E L S U A ~ A KM Blog Thinking Outside The Inbox by Luis Suarez

Meebo Extension for Flock

I couldn’t help it. I just couldn’t. On a time where I was almost on the verge of giving up on Instant Messaging altogether here comes a really nifty productivity tip that I couldn’t ignore. On the contrary. Some time ago you would remember how I have weblogged about one particular offering in the Instant Messaging space called Meebo.In fact, you may have noticed how, so far, it is one of the most read weblog posts here in elsua. Well, as I have continued to like the service more and more by the day, specially when I am away from my own computer travelling or working in whatever other remote environment, Meebo has increasingly become one of the tools that I have been making use of in order to keep in touch with those folks. So, as I said, it looks like I may not be giving up on Instant Messaging that quickly after all.

Specially even more when it looks like one of my other favourite applications, my default web browser, Flock, has been enhanced with a new extension that would actually help you make use of Meebo in the sidebar as opposed to its own window. That is right. Tones has just released an extension that allows you to integrate Meebo into your Flock browser (Or FireFox for that matter) so that you can browse around at the same time that your buddy lists are available to you at all times without the need of having to install additional software nor work with a separate browser window. It is all nicely integrated into a single experience.

Download Squad, 21talks and Techcrunch have got all of them some very helpful reviews of how it actually works. And, of course, I had to try it out and, like it has been mentioned already it, it works in exactly the same way as advertised. Quite nicely. With this new extension you would be able to access the IM protocols that Meebo was putting together already: AOL / ICQ, Yahoo, Google Talk / Jabber and MSN, but all of them nicely embedded on a sidebar so that you can continue browsing the Internet without losing eye contact with your buddies. As I said, pretty interesting capability that would certainly make Flock a truly Web 2.0 browser, because with extensions like ChatZilla, we now have the capability of collaborating and sharing knowledge both in real-time having IM and .I.R.C. capabilities and the standard offline capabilities of working with other asynchronous tools, like wikis, weblogs, social bookmarks, photo sharing, etc. etc.

Thus there you go, if you would want to increase even further your overall Web 2.0 experience you may want to give a try to Flock’s Meebo extension. I have been testing it out myself for the last few hours and I can certainly recommended.

Tags: Tones, Meebo, Flock, FireFox, Flock Extension, FireFox-Extension, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, ICQ, Jabber, Google Talk, Instant Messaging, IRC

Social Network Tools and Their Business Application: Blogs, Podcasting, Instant Messaging, RSS and Wikis – London – September 2006

A couple of weeks ago I was talking about the upcoming Collaboration Technologies Conference 2006 that took place in Boston a few days ago, and which, by the way, I will start commenting on some of the sessions now that most of the folks I follow up on seem to have finished sharing their views on the event. So today I thought I would also let you know about another upcoming interesting event that I am sure quite a few folks over here would like to know as well. I am not sure I would be able to attend it but I would think that plenty of other folks may be interested in it.

Thus here we go. Through a couple of colleagues at work I have just received an e-mail about an upcoming event taking place in London, UK, around the topics of weblogs, podcasting, instant messaging, RSS and wikis .Yes, indeed, about the whole social software pack.

The event is sponsored by Unicom and you can find more details about the event over here: Social Network Tools and their Business Application: Blogs, Podcasting, Instant Messaging, RSS and Wikis. As I mentioned already, the event will be taking place on Ethan21st of September in London and here is the initial write up about the conference:

"The payoff for the new collaborative tools is that they support workers in doing the right things and thus producing a better end result. However, in some contexts, such as collaboration with partners an d other third parties, increased openness and collaboration raise anxiety about issues of security and confidentiality.

This conference looks at the new technologies in a business setting, with overview presentations and case studies. There will be a strong emphasis on the practical aspects. You will find out the different applications of each technology and their relative merits and drawbacks, and how to choose between increasing numbers of new offerings.

The conference is chaired by David Green, founder of the Green Knowledge Community and himself knowledgeable in these technologies"

And here you have got the list of benefits from the event:

• "Learn how Blogs and WIKIs change the traditional models of managing knowledge and how they can support purposeful social networks
• Hear about the practices of those who are achieving real business success in online social networks
• Find out the role of podcasting and RSS feeds to target customers with clearly defined interests
• Explore the benefits and downside of business use of Instant Messaging
• Gain practical advice on dealing with threats to security and confidentiality"

Not bad, eh? Yes, I know, on the contrary. What I really like about the event itself, and why I would feel sorry if I cannot make it, which I am not sure is going to happen, is the pretty impressive list of speakers they have piled up for the event, with folks like KM thinkers Euan Semple,  and David Gurteen, amongst others. Apparently, it even looks like the event is organised / supervised by David himself. Good stuff.

Thus if you are going to be around in London during that time I can certainly recommend the event if you would want to know how Knowledge Management is surely moving into KM 2.0 in the Enterprise 2.0 world. Oh, and if you get to go and would want to share your thoughts on how it went feel free to drop by and append a couple of comments over here or just blog the event yourself on your own weblog, something I am sure you were probably thinking about doing it already, anyway, but just in case… heh

Tags: Unicom, David Gurteen, Euan Semple, Knowledge Management, KM, KM 2.0, Social Networks, Social Software, Web 2.0, Social Networking, Wikis, Weblogs, Podcasts