6 ms·

The Google I/O freebie I'm hoping for: Nothing

193 points by justinsb 16y ago

justinsb 16y ago
A quick TLDR: It seems probable that a lot of the people are just going for the freebies, and by announcing that there will be no giveaways and offering refunds, that will open up spots for people that actually want to go to the conference
- pavel_lishin 16y ago
  I imagine that the scalpers will take that opportunity to sell their spots, instead of opting for a refund.
  - justinsb 16y ago
    The hope would be that Google makes transferring tickets sufficiently hard that if people don't really want to go they just take the refund.
    - pavel_lishin 16y ago
      It shouldn't be too hard, though. If I have a ticket and something comes up preventing me from going, I should be able to give it to a friend.
      - justinsb 16y ago
        I'd argue you should be able to get a full refund, but no transfers should be allowed, to prevent scalping.
- newhouseb 16y ago
  If I recall correctly, last year they said there were no plans to give away devices like the year prior. I didn't believe them and signed up anyway as a student for $100 - best investment ever.
- smallegan 16y ago
  I see lots of people making these accusations but is it possible that there are just more developers who want to go to the conference and everyone realizes how quickly it sells out so as soon as it went on sale everyone bought up the tickets? I got a pre-sale ticket this year and although I appreciated the free stuff I got last year I'm still going to learn....
dotBen 16y ago
I've not missed a Google I/O event since the first "Google Developer Day" in San Jose in 2007 and so I'm bummed not to be attending this year. Google did offer me a 'pre registration" but I didn't anticipate the level of demand that would occur :( If people are indeed registering just for the (potential) freebie, I wonder what impact that will have on the conference in terms of people sticking around to actually attend sessions and participate. I might lobbycon it anyway.
kenjackson 16y ago
Do you have attend to get the freebie? I can't imagine spending the money AND the time to get a freebie of their choice, when I can buy something of my choice w/o having to leave my house.
- orangecat 16y ago
  The freebies substantially reduce the effective cost, possibly to $0 or less. Last year everybody got a free Droid and EVO, which you could have flipped on Craigslist for at least $600. If you're in the SF area and have any interest in the conference, it's a no-brainer.
  - justinsb 16y ago
    Agreed. I presume the main point of charging at all is to match supply & demand, but given that everyone believes the price is <= 0 anyway, this obviously isn't working any more.
    - kenjackson 16y ago
      I guess if you're in SF that may make sense. Being in WA I wouldn't fly down for a couple of days even if the price was free. Just wouldn't be worth the time for a cell phone or tablet. UPDATE: Although after rereading what I wrote, I realized that those people whose time means so little that they'd attend a conference largely to get the cellphone/tablet are exactly the people you don't want at the conference.
  - DFectuoso 16y ago
    And a google TV a couple of months latter
  - kreneskyp 16y ago
    Several co-workers and myself are road tripping it from Oregon and splitting hotel rooms. We're all self funding to go. I can't speak for the others but I'm interested in the sessions, though without potential freebies it would have been a much harder decision.
juiceandjuice 16y ago
It'd be interesting to find out how many people are actually developers using google technologies at this year's event. Admittedly, I would have loved to get and get a freebie, but I would have enjoyed all the GWT and web sessions more than a freebie.
- bockris 16y ago
  I got in. I'm planning on going and attending as many sessions as I can. My work training budget is empty so I'm self funding. (flying in from Austin and currently trying to find a couch to crash on.) I'm not going to lie, the supposed HW freebies of previous years helped make my decision and soften the blow $$ wise.
  - justinsb 16y ago
    I think you're exactly the sort that Google wants to attract - so congratulations on getting your ticket. The issue is that the structure that means that you're willing to self fund (giving you freebies that refund your cost), also attracts people that Google probably doesn't want there. Ideally, Google would have just identified you as a good developer and given you a free place, like YCombinator does with startup school.
  - iqster 16y ago
    Bockris ... I think I managed to get in too. Got a receipt from Google checkout. Did you get any other confirmation email from them? I have a fear that my credit-card payment didn't go through.
    - bockris 16y ago
      I got a receipt from Google Checkout and a confirmation email from 'googleio2011@google.com' about 30 minutes later. My checkout receipt doesn't have my IO confirmation # in it. In your receipt email, click on the 'Get up-to-date information about #' link and see if it charged OK. If it did and you didn't get a confirmation, I would try to contact them to see what's up.
Jun8 16y ago
It got sold out in 56 minutes! What a bummer. I don't care for the swag they give out, I was looking forward to meeting the people. How about this idea: A parallel I/O Error Conference at the same time?
- davepeck 16y ago
  I started an I|O ERROR 2011 signup spreadsheet: http://bit.ly/h9KQrR http://bit.ly/h9KQrR Please add your name if you would attend such an unconference over the same dates as the real I|O. I'm recklessly confident that we can find space at dogpatch labs, citizen space, or similar...
  - Jun8 16y ago
    As of now, there are six people. What would be the minimum number of people to pull such a thing off?
    - davepeck 16y ago
      Not sure. I'd hope for something like 25-50, perhaps, so that there is a good crowd but finding a space is not impossible.
- tjpd 16y ago
