Proudcloud at MOBDEV

The first official Android developers conference was held last  Friday at the SM Mall of Asia. The event, called the SMART Mobile Developer Conference and supported by HTC, was well attended by the local developer community and highlighted by a hands-on coding session.

Ran into the usual suspects such as Paul Pajo and Franklin Naval of Quadraforte.

Tony and I braved the journey from Libis to Roxas Boulevard at the invite of   Jim Ayson and Edwin Soriano of SMART to join a panel on “How Can We Help the Android Developer Community?”. I primed myself with that topic in mind and headed off to MOA. Unfortunately, when I sat down for the panel, someone pulled the old switcheroo on me and I found myself sitting at the “What makes a killer Android app?” panel.

"What makes a killer Android App?" (L-R) Mark Sergio of HTC, myself, Migs Paraz of SMART, and Jojo Almirante of SMART

The first question asked was “What makes a killer app?” (natch). Migs Paraz focused on the need for a robust back-end with tight and bullet proof code. Coming from the agile and social computing school of thought, I added that today’s apps require a social feature set that enables the user not just to consume the content, but to rate it, shape it, and share it. Particularly with the personal nature a mobile device bears.

When asked on what advise to give to the budding developer population that pretty much comprised the audience, I made sure to point out that today’s killer apps are so not by design, but because the users determined their function and value leading them to embrace and adopt them.

I personally would have preferred a longer panel discussion moderated by someone in the know, but i guess that’s now an opportunity for more discussion elsewhere.

Props to the MOBDEV team for making it happen.