But don’t get your e-wallets in an uproar. It’s not these kind of specs:
1. Specs: spectacles (if you were thinking of augmented reality glasses sometimes referred to as *specs*)
2. Specs: specifications. This is not about giving out specs on the latest android devices rumored or true but it IS about speculating what actually can go on during an android event.
Be it true or not, we really have no way in knowing other than taking wild and absurd educated guesses. Heck, any publicity is good publicity and we think it’s time to stir the ratings up a bit with some good ‘ol fashioned “rumor mill stories”. Besides, PR isn’t PR if there isn’t anything to stimulate PR. Just saying.
We went camping again. This time it was to take part in what one would call a “gathering of Androids” of sorts. Droid Camp Berlin was another successful event, in what will prove to be a continued and ongoing string of successes marching steadily throughout the globe.
DroidCamp is partnered with Droid Con, the official Android Conference. DroidCamp, patterned after the BarCamp brings in a healthy mix of developers of all skills sets from around the region, some travelling as far as the California Coast, Taiwan and India.
Both events ensure a unique balance of “developer driven” (DroidCamp) and “corporate backing” (DroidCon) energies. Unlike most conferences, DroidCons have a “developer focus” mindset and although a corporate presence is indeed obvious, the brand logos are there to support, sponsor and encourage the Android Movement.
This was Berlin’s second time around for hosting the two events and the number of attendees had doubled considerably from last year’s November 3-4, 2009 showing. The fact that there were attendees from as far away as Taiwan and India proves that the value of DroidCamps and DroidCons can be felt across the globe. What with the Android Movement gaining momentum fast and furious towards the end of the last quarter of 2009 and has not slowed down since, creates a promising sign that the world is ready for Android.
Just in the past few months alone, Google’s open source operating system – Android, has managed to seep into devices of all types. From small to big, companies are now looking towards implementing the operating system into its roadmap for new products and services due to the platforms flexibility and ease. Despite the positive signs that have come about, one challenge still looms above and that is the undeniable fact of Android’s fragmentation.
However, in a recent interview, Andy Rubin (Chief Architect of the Android OS) had one of the best explanations for excusing fragmentation and seeing it as perfectly normal, given the speed of which versions are being deployed, unlike Apple’s scheduled updates. Rubin reminded us of what Android really is. It’s about choice. He explained that if every device were to have the same interface and operating system then Android would be a mere commodity. That’s definitely not what the Android OS stands for. Android is truly about empowerment through choice.
And speaking of “Empowerment and Choice”, we’ve highlighted just a few of the many great moments that took place at these two events. It was difficult to see and take part in all sessions and talks since almost all were more than worth seeing. You can see which moments we were able to capture by visiting the DroidCamp Highlights and the DroidCon Highlights.
Photos and video’s were taken of the two events from various sources. Here are some of our photographic contributions.
Naturally, I would have loved to take the time to detail and write about every moment that I considered was “a highlight” of the day but then that would seem like a play-by-play narrative. Instead, I’ve chosen to pick out two small events that pretty much summed up what the entire DroidCon Day was all about for me.
1. approachable, personable, passionate people
2. ambitious and talented android developers
approachable, personable, passionate people
Tom Higgens talks to game developer, Mario Hachemer
First off was a delightful and equally passionate gentleman by the name of Tom Higgins. Tom, the Product Evangelist for Unity 3D (an emerging, empowering, break-all-molds gaming engine and environment) was kind enough to take some time for a casual interview. The interview took place in the comfort of his hotel room where we brought in a young and talented game developer, Mario Hachemer. Mario, currently living in Frankfurt, was able to be present at the interview via Skype. Oh, the wonders of technology. I found out about the opportunity to interview Tom, just days before the event. During DroidCamp (that took place one day before DroidCon) it had occurred to me to “share” this opportunity with at least one game developer who would have the opportunity to ask Tom questions about Unity 3D themselves. I chose Mario Hachemer because of his current game project on Unity’s engine and felt it might give him valuable insight into further steering his approach to game development.
The interview was just under an hour. The actual video had to be divided into six parts, each approximately under ten minutes. Here’s part one to get you started.
ambitious and talented android developers
We managed to grab one of the android developers that was also there for DroidCamp and get him to tell us a bit about one of the apps he created, just for conferences. The app is called “Schedule Bot” and allows conference goers to carry around the conference schedule on their android phone. Of course, conferences already offer the ability for others to obtain schedules via accessing their website, downloading a .pdf file or other, but Schedule Bot’s friendly interface makes keeping track of sessions, a lot more simpler and most of all, easy to read. Tobias Fiebiger, the apps creator, was gracious enough with his time and we look forward to seeing more of Tobias’ apps in the future. I had wished to interview many more developers but time was really tight and there were so many great sessions to see. You can watch the “quickie” interview below with Tobias.
Like I said, there were so many “highlights” and I would’ve mentioned them all. Maybe I will in future posts, but for now, these two videos pretty much summed up what went on during DroidCon –
- Companies meeting face to face with developers of the future and entering into a supportive and engaging role with their projects, being open to answer all their questions, as best as they could and then offering their time if needed.
- Developers, being able to share, teach and learn from each other’s experience and thus solidifying that which makes the Android Community, special.
Brussels is the next city to join the Android Movement! Hosting their first ever DroidCon (Android Conference) on April 2, 2010 at Living Tomorrow, their aim (like all other DroidCon’s) is to gather enthusiastic android developers, fans and those in niche industries that would like to know more about, and find ways in how to integrate “anything android” into their current business models, road maps, etc ..
If you would like to attend (and I really suggest that you do) DroidCon Belgium, then please register here.
You can also follow them on twitter to get the latest updates.
And while we’re on the topic of up and coming DroidCon’s, don’t forget to register for DroidCon Berlin!
This will be the 2nd DroidCon in Berlin, (The first one and first EVER in the world, took place last November 2009 in Berlin). If you are an android developer and especially if you’re someone who wants to know more about the Android Community and what great developments are taking place, then attending a DroidCon near you is a must. Most of the success that takes place at these events, is not so much the sponsors that back up and believe in the value that these events have, but from the people that attend. People like you, who bring with them, their great ideas and innovative concepts. People that ask questions that stretch the imagination and really, it’s like-minded people that get together, collaborate and share and then that’s when magic starts to happen.
If it weren’t for the interesting people that come together to part-take in events such as DroidCon, then the Android Community and Movement would not be what it is today, an enriched culture of uber geeks that, through their diversity and idea sharing, are able to contribute to an empowered cause, that will change the world, enabling societies to another level of communication.
Take a look at this video on last year’s DroidCon in Berlin.
