THE 411

So I was definitely interested in building out my very own Social Video Network game app. So when Alex Doon [ @Alex_Donn ] tweeted me this “AT&T Mobile App Hackathon coming your way on Nov 5th! Interested?” I replied with an enthusiastic “Let’s Do This.” I wasn’t prepared for what was to come next, it would be my first hack-a-thon and I really didn’t know what to expect. But I knew that you could come pitch your idea and scout for developer talent, in which they can help you build your app.

The Location

It was held at the AT&T Foundry, which is a great location for the latest cutting edge tools to deploy, learn, and grow mobile applications with a website backend, that’s fully hosted in the cloud. I just want to say that this establishment is unique in space and size but boasts a great idea and innovative technology. In short, it’s a NERD’s DREAM WORKPLACE. They have developers who work  with AT&T Foundry™ at their innovation centers to gain access to resources they couldn’t get anywhere else. Thus this hack-a-thon was a embracing of minds to put together interesting and unique applications that are built with Native iOS and Android technology along with HTML5 Web Apps.

THE DETAILS

The Mobile App Hackathon was a successful event produced by the AT&T Developer Program, Apigee [ @Apigee ], Bottle Rocket [ @_BottleRocket ] and Sencha [ @Sencha ]. The presentations were short and sweet and then a few quick pitches were delivered, then the work commenced, with developers and a FEW designers engaging in strategy. I was pretty much lost and kind of wanted to soak in my first experience at a hack-a-thon. I remained quiet and observed, networking with a few developers and asking unique questions about topics in which I was interested.

I found that one presentation lined up PERFECTLY for a problem in which I had, and I want to thank Alcatel-Lucent [ @AlcatelLucent ] for presenting that platform. Alex Gaber [ @alexgaber ] presented Openplug a unique way to incorporate Web HTML5 Applications into native software such as iOS5 and Android. Let me say that again, Alcatel Lucent has bought a company that can take simple HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript code and create beautiful native web apps. The Open Plug Studio gives you the ability to test your web app on each android device to work out kinks and see it work live. They are working on Apple iOS Devices currently to get that function up and working. It also works well with PhoneGap which is  an HTML5 app platform that allows you to author native applications with web technologies and get access to APIs and app stores. As from what I could see I am heavily impressed. It then packages all the details and uploads it to Android Market and the App Store for review and publishing!

THE CONCLUSION

I must say that after this event I have more of a clear vision and resources to develop my idea and application. I would definitely like to thank everyone involved at this event. I didn’t create anything there due to me not having a laptop to explore development, but I learned QUITE A LOT. I am definitely loving the possibilities in which are developing for Web Developers, User Experience, and Non-Programmers. The presentations were amazing from what came as an idea to a functional product, it’s amazing what can be done in a day. One app concept allowed a Coach to take pictures of players and have a web app that allowed him to have a digital playbook. Another was a unique geo-location app that told you more about your local politician who represented you. I definitely loved the ideas and it’s inspired me to pursue my very own dreams and ideas!! Please leave some feedback for my blog and on this post, if you were there let me know what you learned and what your thoughts on hack-a-thon!!