Ryan Boyles

I'm attending SXSW 2012. Yes! This is my second time attending SXSWi. The first time was in 2010, when I representing NC during the first  ChevySXSW road trip. We blogged extensively about this fun adventure.

• I'm only a tweet away. Hit me up or DM me @theRab. 
• Here is my Social.sxsw profile. Message me.
• Ask me on Tumblr or use my form thingee on Flavors.me/rab.
• Foursquare - the original – well okay not original – but still the best conference stalker tool. 
• My free time is currently shown on this Google calendar. 

• SXSchedule - this is the official one and it syncs with the SXSW Go smartphone app. i've done two passes to filter content so far. so many good sessions and spaces, so little time.
• austin2012.sched.org is the deal! check it out. it imports eventbrite tickets and does a good job of putting conference and social events together, official and unofficial.
• Lanyrd - this handy app let's you track sessions you can't attend and catch up later. they also launched a new grid view for SXSW. plus the Lanyrd team is giving away cool word buttons. get 'em.
• Plancast - it's still alive!! and chock full of SXSW social events. i just rsvp for everything, so it's not that reliable for finding me in a crowd. i treat this as the social calendar "list of the possible" – in reality there is only time to pick one or two. 
• Each of these sites has either a mobile web version or an app on iPhone, my smartphone of choice. 

On January 31st, IBM announced a couple of big moves in the mobile space. The news touches on IBM's Enterprise Mobile strategy, solutions and services. I teamed up with the PR team to host virtual office hours, in the popular Twitter Chat style, for press, analysts, IBMers and the public. Bob Sutor and Scott Hebner joined as the intrepid hosts fielding some two dozen or so questions in addition to shedding light on IBM's view of the mobile industry and IT management of devices in today's increasingly connected work force. We used Tweetchat.com to host the chat and used the new #IBMMobile hashtag for the first time. You'll be seeing a lot more with this hashtag in the coming weeks and months, save that search in Twitter! Check out Bob's blog for his POV on the announcement and follow him - he's a great contact to discuss IBM's technical strategy for mobile. He's also speaking at Mobile World Congress at the end of February. Embedded below I'm sharing the entire Storify summary of the #IBMMobile Twitter chat, where I included announcements, chat set-up tweets, Q & A, mobile factoids, conversation starters, upcoming event info and reference links. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank @Bob_Sutor, @SLHebner, @Faye429, @CRubsamen, @Calebbarlow and the countless others who participated in this first of it's kind Twitter Chat with either questions, comments or helping get the word out about this impromptu event with less than 1 hour notice! Stay tuned for future chats.

To kick things off, here's a snazzy infographic about the Mobile Enterprise.


Browse the twitter chat in slideshow mode or click through to read in long form story mode.

Renewed interest update! I'm beginning to poke around and properly learn HTML5 again, with some hands-on prototyping and the goal of building a mobile app. Here is my collection of links, please chime in with comments and suggestions...

1. Reading: HTML5 for Web Designers, Chapter 1 
2. Links: My HTML5 Delicious bookmarks (rather dated at this point) 
3. Examples: HTML5 Gallery sites 
4. Shiny: Website Example: Arcade Fire's The Wilderness Downtown 
5. Funny: Single use site Is HTML5 Ready Yet? 
6. Shiny: Check out The Expressive Web feature exploration (Thx 2 Maxx)
7. Javascript: jQuery Mobile (how popular is this one?) 
8. IBMish: New mobile dev community and dev feature pack
9. Apps: PhoneGap for building iOS / Android apps for app stores with HTML5
10. Cool: Untappd, an app to track your Beer check-ins, built with HTML5, CSS and PhoneGap 

Some thoughts about Steve Jobs and his legacy, built with a few shiny Apples.

