Steve Mullen's Blog

What To Ask Candidates In Job Interviews (Without Being Insulting And Wasting Your Time)

Steve Mullen — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:31:25 +0000

Excellent discourse on what type of questions a manager or team lead should ask and not ask when interviewing a cnadidate. Thanks to Esther Schindler for the link.

Best Practice: Group Policy for WSUS

Steve Mullen — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:16:52 +0000

Great article “Best Practice: Group Policy for WSUS” by Alan Burchill. Also see his two part AD/Group Policy series:

My Thoughts on IBM Connect 2013

Steve Mullen — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:32:47 +0000

I, like many others, had trepidations about the change of conference name from Lotusphere to IBM Connections and the implied change of focus for the conference. Our worries were unfounded. There were many technical sessions and an increase in the number of XPages sessions.

For me the conference started before I left MCO as I got my Mat Newman hug at the Meirs Shuttle stop. It was really great to meet the many people I only knew from social media and many that I met last year at my first in person Lotusphere. There were many others I wanted to meet but unfortunately our paths never crossed.

IBM Connect 2013 signaled the end of a number of Lotusphere traditions/long time attendees:

1 – The last This Week in Lotus was recorded before a live audience and I was fortunate to be part of that audience. Many thanks to Stuart McIntire and Darren Duke. TWiL will be missed.

2 – Ed Brill announced that he is changing roles within IBM next month and moving to IBM Enterprise Mobile. You will be missed Ed. Many thanks for all you did for the IBM Lotus community.

3 – This was likely the last Lotusphere/IBM Connect conference for Tom Duff. We’ll miss you Tom.

I attended every session I had scheduled and they were all good to excellent. Only once did I leave a session to go to an alternate and that was due to a poorly entitled session (ID310 – Bringing IBM Connections and Microsoft SharePoint to Typical Business Users). The speaker, who I knew, saw me and came over to chat. It then became clear that this was not a session for me. As it turned out, this session was NOT about Connections.

Some of our team from DAI had a good time a Splitsville. Dinner, drinks, and bowling courtesy of CDW.

Oh, and it was neat seeing my name on a presentation slide:

Many thanks to everyone who made this conference the success it was!

What others had to say about IBM Connect 2013:

Thank you to the people who made IBM Connect 2013 a hit

The Events of This Week

A Week in Florida. I Have an Idea

My IBM Connect 2013 Highlights

CONNECT 2013 – GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

A Compilation of Links to IBM Connect 2013 Information and Resources

Steve Mullen — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 19:05:38 +0000

A Compilation of Links to IBM Connect 2013 Information and Resources

This a list of links to information and resources for IBM Connect 2013. This list will be updated as new information is published.

Official IBM Connect 2013 Site

Andy Donaldson’s Guide ”Andy’s Guide to Whatever We’re Calling It”

The Great Geek Challenge

Farewell Blogger Open… Thanks for the Memories - alas, 2012 was the last one. May be replaced by bowling at Downtown Disney.

Planning for #IBMConnect – Maps, Apps & Hotel Points

Mat Newman’s totally unofficial, totally unsupported IBM Connect 2013 session database

Book your Mears shuttle before travelling to Connect, else arrange shared cab.

Soccer Saturday

IBM Connect 2013 on Vivastream

IdoCheckin is here for Lotusphere and IBM Connect 2013

Chris Miller Pro Tip: iPad tip for being productive at IBM Connect and Lotusphere 2013

Only 10% of Email Legitimate

Steve Mullen — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 17:44:47 +0000

At work we use a pair of Cisco Ironport Email Security appliances. In September, only 10% of the email message we received were legitimate. During September, we received over 3.5 million email messages and, of those, only 352 thousand, or 10%, were delivered to staff mail boxes. The rest were spam or contained malicious content and were blocked.

We sent over 194 thousand email messages during the month.

I can’t imagine how we would cope without a spam filter.

