1. A hackathon for San Diego

    Have an idea for an app that enhances services and quality of life for San Diegans? Join us at the AT&T Mobile App Hackathon in San Diego!

    This event is geared towards helping both technical and non-technical attendees brainstorm ideas, form teams, and create apps for the $50,000 AT&T San Diego Apps Challenge. Software developers from AT&T, Sencha, and Apigee; and data experts from the City of San Diego will be on hand to answer questions and provide support.

    Get full details and register to participate at http://MobileAppSD2.eventbrite.com.

    When: March 23–24 (Friday networking followed by Saturday hacking)

    Where: Ambi-ent, 702 Ash St. Suite 106, San Diego

    What: To develop ideas, scout for teammates, and build a great app for San Diego

    Prizes: $1,800 (5 prizes in 2 categories)

    Need inspiration? 

    1. Check out 100+ app ideas for San Diego. Maybe one of them will spark something.
    2. Explore 370+ datasets from The City of San Diego, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Metropolitan Transit System, SanGIS, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
    3. Invite a fellow hacker/San Diegan to be your muse.

    Follow @SDAPPS and @ChallengePost on Twitter for competition updates, and use the hashtag #SDAPPS when you tweet. // Your participation and creations at the AT&T Mobile App Hackathon will not increase or decrease your chances of winning the AT&T San Diego Apps Challenge.

    By Samantha

    Mar 14 Comments
  2. Mash up data in new and interesting ways

    Want to work more closely with media & tech companies? This is your chance. 

    NYC Media Lab today launched Media Mash, an app development competition that challenges software developers and students to mash up data from the city’s top media and tech companies to create new insights, experiences, and business models.

    $10,000 in prizes will be awarded for the most innovative apps that run on the web, desktop computers, tablets, or mobile phones. With a distinguished judging panel featuring influential leaders in tech and media, this is a fantastic opportunity to make something great, and get your work noticed.

    The competition features more than 40 APIs, feeds, and data from a variety of companies, including bitly, CBS Sports Fantasy, Etsy, Facebook, foursquare, The New York Times, PBS, Rolling Stone, Tumblr, and many more.

    Register to enter at MediaMash.ChallengePost.com, and start fueling your app with great data!

    About NYC Media Lab
    NYC Media Lab (www.nycmedialab.org) connects companies seeking to advance new media technologies with academic institutions, and was launched by NYCEDC, NYU-Poly, and Columbia University to tackle the big questions facing the media industry today, with the goal of generating research, knowledge transfer, talent development, R&D, and new business models.

    Follow @NYCMediaLab and @ChallengePost on Twitter, and join us on Facebook.

    By Samantha

    Mar 8 Comments
  3. A record number of apps in NYC BigApps 3.0

    NYC Department of Information Technology and Telecommunication Commissioner Carole Post kicked off Social Media Week yesterday with the opening of public voting for NYC BigApps 3.0. Nearly 100 eligible apps were submitted this year — a record high in the history of BigApps competitions.

    “NYC BigApps continues to be a success because of the strong ecosystem of software developers, NYC residents, judges, sponsors, and the City. This ecosystem, plus the Ideas challenge which gathered feedback from non-developers, the multiple hackathons, and the continually-improving data all were responsible for this year’s record number of apps. ChallengePost is honored to have been a part of this effort since the beginning.”

    - Brandon Kessler, ChallengePost CEO

    Check out the innovative apps at 2011.NYCBigApps.com and vote daily for your favorites! 

    NYC BigApps 3.0 fun facts:

    • Every application is built using NYC Open Data
    • More than half the apps integrated APIs from a BigApps API partner
    • Developers had access to nearly 750 datasets
    • 230 of the datasets were brand new, made available by more than 60 City agencies, Commissions, and Business Improvement Districts
    • All apps are free!

