WWDC app - not for everyone
Apple released their official WWDC app to help attendees find sessions and other conference-related info. However, to my dismay:
The software, which can be downloaded at developer.apple.com/wwdc/app, is only available for those attending the conference. Attendees can access it by logging in with the account used to purchase their WWDC ticket. (http://bit.ly/cPPg4r)
Seriously?
I suppose this shouldn’t come as a surprise. But what a disappointment. There are likely boatloads of people who either (a) can’t get into the conference and want to be part of the experience and/or (b) are curious to check out the app to see how it was designed and get ideas for their own app.
Attendees pay good money to get a great experience at an event and of course nothing can top actually being there in person. But the more open the event is to those who can’t make it, the more successful it’ll be. The Google I/O app was open to anyone, and from what we saw, it was quite popular even with people not attending I/O. I/O is also known for posting all session videos and slides (which we’re doing now) and this year we live streamed the keynotes on YouTube. There’s a lot more that could be done to improve the ‘virtual’ I/O experience, but overall being open is undoubtedly the way to go.
Case in point: TechCrunch live streamed all of Disrupt. One comment: “For a South African there would be no way of me attending this conference but through livestream and your initiative you provided me with amazing free coverage of the event. I really felt a part of it, learned and loved it so much..”
