sxsw

The Nokia Lab at SXSW [Pics]

Windows Phone News

By Rich Edmonds, Monday, Mar 12, 2012 at 3:39 pm

Nokia has uploaded a number of photos from the Nokia Lab at SXSW (South by Southwest), showing devices, coloured test tubes, live music, presentations and general enjoyment. There were some photos in the album of particular interest, including a "SmokedbyWindowsPhone" type promotion. "Are you the fastest draw at SXSW?" provided guests with the opportunity to try and best the Lumia 900 at snapping a photo.

The manufacturer gave Windows Phone developers the opportunity to have their app showcased on Lumia demo units in the Lab for more exposure. Check out some more shots after the break, as well as the rest of the slideshow at Nokia's Flickr album.

Show off your Windows Phone app with Nokia at SXSW

By Rich Edmonds, Tuesday, Feb 28, 2012 at 1:47 pm

Should you wish to get some extra exposure for your Windows Phone app, how does a chance with Nokia at this year's SXSW (South by Southwest) sound? If you're heading to the event, you could have the opportunity for Nokia to showcase your work inside the Nokia Lab, a free-standing structure that will be erected near the convention centre for SXSW Interactive.

How does one get the chance to take part, you ask? It's simple. You tell the handset maker about your work, if it's unique and downright awesome they'll showcase it along with other app demos that will be live at the Lab on March 12th. How to enter your app:

Have an app that works on a Nokia Lumia Windows Phone device
Send the following brief details via e-mail to nokiadeveloper@thelucidway.com:
- Your name, company and contact information (include email and phone)
- A link to your app in Windows Phone Marketplace, or link to the private
- beta of your app in Windows Phone Marketplace
- A brief description and any screenshots of your app
- Why your app is amazing, cool, or unique

Chosen developers will be contacted prior to the event. Visitors to the Nokia Lab at SXSW will experience Nokia's latest Windows Phone handsets, including the Lumia 900, and will get hands-on experience with winning apps. The app demos in the Nokia Lab will run from 11am up until 8pm on March 12th, which provides some solid exposure for both the apps and the Windows Phone platform.

Big App on Campus campaign

By Rich Edmonds, Tuesday, Nov 22, 2011 at 7:52 pm

Introducing the Big app on Campus campaign where Microsoft and the Windows Phone team is out to reward student developers for all the time and effort poured into the platform. They are partnering with the band The Gracious Few to create an awesome experience for ten lucky students at SXSW. The lucky chosen few will attend a private concert, receive backstage passes, go to a private dinner with the band, and be interviewed on national radio about their apps.

If that wasn't enough, two $15,000 cash awards are to be given to the developers for the two apps that will be named "Big App on Campus" (one award going to the top free app and the other for the top paid app). The campaign is open to U.S. college and university students who build apps for Windows Phone. Each app created from August 1st 2011 until February 14th 2012 can be entered and students can submit multiple entries. Submissions are due by February 14th and the campaign ends on March 13th.

How will the submitted apps be judged?

Innovation (40%): How innovative is the app? Does it do something new or does it accomplish something in a new way?
Experience (40%): Does it feel seamless and like a native experience on Windows Phone? Does the app have a polished feel?
Potential (20%): Does the app have potential in the market (lots of users, making money, both) or not?

Public voting will include the combination of number of app downloads and Facebook "likes" accumulated. To enter, you'll need a submitted and approved app on the Marketplace and complete the entry form. Be sure to check out the official rules.

Source: Windows Phone Developer Blog