Check It Out -- New IBM Connections Features Available in Cloud

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Over the weekend, IBM rolled out new features to IBM Connections Social Cloud, the market-leading enterprise social collaboration platform.

In this month's release (if you are wondering, we'll skip updates in December because of the holidays so the next release will be in January), you'll find capabilities that the community has been asking for in the IBM Connections ideation area.

Our team put together a presentation so that you can see the new capabilities (see below) and here are some highlights I wanted to call out:

• User Experience
• With the announcement of #IBMVerse last week, we've enabled a new theme to match the visuals found in that product. Admins can choose to use this new theme. We'll keep updating this one, though don't hesitate to let us know what you think about this one. 
• Files
• New file sync and share plug-in for the Mac
• Personal file storage now up to 1TB at no additional cost
• Individual per file limit now up to 2GB (Safari/Chrome/Firefox browser required)
• Admins now have more control over what users can do with files on mobile
• Communities
• Community owners can now disable the Mail Community option
• Community owners can now reposition the Members, Important Bookmarks and Community Description apps
• Store up to 50GB of files in Community Files at no additional cost
• Attach up to 5GB of files in Community Wikis at no additional cost

Here's the presentation (and check out the slides towards the end for a sneak peek of the updated mobile app coming in the next few days):

What's New in IBM Connections Social Cloud - November 2014 from Luis Benitez

For the entire list of what's new (including in the chat, messaging, and meetings components), check out the latest What's New in IBM Connections Cloud documentation.

Enjoy!

IBM Connections File Sync Plug-In for the Mac Is Now Available

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While #IBMVerse 's ability to drive a #NewWayToWork has taken the spotlight this week, there's more goodies to talk about today.  First, we are in the midst of rolling out some cool new features to our cloud.

One of the biggest new capabilities being rolled out is that today, is the day that IBM Connections Social Cloud customers can start using file sharing and sync from their Mac desktops / laptops.  This was something I had announced was coming earlier in the year when I had a chance to participate in the Social Connections event in Prague.  Since then, we started a beta and the feedback has been very positive. Therefore, we've decided to make this generally available today. With this new plug-in you can:

• Get notifications instantly on the desktop or mobile when there is a change to a file
• Upload files from your Mac without having to open a browser
• Share uploaded files with your colleagues
• Work on files locally and save directly to Connections
• Lock a file to prevent file conflicts

To see it in action, check out this quick 2 minute demo:


Next, very soon we'll publish the IBM Connections Desktop Plug-In for Microsoft Windows to streamline the install experience for cloud users. Additionally, IBM Connections Content Manager (CCM) users can now do round-trip editing. This means that while they are browsing for files in a Library, users can click on "Edit" in the browser and the file will open with the user's favorite local editor. For example, a Word document, will be opened with the desktop app of Office 365. When the user is done editing, they simply close the local app and the file is then automatically saved and uploaded back to server.

But wait... there's more!

And lastly, we've also updated the IBM Connections app for desktop version of Microsoft Outlook (even if you are using Office 365). This new release features:

• IBM Connections 5.0 Support
• Community Folders
• Metrics - view usage data for file and folder view access
• @mentions - Enter names preceeded by @ for lookup and display as rich links
• Support for hashtags - Enter tags preceeded by # to display as rich links
• Open an editor to view an IBM Docs file
• View stream updates using additional filters

The plugins are now available in the app catalog and you can download them at no additional cost from the links above. 

Get Ready For An Extreme Mail Makeover and see IBM Mail Next

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Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to be part of the unveiling of IBM Mail Next at IBM Connect 2014. Now it's time to get your hands on it!  Below is a copy of the webcast invite so you can check out the latest details on how to be an early adopter and all the latest integration into IBM Connections, IBM's market-leading enterprise social collaboration platform. See you there!

Every day, emails flood our inbox: tasks are left undone, messages go unanswered, and meetings overwhelm us. Why does work have to be such hard work? The truth is, it doesn’t have to be. Join our live video panel discussion on Thursday, November 20, 2014 at 11:00 AM ET and hear how IBM’s latest solution offers an easy way to take back control of your day.

Using advanced design thinking, the latest in social analytics and delivered from the cloud to your mobile device or desktop, this new solution:

• Understands your needs, working style and priorities—and anticipates what you need and when you need it. VP and Principal Analyst Alan Lepofsky of Constellation Research, will discuss the critical importance of re-assessing the way we are currently working and what the future of work holds. 
• Provides less clutter and more clarity with an interface that shows only what you need, so you can make quicker, smarter decisions. Hear Phil Gilbert, General Manager, IBM Software Group Design, explain how the IBM Design Studio developed an entirely new experience from the ground up. 
• Enables a shift from “me” to “we” through intelligent, secure and engaging social apps that foster real-time understanding, cooperation and communication. Jeff Schick, General Manager, IBM Enterprise Social Solutions, will talk about why information from our social networks is crucial for collaboration and innovation, and why email must evolve to accommodate it. 

As an added bonus, watch for details on becoming part of the beta! Register now and get ready for an extreme mail makeover: re-imagined for the future of work. Register now!