  That sounds like a great idea. The event will be streamed live [http://www.google.com/events/io/2011/faq.html http://www.google.com/events/io/2011/faq.html] & I'm sure one of the co-working spaces would be able to put something on a big screen.
DFectuoso 16y ago
I have been there for the last 2 years, and I was able to pre-register this year. I go for the talks and the awesome energy that the event irradiates. I am pretty sure the quality of the talks and the energy will be just better than last year. Developers like conferences and free gadgets, yea there might be some people looking to get some "free" $500 gadgets, but I don't think that will ruin my experience of awesome tech stuff and meeting the teams from all the different technologies that work on stuff I use every day.
crizCraig 16y ago
Google gives the freebies away so that developers will have devices at hand to make apps for. If non-developer freebie seekers are going, that obviously defeats the purpose. Maybe they should have some sort of coding exercise that you have to complete to be eligible for registration.
abraham 16y ago
5000 developers is to big anyways. Once all the scalpers leave with their swag everyone who is left can have a more intimate conference.
ary 16y ago
Can you imagine the shit-storm if Apple gave away iPhones at WWDC? At least I can attend that conference knowing full well that I'll be surrounded with developers who are there to learn & network. I'm really disappointed that I won't be making it to I/O this year. 2009 was a blast (I missed 2010 out of laziness). Thought all I had to do was register within the first hour and I'd be fine. Honestly, I blame Oprah for this.
- icco 16y ago
  I don't know, I went last year, and was heavily disappointed about how nontechnical all of the talks were that I went to. The whole place was filled with a ton of tech-reporters and a limited amount of actual developers. I didn't bother signing up this year, and saved myself the money and time by doing so. Maybe it was better in the past, but I hope they change the conference to actually promote developers and developing.
  - jfno67 16y ago
    I went to Google developer day and all IO. The trend is for less in depth presentation and I miss the candor of the first year, but it is still a fabulous occasion to talk directly with people from Google and other devs.
  - magicalist 16y ago
    Really? Maybe the keynotes, but the (>10) sessions I've watched on youtube (I haven't been) have all either been on how to develop on their products or how they developed their products. That is with the caveats that I've selected what to watch based on what seemed interesting (and technical), and that the sessions they call "201" seem to be more 101, but from what I've seen and the in-person Q&A/networking opportunities, it seems well worth the trip for developers.
    - gcb 16y ago
      Having the same experience with non-technical content and a crowd of journalists as the grandparent poster, i also not trhilled with those. but i saw a couple on youtube when they were featured, and i must say they were at best introductions to their platforms than anything else.
nl 16y ago
They should have coding requirements for the freebie. Nothing crazy - just enough to prove the person knows at least one language or maybe even a bit of HTML.
- dotBen 16y ago
  At a Sprint Developer Platform conference they gave everyone a free Android phone if you attended an Android development workshop - but a requirement to literally get past the door was that you had to have the Android SDK installed and a "hello world" running on the simulator. It was amazing to see how many people couldn't get that far... folks who were just cruising for a free phone. It was also a smart test because it wasn't like an answer to a programming puzzle that could be circulated - you actually had to have this already running (or know how to quickly install it).
  - ammmir 16y ago
    yeah, i remember waiting in that line. everyone wanted the hero and people were frantically installing the SDK while in line.
  - nl 16y ago
    That's a good idea - but they might want to distribute the SDK on USDB drives beforehand to all attendees. WiFi networks at conferences break often enough without every single person trying to download the SDK at once.
    - dotBen 16y ago
      True but then if you are a legitimate Android Developer and you were invited to bring your development laptop to a development workshop, you should probably already have the SDK installed
      - nl 16y ago
        Google I/O is (a lot) more than just Android though.
kbutler 16y ago
At least we can get the technical content, if Google continues to post the videos: http://www.google.com/events/io/2010/sessions.html http://www.google.com/events/io/2010/sessions.html
slowpoison 16y ago
Although one can't blame Google for it, what's really sad is the loss taken by people who had booked flights and hotels in anticipation. Google definitely needs to come up with a better system to address all the nuances. A tech conference need not be like a rock concert.
ConceptDog 16y ago
I'm just really starting to get into Android and was hoping for the chance to really get in and get excited about the technology. Much like it was in my first experience with the web all the way back in 2007. I'm really disappointed that I won't have the chance to go. I hope it's not because tons of people are going for the free device. I've actually become a huge Android advocate to my friends, but things like this irk me something awful.
mquander 16y ago
If their event sells out in 59 minutes, why don't they raise the price dramatically?
herdcall 16y ago
If people signed up just for the goodies, why did the bootcamp (reportedly) sell out in 2 minutes?
arron61 16y ago
Google IO did not sell out yet. This is how you register. http://arronla.com/2011/02/google-io-did-not-sell-out-yet-the-system-is-beyond-broken-this-is-how-you-register/ http://arronla.com/2011/02/google-io-did-not-sell-out-yet-th...