• I've never owned a PC. 
• That is not to say I don't have experience with many computers (Window 3.51, Windows95, Windows NT or Windows 2000). It was enough to throw my last PC through the window. But I'm getting ahead of myself....   
• I have been obsessed with gadgets and mobile devices since I was a kid, however I am also a skeptic with high expectations for how things should work. I took things apart and put them back together, just to see how they work. I am a user. 
• My first computer was a Commodore64. It had a 5" Floppy Disk drive and I attached it to a 13" Color TV through an UHF/ RCA connector. It was awesome. I wonder if Apple was inspired by it, b/c it was this cool keyboard with a computer built inside, kinda like today's iMacs.   
• My first computer programming experience was in High School, developing card games on an Apple II in Pascal. This was the first glimmer I had of my future working with technology and my creative side. 
• I used Unix throughout college. I've used Windows and Linux while working as a software engineer but they were not my personal preference. I longed to get back to the fun of the Apple.  
• My first computer bought with my own money was the Apple iMac G4 in 2001, you know, the iLamp. 
• My first blog was on Geocities. Let's not talk about that right now. :)
• My first real blog was published using the "iBlog" software on my iMac G4 around 2002 / 2003 (i think), and it was hosted on .Mac. I liked the ease of use and publishing model but I quickly outgrew the cost model by sharing digital photos of my children. 
• My first digital camera, the Canon Powershot S10, had 2MB resolution and allowed me to start a digital scrapbook from the time my 1st child was born in 2000. iLife became the way to share our growing family with others around the state.     
• My 2nd Mac was a PowerMac Dual G5 tower (you know, the awesome one with the IBM chip) with OS X Panther or Tiger or one of those cats. 
• I have owned 4 iPods, beginning with the 2003 3rd Gen "Classic" as it is called now. It had a slick touch wheel and 10GB of memory. I couldn't imagine my music collection would ever outgrow that size. I was wrong. All 4 iPods still just work. 
• The iPod changed the music world for me, and countless others. Music became a part of my life again. Pricing individual songs at 99 cents was brilliant. It changed the consumer's view of what music collecting and sharing can be in the digital era, after Napster and other services. We all started thinking about music in terms of megabytes and lists instead of discs and albums. The digital music revolution enabled me to share holiday music with family and friends starting in 2002. I also become "that guy that brings the good mega mix to the party." I don't know how that happened. Everyone with an iPod becomes a DJ with the right music. 
• My first smart phone was the iPhone 3G. I resisted buying into the whole smart phone craze and was skeptic of the touch screen. I grew up using Palm PDAs.
• My current daily gear is the iPhone 4. When I say I'm a mobile blogger, it's largely because of my mobile workflow enabled by the smart phone. iPhone don't give you style, but it does unleash it in the right hands. 
• My current work computer is a Macbook Pro. Someone sat on it 1.5 years ago, bending the aluminum body like a book. I bent the back into form with my. It still works like a champ. True story. 
• I bought an iPad 2, resisting the urge to jump in when the device first appeared. I thought it was just a large iTouch without much serious application. Then I tried the tablet. Steve was a good salesman but he was right. It is magic. I am constantly looking for new ways to make it the first device I use. You have to use it to get how transformative this technology really is for people of all ages.     
• My kids have grown up with an appreciation for good user interfaces and they don't even know a world that is any different. They use the iPod Touch like it's second nature. They possess  "computer skills" that people of my generation spend a life time building. Their expectations about how technology works together is shaping the world around us.   
• My parents have not been convinced to try a "more expensive PC" aka those Mac things, however they do have 4 cheap HP computers sitting around their house. They are slow, always have trouble connecting to wi-fi and generally are internet challenged. Yes, I am talking about the computers. LOL! My mom has always said, you get what you pay for.       
• I helped my brother build a PC gaming tower during his high school years. It had neon light in the chassis and rad style. It also crashed during videos and games and was always sick with 1 virus or another. 2 months ago he bought an iMac and iPad 2 with the generous education discount that Apple gives for college students. I am so proud and so jealous.   
• I have been saved sooo much time in my life by using a computer that "just works." A computer that is built to work with video connections and sleeps and wakes up and just well, works.  
• I have always enjoyed creating things with my Mac. Often people ask me how I do something or how to fix their computer. How do I "make things just work so well?" Honestly, I can't take much credit. Usually it takes so much time to diagnose or even just explain the problem with the PC. The shorter answer is simply "I use a Mac. Maybe you should too?" Macs are made for users. 
• I don't consider myself a Mac fanboy. I rarely buy the 1st or even 2nd products from Apple. As I said, I'm a user. I just like technology that works. The technology platform that Steve Jobs has built with the smart folks at Apple just works. Think about the hardware + software + content combination that makes up the Apple experience now. Think about the impact.      
• I'm a Mac. Thank you Steve. Our lives are forever changed for the better. 

