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360iDev – Session video bundles

In case you hadn’t noticed, we’ve figured out to how to bundle session videos.

It’s still a work in progress but here’s what you need to know.

As we render each session and add it to the store page, we also add it to the Bundle (By the way, the bundle is per conference, there’s an Austin Bundle and a San Jose Bundle). If you’ve already purchased the Austin bundle you’ll notice it’s a bit light, it’s growing. You should be able to click on the download link you got in email and come back to you purchase page, it should be updated with the new videos we’ve added to the bundle since you initially bought it. Don’t worry, you don’t pay again, and you’re not aced out of future additions to the bundle. You just have to come back and get the new content.

We’re working as fast as we can to get more and more session videos rendered, so keep an eye on the store page.

That’s it! Happy new year!

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360iDev – Speaker Michael Simmons

Michael Simmons (Long lost cousin to Brent Simmons) came to us late in the planning for 360|iDev, but is such a great guy we just had to have him with us!
He’s got a ton of experience in the iOS community from helping launch successful apps to now running his own shop!

Q: How long have you been doing iOS development?

A: Since Apple officially launched the SDK, back in March 2008. Actually, even longer than that! Back in August  2007, I was helping some friends with an app prior to the SDK (when jailbreaking was the only was to do native apps).
Ah the good ol’ days :)

Q: What do you like most about being an iOS Developer?
A: The freedom and flexibility to create pretty much whatever you want. Plus, the community is great. I enjoy the people I work with and get to collaborate with on both a professional and personal level.
It’s certainly easy to eat your own dog food as it were as an iOS developer.
Q: What’s your favorite Game?
A: At the moment, it’s Cut the Rope from Chilingo/ZeptoLab, which is a lot of fun and challenging, too!
On my purchase list! Man! Running 360|iDev is expensive!
Q: What’s your favorite App?
A: No way could I narrow it down to a single favorite! So I’ll say Mail. After all, it’s the “killer app”. :)
Oh yeah. killer indeed!
Q: Robots or Ninjas?
A: Ninjas for sure. Particularly since Steve Jobs is one (since he purportedly tried to smuggle shuriken into the US) :)
I think he’s still at the padawan stage of ninja-hood, but yeah if Steve wants to be a Ninja who can argue!
Q: What would change about the iOS platform if you could change just one thing?
A: Improving the App Store app approval time (specifically for bug fix updates).
It’d be cool if there were two channels. New apps went thru one, maybe more indepth, updates go thru another. Or at least worse case, an emergency channel for bug fixes.
Q: What are you most excited about 360|iDev Austin?
A: Giving my first speech that’s not product-specific. I’ve always spoke and presented products. This time, I get to share my experiences and knowledge with developers, something I think will be very rewarding.
w00t! can’t wait!
Don’t miss out! Register Now!
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360idev – Speaker Mike Lee

Mike Lee is… well he’s Mike Lee, BMF. Mike is one of those larger than life guys, that’s at the same time the coolest dude you’ll meet. We’ve been honored to have Mike Keynote and do regular sessions at 360|iDev… Oops sorry, not Keynote, general session ;)

Q: How long have you been doing iOS development?

A: For as long as there has been such a thing. I was already an experienced Mac developer, so when Apple first announced the iPhone, I knew I had to be on it, and have been ever since.

That’s right! Mike is also presenting (Keynoting!) at 360|MacDev, our Mac Desktop Developer conference in December!

Q: What do you like most about being an iOS Developer?
A: In general, I love being able to express myself creatively, making things that haven’t existed before, and programming is better suited to my abilities than painting. With iOS specifically, I love the way the iPhone and iPad are small enough to get out the way, bringing programming to the next level, where it becomes less about being hosted on the device, and more about transforming the device itself. It’s the closest thing we have to programming the atoms of some future nanotool.

Creatively said! Totally agree. I try out lots of devices, and so far find myself coming back to iOS time and again. I’m not fanboi enough to ignore a better device or better apps, but have yet to see the right combo exist. A true testament to Apple and the iOS community.

Q: What’s your favorite Game?
A: That’s like asking what my favorite song is! There are a lot of games I love for a lot of reasons. Of all time, probably Puzzle Pirates. These days, I’ve been playing a lot of Angry Birds, but ask me again later.

To True. It’s one of those (and maybe should be phrased this way), “what’s your favorite right now?” questions.

Q: What’s your favorite App?

A: Keynote, hands down. It was the app that most inspired me to get into the business of writing apps, and continues to be an inspiration on the fine art of making your users look amazing.

Interesting! That’s the first time that app has been mentioned!

Q: Robots or Ninjas?
A: I suppose it really depends. I rely on robots on a daily basis, and spend a lot of time thinking about robots I want to build. On the other hand, when you need someone assassinated—for using a splash screen, for example—it’s hard to beat a ninja.

