(I’ve shifted back to blogging, as some folks were overwhelmed with my tweet updates, this makes more sense rather than a blow-by-blow tweet report)

What is OpenSocial
First, if you don’t know what OpenSocial is read this: Explaining OpenSocial to your Executives. Forrester will be publishing a report on OpenSocial in the near future (I interviewed David and Kevin Marks last night), I’m on point for that, stay tuned.

Web Strategy Summary
You, a web decision maker are probally considering creating widgets to reach distributed communities. The opportunity to build an application once and let it run everywhere is still underway. I recommend you continue to watch this space, put a key developer or agnecy on point to start creating your applications in compliance, but plan on customizing your apps per the unique demographic for each social network.

David of Glazer of Google’s OpenSocial team shares at Graphing Social. He suggests that novice should read Nicholas Carr’s book “the Big Switch” on social computing, there are parallels between open grid electricity and open web.

Why OpenSocial?
It’s fast, easy, open, and everywhere. Move the accidental objects out of the way so we can interact better. People care about other people, not a new idea but the social context, people are the killer app.

This isn’t new
Email, Newspapers, Bookstores, FTP, social used to be called ‘c-o-l-l-a-b-o-r-a-t’

Some problems left to solve
-Fragmented authentication: OpenID is not yet sufficient but a step in the right direction
-Fragmented identity: how many times do we need to add friends?
-Fragmented app development: how many times do we have to build an app?

Step 1: OpenSocial
“If you can build a web app, you can make it social, and reach more than 200 million users”

1) Invent it: Come up with a great idea (app) that you want to do with your friends.

2) Build it: Standard web app (HTML and Javascript), New JS APIs (who i am, who i know

3) I missed the third one

Types of Social Networking
-Classic: Myspace, hi5, bebo, facebook
-Business networking: LinkedIn
-Enterprise Software: Salesforce, oracle:
-Communities (like white Label): Like corporate communities, nings, etc.

OpenSource
A great idea but you’ve got to work at it.
Need to get the following right: Clear mission, Open License, Engaged Community, Real-world use.

Other Resources
Google’s OpenSocial Site
Shindig Incubator

Recently at our home, we purchased a new laptop, which came with Vista on it. Sadly, it didn’t come with Microsoft Office on it, and I was not able to open any word docs, excel, or powerpoints. I asked the store how much it would cost to add office, and they suggested in was $175. This seemed like a lot of money for a software system that I’m used to seeing as a base line image on most computers.

As a result (and being web savvy, of sorts) I started to use Google Docs, an online, ‘free’ version of office. Google offers an online spreadsheet tool, as well as an online document word processing tool, all with collaborative features that I could share with others.

As I continued to use these Google docs, I started to infect others, evangelism runs within my veins, and soon my wife started to use it, and I used it for a variety of documents within my new employer. I’m not sure if it’s becuase of me, but other colleagues in my team are using Google Docs for team collaboration. It’s not just Google either, Zoho is coming around the bend quickly, and had quite a presence at the recent Office 2.0 conference in SF that attendees were wondering why Microsoft was not present.

I wonder if Microsoft is missing a major opportunity here by: 1) Not providing these basic tools on the OS that buyers are not willing to purchase and 2) Not being agile to see how information is moving to the cloud and thus offering tools for the online office. When I do a google search for Microsoft online office, it results in thanksgiving colored templates.

Talking to Rafe of Webware (they believe in the web as a platform) he mentioned to me that the internet has made boxed software irrelevant, as users can now download them from the web, or use web versions of products.

What other software companies are missing an opportunity because of the web?

A few weeks ago, Facebook thought leaders Dave and Justin identified and shaped the term News Feed Optimization. Sadly, (or gladly) we suspect it has already jumped the shark.

What’s News Feed Optimization (NFO)?
It’s an evolution of social media optimization where a clever developer will maninupate a Facebook application so it appears more frequently on the Facebook News Page (essentially a Feedreader). The opportunity? viral growth from massive network awareness.