See all of the great people, content, beer and conversations from Monktoberfest in Portland Maine this week.

I am taking real notes on pen and paper during Social Fresh Charlotte this week. I will take these and discuss what I thought the best and most important points from the conference in another blog post. For now, I've started a storify story post with some highlights, photos, videos, tweets, blog posts, and links.

I watched the VMAs this week. It got me thinking and I enjoyed the show this year more than any other in recent memory. Here are my top 10 observations.

1. Twitter Tracker is ready for prime time. The VJs made good use of the Tweet screen during the pre-show to highlight ranked Buzz, Photos, and Artists who were participating. Social buzz, content and Influencer participating together in a simple sexy display. Social web is banging on the 4th wall of the show, this year front and center like none before it. Mobile (Read: Apps) and SMS round out the new "Social TV" experience.
2. "Jo" and his rockers represent for people of all types and preferences. This is affecting everyone in different ways.
3. Foo Fighters win Best Rock video, and I was caught by a few things about the acceptance speech from David Grohl. He mentions Joel Schumacher by name, since their video was inspired by his film Falling Down. Nice touch. Then Dave spreads the good word and gives a shout out to the former "rock" administration, "Never lose faith in real rock and roll music you may have to look around a little harder for it but never loss faith in rock and roll. This one goes out to Judy McGrath." Judy was the big boss that built MTV Networks, that is until May of this year. Rumors swirl as to the why.
4. No hosts: Nominated artists introducing other nominees who perform.... neat twist to show a different side of the artist community. I found it refreshing. And while I like Kevin Hart - his pre-taped behind the scenes comedy video bits fell flat. They didn't mesh with the real-time vibe of the show.
5. Chris Brown dance number on wires with cool remix of his stuff and things like Nirvana?Okay it was actually pretty cool. The Throne duo performance? Not so much.
6. Neat kid ensemble dance remix, then a cursing "Jo" finally bringing Britney on stage for Video Vanguard award? Hmm, not cool.
7. Beyonce Knowles is the new Tina Turner - a classic performer. Congrats on the baby news. What a way to make an announcement.
8. Injured Jesse J as the house band? This didn't work out all that well.
9. Tony Bennett and Amy Winehouse at Abbey Road recording is real music. And Jazz getting front and center stage at a pop culture show. A wow moment. Another big OMG moment was Bruno Mars and his big band tribute performance. It gave me shivers and it got the audience up and dancing in the aisles. Jazz man, nothing like it.
10. Katy's cube hat! Katy's Geisha outfit and umbrella. KATY Katy katy... was everywhere but she still seems sweet and humble. Refreshing.
11. Okay 1 more, just because: The Geek moment of the night: Jennifer Lawrence introducing first ever Hunger Games movie preview from the NC film set.

I organized the first Triangle Tweetup at the North Carolina Museum of Art with the marketing team of the musuem, @Caw_ and @JenniferWarner. The #NCMATweetup was held before the summer movie night for the Social Network outside of the West Building. Lots of fun and a great time with about 150 people in Raleigh. Here is the digital story....

A "Durham Tweetup" was held on February 9th at Motorco in Durham. The topic was Media, but the crowd was treated to 5 Food Trucks! I did my part to promote with my Triangle Tweetup hat and the event was organized by @dipikakohli of @designkompany with help from @durhamfoodie.

