Red Hat Open Cloud Tour #RHCTams #conference [UPDATED]

Today I spend my day at the Red Hat Open Cloud Tour, this is what happened today:

Just heard the opening by Rajiv Sodhi, who is here despite having a baby due any moment.

Margaret J. Rimmler’s keynote was interesting. One of the key takeaways being openness RedHat customers should have the choice to remain portable and replace RedHat, if that is what they want.

GOTO Amsterdam 2012 organizer Trifork violating @Eventbrite TOS #fraud [UPDATED]

I believe that violations of terms of services can occur for many different reasons, usually this comes from not reading them. I am the first to complain about unfair terms, or the faulty application of terms to non-violators. Some violations are so blatant that they should be mentioned. And that’s where this tale starts:

Android / BlackBerry, Offline GMail, TheNextWeb Conference, Two Pizza Teams and more… #podcast

A recent Cinch about:

• Android Legend / BlackBerry Curve
• Offline GMail
• TheNextWeb Conference / HackBattle
• Two-Pizza Teams
• and more…

Source: me

Image source: Cinch

Masterclass ‘Security’ – Hackner Security Intelligence #crime

Last Saturday I was invited to go to a Physical Security Workshop organized by Independent Films to promote the movie Flypaper. The workshop was given by Thomas Hackner of Hackner Security Intelligence, an independent security auditing company.

The workshop started with a large amount of statistics on the current rates of crime in Austria, and a discussion of the methods by which property crimes are commited. Next there was some practical analysis of the security measures which are currently implemented in securing different classes of objects – houses, office, secure facilities, etc – and the various security measures that are implemented to ensure a certain level of security.

And as with any workshop there was a destructive and non-destructive practicum for most of the items discussed: windows, doors, locks, chains and social engineering. Besides from lockpicking and designing tools to circumvent security non-destructively, we also got to break into a door by destroying the lock and manually manipulating the locking mechanism.

It was great fun!

Image source: Daniël W. Crompton

Kings of Code Conference #kingsofcode

This week I went to the Kings of Code Conference, to “explore and discuss the latest trends, developments and best practices in web and mobile development technologies.” It included a hackbattle, lots of presentations and free beer.

HackBattle

Spotify reaches US in July #music

I remember first using Spotify and needing to create an account using an UK based proxy and setting the proxy in the configuration settings. Since then the service has changed some. Ironically I only got back into Spotify when my father asked me about it – we has set up for him and he wondered why it didn’t work any more. I too had forgotten about the proxy settings. After I ran the update and set it up for him to work I went on to install it on my own laptop.

^{Spotify Adoption Europe}

A couple of weeks earlier a colleague, who is a paid up subscriber, asked a group of colleagues to name artists we thought would not be in Spotify. Naturally having a hipster as a friend paid off and I was able to name a number of artists which Spotify did not have in its collection, a hipster colleague was also able to name a couple. In good hipster/geek fashion we ridiculed him. 😉

Between you and me I like Spotify, and lament the start up issues they have had in the US. Based on the service offered – and from the articles I’ve read in Wired and some other sources – I am positive about the possibilities it has to offer with its Freemium model.

Spotify will launch in the US sometime in July.

Image source: SimplyZesty (logo), International Federation of the Phonographic Industry & Wired (graph)

meetSue this Sunday #networking #event

Tomorrow from 17:00 to 20:00 I’ll be at an event called meetSue. It’s a networking event for different walks of life, I just received a preview of the guest list and I’m impressed. Aside from people I know there are a wide variety of people from all walks of life: coaches; directors; lawyers; graphical designers; art dealers; artists; trainers; clothing designers and retailers; and healthcare, merchandising, public relations, marketing and sales professionals.

Besides from the guests there are some exceptional entrepreneurs whose task is to inspire, tell their story, share their knowledge and expertise, and answer questions.

There is still time to register so you to can join the fun in the baggage hal of Loods 6 on KNSM Island in Amsterdam. Come for a drink, a snack and expect an inspiring evening.

_{Guests are kindly requested to donate for the continuation of meetSue.}

Time to meetSue again! @letsmeetsue #event

Sunday, February 20 from 17:00 to 20:00 meetSue has organized a networking event and you’re invited! This time in a new and exciting venue: the baggage hal of Loods 6 on KNSM island. Obviously, easy to reach by car and public transport.

The program of this third meetSue networking event: as little as possible! We have created a networking evening which stimulates in our own unconventional way. But obviously with a few special features. There is live music and we have some exceptional entrepreneurs present to inspire the guests of meetSue. They are there to tell their story, share their knowledge and expertise, and answer questions. Topics can be anything including social media, marketing, business in general and much much more. The meetSue way, not with a microphone in hand and a Powerpoint presentation. How? meetSue and be amazed!

As we want to keep meetSue open for everybody, we don’t ask for entrance fee. We do ask our guests to contribute € 7.50. Come for welcome drink, snacks and expect an inspiring evening. Looking forward to February 20th!

You can register here.

Hackers and Founders Meet Up #amsterdam #event

The Hackers and Founders Meet Up, started by James Bryan Graves (@jbryangraves), is inspired by the meet ups which started in the US and have moved to the rest of the world. Although I could only spend a short time there I was able to speak with a number of the new members who came to the meet up’s location.

It’s clear that under the Hackers and Founders who came that mobile tech is still as important as the traditional web platforms, although I did hear of a number of interesting mobile apps which are being created. I hope to come to the next meet up and have more time to spend talking to the participants.

For those who are interested, @grammarware has created a Twitter list featuring the Hackers and Founders of Amsterdam.

Mobile Monday #19 – Mobile Stories (cont.) #MoMoAms

Part 1 of Mobile Monday can be found here.

Initially Ben van der Burg‘s presentation using DiskSlideJockey failed, so Ville Versterinen presented ShadowCities, which I discuss here. Ben’s discussion centered on the disappearance of Story Telling, and the creation of Emotelling and the pornofication of the story. Lastly Ben Scott-Robinson of We Love Mobile proposed the exact opposite and discussed how important story and narrative are to getting your message accross.