Facebook is a savvy company, already aware of the massive opportunities that applications can grow and amazing rates. Aware of the tricks of clever application developers, they’re preserving the user experience by limiting the power applications have to ’spam’ out over news feeds.

Kevin Chou, CEO of Watercooler, a Facebook application company I advise (well, just until Sept 30th) tells me that:

“News Feed Optimization is overrated today. Sure, in the first three-to-five weeks it was a strategic lever, but then Facebook responded to general news feed overload and reduced the impact of application news feeds. Today, NFO only works when both users have the same application installed, thus limiting its usefulness for rapid growth”

Also, Facebook is continuing to optimize and recently articles suggest they ‘punish’ spammy applications, so some notifications have been decreased to protect users. It’s important to note that when a user installs an application, it’s default behavior updates their entire network.

Still don’t believe me? Want to start a career as a NFO? well then www.newfeedoptimization.com is for sale, would make an excellent buy.

Hungry for more social networking industry news? I’ve got the thing just for you, I publish a weekly digest of the social networking industry for those who don’t have time to scour the web like a mad web strategist.

I don’t need a TV truck, radio station, or printing press to reach thousands of people, and neither do you.

The Mobile Media Platform
In my current role at PodTech, much of my job was to be out in the field where the people are, and use social media to demonstrate how PodTech could deliver to clients. The tactic? I was a walking media platform, and at any time, anywhere, I could publish text, video, audio, or pictures to thousands of people within minutes. I could break news, live stream events, live blog, twitter from my mobile phone, send emails to the influentials, kick start conversations or most importantly, just listen to the network.

Over my time at PodTech, I uploaded close to 8,000 pictures, hundreds of videos, over 1,000 blog posts, and did at least 2 weeks of live streaming. I surprised folks by my rapid ability to post session notes, pictures and even video within 30 minutes of a conference. I want to record how life has been over the last year as things change. See all my posts tagged event or conference to learn see the output (please note most was in real-time or within 12 hours of an event).

Here’s what’s in my bag(s)

In the spirit of the popular “whats in your bag” flickr meme, here’s my response.

(click on picture to see notes in flickr)

Mobile Social Media Platform Inventory (Basic Kit)

Backpack: I just love this rugged and stylish backpack, it should be able to hold up to my abuse, with lots of utility.

Laptop: Thinkpad Lenovo T60 was issued to me

3G Wireless card: Important, as public WiFi is unwieldy

Power charger: For Thinkpad

Power extension cord: (in black mesh bag) important at conferences where supply is limited, and a great way to meet new friends

Moleskine notepad and pen: This is how I stay organized, and it’s in an easy to grab bag with pen

Extra DVR tapes for video camera

Webcam: On loan from Ustream

USB Extension Cord: Critical for live streaming, as the cam often goes on a tripod

Digital Camera (not picture): SD700IS. While only $350, my photos are in the SJ Mercury

Camera case on backpack: see small black pouch on front lapel of backpack, strateically situated for rapid access

Camera spare battery

Camera USB Cable: The gray one

Camera Lens wipes

Wallet: Need money, store parking passes, BART tickets, and business cards (picture of wife too)

Business Cards: Both mine and new contacts

Expense Bag: I throw all my receipts from business trips in that bag and sort out later, a good way to start organized

Reading material (varies week to week): Super Crunches from friend David Berkowitz, and Social Computing Framework

Various personal items: Gum, energy bars, breath mints, and some strange bandaids and hand sanitizer that a conference organizer handed out

(click on picture to see notes in flickr)

Mobile Media Platform Inventory (Show Kit)
If I’m going to do interviews for the PodTech’s Web Strategy Show, I would bring this kit:

Camera Case: compact, and can fit inside of backpack

Camera Case: compact, and can fit inside of backpack

Camcorder: Sony camera (DVR) for interviews

Xacti: Backup camera, USB

Battery Charger: Important to have spare battery on hand

Line Charger for direct power

Extra Tapes: DVR

Remote Control: For when camera is on tripod (not tripod)

Sling: Extra tether for camera, if going mobile

I have this phone on me, although outdated, it gives me access to the web, text messaging, with a powerful speakerphone. Why don’t I use a smartphone? Because I’m often in front of a computer.