Harmon.ie Mobile

Steve Mullen — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:12:01 +0000

Harmon.ie Mobile has been officially released. It is currently available in two versions, a free Lite version and the Pro version ($19.99). An Enterprise licensing option will be available at a later date. I had the opportunity to test an early release of the Pro version back in January of this year and was favorably impressed. This link – http://harmon.ie/Products/Mobile – provides a comparison of the versions and links to additional information. A TechCruch article can be found here – http://techcrunch.com/2012/05/07/another-move-to-make-the-ipad-enterprise-friendly-harmon-ie-offers-mobile-sharepoint-collaboration/. Two independent reviews can be found here – http://www.21apps.com/social-business/harmon-ie-mobile-beta-review/ and here – http://chrisjhowell.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/harmon-ie-for-ipad-review/.

Coping with Email Overload

Steve Mullen — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:00:57 +0000

Peter Bregman recently posted an excellent article “Coping with Email Overload“. I’m going to try this. Not sure what interval will work best for me; perhaps start with checking once an hour. I’ll process whatever has come in since the last check and then get out. If an email will require a long, detailed response, perhaps I’ll draft the response outside of the mail platform (IBM Lotus Notes in my case). I know that I’ll sometimes have to reference saved emails during the off period. I’ll have to be strong and just go in and the get out.

A lot stuff I save in email folders should be in a file share or SharePoint. Collaboration anyone? That’s just another workflow/work process change I need to make.

I know it will be hard to resist the temptation to constantly check email during off hours on my iDevices. Lord, give me strength!

Oh yes, be sure to turn off email alerts in your mail client and SmartPhone.

Sametime Meetings for iPad

Steve Mullen — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:29:34 +0000

I used the app for a Sametime meeting room meeting with one of my staff this afternoon. From my iPad, I was able to share a document I had pre-loaded in the meeting room with her and she was able to share her screen and I was able to see it just fine. We used Skype for audio; I used Skype on the iPad. Sweet!

App store: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibm-sametime-meetings-viewer/id516570259?mt=8

Blog Post: http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/insidelotusblog.nsf/dx/sametime-meetings-for-ipad

Documentation: http://www-10.lotus.com/ldd/stwiki.nsf/xpViewCategories.xsp?lookupName=Using%20Sametime%20Meetings%20for%20iPad

Short movie shows you how you can use the app for IBM Sametime on your iPad: http://youtu.be/JIx1uRXCS3o

Reflections on My First Lotusphere

Steve Mullen — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:49:46 +0000

After attending the past two Lotusphere conferences virtually, I was finally able to attend in person. This year DAI sent seven staff to Lotusphere. I registered early and booked into the Dolphin. I like to stay at conference headquarters hotel whenever possible; I’m glad I did this time. I read as much first time attendee information as I could and am glad I did – thanks Andy and Sharon! I purchased a portable charger as Andy suggested and used it ever day! I even posted a blog entry with links to Lotusphere resources, it was largely for my own reference but hope other’s found it useful. I took the time during the week before Lotusphere to plan my schedule and blogged it and, of course, added it to my Notes calendar – glad I did.

I was fortunate to make it in time to take the 2012 Newbie Tour of Lotusphere, hosted by The Turtle. This was a very valuable and informative tour. When I was making my way to breakfast, bleary eyed, Monday morning, I was glad I took the tour.

As many others have mentioned in postings, the Opening General Session was vastly improved over last year. Michael J Fox and Dr. Burns from Children’s Hospital of Boston were excellent. I made the General Session on Wednesday and Tim Berners-Lee was excellent as was Manoj Saxeona, Watson Software GM.

The majority of the sessions I attended were excellent and I only left one session early. I was bummed at missing UK Night and the Great Geek Challenge but other responsibilities prevailed; I’ll definitely make them next year.

WiFi was hit and miss; mostly miss. My iPhone battery held up well with the help of the portable charger.

I missed Seaworld due to a previously planned dinner engagement … an excellent meal at Il Mulino’s though.

