The Apps Alliance had a productive trip, speaking on panels, hosting a Design Thinking Workshop, and connecting with members during CTIA’s Super Mobility Week.
Ford Developer Conference: Apps on Wheels. The Car as the Ultimate Mobile Device
Jake Ward participated in a panel with Ford, Pandora, and JacAPPS discussing the future of the connected car. Key takeaways:
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Automobile manufacturers and app developers are working closely to optimize the car as both a platform and an operating system. As a result, the apps, the cars, and the user experience will get better and better.
- App innovation in automobiles struggles with the same obstacles as any new platform and technology, the adoption of a common standard or language. What the solution will be is still unknown, but that there will be a solution is inevitable.
Apps on Wheels panel during Ford’s Developer Conference.
Full room for the Apps on Wheels panel.
API Bootcamp panel during CTIA’s Mobile Talk
CTIA Mobile Talks: API Bootcamp
Jake Ward moderated the API Bootcamp with panelists from AT&T, Verizon, Mocana, Samsung, and Intel. Key takeaways:
- APIs are made available as stand alone products, brand marketing, tools for innovation and simply to attract developers. But whatever the motive for the production of APIs, they are absolutely essential to the rapid development and innovation of apps.
- As essential APIs are and have been to app proliferation in recent years, it is just the tip of the iceberg when we consider the importance of M2M communication in the IoT market.
Design Thinking Workshop
The Apps Alliance hosted a Design Thinking Workshop with members on how best to train, find and hire developers. Key takeaways:
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Developers have more opportunity and control over their career path than at any time before. The demand is enormous and growing every year. That demand and the opportunities it provides means companies looking for talented coders and talented coders looking for the right fit need to place a premium on understanding the culture, the job, and the technology.
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As a company looking for developers there are many different ways to identify and attract talent. As a developer, opportunities can come in many forms. The key to finding the right fit for both employers and employee is to clearly understanding the roles and needs of each other. Attracting the right candidates or finding the right company, sector or even industry begins with an honest assessment of where you are and where you want to go.
Robi Ganguly from Apptentive and Ed Schmidt from AT&T interview each other during Design Thinking.
The Design Thinking Workshop during Super Mobility Week
The Design Thinking Workshop during Super Mobility Week
API Bootcamp panel during CTIA Mobile Talks
CTIA Mobile Talks: Analytics Bootcamp
Jake Ward hosted the API Bootcamp with presentations from App Annie, Dstillery, and Privacy Analytics. Key takeaways:
- As a developer, a publisher, or a tool working in the app space, you cannot afford – time or money – to guess at market share, user base, or user value. The good news is, you don’t have to. The data available and the tools available to help you crunch that data are more innovative and accurate that ever before. Use them.
- All data and data analytics are susceptible to bias and errors created by assumptions. Its a word of caution from data companies, let the data lead you, not the other way around.
Connecting with Members
The best part of attending conferences is the chance to catch up and connect with our members!
(Left to right): Robi Ganguly (Apptentive), Pete Erickson (MoDev), Jake Ward (Apps Alliance) mingle during Innovation Networking Events
Chelsea Andrews interviews BlackBerry on the projects they are working on for developers.
(Left to right): Chelsea Andrews (Apps Alliance), Jake Ward (Apps Alliance) and Laura Bolos (Apps Alliance) at a networking event.
(Left to right): Jake Ward (Apps Alliance), Josh Matthews (Apkudo), Steven Song (CTTL), Chelsea Andrews (Apps Alliance) and Nick Chen (Apkudo).
Posted by:
Laura Bolos, Director of Membership
