Visto acquiring Motorola Good Technology Group

I realize I am probably in the minority, when it comes to software to get emails out to our cell phones, but we use Good Technology's Good Mobile Messaging, as opposed to Blackberry or Lotus Traveler (wasn't available when we needed something.)

I just received an email from Motorola stating the following:

"Dear Valued Customer,

I have some exciting news to share. Today we announced that Visto is acquiring Good Technology. The transaction is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close at the end of February.

Visto is a leading provider of mobile push synchronization services, enabling mobile operators to provide easy-to-use communications services from email to social networking to photo sharing and more across the broadest set of devices. While based in the United States, Visto primarily serves consumer and prosumer markets in Europe with very strong relationships with some of the world's largest wireless operators.

The complementary and strategic nature of this acquisition provides a tremendous opportunity for Good customers. The new combined company will enable Good to rapidly broaden its European reach and better serve our multinational customers. As an independent mobile software and services vendor, Good can ensure that we deliver mobile device management, security and application access across a broad range of mobile device platforms, simplifying IT management of an increasingly complex mobile world.

Visto and Good will maintain Good’s enterprise and government focus and multi-device strategy to ensure that customers can enjoy the freedom of choice through our world-class solutions. The new company will continue to sell and support Good Mobility Suite.

Please be assured that you will continue to receive the same high standard of service and support you receive from us today. You can also continue to purchase Good through our carrier reseller partners or from Good directly, and activate users just as you do now.

In case you have questions about the acquisition, we encourage you to contact you account manager. More information can be found about Visto at www.visto.com
Thank you for your business. We look forward to a continued partnership."

In looking over Visto's website, I am not feeling a lot of warm fuzzies, as even Visto's own products are not compatible with Lotus Notes above version 7.0.1. And to be honest, I've never heard of Visto before.

Funny thing is, I just renewed our licenses for another year about three weeks ago. Funny, my sales person never said a word about it. Maybe she didn't know? Come to think about it, maybe I should contact her and see if she's still around?

One Year Blogging Anniversary

Well, it's been on year today since I started this blog. It's been, and still is, a learning experience. Not quite sure I have the hang of it, as I don't blog about anything and everything, like many others, but it is what it is, I suppose.

Hopefully over time, I will eventually get the hang of this thing called blogging.

Oh well, Happy Anniversary Blog...

Spiced Winter Ale has been bottled

On Saturday, I finally got around to bottling the Spiced Winter Ale. It still tastes a little over spiced. Hopefully this will mellow out in time.

I did something a little different this time, as far as carbonation is concerned. I used Munton's Carbonation Tabs, instead of a priming sugar solution. According to the packaging, you use 3 tablets for lower carbonation, 4 tablets for normal carbonation, and 5 tablets for higher carbonation. For this Spiced Winter Ale, I used 4 tablets per bottle. After thinking about it, after the fact, I should have experimented with the tablets. I should have used three, four, and five tablets in specific six packs, to see how different each would have been. Since I still have a couple of packets of tablets left, I may try this on my next bottling adventure later this month with my Schwarzbier.

In the end, I got exactly two cases of the Spiced Winter Ale. I bottled a total of 50 beers, but two bottles broke off at the neck when capping them. It's not surprising, as a lot of my bottles have been used over and over and over again. There's bound to be some wear and tear on them.

I'll give them a couple of weeks before trying the first bottle. I'm sure they won't be as mellow by then, but I'd still like to see what it tastes like carbonated and cold.

Homebrewing - My Spiced Winter Ale

My Spiced Winter Ale has also been in primary fermentation for about two weeks now. It started with an OG (original gravity) of 1.032 (again, lower than what the target was supposed to be... 1.040) It's down to about 1.010 right now (about 2.9% abv.)

I'm just not sure about this beer. The spices used (a mulling spice blend) are a little strong for my taste. A lot of cinnamon smell and taste. I'm supposed to put about a half an ounce in the secondary fermentation, but I think I will leave it out, hoping the smell and taste mellows out in secondary.

I'll be transferring it to secondary today.