I caught Mat Newman flu (that’s my story and I’m sticking with it) that knocked me out on Thursday. I did make it to “Ask the Product Managers” and “GURUpalooza”, picked up my box lunch (which turned out to be lunch and dinner along with some peanut butter crackers I brought with me), and made it through the CGS – anyone for Geoduck? Really disappointed I wasn’t able to make it to the Blogger Open.

I was really pleased to meet many of the people I only knew through Twitter, Blogs, and email.

I did make it to Kimonos a couple nights.

Last time a carry a laptop on any trip.

I’m definitely ready for Lotusphere 2013!

My Lotusphere Agenda

Steve Mullen — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +0000

My Agenda for Lotusphere 2012

Sunday

2012 Newbie Tour Of Lotusphere
4:00 PM in the Dolphin Rotunda.

NFL Playoff – N.Y. Giants (10-7) at Green Bay (15-1)
4:30 PM – Somewhere

Welcome Reception
6:30 – 9:00 PM
Poolside at the WALT DISNEY WORLD SWAN and DOLPHIN Resort

Monday

Opening General Session
8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Dolphin Northern-Southern Hemisphere

=====================

BP202 Cloud Chasing 101: Planning and preparing for your move to Cloud Collaboration
Speakers: Marie Scott
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
DL S. Hemisphere III

=====================

ID222 Exceptional Work Experience – Collaboration in Context with IBM Connection
Speakers:Mac Guidera, Jon Brunn
S. Hem IV -V – Monday 01:00 PM – 02:00 PM

INV301 IBM’s Social Business Strategy
Speakers: Douglas Heintzman, Andrew Warzecha
S. Hem I – Monday 01:00 PM – 02:00 PM

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INV101 Strategy in Action: Messaging and Collaboartion
Speaker: Ed Brill
DL N. Hemisphere A-E - Monday 02:15 PM – 03:15 PM

=====================

ID212 IBM Sametime Voice and Video: Understanding the Deployment Options
Speaker: Pat Galvin
TBD – Monday 03:45 PM – 04:45 PM

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SHOW301 Leveraging the Sametime Proxy to support mobile users and web application
Speakers: Brendan Murray, Anthony Payne
Swan Osprey – Monday 04:30 PM – 06:15 PM

INV209 Strategy in Action: UCC & IBM Sametime
Speaker: John Delpizzo
N. Hem A -E – Monday 05:00 PM – 06:00 PM

FS216 Social App Throwdown
Speakers: Doug Cox, Kevin Cavanaugh
N. Hem A-C – Monday 05:30 PM – 06:30 PM

=====================

UK NIGHT @ Lotusphere
Shulas’ Lounge, Dolphin Hotel
8pm-10pm, Monday 16th January

Tuesday

BP102 User Blast with Mat Newman
Speaker: Mat Newman
S. Hem IV -V – Tuesday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

=====================

NERD101 Spark Ideas, featured by the Nerd Girls
Speaker: Gabriella Davis
Swan Mockingbird 1 – 2 – Tuesday 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

ID221 What’s New in IBM Connections 4
Speakers: Suzanne Livingston, David Brooks
Dolphin – S. Hem I – Tuesday 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

=====================

ID101 Whats New in IBM Lotus Domino 8.5.3 and Beyond
Speaker: Saurabh Calla
N. Hem A -E – Tuesday 01:30 PM – 02:30 PM

=====================

ID219 IBM Sametime & Microsoft – A Full Stack Integration Story
Speaker: Olivier Bernin
Swan – Mockingbird 1 & 2 – Tuesday 02:15 PM – 03:15 PM

=====================

BP110 A Performance Boost for your IBM Lotus Notes Client
Speakers: Florian Vogler, CTO, Francie Tanner
S. Hem III – Tuesday 03:30 PM – 04:30 PM

ID213 What’s New in IBM Sametime
Speakers: Brian Ricker, Marlon O. Machado
Dolphin S. Hemisphere 1 – Tuesday 03:30 PM – 04:30 PM