Here are the films I've seen in the theater in twenty eleven so far... I need to get writing some new movie reviews!

Due to the 2011 Summer Wildfire near the NC Coast, our family vacation was interrupted a bit by smoke. So my father and I packed up the kids on Wednesday and drove up to Jacksonville to see the new Transformers movie on opening day.

1. Act 1 is good... The alternate history setup is plausible and interesting.
2. The 2 hour 3 hour movie - commercials, ads and trailers are such a terrible experience and mood wreck
3. Act 3 District 911 wasteland set piece? ... Yes it is too soon to destroy an entire city just to prove the threat to the humans ... by reducing the population ironically to dust and tearing down buildings. Yes the city is Chicago and not New York City but we're not stupid.
4. McDreamy is a Bad lawyer joke in his phoned in Familiar one note character. Really, this is the big bad?
5. Soundwave is a Mercedes? Shockwave is a cloud of tentacles?
6. Buzzard chameleon token operative is the new Monkey jukebox token operative?
7. Alpha is good in his goofy role as the side-kick "do it all" jack of all trades. 
8. First act had interesting new characters then third act brought back old familiar boring ones and NPCs.
9. I mean it had some funny parts, there were some things I liked about it.
10. Obligatory Optimus speech time has lost it's gravitas - your allies may betray you but... What?

Here is my one-stop shop to track the 10 twenty eleven road trip teams as they drive from their respective home towns to Austin for SXSW this week.

What follows are links to the teams and their profiles, blogs, etc. The challenges and locations are secret this year, so the teams and the world will find out about them in real-time. Remember each Chevy is rigged with mobile wi-fi internet access to help them publish content and communicate from the road plus OnStar is on the ready to assist along the way. Good luck #ChevySXSW drivers!

1. Team NYC (NY NY duh) - about, team twitter @nycsxsw, ask, car tweets @nycchevy
2. Team SxChiGirls (Chicago IL) - about, team twitter #SxChiGirls, car tweets @chevychi
3. Team High Five (Detroit) - about, team twitter @highfivesxsw / #highfivesxsw, facebook, car tweets @detroitchevy
4. Team Chevy's Angels (Tampa FL) - about, team twitter #ChevysAngels, car tweets @floridachevy, facebook
5. #EhTeam (Vancouver, BC) - about, team twitter #EhTeam, car tweets @ehchevy, press
6. Team SXSW Angels (LA) - about, blog, team twitter @sxswangels, car tweets @calichevy
7. Team CBus (Columbus OH) - about, team twitter #teamcbus, car tweets @cbuschevy
8. Team Motown (Detroit) - about, team twitter @motownsxsw / #motownsxsw, facebook, car tweets @chevymotown
9. Team Autofollow (Toronto) - about, team twitter @chevyyyz / #TeamAutofollow? (i can't find much about this team which is ironic), car tweets @torontochevy
10. Team Buffetts Bros (Omaha NE) - about, team twitter @buffettsbros, car tweets @catchabuffett

Updated: March 9 to include tumblr sites for Chevy’s Angels, Autofollow, @chevyyyz and all vehicle twitter accounts.

Follow all of the team members via my Twitter List @therab/chevysxsw2011/ as they see the USA in a Chevrolet! Here are the list members, pls offer corrections / updates. Leave comments, send well-wishes, let the smack talk fly. Follow hashtag #ChevySXSW via twazzup or twitter search. Also follow the challenge judges with @sxswangels/judges/members. Here is the official introduction to the team captains on sxsw.com. You can follow team progress on this handy map app courtesy of OnStar. Each Chevy vehicle is also tweeting out messages via GPS triggered events with OnStar.

You can support the teams through an education charity this year via Adopt-a-classroom. The team's have more info on their blogs.

Remember, don't text / blog and drive. Use your teammates and sign the No Phone Zone pledge. Sounds funny but it's no joke. Be safe and see you on the finish-line.

