Ok, it’s been a few days since I’ve given a ZendCon update so let’s burn a few bytes and talk about what is being planned.
Keynotes
First up on deck, Cory Doctorow. Ok, so last time I announced that he was speaking, but up until last night, I didn’t know what he was speaking about. So here it is, before you see it elsewhere.
I’m thinking I’ll give a talk about the practical, economic and social upshot of having perfect copying machines on our desks just as the American economy is retooling itself around the idea of controlling copying.
This is going to rock as a keynote! For me, seeing Cory speak is enough to put attending ZendCon high up on my to do list. When you add to it the fact that Joel Spolsky will be there on Wednesday afternoon (graciously taking time out of his FogBugz World Tour) talking about “Great Software” ZendCon becomes a don’t miss event!
In many product categories, from software to consumer electronics, the product with the most market share is often more expensive and less functional than the number two product. I will explore why this happens and suggest some ways to design a blue chip product that people will love. After you get great software and products using the usual repertoire of debugging, usability testing, etc., you have to go still further and think about beauty, user happiness, and emotional impact.
Sessions
Not much has changed on the sessions front. The schedule has been set for some time now. We’ve got a great mix of standards and new comers. If you attend, you will see a lot of the names you know and love along with some new names that we think you need to know.
ZendCon After Hours
- Monday Evening: ZCE/Speakers party
- Tuesday Evening: Exhibit Hall Reception/Happy Hour 2.0
- Wednesday Evening: Yahoo!’s PHP Nightclub
- Every Evening till midnight: DevZone Community Lounge
There will be no shortage of things to do after hours at ZendCon.
Monday evening, we are inviting all Zend Certified Engineers to a private party with the speakers. If you are ZCE, make sure you plan on getting in early enough to attend.
Tuesday evening we are inviting a couple hundred of our closest friends in the Bay Area to join ZendCon attendees for the Exhibitor Reception and Happy Hour 2.0. Wander the Exhibit Hall and talk to the exhibitors. (I won’t tell you to try to talk them out of their T-Shirts but I’m sure you know to do that already) Afterwards, head over to the DevZone Community Lounge, kick back and shoot things. We will have 3 XBox 360′s graciously provided by Microsoft for you to enjoy. or just sit and talk shop with other PHPers. (If you are attending just H2.0, you need to go to the Upcomming.org page and RSVP. Space is limited and if you are not on the list, we won’t let you in.)
Wednesday Evening Yahoo! invites you poolside for an evening of magic, comedy and Karaoke. Make sure you don’t miss this great opportunity to socialize with your PHPeers.
Unconference
The unconference is shaping up nicely. Patrick Reilly, the unconference program chair is working hard behind the scenes. Since there will be very little structure to the unconfernce, no sessions have been announces but every ZendCon attendee is encourages to take a time slot and present.
Birds of a Feather
It wouldn’t be a programming conference without BoF sessions. This year we have morning and evening BoF sessions. These sessions are a bit more structured than the unconference sessions and have to be approved in advance. Visit the BoF wiki page and add yours if you want to present.
All in all, ZendCon is shaping up to be our best ever and we want to make sure that you are there. If you’ve not registered yet, time is running out. Here are a few links you need to find out the answer to any questions you may have and get your registration in.
…and of course…the commercial
September 14, 2007 at 11:51 pm
There are a number of, I assume, accidental links in the post that give the mouse over effect despite having no href value.