193 points by justinsb 16y ago

A quick TLDR: It seems probable that a lot of the people are just going for the freebies, and by announcing that there will be no giveaways and offering refunds, that will open up spots for people that actually want to go to the conference

pavel_lishin 16y ago
I imagine that the scalpers will take that opportunity to sell their spots, instead of opting for a refund.
- justinsb 16y ago
  The hope would be that Google makes transferring tickets sufficiently hard that if people don't really want to go they just take the refund.
  - pavel_lishin 16y ago
    It shouldn't be too hard, though. If I have a ticket and something comes up preventing me from going, I should be able to give it to a friend.
    - justinsb 16y ago
      I'd argue you should be able to get a full refund, but no transfers should be allowed, to prevent scalping.
newhouseb 16y ago
If I recall correctly, last year they said there were no plans to give away devices like the year prior. I didn't believe them and signed up anyway as a student for $100 - best investment ever.
smallegan 16y ago
I see lots of people making these accusations but is it possible that there are just more developers who want to go to the conference and everyone realizes how quickly it sells out so as soon as it went on sale everyone bought up the tickets? I got a pre-sale ticket this year and although I appreciated the free stuff I got last year I'm still going to learn....

dotBen 16y ago

I've not missed a Google I/O event since the first "Google Developer Day" in San Jose in 2007 and so I'm bummed not to be attending this year. Google did offer me a 'pre registration" but I didn't anticipate the level of demand that would occur :( If people are indeed registering just for the (potential) freebie, I wonder what impact that will have on the conference in terms of people sticking around to actually attend sessions and participate. I might lobbycon it anyway.

kenjackson 16y ago

Do you have attend to get the freebie? I can't imagine spending the money AND the time to get a freebie of their choice, when I can buy something of my choice w/o having to leave my house.

