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July 30, 2004

Vacation break

Off to Denmark for 2 weeks. Expect little to no blogging. Talk amongst yourselves and I'll catch you on the other side.

Posted by Matthew at 06:57 PM

See Ewan run

While the rest of us prepare ourselves for 2 weeks vacation (well, me at least), fellow #Mobitiopian Ewan is chasing round the London Tube (aka "The Zone 1 Tube Race"). Ewan even managed to get someone from BBC London to follow him around town.

Posted by Matthew at 01:19 PM

July 29, 2004

Tagesschau - Blog with RSS Feed

The German news blog does have an official RSS feed. It's here. Unfortunately they don't have a link to it on the blog page itself. So I wrote them another email :-).

Posted by Matthew at 05:03 PM

July 28, 2004

Forward looking question

When will Google buy Technorati? Or copy them?. As more and more information on the Web moves toward formats such as RSS and Atom - isn't the answer to that question a no-brainer? How long would it take Google to provide the same functionality as Technorati - a week?

Posted by Matthew at 09:48 PM

Quo vadis Open Source?

Danese Cooper points towards Alan Burlison's blog on the changing world of Open Source. He gives an interesting perspective on how he thinks Open Source has changed over the years. Moving from being a grass-roots thing to being a very commercial, VC-driven affair. In particular Alan doesn't think that OSCON reflects the true spirit of Open Source any more.

My take on this is that, yes, the Open Source world has changed over the past 4 years I've been involved in it. And so has OSCON. When I was in San Diego in 2002 it was a very much "us against them" affair and last year the Open Source world had buddied up to the proprietary vendors - and they were all sitting happily together on one stage.

It's not about "us or them" any more - but about how we can work together and how the two sides can profit from one another. And it is the consumers that are driving the Open Source market now (but don't they always in the end?).

And actually the changing OSCON also reflects the change in the acceptance of Open Source by commercial organizations I have seen. When we started our Open Source group 4 years ago, it was next to impossible to actually talk to corporate heads about Open Source. Nothing, nada. However over the years things changed and now the doors are pretty much wide open for Open Source subjects. (In fact it is one of the few subjects software companies can actually still talk to corporations about). Of course the financial climate has changed a lot as well and corporations mainly look towards Open Source as a way of reducing operating costs. It is still difficult to get corporations to understand that Open Source isn't just about free software. Getting them involved in the projects still takes a lot of convincing.

So, to ask a different question: "Would Open Source still be around and be as successful if the two worlds hadn't moved closer together?"

And where will Open Source be in 5 years? My guess is that the question of "free" software will have disappeared. Customers will ask whether your software is developed in an open fashion, using open and collaborative tools. Whether your software is built out of reusable components and can integrate into whatever infrastructure they have. Customers will be wary of paying a license up-front but will pay for you to adapt the software to their exact needs. And if that software is developed in an "Open Source" project - well all the better for the consumer.

Of course, this year's OSCON may be different yet.

Posted by Matthew at 09:41 AM

July 27, 2004

Open Source Java - the people want it!

Another hilarious movie from Steve@OSCON.

Posted by Matthew at 07:24 PM

July 26, 2004

Tagesschau Blog - but no feed

Stefan points to the - to my knowledge - first blog of a major German news channel. Their main site has a feed - but the blog doesn't! So I just wrote them an email.

Posted by Matthew at 09:59 PM

OSCON blog

Steve has set up an OSCON blog, subscribed. Of course I'm pretty upset not to be there this week - sniff - but family vacation is due next week and OSCON just didn't fit this year. Have fun without me guys!

Steve also went and made a movie! Check out this - not quite feature length - piece. Filmed on the streets of Portland, Steve asks the natives what they know about Open Source. Great stuff - dare I say "more more!" :-)

Update: He already has a title for the sequel: "Why won't Starbucks open source Java". Heh.

Posted by Matthew at 09:03 PM

New look Technorati

Technorati has a new look today. In the past Technorati has not always been the fastest site to access. I wonder how they'll hold up this week with the increased interest due to their teaming up with CNN.

Posted by Matthew at 03:28 PM

German GPL court case (written judgement made public)

The written judgement in the German GPL court case is now available. An English translation is planned.

Posted by Matthew at 11:14 AM

DNC - more than just Kerry?

