PleaseTech PleaseReview v4 Preview … PleaseTech is previewing version 4 of PleaseReview, its collaborative document authoring and reviewing application, at the DIA Annual Conference in San Diego this week. “PleaseReview v4 will feature true collaborative authoring of Word documents and many other enhancements: Enhanced look & feel, Collaborative authoring (aka co-authoring) of Word documents, Enhancements to the ‘roles’ model, General usability enhancements, Multiple authors per review, Reconciliation report enhancements, PDF review enhancements, System connector enhancements, and Revised licensing.” More

Atlassian Confluence 3.0 … Atlassian released version 3.0 of Confluence, its enterprise wiki offering. “Confluence 3.0 introduces the Macro Browser, a new way for users of all experience levels to build content-rich pages in seconds. The macro browser exposes the macros in your Confluence site – charts, task lists, photo galleries, RSS feeds and more – through a point-and-click graphical interface.
Confluence 3.0 comes bundled with over 80 out-of-the box macros and can be extended with hundreds of other third party plugins like Balsamiq mockups or Gliffy diagrams.” More

TANDBERG Quick Set C20 … TANDBERG released a new video conferencing solution for small and medium sized businesses. “The TANDBERG Quick Set C20 is a complete visual communication package that includes a TANDBERG Codec C20, a high-resolution 1080p30 camera with 4x zoom, a remote control and a microphone. The system can be plugged into any high definition display for immediate video conferencing capabilities. In just five simple steps users connect the 1) camera, 2) display, 3) power, 4) network and 5) microphone and are ready to connect face-to-face with colleagues, customers, and suppliers anywhere in the world.” More

Book on Lotus Connections … IBM Press announced the forthcoming availability of a new book on Lotus Connections, “IBM Lotus Connections: Planning and Implementing Social Software for Your Enterprise”. “Straight from IBM: the practical, complete guide to leveraging the power of social networks with Lotus Connections – The first book to cover the next breakthrough product from IBM Lotus: a product with a built-in audience of 150,000,000 Lotus Notes users worldwide – Practical techniques for building dynamic networks of coworkers, partners and customers that promote innovation and business agility – Authoritative guidance for business and technical planning, deployment, integration, and much more. Social networking is the newest frontier in business collaboration, and IBM’s Lotus Connections gives businesses the tools they need to make the most of it – easily, securely, and cost-effectively.” You can pre-order your copy. More

Leadership “Buy-In” … Brian writes about the appropriate roll for leadership “buy-in” to new IT solutions, suggesting that it’s not a home run. “I have grown tired of the term “leadership buy-in,” because what qualifies as “buy-in” is rarely that. Case and point: This video collected by Melcum about leadership’s willingness to allow a SharePoint implementation at ERM. The interviewees praise their leaders for allowing employees to participate in blogs and adopt an “employee-centric” model. These interviewees claim that without leadership support, the collaborative environment would not have been implemented. I have arrived at the conclusion that leadership “buy-in” is necessary, but not sufficient for transformative change within an organization …. More often than not, the later condition is more common in organizations. Leaders “permit” what occurs in the collaborative space, but they do not contribute to it.” What’s particularly interesting to me is that I take this same line in Chapter 6 of SharePoint Roadmap. More

Build It and They Won’t Come … Brian tackles the myth about building it for people in the hope they’ll come. “There’s a prevalent myth out there about technical and physical collaboration projects. It might be a symptom of unbridled optimism, but I have heard this phrase far too often: “Well, if we just build it [or do it], people will come.” I have rarely seen things thrown together that “just work.” What is astounding to me is that I’ve been in meetings where smart people know that throwing it together won’t work, but do it anyway. It’s like they turn into Kevin Costner and start hearing whispered voices.” More

Connectbeam 3.2 … Connectbeam released Version 3.2 of its social networking application. “Recent upgrades and feature enhancements will greatly improve usability and performance; providing a tighter integration with existing IT infrastructure and corporate applications such as Microsoft Sharepoint, Outlook, Atlassian Confluence and Jive Clearspace.” Available immediately. More

Other Items
– tgethr is a new email collaboration service.
– View a webcast on Oracle Beehive.
– Discussion about ThoughtFarmer, social intranet software.