See all that Chevrolet is up to at SXSW on sxsw.com/chevrolet and follow their blog chevysxsw.posterous.com.

Disclaimer: I am a #ChevySXSW 2011 road trip challenge judge. I drove for Team NC with Jason Keath, Nicole D'Alonzo and Wayne Sutton in the first road trip last year. See all my SXSW exploits from last year. The photo above was somewhere along our trip through Louisiana where we found a really custom Chevy truck on the roadside. Pictured left to right is me, Niki and Jason.

I believe luck is where opportunity and preparation meet, as the saying goes. I now have the good luck to join a team at IBM in, for me at least, a new part of the business: Marketing. For anyone who knows me, I am equal parts – geeky technologist, people person, analytical organizer, extroverted introvert and creative thinker. My drive to build community in all that I do and apply new innovations have naturally led me to roles providing an outlet for this energy. I have enjoyed expanding my software development career as a team leader, a community manager and most recently as a technical evangelist. Now I have the good opportunity to expand my scope and mission providing meaningful engagement with customers all across the WebSphere brand through social media. It will no longer be something I do just because I believe it is the best way to lead our business and help customers, it will be my first priority in the day to day job.

Well, my 25 days of video series is not entirely complete, but I posted about 2/3 of the videos I intended. I was unexpectedly wisked away to Asheville for a New Year's vacation, and it was a much needed break from the computer. Life is what happens when you are busy making plans right? I'll post a few more 2010 videos this month to catch up and post a list for easy browsing. See you all in 2011.

Lucy is a dog. Our pet Yorkie is feisty, fierce, fantastic and fun. She turned 28 (in dog years) on December 23rd. She is awesome. That is all.

It snowed this week. We had the first White Christmas around the Triangle of North Carolina since 1947-ish according to RDU weather records and the Piedmont Triad of NC last saw snow in 1962. Here is the view from our house in Wake Forest on Christmas Day 2010.

Merry Christmas from Papa Ken and the Merritt family cousins in festive Germanton North Carolina! Greetings from Ken, Caroline, Ben, Kate, Kim and Jennifer.

Thanks to all the suggestions this year on my new EclecticXmas tumblr blog. I think the twenty ten mix is something special. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

1. Holly Jolly Christmas Burl Ives – suggested by Darren Noel
2. Jingle Bells Rosemary Clooney – suggested by my eldest son
3. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Ella Fitzgerald – suggested by my youngest son
4. The Christmas Song The Temptations – suggested by Claire Spina-Russell
5. One Little Christmas Tree Stevie Wonder – suggested by Kate Merritt
6. Merry Christmas, I Love You James Brown – suggested by Robin Fay
7. I Want To Come Home For Christmas Marvin Gaye
8. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve Nancy Wilson
9. Mr. Heatmiser Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – suggested by my youngest son
10. I'll Be Home for Christmas Martina McBride
11. Tiny Tree Christmas Guster
12. Santa Claus Is Back In Town Dwight Yoakam
13. Christmas Eve Keegan DeWitt
14. Holiday Road [Live] Lindsey Buckingham – suggested by Caroline Armijo
15. Toy Jackpot Blackalicious – inspired by fun Target ads
16. Electronic Santa Blazer Force – suggested by my wife and sister
17. I Hope That It Snows Madi Diaz & Keegan DeWitt
18. Cinnamon & Chocolate Butterfly Boucher – suggested by Robin Fay
19. It Really Is (A Wonderful Life) Mindy Smith
20. The Christmas Waltz Kristin Chenoweth
21. The Holly And The Ivy Annie Lennox
22. When My Heart Finds Christmas Harry Connick Jr. – suggested by my wife
23. Angelic Proclamation Barlowgirl
24. Oh Come Emmanuel Aliqua – suggested by Robin Fay
25. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel Ben Boyles and Donna O'Malley – suggested by my sister, performed by my brother, listen

... that I saw! In other words, movies worth watching again... and in some cases, again and again. I've linked to my 10 bullet reviews.