Power Line Consolidation

Common 2008 was part of the coming out party for IBM's "new" Power Systems platform that formerly was two distinct systems packages - iSeries and pSeries. Am I the only one who thought the rebranded product would be named System π (or System pi)?

The roadmap for this convergance of IBM's mid-range POWER based systems has been public for sometime. It makes sense for IBM from a product perspective, but it remains to be seen how the marketplace will respond to this move, other than the initial concern of how it effects upcoming projects.

Additionally, after roughly 8 years the operating system formerly known as i5/OS (and more formerly known as OS/400) has gotten another new name, IBM i. This rename is not purely a marketing play as the latest version of this OS with many names does have many new features: virtualization enhancements, and an improved implementation of a 64 bit JVM to name a few.

Link: IBM Power Systems

DC Comics 2.0

Offering a new on-ramp to comic artist fame is DC Comics who is promoting it's new brand - Zuda Comics. Zuda Comics is a web based serialized comics platform with a targeted launch date of October. Some of the work will be available in print as well.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out for DC who is appealing to artists by offering contracts for those whose work they feel is worthy, and opportunities for others to get entered into an on-line competition for a contract. In the competition, site visitors vote to decide who the winner is. Zuda has stated that the artists will be able to retain copyright of their own material, but have not shown any actual contracts as of yet.

One aspect of this affair that is causing some lamenting is the fact that Zuda is (at this time) looking only for "print ready" comics. Meaning no flash, no animation, no sound, etc. None of the possibilities that a digital platform can provide.

Sidenote: I thought I was doing good in blogging about something other than IBM or Google, however a Zuda press release mentions IBM's role in this venture.

DC Comics has chosen IBM Global Business Services to design and build the new Zudacomics.com site. The site will embrace leading Web 2.0 technologies such as blogging, commenting, rating and tagging to encourage maximum community participation and feedback on artists' submissions.

Psst, IGS folks working on this.... Web 2.0 and you are adding updates on the home page? We are ready for the feed :) (jk)


Link : Zuda Comics

First Impressions on a Second Life, In Search of IBM's Rational CODESTATION

Being a consultant working with IBM software (Lotus and WebSphere) a lot of the blogs I read are written by people who work for IBM. In this environment it is nearly impossible to have avoided any references to Second Life.

Link eightbar Second Life Category
Link Roo Reynolds Second Life Category
Link Alan Lepofsky Second Life Category

I have spent more than my fair share of time playing some of the more popular MMORPG's (primarily WoW and SWG though I have given up both for RL). With this background I didn't think a free MMORPG would have anything worthwhile to offer. However when I saw mention of IBM's Rational CODESTATION I was compelled to see what the buzz was all about.

CODESTATION has script and object libraries containing free samples of each, as well as a maze. Vendors near the entrance to the maze contain free robot kits. The kits contain a robot and some documentation describing how to use it. The goal being to program a robot to traverse the maze by itself, eating little bugs along the way.

If anyone involved in CODESTATION stumbles across this, kudos, very cool content. One comment, can you talk to someone about creating a version of Rock 'em Sock 'em Robocode for Second Life?

Link Rock 'em Sock 'em Robocode