Hard to beat a ninja in both senses of the word! Plus Robots, at least for now, are easy to hear sneaking up on you, or your enemy.

Q: What would change about the iOS platform if you could change just one thing?
A: I would make it trivial to use the 30-pin adapter so we could expand the devices in hardware the way we currently do in software. I would love to use my iPhone to control robots.

Yeah it’s a bummer the 30-pin is so locked down. I too would love to see more devices act as docks for iDevices. I think (I Hope) it’s a future evolution of the platform that my iPhone or iPad, can be the driver of my media center, or an auxiliary monitor without extra steps and “server” apps

Q: What are you most excited about 360|iDev Austin?
A: The crowd at 360 is the most passionate I have ever experienced. They leave me as inspired as I can only pray to leave them.

Having seen your last 360|iDev general session, i can say that’s a high bar. Your talk was very inspiring and left us all wow’ed. I agree, I go to a lot of events and have yet to see a community like the iOS community.

Q: Lastly, what would you tell someone on the fence about attending 360|iDev Austin?
A: What kind of pussy sits on the fence hemming and hawing over meeting great people who can only help them in the longrun?

I dunno, but they’re out there! And I want to meet them and convert them :)

with just a week to go, if you’re on the fence, tell us why? What’s keeping you from coming and being a part of something so much bigger than you. You’re career (indie or corp cube monkey) will thank you on Wednesday night. Leave a comment if you’re on a fence, we’d love to hear from you!

Otherwise, Go register!!!

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360iDev – Game Jam sponsored by you, the iOS Community!

I can’t say how awesome the community is! Apple is freaking lucky to have such cool folks, who can go above and beyond for each other, building apps for the iPhone. Not to diminish the iPhone but truly, any platform would rock with folks like you behind it!

The 360|iDev Game Jam, sponsored this time around by non other than our awesome community members is ON! Whether you’re a veteran game maker, or newb looking to get a start at games, the Game Jam is for you! It’s a great time!

It’s simple, the game jam starts around Tuesday night 8ish. It ends, Wednesday morning, around 9ish. Anyone who’d like to present their game is welcome to join me during the Wednesday keynote to show off their game. Past Game Jam efforts have landed in the app store!

We’ll have plenty of Red Bull, and soda, and red vines and what not to keep everyone going.

Whether you’re gonna get yur game jam on our not, thank all these folks for making the Game Jam possible!

See you in Austin!!

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360iDev – Party it up with Disney Monday Night!

This is obviously for attendees only but make sure you RSVP for Monday night’s party for a chance to win some cool goodies!

RSVP HERE

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360iDev – Speaker Brent Simmons

Brent is a long time supporter of 360|iDev. in fact he’s been at every one I think. The first one he came as an attendee, and we didn’t even know we had a celebrity in our midst!

He’s a great guy and has been an active part in the Mac and iOS community for a long time! Hint he’s really like 83 years old! But you’d never guess it looking at him, he’s ageless ;)

Q: How long have you been doing iOS development?

A: About 30 years. Started on an Apple II Plus. Of course, we didn’t have Core Animation in those days. Or lower-case letters. And it wasn’t a phone. And it wasn’t actually iOS. But still, I felt like saying I’ve been doing this for 30 years.

I think that’s fair! iOS or not, that’s an impressive time in the larger MAC community! We thank ya! NetNewsWire FTW!

The first time I ever used a computer with a touchscreen was even longer ago — our class took a field trip to see the Plato system at the University of Delaware. (I grew up about three miles away, a Fightin’ Blue Hen fan.) I’ve been waiting for the future ever since then — I’m so glad it’s finally here.

AWESOME! Though I still want my damn flying car!!

Q: What do you like most about being an iOS developer?

A: Mostly it’s the espresso.

It IS good isn’t it!

Q: What’s your favorite Game?

A: Seeing how little sleep I can get and still function effectively.

Current high score?

Q: What’s your favorite App?

A: It’s a tie between OmniFocus for iPad and TouchUp.

I love OmniFocus, though the price point is a bit steep :( but I can’t argue they make awesome apps!

Q: Robots or Ninjas?

A: Robots make better drinking buddies. “Hey Robbie — want another beer?”

“Affirmative.”

Ninjas — you can’t ever find ‘em when it’s time to go out.

Or when the bill comes.

Q: What would you change about the iOS platform if you could change just one thing?

A: All the stuff with code-signing and provisioning profiles and limited number of slots and AdHoc builds and certificates and all that — it’s a huge pain, a waste of time when I could be writing code.

Yeah I don’t have a better idea but there must be one! The current method is terrible. I really hope Apple is working on this internally, and will pull an Apple soon and wow us with a better way of doing things!

