spent two fantastic days at the Dust or Magic AppCamp in Asilomar. I talked about “How We Turned a Nursery Rhyme into a Best Selling App” (check out our 2009 presentation), and spent two enlightening days with some of the best and brightest in children’s interactive media – child development experts, educators, other app developers, reviewers, writers, and some of the legendary veterans in children’s software. We spent time reviewing dozens of apps, brainstorming new concepts, and talking to kids who came to participate.

Highlights include:

• Ann McCormick’s story about founding the Learning Company: “Apple gave me a computer and $1000 in 1979, and that’s how we started the Learning Company. The best work was done early when we had three or four people and were very light on our feet.” In reference to the iPad, she said, “It’s the computer we’ve been waiting for since the 70’s… Finally we can do what’s needed for kids.”
• A Panel of Legends from the children’s software industry, including Mark Schlichting who told his story about starting the Living Books series at Broderbund. He talked about how he created “shared vision within the company… As I was building my first prototype, I needed voices and sound effects. I had everybody be a voice. My boss was a barking dog…” He also mentioned how now with the new app market, there is the “opportunity for a garage band to happen again.”
• Warren Buckleitner’s Child Development 101 for Software Designers
• Darren Carstens’ talk on “How I Made an iPhone App” and how he learned about the iPhone SDK from YouTube videos created by 12 year old kids!
• Mandeep Dhillon’s (CEO of Togetherville) presentation on the Economics of the AppStore. He talked about how distribution changes the game. With the AppStore, developers can sell directly to consumers. He mentioned “the rise of the little guy” and how little startups (like us!) can compete with large companies.
• Tips on how to get PR for apps by Robin Raskin, former editor of PC Magazine and Founder of Living in Digital Times, and Reyne Rice, Trends Specialist for the Toy Industry Association – including how to talk to editors, send press releases, enter awards, and use social networks.

And of course, AppCamp had a bonfire by the beach, complete with S’mores! We had aspirations to create an AppSymphony but perhaps that will have to wait until next year…

Caroline

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This entry was posted Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 at 2:19 pm and is filed under cool tech, design for kids, iphone apps for kids. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.