orangecat 16y ago
The freebies substantially reduce the effective cost, possibly to $0 or less. Last year everybody got a free Droid and EVO, which you could have flipped on Craigslist for at least $600. If you're in the SF area and have any interest in the conference, it's a no-brainer.
- justinsb 16y ago
  Agreed. I presume the main point of charging at all is to match supply & demand, but given that everyone believes the price is <= 0 anyway, this obviously isn't working any more.
  - kenjackson 16y ago
    I guess if you're in SF that may make sense. Being in WA I wouldn't fly down for a couple of days even if the price was free. Just wouldn't be worth the time for a cell phone or tablet. UPDATE: Although after rereading what I wrote, I realized that those people whose time means so little that they'd attend a conference largely to get the cellphone/tablet are exactly the people you don't want at the conference.
- DFectuoso 16y ago
  And a google TV a couple of months latter
- kreneskyp 16y ago
  Several co-workers and myself are road tripping it from Oregon and splitting hotel rooms. We're all self funding to go. I can't speak for the others but I'm interested in the sessions, though without potential freebies it would have been a much harder decision.

juiceandjuice 16y ago

It'd be interesting to find out how many people are actually developers using google technologies at this year's event. Admittedly, I would have loved to get and get a freebie, but I would have enjoyed all the GWT and web sessions more than a freebie.

bockris 16y ago
I got in. I'm planning on going and attending as many sessions as I can. My work training budget is empty so I'm self funding. (flying in from Austin and currently trying to find a couch to crash on.) I'm not going to lie, the supposed HW freebies of previous years helped make my decision and soften the blow $$ wise.
- justinsb 16y ago
  I think you're exactly the sort that Google wants to attract - so congratulations on getting your ticket. The issue is that the structure that means that you're willing to self fund (giving you freebies that refund your cost), also attracts people that Google probably doesn't want there. Ideally, Google would have just identified you as a good developer and given you a free place, like YCombinator does with startup school.
- iqster 16y ago
  Bockris ... I think I managed to get in too. Got a receipt from Google checkout. Did you get any other confirmation email from them? I have a fear that my credit-card payment didn't go through.
  - bockris 16y ago
    I got a receipt from Google Checkout and a confirmation email from 'googleio2011@google.com' about 30 minutes later. My checkout receipt doesn't have my IO confirmation # in it. In your receipt email, click on the 'Get up-to-date information about #' link and see if it charged OK. If it did and you didn't get a confirmation, I would try to contact them to see what's up.

Jun8 16y ago

It got sold out in 56 minutes! What a bummer. I don't care for the swag they give out, I was looking forward to meeting the people. How about this idea: A parallel I/O Error Conference at the same time?

davepeck 16y ago
I started an I|O ERROR 2011 signup spreadsheet: http://bit.ly/h9KQrR http://bit.ly/h9KQrR Please add your name if you would attend such an unconference over the same dates as the real I|O. I'm recklessly confident that we can find space at dogpatch labs, citizen space, or similar...
- Jun8 16y ago
  As of now, there are six people. What would be the minimum number of people to pull such a thing off?
  - davepeck 16y ago
    Not sure. I'd hope for something like 25-50, perhaps, so that there is a good crowd but finding a space is not impossible.
tjpd 16y ago
That sounds like a great idea. The event will be streamed live [http://www.google.com/events/io/2011/faq.html http://www.google.com/events/io/2011/faq.html] & I'm sure one of the co-working spaces would be able to put something on a big screen.

DFectuoso 16y ago

I have been there for the last 2 years, and I was able to pre-register this year. I go for the talks and the awesome energy that the event irradiates. I am pretty sure the quality of the talks and the energy will be just better than last year. Developers like conferences and free gadgets, yea there might be some people looking to get some "free" $500 gadgets, but I don't think that will ruin my experience of awesome tech stuff and meeting the teams from all the different technologies that work on stuff I use every day.

crizCraig 16y ago

Google gives the freebies away so that developers will have devices at hand to make apps for. If non-developer freebie seekers are going, that obviously defeats the purpose. Maybe they should have some sort of coding exercise that you have to complete to be eligible for registration.

