I remember over a year ago starting to look at things representative of the now-overused catch phrase, Web 2.0. From the incorporation of user generated content, coding with AJAX and/or Ruby on Rails, and a variety of other aspects of online development and standards that, in general, were aimed at improving the user experience. Along the way, the term was somehow bastardized and has become some glorious catch phrase. With a biochemistry background, I relate the way people use the term ‘Web 2.0′ to the way a mechanic used the term ‘molecules’ in a conversation with one of my Organic Chemistry professors; when the catalytic converter was released, offering a cleaner exhaust system for cars, my professor was really curious how the whole thing worked. He asked the mechanic what was in the catalytic converter that helped clean the emissions - ‘Molecules,’ the mechanic replied, somewhat excited and matter-of-factly (for those of you unable to appreciate the humour, almost everything on the planet is made from molecules, and to a chemist, the notion of something containing molecules is hardly exciting or a useful piece of information). It’s almost like a cook asking what was in that pasta dish and you telling him ‘noodles.’ Anyway, the term has become a bit diluted, and this is a great article to chuckle over. From the article:

-Putting up a Web site for your company is not Web 2.0.

-adding a “feedback” page or e-mail address to contact someone in the firm is not the same as user-generated content, nor is it Web 2.0.

-offering an intranet or a portal your customers can use to track information is not Web 2.0.

-hosting a blog written by a staff member is not Web 2.0, even if they continually refer to Web 2.0.

-offering a way for people to buy things online is not Web 2.0.

-using one of the Google search products as your own site’s search engine is not Web 2.0.

-running Linux or other open source software in your network is not Web 2.0.

-it’s not Web 2.0 just because your marketing person calls it Web 2.0.

-an e-mail newsletter sent to a subscriber list, even if they use Web 2.0, is not Web 2.0.

Amazon’s announcement that the online retailer will begin to offer digital music should come as no suprise to anyone. The company has a huge reach, users well versed in electronic transaction (being the primary focus of the company), and the market is anything but saturated. The big news that comes with the announcement is that the music purchased from the digital music store will be DRM-free - MP3-only downloads that are playable on any music device the purchaser wishes to use. I hope Apple and Microsoft are paying attention.

“Our MP3-only strategy means all the music that customers buy on Amazon is always DRM-free and plays on any device,” Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, said in a statement. “We’re excited to have EMI joining us in this effort and look forward to offering our customers MP3s from amazing artists like Coldplay, Norah Jones and Joss Stone.”

EMI’s CEO, Eric Nicoli, released a statement suggesting the new Amazon.com offering will be good for music buyers, and I agree. With competition in the marketplace, the consumer should benefit, and the product is one that is more appealing. The music is being purchased and the use of the music should not be restricted. For more inofrmation, check out this article on ComputerWorld.com.

So, last night’s event probably didn’t go EXACTLY how we had wanted it to go. For those of you who didn’t get the scoop, we normally have a little room up the stairs in the back with a projector, and that was to be used to show what Rob has been toiling away on in some damp dungeon for the last few months - it’s amazing how much more he got done when we threatened to stop feeding him. One of the projects is in an Alpha mode at this point, and would best be described as a CMS program, although the simple, three-letter acronym doesn’t really seem to do it justice. The second project is close to being a Beta release and was built on top of a lot of the CMS programs framework. It is a database describer that arose out of a very real need that Rob had at work. Being part of a company that, over the last 10 years, has had a variety of different programmers in and out of it’s team, attempting to efficiently use the functions available is an experience that rivals cracking the Da Vinci code (doesn’t Rob have a strange resemblance to Tom Hanks?).

Both projects are set to be released as Open Source, and are Rob’s (and my?) contributions and offerings to the community. But what does that mean? One of our goals in helping bring the nPost.com events to Vancouver was the idea of bringing together the many talents that seem to be hidden away. As a team, we aren’t (or at least shouldn’t be) looking at our peers as competition. Rather, we should be looking to help bring the limelight to the area and help each other succeed; too often Vancouver is overshadowed by Seattle, for obvious reasons, but even by the Industry back East. By bringing together the energy, innovation, and experience of people in the Industry that are also in the community, we help foster the growth of the Industry, help produce better products, and enjoy the benefits together! Whether that’s a private Beta release at Sxip, or teaming up and sending a group down to this year’s Yahoo! Open Hackday, as a whole, we are far greater than the sum of our parts.

Check back in the next couple days for links to what Rob’s been working on, and if you have any projects on the go or ideas in the back of your mind that you want to get some feedback on, definitely let us, and if you’re so bold, the entire community, help out how we can.

Thank you again to Nathan Kaiser of nPost for making his way up to Vancouver and helping put on the event. We will be looking at holding the next one in mid to late August, and looking for a new location - suggestions are welcome.

A few links that will make for good reading on a Monday morning, afternoon, or some time later in the week even. From Computerworld, a website I’ve mentioned several times in recent posts, we have an article about the Microsoft, Yahoo! rumours. Check that out here or this one from ITBusiness.ca. Another article from Computerworld worth checking out is about the ‘other phone of the year,’ referring to the Blackberry Curve that should quietly become the must-have phone on something that might be strangely unique in the much-hyped industry; it probably is the best phone. Finishing off the links is the 10 most popular articles from DarkReading from the last year. An overview of everything from plane crashes to end-user activities (and what makes them scary to IT and security admins) to the copy-guy data-thief.

Update: Here is the link to the Blackberry 8300 and the article.

With more and more companies increasing their dependence on their network, network security, and all other things relating to this internal bloodline, it is of course important to stay on top of everything that is happening in the industry relating to that topic. An article on Networkworld looks at 15 of the most interesting projects that they’ve come across in the last 12 months. Everything from keyloggers to communicating on a network even when it’s down is covered.

Click here for the full story.