What will future tools look like? Many of these will consolidate and become smaller, hopefully without the cost of quality

Alight, I’m tagging bloggers Robert Scoble, Mario Sundar, Chris Pirillo, Scott Squid, and Thomas Hawk to open up and show me what’s in their bags, give an inventory list, your strategy.

A Web Strategy must balance all three spheres
What’s a Web Strategy? It’s the balance between the three spheres for effective long-term planning of a website. This person is a hybrid of a few roles, and may have emerged from any of the following spheres. A Web Strategist is responsible for the long-term planning and decision making of a website, but must balance ALL of the following three spheres:

1) Community (formerly Users)
The Web Strategist must understand (by using a variety of techniques and tactics) what users want. This is commonly known as User Experience Research which will create and craft a ‘mental model’. In addition, the strategist will need to be in tune with the community in which their website is part of, this is greater than just users, as it will include competitors, partners, and prospects.

Skills: User experience (UX), usability, information architecture, social media skills, customer support, community marketing, marketing, product marketing, ability to listen and be empathetic.

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2) Business
The business sphere requires a strategist to understand the long term objective of a website and it’s goals. This sphere also requires ability to internally maneuver within an organization and maximize the persistent limitation in resources. A website that is not aligned to business or market objectives is ultimately doomed to fail. The User and Business requirements will often match, but will rarely ever be a perfect fit. The Web Strategist) will need to obtain business requirements from stakeholders, whether that be execs, sponsors, sales, or even shareholders. Understanding the market, competitors (and key milestones) and other external forces are also required –a business requirements model will be formed, these are your objectives.

Skills: Marketing, advertising, media, management, measurement, ability to evangelize internally, process management, resource management, obtain objectives, product development, product management, savvy in political maneuvering

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3) Technology
Lastly, a Web Strategist needs to know how each and every tool and technology work, they’ll need to know the strengths, benefits, limitations and costs. This also applies to human capital, and timelines. Often technical limitations will reduce the scope of User and Business needs, so you’ll need to incorporate this going forward.

Skills: Software Development, Web Development, Web Architecture, Industry Trends, experiments with web technology, but understands how to extrapolate and harness a tool.

Can’t master them all? Be able to Learn or Delegate
It’s unlikely he or she is a master at all, but most importantly, has the ability to learn and delegate. In my career, I’ve tried to have a balance in all these spheres (former UI Designer, Marketing Degree, and worked in software engineering group) keeping up with all spheres is nearly impossible. Therefore two skills become very important: 1) The ability to quickly learn, and extract value, 2) Ability to find talent and delegate, no really, I mean really delegate, which requires trust.

If you have other skills to suggest, please leave a comment, and I’ll add.

Notes:
I originally introduced this concept August 25th 2006, just about one year earlier, and am now making these amendments. This was primarily spurred by Johnathan’s suggestion of looking at the user sphere as greater than just a customer base, thanks Jonathan, you’re an excellent strategist. Also, Robert suggested I try to incorporate more of a visual representation in my concepts, which I think is a great idea.

Additional Resources
Did this post interest you? See all posts tagged Web Strategy, or watch the supplemental Web Strategy Video Show.

Now that the confetti is being swept neatly to the gutters after last week’s parade, the real residents of the technology main street are starting to appear with concerns about the Apple iPhone.

Walled Garden
Apple is taking heat, flack for being not willing to be an open platform like so many third party applications. The exclusive lock down (both in platform and with employees) is denoted by Brian.

TCO of iPhone
The real cost of the Apple iPhone is being speculated by Allen at quite a bit more than any amount you anticipated, do you want to spend up to 2k a year on a phone?

Expand inputs
Lastly, Uncle Dave Winer doesn’t want to be confined, both by the information we receive or the technology, so why should we?

A Marketing Company that happens to be in Tech
Steve Jobs is an excellent Marketer, the products requirements come from extensive Marketing Research, (product design comes after, BTW) and the advertising has been unique and innovative for decades. Yesterday, I challenged that the iPhone is being over hyped.