abraham 16y ago

5000 developers is to big anyways. Once all the scalpers leave with their swag everyone who is left can have a more intimate conference.

ary 16y ago

Can you imagine the shit-storm if Apple gave away iPhones at WWDC? At least I can attend that conference knowing full well that I'll be surrounded with developers who are there to learn & network. I'm really disappointed that I won't be making it to I/O this year. 2009 was a blast (I missed 2010 out of laziness). Thought all I had to do was register within the first hour and I'd be fine. Honestly, I blame Oprah for this.

icco 16y ago
I don't know, I went last year, and was heavily disappointed about how nontechnical all of the talks were that I went to. The whole place was filled with a ton of tech-reporters and a limited amount of actual developers. I didn't bother signing up this year, and saved myself the money and time by doing so. Maybe it was better in the past, but I hope they change the conference to actually promote developers and developing.
- jfno67 16y ago
  I went to Google developer day and all IO. The trend is for less in depth presentation and I miss the candor of the first year, but it is still a fabulous occasion to talk directly with people from Google and other devs.
- magicalist 16y ago
  Really? Maybe the keynotes, but the (>10) sessions I've watched on youtube (I haven't been) have all either been on how to develop on their products or how they developed their products. That is with the caveats that I've selected what to watch based on what seemed interesting (and technical), and that the sessions they call "201" seem to be more 101, but from what I've seen and the in-person Q&A/networking opportunities, it seems well worth the trip for developers.
  - gcb 16y ago
    Having the same experience with non-technical content and a crowd of journalists as the grandparent poster, i also not trhilled with those. but i saw a couple on youtube when they were featured, and i must say they were at best introductions to their platforms than anything else.

nl 16y ago

They should have coding requirements for the freebie. Nothing crazy - just enough to prove the person knows at least one language or maybe even a bit of HTML.

dotBen 16y ago
At a Sprint Developer Platform conference they gave everyone a free Android phone if you attended an Android development workshop - but a requirement to literally get past the door was that you had to have the Android SDK installed and a "hello world" running on the simulator. It was amazing to see how many people couldn't get that far... folks who were just cruising for a free phone. It was also a smart test because it wasn't like an answer to a programming puzzle that could be circulated - you actually had to have this already running (or know how to quickly install it).
- ammmir 16y ago
  yeah, i remember waiting in that line. everyone wanted the hero and people were frantically installing the SDK while in line.
- nl 16y ago
  That's a good idea - but they might want to distribute the SDK on USDB drives beforehand to all attendees. WiFi networks at conferences break often enough without every single person trying to download the SDK at once.
  - dotBen 16y ago
    True but then if you are a legitimate Android Developer and you were invited to bring your development laptop to a development workshop, you should probably already have the SDK installed
    - nl 16y ago
      Google I/O is (a lot) more than just Android though.

kbutler 16y ago

At least we can get the technical content, if Google continues to post the videos: http://www.google.com/events/io/2010/sessions.html http://www.google.com/events/io/2010/sessions.html

slowpoison 16y ago

Although one can't blame Google for it, what's really sad is the loss taken by people who had booked flights and hotels in anticipation. Google definitely needs to come up with a better system to address all the nuances. A tech conference need not be like a rock concert.

ConceptDog 16y ago

I'm just really starting to get into Android and was hoping for the chance to really get in and get excited about the technology. Much like it was in my first experience with the web all the way back in 2007. I'm really disappointed that I won't have the chance to go. I hope it's not because tons of people are going for the free device. I've actually become a huge Android advocate to my friends, but things like this irk me something awful.

mquander 16y ago

If their event sells out in 59 minutes, why don't they raise the price dramatically?

herdcall 16y ago

If people signed up just for the goodies, why did the bootcamp (reportedly) sell out in 2 minutes?

arron61 16y ago

Google IO did not sell out yet. This is how you register. http://arronla.com/2011/02/google-io-did-not-sell-out-yet-the-system-is-beyond-broken-this-is-how-you-register/ http://arronla.com/2011/02/google-io-did-not-sell-out-yet-th...