I had occasion to remark yesterday about how cool I think Web archiving startup Iterasi is. My wife, owner of our small multimedia company, had discovered that one of the Websites she designed and built for a local sign company had been changed. There was apparently a spat between the owners about money and someone did not want to pay for any more Website changes or updates. They were happy with Robin’s work, they just thought they could save some money on Web maintenance.  You know how that goes, right? Some secretary or intern has a Facebook page and maybe a cool blog and convinces the boss that they can update and maintain the company site for a lot less money. Anyway, the end result is that Robin can no longer use that site in her portfolio because it’s a mess now. Most people I bitched to about this problem told me to try Wayback Machine, an internet archive for researchers, historians, and scholars.  The Wayback Machine is great, but there were no matches for this particular local small business site.  It’s not really that big of  deal, she has plenty of good Websites for her portfolio, but I feel kind of dumb for not archiving it myself.  This whole mess could have been avoided if we had archived the entire site in Iterasi.

Some of you may be unfamiliar with Iterasi and what it does.   I am not going to review it here for you now, but I will tell you it is one of my favorite internet apps ever.  Rick Turoczy described it best when he called it “your own personal Wayback Machine”.   Admittedly, I haven’t used it much lately, but that’s going to change.  I mostly use it to archive my own writing for various outlets and other projects.  You can check out my public archives here.

As fate would have it, call it some sort of cosmic synchronicity if you will, I was reading my favorite local Portland tech blog Silicon Florist today and the headline read: PositivePress: Iterasi uses Web Archiving Technology to Track Traditional and Social Media Coverage.  Sweet!

Basically the company has “retooled” its technology, updated its site and added some functionality for tracking and archiving traditional and social media sites.  The cool part is that it’s using good ‘ol RSS to feed its archiving engine.  According to Iterasi CEO Pete Grillo:

We really didn’t have to look too far to find the best method to monitor and capture interesting stories on the Web. Real Simple Syndication (RSS) is both simple and ubiquitous. It is simple in that it exists on virtually every news source, blog, search engine and social media source. Most browsers identify RSS feeds automatically. RSS has emerged as the de-facto technology used throughout the Internet to pass information. Think of RSS as the silk that makes the Internet into a Web. From simple tools like browser-based readers to complex programming tools like Yahoo Pipes, RSS is the answer to subscribing to information flow in the Open Web.

To learn more about Iterasi and its exciting new changes, be sure to check out the Iterasi blog.  While you’re at it, follow the company on Twitter @Iterasi and definitely go bug CEO @petegrillo for his latest omelette recipe.    His own personal archived pages on Iterasi are pretty darn interesting also, you can pick your way through those here.

Note*** To establish proper context for this post, please read my original editor’s note. To be fair, I should point out that Apple’s NDA clearly did not stop collaboration between iPhone developers, as witnessed by thousands of attendees of iPhone DevCamp 2 from all over the world.

Portland iPhone DevCampers

DAY ONE:

It was a great first day at the iPhone DevCamp 2 satellite event being held in Portland.  Despite being under construction, Jive Software is a first-rate venue.  The setup at Jive includes a spacious main area, where a live satellite feed from the San Francisco main event could be viewed on a giant screen.  There were tables to work at, electricity and wi-fi internet access for camper’s laptops, comfortable seating and access to a well-stocked kitchen.  Separate meeting rooms provided a quiet place to work or chat.  The whole place has an energetic, hip urban vibe about it. Jim Goings and Jive Software are wonderful hosts.  Employees of this local software company should really appreciate these diggs.  When construction is complete on Jive’s downtown Portland headquarters, the renovated old Federal Reserve Building will be something to behold. I can’t wait to see it.

Ten first day attendees arrived shortly after 9:00 am, set up their laptops and introduced themselves.  Developers and coders are not known for being morning people, so fresh coffee and things to eat for breakfast were quite welcome. After some discussions went around the room about what people wanted to gain from this event, it was time for the opening keynote forum from San Francisco via Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro.  Merlin Mann led the forum, alongside Mike Lee and  Brian Fling.  I’m sure it was a fine keynote forum, but it was really hard to follow from a satellite feed with seven other cities and I lost track of what was going on.  That was alright because the Portland team was itching to get started on their entry in the Hackathon contest.  A basic team of four people began discussing how to build procedural wallpapers for the iPhone. Work went on into the late night and other than lunch, the rest of the day was uneventful.

DAY TWO:

A crack team of Portland iPhone geeks decended upon Jive Software, bright-eyed and ready to go for day two of iPhone Devcamp 2. From the night before, much of the XXXXXXXXXXXXX for the Hackathon entry had been built using XXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXX.  The team, led by Andrew Pouloit, assessed what had been done and what was still left to do.  XXXX XXXXXX had XXXXXXXX the XXXXXXXX by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  This was especially difficult because XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  A simple fix was to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. As you may know, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  This a common problem and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX is a real time saver.

So, with the XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, there was still much work to do.  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX need to be adressed when dealing with any XXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  In order to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, you should always XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

So much was learned by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  A XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX should be in every coder’s vocabulary.  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXX are reliable fixes for a problem that is shared by many when trying to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

By now, the XXXXXXXX and XXXXXXX were XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.  A basic work flow for  XXXXXXXXXXXX is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, according to this group’s experience.  So much was learned by XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

HACKATHON:

Portland wins the Hackathon for best app among the cities attending the event via satellite!!! Details are still being discussed about what I can say about it.  Stay tuned.

SPECIAL THANKS:

When our original event venue became unavailable  shortly after we announced our event to the world, Rick Turoczy of Silicon Florist put the word out for us and the very next day, we had three offers.  Jive Software stepped in right away and said we could use their offices.  They not only offered their space, but made sure we felt welcome, even making event posters for us. We should feel fortunate to live where there is such support for the tech scene and give these people some love whenever we can.  Thanks to all of the attendees for making this a successful event.  Next year’s event should be even bigger and better.