What do you think?

Just a few weeks ago I called for the dismantle of CMS systems and to rebuild with social media features

If you’re looking at upgrading to the new Sharepoint for it’s social media features, or at Sharepoint itself you must check out Blogtronix.

Vassil the CEO and founder of Blogtronix stopped by Podtech (he’s been by a few times) to show me some of the latest stuff. I didn’t have as much time as I wanted, so it was really slam session in feature demonstrations. I learned a lot.

It appears to be a ‘community platform’ in a box, which features such as social networking elements, blogs, wikis, ratings, comments, RSS, document management tools, keywords, tagclouds, rss generated by keywords, and profile information. It appears to have hooks into directory systems such as Active Directory, and is all written in dot net. I look forward to seeing threaded forums added to the suite. Teresa from Blog Business Summit thinks the features are pretty cool too.

I’ve used Sharepoint, and have tried demos of the recently released blog and wiki features. Perhaps the primary difference between Sharepoint and Blogtronix is that Sharepoint was intended and grown to be a collaboration tool, and now social features are being added on top. Blogtronix is less of a collaboration tool, and more of a social media platform. In many business use cases, both could meet the same needs.
When deploying a public facing community marketing program that’s intended to reach to existing communities you may want to think about other tactics. For those that a thriving community that’s bursting at the seams to talk to each other, Blogtronix is a good fit. While you’re at it, also check out Community Server, which famed Microsoft community Channel 9 sits on top of.

If you work at Community Server or on the Sharepoint team, swing by I’d love to see your latest.

I’m having a hard time understanding why anyone would think that the iPhone is not going to be a reality.  iPods will be irrelevant by 2008 as cell phones offer convergence.  I witnessed this in Japan with my friends phone, convergence is coming.

It’s absolutely strategic that Apple MUST play with the mobile phone industry or provide their own phone. YouTube is showing this latest Diggnation where they’ve spilled the beans on the upcoming rumored phone.

Here’s some rumored specs of what the Phone is expected to look like.  I doubt I’ll renew my warranty on my iPod, something better is always coming.

Featured I’d like to see (add comments for wish list)

• Wireless synching between laptop and iPhone
• Download media via cell phone, (mobile client)
• Share peer to peer media
• iPhone is integrated with other Apple products

Don’t be surprised if Apple enters the digital camera market soon.

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard people want to use a wiki and a blog for their intranet. They want to bypass the corporate intranet silos and allow bottom-up and created content by the employees. It’s faster, cheaper, and less work for the Intranet management team…or is it? There can be a ton of challenges of letting anyone install and create a blog, wiki, forum, within an intranet. What about permissions, identity, scalability, duplicate content, versions, logins, security and any other challenge that emerges from a distributed content framework model.

As a former web manager, I know the challenges of content management systems, asking for the 2.0 features to emerge out of 1.0 CMS systems ain’t going to happen easily. I’ve experimented with Sharepoint Blog and Wiki features, but have yet to hear from anyone when that will fully roll out. Their webpage has SO much content, it’s difficult to navigate.

Interesting trend, many emerging software vendors are packaging up what works in today’s modern web, and is creating turn key suites for companies to deploy. The term “White Label” is being thrown around lately, as these platforms are plain, and ready for your to customize and brand yourself.

Video: Koral Content Management with Community
Scoble video interviews Tim from Koral, which is much like an Office Document management tool that overlays community tools, tagging, rating, versions, comments, RSS, and other collaborative tools. This could replace your antiquated CMS system.

Video: Blogtronix Social Software Suite
Blogtronix is an out of the box community suite that offers blogs, wikis, tags, rss that you could brand.

Community Server
Although I don’t see a video, most know to look at Community Server which powers Channel9, Xbox, and Dell one to one blogs. I’ve had a demo of this product, and thought it was worth exploring.

Watching Google
Recently, Google launched Gmail for small business and a college in San Jose, with the recent acquisition of Writely, Jotspot wiki (covered at Web SIG), blogger, and other collaboration tools, they may be able to provide social software suites that provides enterprise, collaboration, and social features.

