill Buchan wrote and excellent post, "A Cynics guide to Lotusphere".  A fantastic no-holds-barred look at Lotusphere.  A must read!
• 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 #LS12.  That’s the official hashtag for Lotusphere 2012.  Also, follow @lotusphere on Twitter for updates about the event. 
• Keep an ear open for Podcasts, too.  The Talking Notes podcast, This Week in Lotus and the Lotusphere Podcast are all excellent resources for information about the conference too.

2.   Go and get yourself a new pair of tennis/walking shoes NOW. Wear them and break them in. If you can, get two pair so you can switch back and forth during the week.  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 Walmart 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 Walmart 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.  Also PRESCRIPTIONS! If you have some that you need to maintain your quality of life, make sure you bring them with you!  When you stay on-site and you don't have a car, it can be a real task to get to a pharmacy.
4.  Download the Lotusphere 2012 Agenda database when available.  (Link will be posted 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.Cannot stress enough how much this tool can save you time with what sessions you want to attend.  
5.  If you need to, order more business cards now, if you still use them. You can go through a lot of them. Downside - Your phone will ring for a couple of weeks afterward.  (Yes, people still use business cards)
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! But no mankinis, please.
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 iPhone. Not that I've ever done something like that, ever.
10.  If you can, get a portable charger like this. I brought one of these with me and saved my phone from running out of charge during the day.
11.  If you have access to a Mi-Fi or cellular wireless card for your laptop, bring it.  Yes, wifi is made available during the conference for your use.  Good luck trying to get on it.  There are several thousand other geeks there with you all trying to get connected at the same time during the day.  Access points can only do so much.

Chapter 2 - You're There!:
So now that you packed all your power cords, plug strips and comfy shoes, 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 $34 (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 for coupon. It does appears that if you want to book transport to and from the hotel early, you can go to Mears site and schedule your trip there.  AND, you can save another $4 so it's $30 round trip. Check it out here.  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.  However, I'm not sure about the Swan, but I know the Dolphin has car rental drop offs available which is important to note further down the list.
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, they go to Downtown Disney and from there you can catch a bus back to your hotel. (Disney properties only)
4.  Once you checked into the conference DO NOT LOSE YOUR BADGE!  There are no mulligans.  You are Gollum and that is your precious. You loose it, you either go home or buy a new one.
5.  Meet people and make contacts. Very useful and fun. Sitting in your hotel room at night is no fun. There are not a whole lot of cable channels anyway.  So, get out and mingle, network and collaborate! Get social, dangit! 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. Very family reunionish without that odd aunt nobody likes anyway.  Then later in the evening on Saturday, wander on down to the ESPN bar for The Turtles get together. Always a fun time!  The Lotus community is one that is very accepting and social.  Very social. Make some friends, dang it! Seriously, get out and have fun.  You will meet people from ALL over the world and they will become your friends. But watch out for "handsy" Australians.  That's right Mat, I'm talking to you.
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.)  Seriously though, if you are a customer of a vendor there, ask them if they have anything going on that week.  Remember, you are spending money with them normally.
Also, there is always a party or event to be found on either Monday or Tuesday night.  Work the show floor and you can usually score an invite.
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.  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.  Also, do not be wary of approaching anyone there. Make yourself sit at tables with those you do not know and engage in conversation. Sometimes you meet awesome people. Sometimes it doesn't work. Either way it is how the community grows.
10.  Speaking of food, one thing I did different this past year was rent a car to get to and from the airport.  One of the reasons why was that I wanted to stop at the store and grab some room snacks.  Pop tarts, pork rinds, green tea, etc.  Just general munchies.  There's nothing worse on one of the nights getting the munchies and not wanting to spend $8 bucks on something that's $2 at Walmart.  The rooms in the Dolphin have a fridge, so there's a plus right there.
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 (if you don't have a car) or just to have the water around.
12.  Keep yourself hydrated while you are on the go down there.  A full day of sessions and running between hotels can be draining.
13.  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!  They are there to listen to us, the customer!  Do not be afraid of them, they won't bite, mostly.  You can have some very open and honest dialogue and work through your problems.
14.   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.
15.  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!
16.  When you see me, buy me a beer!  Oh wait, that doesn't belong here, moving on.
17.  IdoCheckin is back for year #4, so finding everyone around the conference is even easier. Visit the site, get yourself a Foursquare id and make friends. Lotusphere has an account as do myself, IdoNotes.
18.  Just because the closing session ends on Thursday doesn't mean things are over.  Sure, they start cleaning things up the minute the conference is over, but you're still there with all your new friends.  Go do stuff with them. One fun event has been the Blogger Open mini-golf across the street from the Swan.
19. Like to get social with your fellow Lotusphereians via a hog?  Masters Mooney and Buchan are the people you want to link up with to ride bikes across Florida.  The past couple of runs have proven to be a great time from what I have heard.  Of course, I'm not allowed to do that.  My wife won't let me.  But, if you're up to it, check out the information here.
20.  Let's not forget about the Nerd Girl content once again offered at Lotusphere this year.  I reached out to friend, fellow admin and Nerd Girl extraordinaire,  Marie "The Exorcist of IMAP" Scott on some bullet points to share with other Nerd Girls