I know it’s not realistic to get rid of all that. But I still would if I could.

Q: What are you most excited about 360|iDev Austin?

A: That it’s in Austin is very cool. I’ve been once before, for SXSW, and had a great time.

But mainly I’m looking forward to seeing the people — meeting new folks, seeing old friends. And then of course there’s a great speaker line-up, so I expect to learn a bunch of stuff I can use.

w00t!! Yeah I’m excited to be in Austin, i think it’ll be a great time! Can’t wait to meet my future new friends in the iOS community.

Q: Lastly, what would you tell someone on the fence about attending 360|iDev Austin?

A: It’s the year 2010. There’s no more time for fence-sitting. Those days are over. Make the call, imaginary person. (And, by the way, the correct call is to go there, because it will be awesome.)

Indeed it will!! There’s really no reason to fence sit! Go register right now!!

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360iDev – Speaker Joe Keeley

Joe Keeley isn’t new to speaking at 360|iDev, and his session, “more Quartz 2D” isn’t one to miss if you’re looking for some hands on Quartz 2D action! Monday 1:30pm, be there!

Q: How long have you been doing iOS development?

A: Holy cow – two years this month! (That happened fast.)

Yes it did! I still remember, and just sold on Ebay, my iPhone 2G. I remember the lines, the launch of the app store, it’s been a whirl wind

Q: What do you like most about being an iOS Developer?

A: Freedom. And needing to have all the latest Apple toys for, you know, testing.

LOL, yeah it makes it a little easier to justify buying the latest laptops and iOS devices :D
Q: What’s your favorite Game?

A: Wish I had more time to play games!  I do have fun playing Doodle Jump and Harbor Master HD with my four year old daughter.  Well, actually, watching her trounce my best scores consistently is more like it.

Both awesome games by awesome folks! Love ‘em both! I can’t wait to play the FrankenDoodle update that Igor just released.
Q: What’s your favorite App?

A: Lately I’ve really enjoyed using Star Walk on the iPad when we go camping.  It’s nice to actually be able to see stars and know what you’re looking at!

That’s an awesome idea!!! Dang! Can’t wait for spring and summer to get here now!!! Stupid winter!

Q: Robots or Ninjas?

A: Hmmmm….depends on whether the robots obey Asimov’s laws. Probably robots since theoretically you can shut them off.

Well thanks to scientists, we’re now teacing robots to break the Asimov laws… why, i can’t even guess.
Q: What would change about the iOS platform if you could change just one thing?

A: If only you could merge changes to an XIB file – that would make team development a bunch easier.

Yeah I’ve noticed that Apple has a thing with binary files and files that are packages. Ever tried using SVN or GIT to manage pages files? ya can’t!!! It’d be so awesome to share and be able to merge iWork docs. Oh yeah I guess XIBs too :)

Q: What are you most excited about 360|iDev Austin?

A: Learning all sorts of unexpected new things!  And hanging out with the best iOS devs around.  It’s a great and humbling experience.

Humbling in a good way I hope :) But yeah I’ve never met anyone who left saying, “I didn’t learn anything new.”

Q: Lastly, what would you tell someone on the fence about attending 360|iDev Austin?

A: Fences are uncomfortable to sit on.  Try the nice green grass on the 360|iDev Austin side!  It’s much better.

You know it! I sat a wrought iron fence for an hour once, I was off as fast as I could!!

Don’t miss out. Register now!

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360iDev – Speaker Jen Gordon

Jen Gordon is presenting “Designing the Details – What makes some apps stand out above the rest?” on Tuesday, and if you’ve ever asked yourself why one app is on the news and noteworthy section or the “what we’re playing” section of the iTunes app store, her session is for you!
Q: How long have you been doing iOS development?
A: in November of 2008, i’d been designing for large glowing boxes for about five years. I’d had my iPhone for a few months. My husband and I were brainstorming app ideas and bam – the million dollar idea: iDingDong. It’s an app with a collection of doorbells that you tap and they ring in a variety of sounds. Ok not really but it was a running joke that I’d actually make the app. To answer the question – two years. :)
Sweet!! I want iDingDong, i hope the icon is a hostess Ding Dong with a doorbell button on it :)
Q: What do you like most about being an iOS Developer?
A: I love designing mobile interfaces – it’s like being a kid in a candy shop. Total creative flexibility to design anything other people can quickly understand how to use.
nice analogy!
Q: What’s your favorite Game?
A: Oye I’m old school – Doodle Jump.
Doodle Jump is awesome! Igor is a mad genius!! Just proves you don’t need to go nuts making something too complex or crazy to be a success.
Q: What’s your favorite App?
A: Right now I’m really loving FlipBoard.
I admit I was really anti Flipboard after their launch, mostly just a sour taste in an overhyped launch, but having come back to try it out now that it’s more stable, I’m really impressed. I find it’s in my nightly news reading rotation now.
Q: Robots or Ninjas?
A: Pancakes.
Non-Sequitor
Q: What would change about the iOS platform if you could change just one thing?
A: Coming at this from a design perspective – I’d love to see the proliferation of screen sizes and resolutions come to an end – arrrgh!! Dream on … I know.
Yeah me too. Or at least a built in way to handle it. ie the device should know which resolution image to pull based on what device it is. That seems like the best solution short of not having multiple res. devices, LOL.
Q: What are you most excited about 360|iDev Austin?
A: I’m excited to meet other developers who are doing crazy creative things on iOS.
Well said. We’re getting close, I can’t wait to see everyone!!!
Q: Lastly, what would you tell someone on the fence about attending 360|iDev Austin?
A: You WON’T REGRET IT.
Damn straight they won’t!! :) It’s gonna be an awesome time with mind blowing content, a Game Jam, and tons more awesome stuff!
Register now! Make sure you book your room at the Marriott, our room block is expiring really soon!
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360iDev – Speaker Kyle Richter

