Collab-Or-Ate

Just when I had accepted the term “Web 2.0″ was something to acknowledge and work with, there are now rumblings of Web 3.0. So soon! Are we ready? Well, as with 2.0, 3.0 isn’t anything new, it is just the next logical step in terms of internet technologies: Web 3.0 = the Semantic Web hits the NYTimes.

I got a BlackBerry Pearl. After happily living with my Ericsson T68i for about 4 years, even I had to admit it was “virtually an antique.” It was time to upgrade. My criteria were:

• A “candybar” style phone (a non-flip phone). I hate flip phones. They are too thick (ok, except for the Razr) and are designed to be worn on your body, which is something I would never, ever do.
• The phone must work in Europe (GSM).
• The phone must be able to check email. These days that means it must be capable of checking SSL POP mail (such as gmail). My T68i wasn’t able to do any SSL encryption, so I lost contact with my email about 2 years ago.
• Address book syncing between my computer and the phone. At this point, my address book on my phone only had phone numbers and on my computer all the phone numbers were out of date.
• Calendar syncing would be nice.

My technical advisor (my husband) recommended either the Motorola Q or the Pearl. I went with the Pearl, in part because I am not a fan of “Microsoft’s familiar and trusted Windows Mobile software.” I also did not anticipate ever integrating the phone with Exchange Server. I am very happy with my choice:

• It takes about 5 seconds to set up simple email checking (e.g. gmail). It takes about 10 seconds to set up more complex email checking (e.g. SSL POP corporate email).
• You can customize phone, email, IM, and SMS alert profiles to your heart’s content.
• The interface isn’t terrific, but it is OK.
• I am enjoying having my calendar much more than I thought I would.
• Google Maps for BlackBerry is very cool.
• The phone quality (what? this thing is actually used as a phone?) is good.

If you are curious about the Pearl, I have a nice treat for you. I have the experience of syncing the phone with both a Mac (using PocketMac, syncing with Address Book and iCal) and a PC (using BB’s Desktop Manager, syncing with Lotus Notes 7’s address book, calendar, and tasks). Read my later post for my issues with both synchronizations options.

On Monday, Paul Lamere and I gave a guest lecture at Boston University, for a course being taught by Bruce Hoppe on Internet Technologies and Web Programming. Very enjoyable! I spoke about social networking tools and Paul talked about music, photo websites, and mash-ups. Admittedly, his topic was more appealing to the undergraduates. But anyway…..

During our presenation, we asked a few questions to get an idea of what kind of familiarity the students had with the so-called Web 2.0 technologies. Their answers are a good reminder that there are generational differences and not everyone on the web is hanging out in the same places!

How many of you have uploaded a photo to Flickr? [5 out of 50]

How many of you have heard of Last.FM? [8 out of 50]

How many of you have heard of LinkedIn.com? [0 out of 50]

How many of you have a MySpace page or a Facebook page? [50 out of 50. Yes, 100%!]