I have just been looking at ConventionBloggers - a round up of the DNC (Democratic National Convention) bloggers. Even though I'm on the other side of the pond, the weblogs are allowing me to get an inside look at how American politics work. So, as I understand it the Convention is where the presidential candidate is nominated (I remember that much from WestWing). Can someone fill me in on what else they do there? I mean Kerry is set to be nominated, so that would take like half an hour. Then they could release the balloons, have a speech and be back on the road by midday.What else?

(And yes I realize that you can't comment - comments are turned off at the moment. So either send me an email or trackback).

Update: Here's a list of all the bloggers at the DNC.

Update 2:Scott provides some insight - thanks!

Posted by Matthew at 09:28 AM

July 25, 2004

Are we there yet?

Over on Microsoft Watch, Mary Jo Foley writes about the increasing rumors that Microsoft is set to release more Open Source "Goodies". Faithful readers of this weblog will not be surprised by the news (newbies are pointed towards this, this and especially this from November 2002).

It's no real surprise therefore that Microsoft are cautiously testing the Open Source waters by releasing a little bit here and a little bit there. I don't think anything like an Open Source version of IE is in the pipeline - although the thought does have some charm (as does a version of IE for Linux).

Microsoft and Open Source - now there's a subject you could discuss for hours and hours. Just where does Microsoft really stand when it comes to the phenomena? Are they really scared by Linux? Does Bill tremble in his bed at night because of the Apache Server? I very much doubt it. Even so, these small steps do show that things may slowly be changing in Redmond. Not that they will become a major Open Source vendor over night - and of course they don't need to. Yet.

Two years ago, things may have looked easier for Microsoft - they could have played the patent card to stop Open Souce dead. (By the way - isn't that a coincidence that the memo "turned" up last week?) - But today, with the growing acceptance of Open Source in major commercial organizations (the typical Microsoft customer), things may not be so easy. Such a harsh move on Microsoft's part today would surely alienate many of it's customers and perhaps persuade them to move even quicker towards Linux or other Open Source alternatives.

Even so, let's face it, the golden days of selling your operating system for a premium are coming to an end. Just as the market for Office type software is slowly stagnating. So, Microsoft needs be thinking about alternatives and how it can profit from the growing commoditization in the software business.

By releasing little - unimportant (as yet) - pieces of its business as Open Source, Microsoft can safely "experiment" inside a relatively controlled environment. And plan the next move.

Posted by Matthew at 09:47 PM

Learning Danish

Only a week away from our family vacation up to Denmark. Even though our Danish neighbours speak both German and English, I've always thought that really I should at least be able to stammer a few words in the language. So this year, I've got myself a Danish "Power course for beginners". Be afraid.

Posted by Matthew at 01:42 PM

Listening to the gurus

I'm probably the last person on the planet to point to ITConversations as a great source of audio interviews on IT subjects. I've started listening to the interviews on my MP3 player while running. Yesterday for example I listened to Clayton Christensen and Bruce Schneier. It sure makes the long distances seem to go quicker than just having music in your ear.

Posted by Matthew at 01:26 PM

July 23, 2004

TypePad Germany launched

Heiko Hebig and crew launches TypePad Germany. Viel Glück!

Posted by Matthew at 08:04 AM

July 22, 2004

Asking better questions

Steve has an interesting suggestion for Google.

Posted by Matthew at 02:55 PM

Nice clean site

PR Blog (Trevor Cook) links to me and likes the site. Thanks!

Posted by Matthew at 08:22 AM

Blogging politics

For us folk on this side of the pond, all the fuss about the bloggers invading the Democratic National Convention next week may seem slightly "unreal": But take note Europe, this is the sign of things to come. The distinct boredom with politics in general is greatly due to the fact that we, the people, just feel left out. Blogging political conventions is one way of bringing the voice back to politics and moving politicians closer to the people who elected them. CNN joining forces with Technorati for the DNC is hopefully just the beginning.

Posted by Matthew at 08:06 AM

July 21, 2004

The Butterfly Manifesto

Ugo announces and publishes The Butterfly Manifesto. He calls it a "pompous name" for a "modest proposal". The aim of Butterfly (as I understand it) is to conceive and implement parts of Cocoon using Spring and thereby overcome some of the difficulties programmers have with Cocoon today.

My gut feeling is that this may be the most important "thing" to happen inside the Cocoon community for the last couple of years. In a way Cocoon has been showing signs of stagnation for a few months now. Not because no-one is interested in the project (quite the opposite actually), but because Cocoon is now "good enough" to be used. At least there is no visible sign that someone has a real itch to scratch when it comes to the improvements put forward so far. The manifesto is also important because it shows that the Cocoon community members do have fresh and "revolutionary" ideas.