    Enhanced prizes & business opportunities:

    Eligible apps will be reviewed by an all-star judging panel of leading investors and entrepreneurs, and winners will take home 11 cash prizes totaling $50,000. In addition, these amazing non-monetary prizes will be awarded:

    NYC BigApps is part of New York City’s ongoing efforts to increase transparency in government, as well as improve quality of life for New Yorkers and visitors. We invite you to follow @NYCBigApps and @ChallengePost on Twitter, and join us on Facebook.

    More NYC BigApps 3.0 News:
    Official Press Release [NYCEDC] 
    Early Leader in BigApps Competition: Foursquare [Gigaom] 
    Vote for Your Favorite App in NYC’s BigApps 3.0 Competition [The Next Web]

    By Samantha

    Feb 10 Comments
  4. New Roadify app shines

    NYC BigApps 2.0 Grand Prize winner Roadify has been hard at work at Version 2.0 of their popular iPhone app, adding new cities, new features, and integrating more relevant information to make it easier to find out when the next train, subway, bus, or ferry is coming.

    Initial response of the updated app has been overwhelmingly positive. One user raved about replacing 11 existing apps on his iPhone (6 of which were paid) with Roadify (free!), another enthusiastically praised its new Twitter integration. This fan sums up the improvements nicely:

    “Whoever makes this app deserves a medal of honor. I’ve been so angry waiting for subways that I’ve actually screamed. The new design is beautiful and the app allows me to find out when my next train is coming in seconds. It’s a simple concept but no one else but Roadify has gotten it right somehow. Plus now I can use it when I go visit my cousins in the Bay Area!! Thank you thank you thank you!”

    - Louisaida262, iTunes App Store, Feb 3, 2012

    Download the app for free today, and tell us what you think in the Comments below!

    Version 2.0 Highlights:

    • More cities, more data! In addition to the New York City metropolitan area, Roadify now also works in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle
    • Real-time arrival/departure info for NYC buses, SF Bart, and SF Municipal
    • More personalization with the new “Nearby” and “Recent” feature; search function for subway, bus, train and ferry lines; easy toggle between List and Map views; and ability to see arrival times at all stops/stations for each departure
    • More user-generated content such as curated Twitter comments organized by route, ability to write comments while underground, and fast access to give comments and track replies
    • Better, faster, sleeker — Overall improved performance in speed and ease-of-use

    More on Roadify:
    Roadify V2 [Roadify Blog]
    Roadify Reflects on Winning NYC BigApps 2.0 [NYCEDC Blog]
    Where Are They Now? A Look at Past BigApps Winners [NY Convergence]
    Favorite free NYC apps [Time Out New York]
    Transportation app Roadify wins BigApps contest [Crain’s New York]

    Follow @NYCBigApps and @ChallengePost on Twitter, and join us on Facebook.

    By Samantha

    Feb 6 Comments
  5. San Diego Apps Challenge opens: $50,000 in prizes

    Announcing the AT&T San Diego Apps Challenge: Mayor Jerry Sanders and the City of San Diego are challenging software developers to create apps that use city and partner data to enhance services and quality of life for San Diegans.

    Developers of all levels and backgrounds are welcome to submit apps. If you’re not ready to build an app but have a great idea for one, submit it to the companion ideas challenge.

    Budding entrepreneurs take note: this competition could be that something special you’re looking for. City app challenges come with a built-in city-sized user base!

    Submission period: January 12 to April 11, 2012

    What: Create an app that runs on the web, desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones. Or share an idea for an app.

    Data: The City of San Diego, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Metropolitan Transit System, SanGIS, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography

    Prizes: $50,000 in cash (13 prizes in 8 categories)

    Enter the challenge: SDAppschallenge.com

    Follow @SDAPPS on Twitter for competition updates, and use the hashtag #SDAPPS when you tweet.

    By Samantha

    - - -
    La Jolla LightSan Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders Launches Apps Contest for City Services
    NBC San DiegoMayor Sanders’ State of the City Address

    Jan 13 Comments