Google Mini + docs == Domain Library

Google servers have been around for some time & the mini is a low cost version that handles modest numbers of documents (50-300k). More advanced aversions like Google OneBox support tight integration with middleware from the big players (Cognos, Oracle, Salesforce.com, SAS, etc.).

Combine the Mini (~$4,000) or Google OneBox (~$30,000) with an open source CMS and get a domain specific site for almost nothing.

I can think of organizations that would spend $30,000 just deciding which $4,000 box to buy before they spent $500,000 on a proprietary CMS!

Google Calendar & Stuff

Google has released their long-awaited calendar. It can be used as part of a larger offering, as outlined below.

Here is a simplified view of how I plan on using the calendar:

• Blaine's Calendar :: for my use
• Blaine's Work Calendar :: for exposing work issues for to co-workers
• Blaine's Recration Calendar :: shared with people I want to co-plan biking, flicks, dinner, etc.
  
• Work Calendar :: shared by all co-workers
  

I like Google Talk, but find that it often confuses people because I use multiple machines & it can look like I'm available when I'm not (or don't want to be) unless I spend a lot of time managing my Google Talk visibility.

The Google anouncement (critical text):
This special beta test lets you give Gmail, Google's webmail service, to every user at your domain. Gmail for your domain is hosted by Google, so there's no hardware or software for you to install or maintain.

• Gmail - 2 gigabytes of storage and search tools that help your users find information fast. Instant messaging from right inside their accounts.
• Google Talk - Users can call or send instant messages to their contacts for free – anytime, anywhere in the world.
• Google Calendar (coming soon) - Users can organize their schedules and share events and calendars with others. Learn more
• Control Panel - Easily manage user accounts, aliases, mailing lists, and chat settings.

Editing this post was a real pain because neither blooger nor gmail (both owned by google) can handle html properly. Cutting and pasting between them is an exercise for the foolish. [If you ar foolish, as I am, try pasting to plain text then copying again to the gmail or blogger target.]

Ultra-fast release cycles @ myspace

Getting frequency of release cycles right is hard.
Tension between the OSS pressure for frequent releases and IT department's desire for releases once or twice a year is an issue for companies like Red Hat and JBoss. (RH just purchased the latter.)
The mylar project at eclipse is headed in a different direction. They are inspired by things like the myspace model, in which a two week cycle is considered long.
My take:
Anyone who wants to be adopted by the under 30 set, better figure out myspace. A combination of ajax applications (not pages) and eclipse desktop clients with automatic updates allows a balance between IT and user needs.

Red Hat buys JBoss

Free software company worth $420 million.
Red Hat, a company which sells and supports a branded version of Linux, with close partnerships with companies like Oracle and IBM, announced its decision to buy JBoss, another OSS company with a world class application server. JBoss development is facilitated with an eclipse based IDE. Ed Burnett published a rough transcript of the announcement, which has interesting comments on OSS in general.