=====================

BP201 Assemble ‘n Go: Integrate Data and Directories with IBM Tivoli Directory Integrator
Speakers: Marie Scott, Thomas Duff
Mockingbird 1 & 2 – Tuesday 04:45 PM – 05:45 PM

=====================

GEEK101 SpeedGeeking!
Speaker: Assorted Speakers
Pacific Hall – Tuesday 06:15 PM – 07:30 PM

=====================

The Great Geek Challenge
Tuesday 17th January
Fountain Restaurant (Bottom of the Dolphin escalators)
8pm – 10pm

Wednesday

IBM Sametime 8.5.2 Administration Guide Book Signing
Gabriella Davis, Marie L. Scott, Thomas Duff
9:15am-10:00am

=====================

ID231 eDiscovery and Compliance in Real Time Collaboration
Speaker: Mark Sheridan
SW 7-8 – Wednesday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

ID234 Trusting Your Data to IBM LotusLive Notes
Speaker: David Kern
Dolphin S. Hem II – Wednesday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

=====================

ID117 What’s new in IBM Lotus Notes Traveler
Speakers: Bill Wimer, Paul Miller
S. Hem II – Wednesday 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

ID235 Demystifying IBM LotusLive Notes Administration
Speakers:Scott Souder; Chris Baker
DL S. Hemisphere III – Wednesday 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

=====================

BP301 Leveraging all the entitled software you never knew you had with license subscription
Speakers: Gabriella Davis, Paul Mooney
N. Hem E – Wednesday 01:30 PM – 02:30 PM

BP105 tick.tick.tick.tick. #! It’s time to Evangelize, Educate and Energize your users to Get Productive, Get Social and Do Business!
Speaker: Mat Newman
S. Hem IV -V – Wednesday 03:00 PM – 04:00 PM

=====================

BP205 IBM Sametime Pick ‘n’Mix: System Designs That Fit
Speaker: Gabriella Davis
Pelican 1 & 2 – Wednesday 04:15 PM – 05:15 PM

ID220 IBM Sametime Unified Telephony Lite: Communicating with Devices
Speaker: Binh Q. Nguyen
Swan Mockingbird – Wednesday 04:15 PM – 05:15 PM

FS216 Social App Throwdown
Speakers: Kevin Cavanaugh; Doug Cox
DL N. Hemisphere A-C – Wednesday 05:30 PM – 06:30 PM

=====================

Lotusphere 2012 Party
Wednesday, 7:00 – 10:30 PM
SeaWorld Orlando

Thursday

TWiL show at Lotusphere 2012
8:00-9:45am in one of the Dolphin Europe rooms (exact location to be confirmed)

SHOW103 How to use InstallShield Tuner for Lotus Notes
Speaker: Andy Donaldson
SW Osprey 1-2 – Thursday 08:00 AM – 09:45 AM

BP206 Your Social Business advantage: using IBM Sametime to integrate telephony, audio and video; tying people and customers together in powerful ways
Speaker: David Price
Mockingbird 1 & 2 – Thursday 08:30 AM – 09:30 AM

=====================

ID108 Virtual Realities: IBM Lotus Client Software in a Virtual Environment
Speaker: Sarah E. Lachance
Osprey 1 & 2 – Thursday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

GURU101 GURUpalooza!
Speaker: Assorted Speakers
SW 5 –10 – Thursday 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

=====================

ASK102 Ask the Product Managers
Speaker: Assorted Speakers
SW 5 –10 – Thursday 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

ID111 New Single Sign-on Options for IBM Lotus Notes & Domino
Speaker: Jane B. Marcus
S. Hem IV -V – Thursday 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

=====================

ASK101 Ask the Developers
Speaker: Assorted Speakers
SW 5 – 10 – Thursday 01:30 PM – 02:45 PM

=====================

Closing General Session
DL N. Hemisphere A-S. HemisphereIV-V – Thursday 03:15 PM – 04:30 PM

=====================

2012 Blogger Open!
Thursday after the Lotusphere Closing General Session
Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course