Posted by Matthew at 03:17 PM

Link day

Today is turning out to be a link day - not something I normally do on my blog - but hey "change is good". Sometimes.

Posted by Matthew at 09:47 AM

July 20, 2004

Microsoft uses Apache License

Don't get too excited. (via Erik)

Posted by Matthew at 03:16 PM

July 19, 2004

Open Source involvement

Getting involved in Open Source projects may be easier than you think.

Posted by Matthew at 09:07 PM

Amazon images hack

Stefano uses our Cocoon book as an example and shows how Amazon generates its images.

Posted by Matthew at 08:42 AM

July 18, 2004

Social eCommerce

Tonight, my wife and I were reflecting on past years. At a certain point in the conversation we hit past favorite albums and in particular an album by Barclay James Harvest: Berlin - A concert for the people. Turns out we both had the album (which came out in 1982) - but neither of us still have it. Thankfully, the iTunes music store has it and within minutes of "remembering" the good old days, the music was purchased with a click and playing from iTunes. Even though this is already quite commonplace, it is worth reflecting on how the Internet and services like the iTunes store are actually enabling us to reload and re-live memories.

Posted by Matthew at 11:43 PM

That time in life

While refreshing old school-contacts due to the planning of the 20 year high-school graduation anniversary next year, I received a phone-call from a school-friend from even further back. Someone I haven't spoken to or seen for nearly 25 years. The call was out of the blue and at first I thought the person had made a mistake because I didn't recognize the name. However it quickly clicked and it turns out my friends from back then had decided to see if I was still around. Due to the fact that there is only 1 Matthew Langham listed on a German telephone CD (how about that) they quickly found my number and called. Looks like some trips down memory lane are now on the line for the coming months.

Posted by Matthew at 09:09 PM

Google IPO - a non-event in Germany?

According to a small article published in today's German Sunday newspaper - Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung - the Google IPO auction will be limited to US bidders only. The article doesn't quote any official sources but relies on information received from various banks in Germany.

Posted by Matthew at 11:04 AM

July 16, 2004

Black hole information paradox solved?

How about that for a blog title? Anyway, it looks as though the renowned scientist Stephen Hawking will present findings next week that show his own theory on black holes to be flawed. According to his new findings, black holes are in fact capable of emitting radiation for a long time (and don't in fact trap everything that enters them). Hawking will reveal more on his new theory on July 21st in Dublin.

Posted by Matthew at 09:33 AM

July 15, 2004

Native Java continuations - the initiative

Join Torsten and the others over on codehaus.org. They are aiming to write and submit a JSR for native Java continuations support inside the JVM.

Posted by Matthew at 12:00 PM

July 14, 2004

German Summer 2004

summer

Posted by Matthew at 09:04 PM

Six Apart gets a new CEO

Mena Trott will step down as CEO of Six Apart and be replaced by Barak Berkowitz. Mena has a long post on the reasoning behind the move.

Posted by Matthew at 08:55 PM

July 13, 2004

A Google moment

Google buys Picasa. Picasa makes software for viewing and organizing digital pictures.

Another step on the way to Google becoming your operating system. Let's see, they have search, networking, weblogs, email, groups, news and now image management (not to mention all the stuff from the "labs"). So what does that leave - some form of web-based text/presentation software, group-calendars, instant messaging and tetris. With all the cash about to flood the piggy-bank, that shouldn't be hard to do.

Posted by Matthew at 06:24 PM

July 11, 2004

Communication moment

Sitting in a small North Sea harbor cafe at the weekend, I saw a middle-aged woman busily using her mobile to SMS someone. No-one even took a second look as this is obviously common-place now. But wait a moment. Step back from this everyday scene for just a minute. Rewind to say 10 years ago. What would have the woman had to do to communicate with whoever she wanted to get in touch with? She would have probably got up, gone outside the cafe, searched for a call-phone, inserted some coins and dialed a number. If she was lucky then the person she wanted to talk to would have been there - and if not - well, then the "communication moment" would have ended. Maybe she would have waited and called in the evening or the next day. Probably also rethinking and tuning her message. She may even have decided not to contact the person because the message seemed irrelevant after sleeping on it. Today, she doesn't need to leave her cosy warm spot in the cafe (it rained most of the weekend), and yet was able to communicate with someone the moment she wanted to do so. This ubiquitous communication also means that we are in a position to "send" a message to someone else without the time-delay (leaving us time to rethink or discard the message) that we would have had 10 years ago.