What else?
Is there another turnkey suite out there that has features like the above companies? If so, leave a comment, I’ll add to the list.

Do you think we can get rid of the broken Enterprise Content Management systems (CMS) soon? I’ve managed four enterprise Intranets (or been on the primary teams) I’ve used four CMS systems in my career, and they have tremendous problems with scalability, flexibility and vendor lock in. It’s just a matter of time before enterprise CMS companies look to acquire companies like the above.

NikePlus provides Integration of Nike, iPod, and WWW. There’s a community piece to this online as well, you can find other runners using their site (click on community tab). Pretty interesting, anyone out there try this? Edward from USAToday has a review:

“Nike + iPod records the time, distance, pace and calories burned in real time as you run (or, in my case, power walk). You can track those results on an iPod Nano and, after connecting the Nano to a computer, on the Nike+ website (nikeplus.com)”

The next piece could be GPS, you could even build mashable games to play, indicating where users are.

Update: Some people think this is a security risk, you could be watched! Conversations on Techmeme.

New Colleague Christopher Coulter (Who I’m rethinking my stance on, he’s a pretty nice dude) was showing me his Archos Portable Digital Media Player. He uses this while filming on site, as well as enjoying entertainment media. It doesn’t have the best external sound but one could easily put on headphones or connect to any audio device.

That video interview below looks like the one with Hamid Shojaee of Axosoft. I’m pretty sure they’re sitting at is the Podtech office on illustrious Sand Hill road. We’re in an incubator, I’ve posted some pics here of the humble and growing podtech offices.

I went to the Apple Store to get my iPod replaced (which I have to figure out how to re-synch my content) and ran into this massive monitor, see the Apple Cinema Displays.

After the Laughing Squid party I drove by Best Buy in SF and saw a huge line of folks in tents and sleeping bags, bbqing, and playing football in the parking lot. These hardcore gamers were had been there for quite a long time, some for about 48 hours.
In my tiredness, I first thought this was for the PS3, but in reality it was from the Wii.

I love how my new friend Blake does his “bow thing”, it goes “bow-pang”!

Japan is known for having some pretty far out wacky video games in their arcades. While visiting this month, I took some time out to explore and report back to you all.
Combining Trading Cards with Strategy Video Games
One video game you purchase playing cards that have some type of electronic chip in them. You play these cards ON the machine and it interacts with the game, it makes for a strategic type of role playing game, similar to Magic. There are several folks all networked around, some of the games were giant robot fighting games, feudal japan, and some military games.

Giant Bingo, Digital Horse Racing, Prize Claws
There was also a ‘live’ bingo machine that had large foam balls that would select the winning combination of numbers. A horse racing arena simulated real action just like being at bay meadows in San Mateo, CA. There were tons of games where you use the claws to retrieve cute items, I failed miserably at every attempt.

Kinky Photo Booths
Lastly there is the famous picture taking booths, single men were NOT allowed to go in. Each booth has a green screen area so girls and couples can simulate riding bikes, going surfing or going on a horse rides. Costumes and accessories were available to help make the pictures even more personalized.

Check out how Scoble interviewed Carlos Garcia the CEO of Scrapblog in this HiDef Video. This web based flash app enables anyone to share and build unique experiences using ones photos. Carlos’s blog sindicate they showed very well at Demo. I tried out Scrapblog a few weeks ago and it’s improved tremendously. There’s an ability to import video, export to flickr, export RSS, and import flickr pictures.

From a Web Strategy perspective this is an improved experience overlay to ones existing photo repository. Scrapblog creates a more polished or completed presentation of an event, collection, or travel. In addition to being able to share with others using the web, one could print out a copy and send to that special someone. The speed in which one can publish a rich scapblog is faster than using paper, there are so many applications that this online publishing platform can bring.

I’ve been hooked on Scobleshow, the Hi Def version of the show really gives a clear picture of the screen without the ‘frequency bands’. Have you seen Dumpr? It’s let’s folks frame a picture into a museum, it’s just a limited version of what Scrapblog can do. Over the next few years online personal publishing will become richer, more connected, and more personalized.

