1. Announcing the winners of MTA App Quest!

    (Photo: Grand Prize team Embark NYC with a custom 5’ subway sign at Vanderbilt Hall in New York City’s Grand Central Terminal.)

    Earlier today, travelers strolling by Grand Central’s Vanderbilt Hall overheard something historic: the announcement of the winners of MTA App Quest, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s competition for software developers. The MTA challenged developers to create new apps that improve the transit experience of its 8.5 million daily riders. Forty-two apps were submitted, for a range of platforms and devices: Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and more.

    Join us in congratulating the winners!

    • Grand Prize: Embark NYC, by Taylor Malloy and David Hodge of Embark
      This all-purpose transit navigation app for Android and iOS devices offers trip planning, service advisories, interactive maps, schedules and more.
    • Second Prize: Free NYC Subway Locator, by Jordan Hill of Flatiron Factory
      This iOS app automatically calculates the nearest subway entrances to your current location and lists them by direction, in order of proximity by feet. The app also shows the individual station entrance locations, service alerts, and elevator and escalator outages, all using data provided by the MTA.
    • Third Prize: Notify Me NYC, by Emma Assin and Felipe Flores of the Cortelyou Collective
      This Android app notifies you if your subway, Metro-North or LIRR train is experiencing service problems, based on the times of day and days of week you ride.
    • Popular Choice Grand Prize: CityMaps, by Christopher Winfield
      This app combines real-time information about local businesses with subway information about how to reach them.
    • Popular Choice Second Prize: Right Track: Metro-North, by David Waring
      This Android app provides quick access to Metro-North schedules, real-time status updates and track assignments.
    • Large Organization Award: NYC Station Finder, by Slalom Consulting
      This iPhone app allows users to find station entrances with an augmented reality station finder.

    Five apps received honorable mentions from the panel of nine expert judges:

    View all the submissions in the gallery, and download an app today to enhance your own experience of the MTA!

    ‘Embark NYC,’ Multi-Purpose Navigation App, Wins MTA App Quest [mta.info]

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    By Marci

    Feb 2
    MTA,  MTA App Quest,  challenges,  winners,  
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  2. NYC BigApps infographic

    From the nycedc:

    How do you like them apps? Check out our infographic to see how past NYC BigApps winners branched out to serve the different needs of New Yorkers.

    BigApps by the numbers:

    • 60 agencies, commissions and bids
    • 750 city datasets tapped
    • 140+ apps generated
    • Nearly 14,000 voters and 5,000 followers
    • Over $100,000 awarded in prizes

    The benefits of the BigApps challenge? Improved citizen and city life; publicity and a chance to meet Mayor Bloomberg; and access to leading tech entrepreneurs and investors.

    Submit your entry for this year’s challenge by January 25, 2012 at 5 p.m. EST.

    Jan 12 Comments

  3. Samsung Free the TV Challenge: winners announced!

    We’re thrilled to announce the winners of the Samsung Free the TV Challenge!

    View the winners and all the other submissions in the Gallery.

    Thanks again to everyone who participated and made the challenge a great success!

    Follow @ChallengePost on Twitter, and like us on Facebook

    Jan 9
    samsung,  Winners,  challenges,  
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  4. Vote for the best new transit app

    Public voting is now open for MTA App Quest! The New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) challenged software developers to create apps that improve the transit experience of 8.5 million daily riders, and now you get to vote for your favorites.

    Apps for Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Windows Mobile, and more

    The 42 submitted apps cover all the ins and outs of getting around NYC — and then some. From alarms to service alerts to social and entertainment apps, there’s something for everyone. And we’re not just talking iOS and Android apps (though there are plenty of those). Use the Type and Platform filters in the submission gallery to see the range of entries.

    Browse the gallery and vote daily for your favorites. You can vote for as many as you want, but only once per day for each submission. As you browse the gallery, you’ll see current standings, showing how important your votes are to each app’s chance of winning a Popular Choice prize.

    Voting ends Jan. 11, and winners will be announced Jan. 16. (Votes must be verified before they can be counted; the totals and rankings you see on the site are not final.)

    MTA App Quest Coverage

    The MTA will be sharing one app a day (in alphabetical order) on Twitter and Facebook through Jan. 11. Follow @MTAInsider on Twitter and like the MTA page on Facebook. Or check MTA.info every Wednesday to see a summary of the previous week’s promoted apps. 

    Use hashtag #MtaAppQuest when you tweet.

    By Marci

    Dec 5
    MTA,  apps,  challenges,  
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  5. Challenges roundup: do you like making videos?

    Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the Healthy Swimming 2011 Video Contest, and challenged the public to create a short, creative video that promotes the simple steps everyone can take to ensure a healthy and recreational-water-illness-free swimming experience. The result? This funny 60-second video shot by brothers David and Aaron Matthews of Vicksburg, Mississipi. They had a blast making the vid, and even won $1,000.

    If you enjoy creating videos, check out some of the latest video challenges on ChallengePost, and start shooting today:

    Challenge: Are You Prepared? Video Contest
    By: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
    Video content: Show how you’re prepared for any emergency and reinforce the key message: “Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed.”
    Video length: 60 seconds
    Deadline: October 11, 2011
    Who should enter: Individuals, groups, even zombies

    Challenge: Ending Childhood Hunger Video Contest
    By: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
    Video content: Show current activities or innovative ideas that tackle the problem of childhood hunger
    Video length: Under 2 minutes
    Deadline: October 21, 2011
    Who should enter: Elementary, middle/junior high, and high school students

    Challenge: Help Answer the Public’s Questions Video Contest
    By: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
    Video content: Illustrate how-to processes described in some of the GSA’s most popular frequently asked questions about government benefits and services
    Video length: 30–90 seconds
    Deadline: October 28, 2011
    Who should enter:  Anyone* who wants to win up to $5,000 in prizes

    Challenge: National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Video Contest
    By: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    Video content: In honor of Corps Community Day on October 13, illustrate the role of the NHSC in your community
    Video length: 30–90 seconds 
    Deadline: November 14, 2011
    Who should enter: Individuals or communities impacted by the NHSC

    Challenge: MyPlate Fruits & Veggies Video Challenge
    By: USDA
    Video content: Share a practical tip on how to eat more fruits & veggies on a budget
    Video length: ~30 seconds 
    Deadline: November 15, 2011
    Who should enter: People who love eating healthy 

    *For more information, eligibility, and official rules, please refer to the respective challenge website.

    By: Samantha

    Follow @ChallengePost on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

    Sep 27
    challenges,  video challenge,  GSA,  NHSC,  CDC,  
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