These are the general notes of the ConvergeSouth session discussion led by Dave Winer on October 8, 2005. Unfortunately, I was not able to capture every tool mentioned. Please add what I missed through adding comments, and I will be sure to add them as updates to this entry.
The question was raised that there should be a way to annotate podcasts. Why is that a problem? Perhaps you can give the podcast a short URL.
Consider that you don't skim podcasts, and that can be a good thing. With podcasts, you have good intonation, but there is a trade off in other ways.
How do you use OPML? Some ways were mentioned. For example, Google announced an RSS reader yesterday. You can upload your subscription list with OPML. OPML is also good for creating blogrolls, creating outliners (presentations, business plans, directories), and anything that requires a hierarchy.
In questions about OPML, people get confused between format (e.g, driving on the right hand side of the road) and software (e.g. a car, or a design for car).
Ed Cone: Feels limitations with his blogging software. Wants to do audio, video, etc. I want it all to be a simple mouseclick - including recording audio and video.
Austin, a clinical psychologist, just started a blog. One person asked, "Have you had the blood initation yet?" :)
In the software design business, you get trade-offs, including features that are easy/difficult to use/create.
One person suggested an interactive "how to" about creating a blog would be useful.
Features need to be intuitive. For example, Dave could not find the place to open the trunk of his rented car (the latch may actually be inside the glove compartment). Why stick the button in the glove compartment? RSS reader at Google is a similar instance - no human being may have used it before launch!
An "about section" is important on a blog.
Mention of blogger groups in North Carolina, Charlotte, SC, and Atlanta.
Problems with Blogger were mentioned, yet there were some in the audience who have had positive experiences using it.
Blogging software: Movable Type, WordPress, TextPattern, Drupal.
Evil Genius Chronicles: Loves WordPress. Easy to set up and administer! If you don't have a laptop, you can use a kiosk. Development community is good. Hacked own template (PHP).
WordPress also has a hosting service.
Paul Jones: Uses WordPress. Also uses BlogSome (from Ireland). Under the covers, it creates too many databases for users. Easy to have great modules. Development community very good.
Winer: Two kinds of bloggers. Kind that loves to tinker. Kind that needs ease-of-use.
Discussion on how to set up blog that allows you to learn as you go and ramp up the more you learn? Or, customized so that it fits the needs of exactly what you need?
Some have had positive experiences with AudioBlogger. You have a # enabled on a blog and can leave voice mail on a blog. Also, Herb Everett mentioned citizen journalists update blogs through sending emails at the Greensboro News and Record.
We need a categorization and search tool of this world that may not exist yet. Technorati is on the right track, Clusty.com is on the right track. Memeorandom is AWESOME. Chris Pirillo has something coming to watch for.
There is a need to publicize podcasts and blogs, as brought up by a gentleman with a podcast entitled 501c3cast.
Also, a discussion about universities helping out with the development of these new technologies, including using grants to raise money. However, you need to be careful about developing your own tools if others have developed equivalent tools or better - why not partner and work with those who already do it well?
No matter how good a blog is, you skim, argued Dave. Blogs, by nature, may be ephemeral - like email or even unsaved Microsoft Word documents!
Kevin, thanks for the notes on this session. Two additions: the Textpattern blog tool is available from http://textpattern.com; and all the NC blogger meetups are listed at http://blogtogether.org.
Posted by: Anton Zuiker | October 08, 2005 at 11:32 PM
It was great to have you in our fair city. Also, I'm already using a blogging platform that does all the things you mentioned.
Posted by: Billy The Blogging Poet | October 08, 2005 at 11:40 PM