Kyle Richter is an awesome developer, with a ton, almost literally, of experience! He’s got a lot of experience to share with the developer community.
Check out this interview with Mac|Life on Game Center. Oh yeah, Kyle’s kind of an expert on getting game center set up. He’s been working on it, since long before Apple released it to the consumers. His Session “Game Center, Beyond Games” is Monday at 1:30
Q: How long have you been doing iOS development?
A: I’ve been writing iOS software since the beginning, I missed most of the the jail breaking stuff but as soon as their was a SDK from Apple I was off and running.
The early Jailbreaking stuff was no doubt crazy times. I remember when the first one was released, and thinking, “wow, ok now the iPhone is interesting”
Q: What do you like most about being an iOS Developer?
A: The community, I have never worked in or even heard about an industry with a community like the Mac/iOS development one. Everyone is extremely approachable, helpful and friendly all the time.
Me either, the iOS/Mac community is incredible, and like none I’ve seen.
Q:What’s your favorite Game?
A: I wish I had more time to explore some of the more niche games out there, but I have definitely stuck with Field Runners as my goto iPhone game.
Nice,one more to check out! I’ve heard a lot of good things about Field Runners, a classic already!
Q: What’s your favorite App?
A: I spend most of my time in Mail or Twitter, but I really like the Discovery News app. There is always something great to read when I am stuck in a line or waiting for food at a restaurant .
Nice. Don’t think I’ve seen that one. Time to check it out!
Q: Robots or Ninjas?
A: Pirates? Robots are scary, we need to stop teaching them our critical information. Ninjas are just plain hard to spot, I am skeptical they even exist.
Apparently we’re now teaching them how to punch humans. What purpose this serves (other than punching us) i can’t even fathom. Well if you could spot ninjas easily it’d defeat their purpose in life.
Q: What would change about the iOS platform if you could change just one thing?
A: Code signing and provisioning are still a major headache. Xcode 4 does a lot to make things easier to work with but there is still room for a lot of improvement.
Yeah, that entire process is kind of frightening. I think Ninjas, and possibly pirates are the architects of that whole evil process.
Q: What are you most excited about 360|iDev Austin?
A: Seeing the community. The iOS community is the best thing about this profession. Networking with other developers has been priceless for me in my career, every conference is like a high school reunion with only your best friends.
Can’t wait to see everyone again, plus all the new faces! That’s the best part!
Q: Lastly, what would you tell someone on the fence about attending 360|iDev Austin?
A: When you don’t know what you are looking for books aren’t very helpful. Getting to speak to other developers one on one and attend sessions on topics you wouldn’t of otherwise read about is a great experience. Being part of the community is the most critical part of succeeding in this industry, there is no better place to get to know people. WWDC is too large and too busy to meet new people, conferences like this are the perfect size and timeframe to make new friends and contacts.
Yeah WWDC is fine and all, but yeah meeting new people is damn near impossible. We make 360|iDev, as accessible as possible, so that anyone new to the community isn’t afraid of meeting new people. Heck much of the evening receptions, I’m walking around introducing someone to someone else.
Go register right now! Seriously, you don’t want to miss 360|iDev Austin! Register!
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360iDev – Hey iOS Devs how do you want to be found?

So our pal Gary Rosenzweig has created a survey for iOS devs. Basically he’s trying to grok how the iOS Dev community wants to be found for work. Since he’s not a dev for hire, and doesn’t hire other devs much, he figured why not throw out a survey. Since we also get asked for iOS connections we figured we’d help make sure the survey got some eye balls.

So if you’re an indie Dev, go take a peak at the survey!