]]> http://dougcoleman.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/iphone-devcamp-2-wrap-up-nda-compliant-post/feed/ 5 dougcoleman Portland iPhone DevCampers http://dougcoleman.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/iphone-devcamp2-pdx-being-held-at-jive/ http://dougcoleman.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/iphone-devcamp2-pdx-being-held-at-jive/#comments Fri, 25 Jul 2008 04:02:45 +0000 dougcoleman http://dougcoleman.wordpress.com/?p=202 ]]>

I am excited to announce that iPhone DevCamp 2 PDX has an new venue! Thanks to Jim Goings and the wonderful people at Jive Software, iPhone DevCamp 2 PDX will be held August 2nd and 3rd at Jive’s Stark St. offices in Downtown Portland.  Here is what the space has to offer:

• 2 projectors (more if we really need it) – each connected to a MacMini (or your own computer)
• Wi-Fi with fast, redundant Internet feeds
• Seating for 40 (but probably less once tables, etc are setup)
• Beverage cooler  with drinks
• Coffee
• Food is still being planned and people will not go hungry
  

Additionally, there will be a meet and greet on Friday evening August 1st, from 6pm to 8pm at the Living Room Theaters across the street from Jive and Powell’s Bookstore.

I would like to thank those people who responded quickly with venues and ideas for help when we were in crisis.  I would personally like to thank Rick Turoczy of Silicon Florist for spreading the word on his site and on Twitter when I lost all of my followers suddenly. Rick is a rockstar in this town, and a great supporter of the tech scene here.  You should follow him: @turoczy.

For more information, go to: iphonedevcamppdx.pbwiki.org.  Be sure to register early on Upcoming and look for updates on this site.

I know my thousands (ok, maybe a dozen) of readers will not know what to do this week when I go camping and become unplugged.  Don’t worry people, I’ve got you covered.

First of all, if you live in Portland, for god’s sake people go outside!  We get precious little sunshine around these parts and if you are as pasty as I am, you need it.  Geeks can find wi-fi in many outdoor locations in Portland.  Or better yet, give yourself a break from it.  The night after I went offline for an entire day once, I slept like a baby.  But if you just can’t pry yourself away from the ‘ol “Google Box”, here are some cool things to do this week:

1. Join my club!-  PCC Multimedia Club needs new blood.  This summer we are volunteering at FreeGeek to build computers for needy students and have big plans for this fall.  You do not need to be a student to join.  Contact Greg Walters, PCC Multimedia Club Coordinator and get started.  I hear the club President is really cool!

2. Geeky Gatherings-  Like I said before, Portland is a great place to be if you are into multimedia/tech/internet.  There are at least three events that I would go to if I were going to be in town:

Substance Summit ,  ( Wednesday July 9th, 3:30pm, Lucky Lab beer hall )
The first in a series of conversations with the Portland creative community to help each other understand how we can be more inclusive, collaborative and effective.

CHIFOO Meeting: Understanding the Multi-User Experience ( Wednesday July 9th, 6:30pm, Techtronix Building 38)                                                                                                                                                      Presented by Jen Young & Matt Arnold, Second Story.  “Jen and Matt , members of the stellar Second Story Studios team, will show how understanding people’s needs and tendencies—and the learning curve for people that must be managed in multi-user experiences—can be squared with innovations offered by ever-changing technology and hardware, design obstacles and opportunities, and the desire to wow visitors while offering designs that are appropriate to the content.”

iPhone 3G & App Store Launch Party: ( Friday July 11th, 6-9pm, Platial, Inc. )

“In celebration of the iPhone 3G & App Store launch, join members of the Portland iPhone community…”
* Check out the new iPhone 3G
* See demos of App Store applications
* Meet members of the local iPhone community

3. Investigate the Portland geek scene:  Portland is literally crawling with ambitious, creative and talented geeks.  There are several local blogs and websites I have discovered lately and read every day.

Silicon Florist is my favorite local blog lately, and not just because they used some of my coverage of Demolicious, but because they cover Portland tech news that may slip through the cracks of Read Write Web, TechCrunch, etc..  The “…Willamette Week for the Portland tech scene”, if you will.  Rick Turoczy, a big player in the Portland tech scene, writes this blog.

Portland is Awesome is …”a celebration of the many fun and interesting things in Portland, Oregon. Many of the Portland blogs just seemed too corporate, so I thought it would be cool to start a new group blog where people can blog about anything related to Portland. It doesn’t even have to be “awesome”; we can talk about anything happening in Portland.”  Super-blogger Dawn Foster writes this blog and also writes another great local blog, Fast Wonder.

PDX Web Innovators is “…a technology-agnostic group where you can meet like-minded web people without the excuse of a networking-only event.”  They do great things for the Portland web scene.  I am looking forward to their next event and using their great website resources.

Twitter is how I keep in touch with what is going on in the PDX  tech scene.  Some my local favorites are @brampitoyo (this kid has his finger on the pulse of the PDX scene), @marshallk, @geekygirldawn, @turoczy, @caseorganic, and others.  Check out my page and see who I am following.  My very favorite so far is @corvida

4. Put up a page or join a group on PortlandNeighborhood.com:  “Portland neighborhood social network. Meet other Portlanders, view Portland pictures & videos, join a group, have a discussion, and more!”  This is a very new Portland site and has much potential.

5.  Leave Me a Comment:  Let me know what you think of my blog.  Let me know what you would like to hear about in this blog.  If this is all unreadable crap, let me know that too.

There you have it, something geeky and fun to do until my next post.  Look for more good stuff next week.