Scrapblog lets anyone quickly tell a story using social media images, text, and video and then share via the web or print for loved ones.

Driving A geek car
I’ll have to admit my hour long commute (each way) is a whole lot of fun when I get to drive my geek car. It comes stock with GPS touchscreen navigation, Voice Recognition, (yes, I can talk to it and it talks back –with some success) Bluetooth phone connectivity, 8 speaker surround sound (Plays DTS surround sound discs).

I’ve added some additional features so that my passengers can watch DVD or even TV during long trips, which includes noise canceling headphones and a single custom Subwoofer for added kick (not overbearing mind you –just for depth) in a custom tucked away enclosure –I can easily fill the trunk with groceries and golf clubs. I’ve a nasty tape deck input for my iPod, it sounds ‘ok’ but iPods never sound great anyways.

It performs 0-60 in just over 6 seconds, and get 30mpg freeway, although I average 20-25 in bay area style traffic. I recently broke 50,000 miles in under two years. When I first sat in the Acura TL 2004, I knew it was for me –and please no Asian jokes –ok well go ahead if you must

See my flickr set for more pics.

Cars of the future –Marriage of Internet and GPS
I look forward to when cars have RSS feeds pulling in data that shows real time traffic, weather, and where the cheapest gas is located. I’d also like to know when I can pick up my dry cleaning, pre-ordered groceries and show where items I want to buy are on sale. These could easily be overlays on top of existing GPS systems. I’m sure this is not far from being reality, as cell phones using bluetooth could feed into GPS units.

I’d also like the onboard computer to tie in with a website that can monitor the health and perform self diagnostics of my car –the mechanic of the future will be more like a Doctor minding and mending to his patients needs.

Lastly, I’m giving serious consideration that my next car will be a hybrid car –primarily in consideration of the environment.

I’m very excited to visit my cousin Ethan in the Seattle Area in two weekends, he’s graciously invited me to Boeing friends and family day, and I’m excited to see the new Boeing 787, (Even Scoble has talked about this recently)

It’s a massive beast, that has many internal amenities such as advanced lighting, humidity controlling, a futuristic look, movable light sources, and some pretty interesting ways to shut the windows (watch the video)

I’m also curious to learn more about any onboard wireless programs that are starting to take shape. I’m quite familiar with the Connexion program as i was at the Blog Business Summitt in SF last year.–being the geek that I am, I want to be connected while in flight, it really makes me productive and the flight go by quickly.

I’ve been told I’ve been given permission to blog about the event, although pictures and video are not permitted (National Safety)

I’ll to my best to report back to the world interesting things that I discover…

I had to replace my Sony SDM HS93 19″ LCD monitor as it simply stopped functioning after a few months of bad performance. For those with LCD panels, you’ll notice that the colors may start to shift to only green mode/blue mode, then the unit would power on, and then not power on depending on it’s mood. Eventually, it just keeled over and died.

The Wife blames me, as I pretty much left it on and used it to death over the last 3 years –no surprise, as I’m often online.

Based on my buddy Alan’s feature reccomendations (high contract ratio and low refresh rate) I just purchased an LG 194WT 19″ Widescreen LCD. It has widescreen capability (1440 X 900) and it’s interesting to see which sites I manage support or don’t support this format well. (although not a typical format). The screen is incredibly bright, (I had to turn the brightness down significantly) and the colors are vivid.

I was surprised by the price changes over the last few years, when I bought that sony 19″ it was 850 dollars plus a rebate, the monitor that I just picked up is about 300 plus change.

I noticed there is one dead pixel, It’s pretty low on the lower task bar in XP, so it’s not a real distraction, I’ll be calling the retailer Best Buy later to see what the return policy is. I know some companies refuse returns for dead pixels on LCDs as it’s common in the manufacturing process.

I guess I should break our TV downstairs so I can convince my wife we need a plasma screen TV.

Edit: I have a Radeon 9800 Pro Graphics Card (256 MB) and popped into second life, things looked ok, but Second Life –the renderings of the trees looked great. I’m so temped to play WoW, but then you’d never hear from me again.