Homebrewing - My Schwarzbier

Well, it's been about two weeks since I made my first beer in about two and half years. My Schwarzbier (Black Lager) has been fermenting in the fridge. It started with an original gravity of 1.042 and is currently at 1.020. I missed the target gravity of 1.052, which has always been a problem in my brewing. My OG has always been lower than what it should be and I'm not really sure what I may be doing wrong. It could be as simple of not boiling it long enough, as I only do it for about an hour.

I took a sample last night, to get the 1.020 gravity reading, and the beer tastes pretty good. If you will remember, the kit I used was about a year old. I'm pleased with the taste so far. I may try to swirl the carboy a little bit, being careful not to get too much oxygen into the beer, as it will cause problems. I just need to the gravity to drop some more before transferring it to secondary fermentation.

So far so good, though.

Your Guide to Lotusphere

For those of you who are going to Lotusphere for the first time, I would strongly suggest that you check out Andy Donaldson's blog post. My first trip to Lotusphere was greatly enhanced by reading and following the links on Andy's post from last year. I don't think I would have had as much fun or knew what to expect had I not found his blog and the helpful information he has in that post.

I would also suggest listening to the Taking Notes Podcasts. I listened to a lot of good information in the podcasts that also helped me prior to going to Lotusphere.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend this year. If I could offer any little bit of information or helpful advice, it would be this... if you are new to the world of Lotus and Lotusphere, and read a lot of the blogs, don't be afraid to approach and talk to the bloggers. They are a great bunch of people and are just like you and me. I tend to shy away from talking to people who do a lot of Lotus blogging, thinking that they are unapproachable. This is not the case. They are welcoming and very approachable... and a lot of fun to be with.

If you are fortunate enough to be able to attend Lotusphere, have fun, talk to the bloggers, make some new friends.

Man... I wish I was going...

Advanced Notice: Woot Off begins tonight

I just received the following email from Woot:

Welcome to Woot's first official recession-era newsletter! For the next 12 to 24 months, all citizens are expected to fret over, worry about, or even directly experience the nadir of a consumerist society - OMG! What will we do when we stop buying stuff? Economists now agree that we're headed through a prolonged period of decreased consumer spending (you really need an advanced degree to come up with insights like that). Beyond that, it's anybody guess. Will the only growth sectors in the economy be shoe repair, pipe salvage, and roadside apple sales? Or will we bring on a quick recovery by doing patriotic things like buying stuff we can't afford and spending more money than we make?

As a retailer, it'd make sense for us to fall in with the BUY STUFF, AMERICA conga line. But by now, you know that we at Woot never do things the "normal", "sensible", "rational", "intelligent" way. We're not about to follow the herd over a cliff. When we go over a cliff, it's because of our own poor judgment, not someone else's. That's been our credo since about five minutes ago, when we first thought of it. And we've stayed true to it ever since.

That's why we're encouraging you and your fellow wooters to save this holiday season. Save your money! Save until you pull a saving muscle. Horde your money until you are literally choking on it. Save until maybe, like, mid-February or so, when the market will be a-glut with great deals for the taking every day. You'll avoid the crowds, take advantage of desperate retailers, and not have to hear "Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time" even once.

Sure, maybe you'll disappoint some of your loved ones. But if they really love you, they can wait a couple of months, especially if your finances are at stake. Besides, if your so-called loved ones wanted you to set yourself on fire, would you? Of course you wouldn't. And that's the kind of independent thinking that will one day break the mindless conformity of our consumerist holiday ways.

But be warned: you'll want to stay far away from Woot.com this week. The breadth and scope of bargains we'll be offering - especially starting Tuesday morning at midnight - will be powerfully tempting. They could even lead you back down the spend-spend-spend path with the rest of the sheep. And that would make us sad enough to cry while we're taking your money.

See you in February!

Woot.com

Woot is located in Texas, so at Midnight CST, 1:00 a.m. EST, the Woot Off will begin. It's the last Woot Off before Christmas. There's bound to be some great deals going on, and this Woot Off will probably last a few days... possibly until Friday.