-  Are you up for the Challenge?
We are very excited to present the Great Geek Challenge http://www.greatgeekchallenge.com .  Celebrate your nerdy side and gather your LS12 friends to create a team to challenge those neurons for fantastic geek prizes!
-  And don't forget your Nerd Girl button -- show your support for the Nerd Girl community! They'll be available for distribution at several locations throughout the conference.
-  Be sure to check the Lotusphere schedule for the Nerd Girl sessions - as we've submitted several sessions this year!
-  Show your Nerd Girl pride at Lotusphere and order your t-shirt today! http://www.zazzle.com/nerdgirls

Thanks, Marie!
21.  Lotusphere is about getting social.  And sometimes, social can lead to hi-jinx and tom-foolery.   When you are out and about with friends, enjoying conversation and libations, it might be a good idea to make sure your smartphone is password protected.  Not that ANYONE I know might ever do such a thing, but, an unlocked smartphone can lead to possible emails, tweets, Facebook postings or pictures that you just didn't make.  Just something to keep in mind.  Thanks for the reminders, Kathy.

Now here is the MOST important thing you can take away from this blog entry/guide/maifesto:
Lotusphere is what YOU make of it! Take advantage of everything that you can, but pace yourself. You will be absorbing so much knowledge and sometimes by Wednesday, you may start burning out. Take it easy, take care of yourself, but just have fun!  Be Social!  Party like there will be no Lotusphere 2013!   You never know.  Wonder if Nostradamus wrote anything about this?

(Be sure to check back, this list will grow!)

"Lotus"phere 2012 - The end as we know it?

Seems like the chatter is picking up early this year.  And after reading tweet's, blog comments and other social media, one question keeps coming to mind already.
Will this year be the last "Lotus"phere as we know it?
Does it matter?
No.
Is change good?
Yes.
Is it time for IBM to dropkick the Lotus name to the vapors of the Interwebs?
Last year, I was all against it.  I believe in brand recognition.  But time changes things and I think that this change would be a good one.  For the product line to thrive and grow, it's time.
But that's just my two cents sitting here on a Tuesday night with Glee on in the background.  Ya, that's how we roll here.  What say you?

Coming Soon......

Stay tuned, true believers!

A IBM Lotus Traveler heads up in an iOS 5 world

As I was working on my Traveler server this weekend, I started noticing an error scrolling by on my server console that I had not seen before, nor could find any information about online.

10/17/2011 11:40:02 AM  Lotus Traveler: SEVERE CN=UserName/OU=BabaBooey/O=DERP Response is null for command FolderCreate and should not be null with status 200 
10/17/2011 11:40:04 AM  Lotus Traveler: SEVERE CN=UserName/OU=BabaBooey/O=DERP Unknown command: FolderCreate

So, of course, I opened a ticket with the support team.  It turns out to be what I figured it was.  A post iOS 5 upgrade error:

The issue you are seeing with user is because he has upgraded iOS5 last week when it was released. iOS5 provides several new features as apart of their ActiveSync implementation that Traveler does not currently support (e.g. the FolderCreate command)
The workaround for seeing these error messages is to upgrade to 8.5.2.4 or to 8.5.3. These error messages are not displayed at these levels of Traveler.
.

So if you are a slacker like myself and are running a version of Traveler earlier then the ones listed, you may see this error. 
I guess I have an few patches to catch up on, don't I?