#@ChestonDEV

[masherydev]

Hack for LA: Hackathon at LA City Hall

The two day Hack for LA hackathon took place last weekend at LA City Hall. This event was in association with the National Day of Civic Hacking, an Intel supported initiative to improve our communities and the government that serve them.  

The TechLA Technology and Innovation Conference occurred alongside the hackathon with discussion tracks on big data, green vehicles, and civic engagement.  

I represented both Mashery and Intel, sponsoring two challenges: 1) Best App Using the Mashery API Network with a prize of Rover 2.0 App Controlled Wireless Spy Tanks and 2) Best App Using the Intel XDK mobile app development platform, which yielded a prize of some beautiful Intel-powered Android tablets. Both Mashery and Intel proved a winning combination achieving four winning app awards (out of the 500 participants) using Mashery powered APIs and the Intel XDK, including the Hack for LA 1st place $3,000 grand prize and “will.i.am's" (of The Black Eyed Peas) "i.am.angel Foundation" $2,000 cash prize.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti kicked off the events Saturday morning.  His passionate and motivating speech about LA technology resonated through the LA Council Chamber.

Los Angeles Chief Innovation Technology Officer, Peter Marx gave an accompanying motivating speech and participated in Hack for LA.  I met with Peter just before his talk and was pleasantly surprised about his knowledge of Mashery and the API ecosystem. He proudly sported the HTML5 logo lapel pin on his suit jacket (see image below). That's my city's CIO.

Soon after the speeches, the conference continued and hackathon participants were directed to the hackathon on the 10th floor.  After the pre-hack pitches, hackers explored the floor seeking their workspace in the designated rooms.  One room was reserved for Hack for LA Kids, a hackathon crafted especially for the youth hacking crowd.

I met so many talented developers with an eagerness to learn. I provided a technical talk on the Mashery API Network and new Mashery tools including the “API Catalyst”, code snippets for simple and quick app deployment that incorporate APIs, built by our own Amit Jotwani.  In no time, developers were using the USA TODAY API with Intel XDK to create new apps!

I saw so many familiar faces including fellow developers, hackathon organizers, and community leaders all participating in the Hack for LA fun.  I presented a workshop “How to Build a Mobile App with the Mashery API Network” and called on a volunteer to help demonstrate this technology to the attendees with my direction.

In just minutes, our volunteer and participants built their very first Mashery-powered API app using Intel XDK in just minutes.  Many approached me afterwards expressing a willingness to build more apps after learning how much development time they saved learned from my workshop.

Final app presentations were held at Los Angeles Police Department Auditorium. The Mashery prize was awarded to “eDeliver.IT,” the convenient, cost saving delivery services app which used the Best Buy Products API.  

The Intel prize was awarded to "Know Thy Law," an app built with Intel XDK allowing users to post and vote on interesting LA laws, facts, and data pulled from Data.LACity.org.

The 1st place overall winner, "Shelter Connect" connecting shelters with restaurants and volunteer organizations was built by a team of high schoolers using the TomTom API.

"Help the Homeless” which used Intel XDK won the “i.am.angel Foundation” prize. The app pools information for those in need of free food, clothing, shelter, rehabilitation centers and other much needed services all around the Los Angeles County.  This app was inspired by the creator's own homeless experience and the tools he used to overcome his struggles.

Special thanks goes out to Lilly Kam of the "i.am.angel Foundation” and Catherine Geanuracos of the New Economy Campaigns for organizing Hack for LA and supporting local developers.

In addition, I want to thank the volunteers for their help to participants including meal preparations and audio/video setup.  Lastly, I want to thank the participating LA developer community for their commitment to technology and innovation. Let’s continue to make awesome apps!

[masherydev]

Nokia’s DVLUP Day San Diego: Windows Phone Extravaganza

Southern California developers journeyed to the Nokia Building in San Diego for DVLUP Day.

This Saturday April 26th event was focused on fun and learning about and building Windows Phone apps and games.

Developer evangelists from Microsoft, myself representing Mashery, and experienced developers and engineers provided breakout sessions and hands-on workshops.  

Attendees publishing their apps or games to the Windows Phone Store within three weeks of the event will be receiving a free Windows Phone.  Fun random drawings for prizes such as JBL speakers and a Microsoft Xbox One video game console were awarded to lucky attendees throughout the day.  

Nokia ambassador, George Salcedo welcomed all and kicked off the event.  

I met many new and experienced developers, as well as winners from previous hackathons looking to strengthen their development skills with the latest tools and techniques.

Joel Mountain from the Mashery Sales Team made an appearance, met with local San Diego developers and learned about Windows Phone development.

Microsoft evangelist Adam Tuliper gave an entertaining talk about the Unity Game Engine.  He amazed the crowd using Unity to create a virtual world filled with happy trees and monstrous dinosaurs, a Tyrannosaurus Rex to be exact.

I taught developers about the Mashery API Network and the Windows Phone building features in Intel XDK.  It was great seeing them build their first Windows Phone apps with Intel XDK and invoking the services of the Active and Rotten Tomatoes APIs.

Special thanks goes to George Salcedo and his team for organizing DVLUP Day San Diego and for providing at the conclusion of this event, one of the most incredible cakes I’ve ever seen, a huge two piece front and back Nokia Windows Phone chocolate cake. 

[masherydev]

2nd Annual CEA MoDev Hackathon

The 2nd Annual CEA MoDev Hackathon at CES returned to Las Vegas’ Venetian Hotel for an exciting event.  Developers were given only 10 hours to build apps, qualifying for over $50000 in cash and prizes.

MoDev CEO, Pete Erickson increased the event’s intensity by offering $100 cash spot awards to each participant first implementing CEA MoDev sponsors' technology. In only minutes, contestants amazingly built apps for the Sony SmartWatch 2, the Samsung S Pen, and created apps which enabled payment and cloud storage services using PayPal APIs and Amazon Web Services.

After this quick cash spot jolt to the event, developers honed their development skills on the more bigger prizes. Hacker League was CEA MoDev’s tool of choice for managing hackathon participants.  The Hacker League countdown clock continuously reminded developers of their app submission deadline.

I worked intensely like my fellow developers helping teams register their apps with Hacker League, providing app development and presentation support, helping judge submitted apps and contributing all I could towards a fun hackathon experience.  

In the end, 23 apps competed and the Travel Channel best app that compliments, improves or extends the Travel Channel Cities app top sponsorship prize ($12000 Belize trip + $5000 Cash + GoPro cameras for the team + one hour meeting with the Travel Channel mobile team) was awarded to "Journey Together," comprised of an awesome four member team. This app plans and shares your travel itinerary through your social network and the Travel Channel.  Users can view their friends’ previous trip experiences to help plan their next travel adventure.

Notable recognition goes to a three member team whom were able to learn and operate Intel's XDK (an HTML5 app building tool this team had never used before) and in no time, created “WE-Cation,” a real-time vacation management app keeping family and friends socially connected no matter where they are in their shared vacation.

Congratulations to Pete Erickson and the CEA MoDev Hackathon team for producing this awesome event and big thanks to the sponsors: Travel Channel, Samsung, Amazon Web Services, Sony, Paypal, Microsoft, and CEA MoDev Hackathon for providing the hackathon prizes and supporting the developer community. And to the developers and attendees, you rock!