Posted by Matthew at 07:02 PM

July 09, 2004

Bring your own towel

Here is an article on Microsoft's current cost-cutting efforts. And here's Scoble's opinion. Since going through similar cost-cutting times back at the end of the 80's when working for the (then) hugely successful German computer company Nixdorf, I've always wondered at companies trying to cut back on costs by getting rid of employee "perks" (such as the towels in the locker-room in Microsoft's case). At Nixdorf it was pens and paper. Is that sort of cut-back really effective? Doesn't it make the moral of the employees even worse? I've always been under the impression that corporate bosses don't understand just how important "small" things like free soda are to employees. Cut back on that and you'll cause more waves and more angered talk than if you go for the big money savers. To the cost-cutter it looks as though this is just a small thing you're doing away with - but the "employee value" of free soda or towels in the locker-room far exceeds the "monetary value".

Posted by Matthew at 09:45 AM

July 08, 2004

Weekend break

Off to the North Sea for a weekend break with hopefully lots of fish to eat.

Posted by Matthew at 09:41 PM

July 07, 2004

Bloglines with new functionality

A couple of days I sent the folks at Bloglines an email saying that I would like my subscribed feeds sorted automatically, so that the feeds with new entries were at the top. Well, I received a nice reply stating that this was an interesting idea and I should check back later in the week. Of course they were well ahead of me and today introduced exactly that function and more. Here are the details.

Posted by Matthew at 03:21 PM

July 06, 2004

GeekConsultants launched

You're a manager and understand next to nothing when you hear your geek colleagues talk buzzwords? Yet you need the background information to look those geeks in the eye and say "sure, I understand that. Now have you thought about...". Well then, maybe GeekConsultants is for you.

Posted by Matthew at 08:55 AM

Corporate laundry

Robert Scoble on washing your dirty corprorate laundry in public - or the importance of telling a story. The story he is referring to is this one. A Microsoft employee talks about his experiences on the Microsoft Money Team.

Posted by Matthew at 08:08 AM

July 05, 2004

I'm sorry - it's final

After a good long thought about the current situation and talks with my family, I have decided (unasked) to come out in to the open and state publicly: "Even though I would be flattered at the opportunity and consider myself more than suited for the job, I would not be able to accept the job of German soccer team manager - were I to be asked.". Thank you.

(You will only understand this if you happen to be in Germany at the moment)

Posted by Matthew at 02:23 PM

SAP "could do better"

Frank points to a scheduled meetup of SAP SDN webloggers and has some comments that I can only echo. I don't read the SAP weblogs currently because of the need to signup. That is something that must go.

Posted by Matthew at 10:41 AM

July 04, 2004

Greece wins!

In a major surprise, Greece wins the European soccer championship 2004 by beating favorites and hosts Portugal 1:0. Greece was a 100:1 outsider before the tournament. Congratulations.

Posted by Matthew at 11:16 PM

July 03, 2004

Bye bye NetNewsWire

Now that I'm a bloglines junkie, I really have no more need for my NetNewsWire client. NNW is a great product and I really like it. Even so, I'm now checking out ecto as a - blog editor only - replacement.

Posted by Matthew at 01:18 PM

July 02, 2004

Aggregator switcher

I use an RSS aggregator at work and I have one on my Powerbook at home too. Because I'm obviously interested in reading the same things either at home or at work, this leads to a few problems. Until now I've stayed away from using a web-based aggregator but today I switched. After hearing so many positive comments, I've gone for Bloglines. Looks pretty good so far.

Posted by Matthew at 02:25 PM

July 01, 2004

Foo Camp goes Europe

For the past couple of years I've been ranting about how all the cool geeky conferences take place 1/2 a world away. Slowly I'm being listened too :-) - after the unofficial official announcement of ApacheCon Europe 2005, Tim O'Reilly brings his geek gathering Foo Camp over to this side of the pond. Scheduled to happen in late August in Enschede, this is really exciting. I've been invited.

Posted by Matthew at 05:53 PM

FOAF Camp

The FOAF community is planning an "event" for the 19.-20. August in the Netherlands. Unfortunately I already have plans for those dates. Bummer.

Posted by Matthew at 12:28 PM