Interesting Observations at Web 2.0 conference at SFO

I was a Pharmaceutical marketing associate in India until recently. However, post marriage I came to San Francisco and had to quit working due to visa limitations. I decided to utilize this time by studying project management at Berkeley and landed up taking the strategic marketing Web 2.0 class due to my last minute cancellation of a Biotech Business class.

It turned out that this was one of the most happening classes and I really began to enjoy everything about the class - the people, the networking, the discussions etc. It felt that though I don't have an IT background it still is all very understandable and fun to learn. The class has started absorbing me so much that I took the extra effort to attend the Web 2.0 conference at San Francisco. I must thank my husband who was very instrumental in getting me the pass as his company had a booth there.

Also this is my very first BLOG. So please be patient with me Frenz. I have a lot to share with you.

Following are some of the observations that I found really interesting:

1. ooVoo: multi-person video service, that provides a fun face 2 face communication. Users see each other and chat with upto 6 people in the same conversation at the same time. Video calls and messages can be recorded.

2. Straker: MultiLingual Content Server enables simple creation and management of a website in many languages. Multilingual social networking and RIA Developments through ZoomFLEX.

3. Kindling: This was unique and creative tool to optimize your brainstorming sessions. People can vote for the topics/ideas they most prefer and it basically acts as an effective moderator to get results out of Brainstorming sessions.

4. Ghost Virtual Computer: Global Hosted Operating System based on Amazon web services. With ghost you can access your desktop from any browser and manage your files, application and web stuff. Its a service which behaves just like a computer (with a desktop, file system, applications etc) but is not physically installed on any one computer. It is hosted by Amazon web services and is accessible from any browser.

5. Caspio: Do-it-Yourself database platform: It enables to create web databases, forms and applications without any programming. With Caspio's point and click wizards you can build rich interactive web 2.0 apps in minutes and deploy them on your public/private website.

6. Safari Books Online: on-demand digital library offering subscription based access to over 7000 technology, creative, business books, videos, certification guides and pre published manuscripts.

7. Mother App: is a mobile app generator which enables you to use HTML to create native apps on iPhone, Android, Windows etc.. So friends all you have to do is put your contents on a website based on MotherApp HTML specification and they convert it into App for 1k per platform.

8. Roku- The Roku digital video player (also known as the Netflix Player by Roku) instantly streams high quality movies from Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand from the Internet -- directly to your TV. The Wall Street Journal, CNET, WIRED, and other publications have given the Roku player overwhelmingly positive reviews. Priced at just $99.99, the affordable Roku player is compact, easy to set up and intuitive to use

9. Nomee: organizes and monitors 100+ social networks. No matter where your contacts post news you are one click away. With nomee you can customize the access you provide to different contacts like friends, family, co-workers.

10. StileiT: It helps user create, search and buy. Its mostly Fashion related where users can choose styles, change patterns and colors and co-ordinate their total style which then can ultimately be bought coz its linked to e-commerce sites such as ebay and google. Now all of us really conscious about our dressing can be perfectly matched tip to toe.

11. Windows Internet Explorer 8 is here. Got a free DVD to try it.

12. Tweet Call- Update Twitter by voice, using any phone...really kewl

13. OER Commons: Open Educational Resources are teaching and learning materials (lessons, assignment simulation, games etc. ) are freely available to use for all the school teachers out there. Its created by ISKME - a non- profit education research institute) Teachers can rate and review lessons that are made available by 100s of content sites.

14. Salesforce.com: Check out their new Twitter and facebook feature. Twitter now makes it possible for clients to tweet complaints and force.com tweets back solutions on a case to case basis. Also they did My new Starbucks campaign on Facebook where they asked for suggestions to make Strabucks better. They also gave away a lucky draw MacBook at the end of the conference.

13. StartForce.com - Get a webtop take your files and environments with you anywhere you go. Access it at http://twitter.com/startforce

14. Microsoft Surface: I cant even describe it. Its so freaking kewl. You gotto check this out for yourself .

and FYI Facebook and amazon are hiring...didn't see myspace and twitter representation though...dunno if I missed it.