WWDC Pilgrimage is On

Well, even though I've decided to sit out the bus pilgrimage this year, my friend Scott Knaster (who has done the hard work of arranging the buses in the past) has decided he won't be deterred by my lack of participation, and he's going ahead with plans to organize a bus trip from the Moscone Center to the Apple Company Store in Cupertino on June 10, 2012, the day before WWDC starts.

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WWDC

As somebody who reads this blog, you probably already know that WWDC tickets are on sale. I wouldn't expect them to be available long. Apple has taken some steps to slow down the sales, such as implementing a developer membership requirement and a one-ticket-per-individual-member and five-ticket-per-organization limit on tickets, but I still expect them to go fast (I've heard rumors they're sold out, but the purchase link still shows for me).

I am glad to see that they've lowered the attendee age to thirteen this year. In the past, they allowed under-age people on an individual ad-hoc basis and prior to 2011, it had never been a problem. But, there were at least two heart-breaking stories last year of under-eighteen developers who bought tickets and then weren't allowed to go. Somebody fairly high up at Apple decided that with the kurfuffle over how fast the tickets sold out, they just couldn't bend the rules that year. They did refund money, but still… the situation didn't sit right with me, so I'm glad they've changed the official policy to allow younger developers in.

I'm currently on vacation, but when I get back, I'll blow the dust off my "First Timers's Guide to WWDC". There are definitely a few things from last year's post that need updating and revising for 2012, but I'm not doing it on vacation. :)

Finally, I've gotten a lot of questions about the annual bus pilgrimage to Apple's Company Store on the Sunday before WWDC starts. Honestly, I don't think I'm doing it this year. I know I've said that the last few years, and I know Scott will try to talk me into it by offering to do all the hard work again, but I really mean it this time. Even with Scott doing the arrangements, managing two trips of three buses each down to Cupertino and back really shoots a hole in my first day on the left coast and takes a toll on me. While I enjoy meeting devs, the sheer number I meet on the pilgrimage is overwhelming and it becomes nearly impossible to remember anyone new I meet, let alone everyone. This year, I'm thinking of a more leisurely Sunday - catching up with some old friends and meeting some new ones over a relaxing drink or three and maybe a meal. I'd really like to start the week not already in a sleep deficit if possible. It's probably not, but I'm going to give it a shot.

Anyway, back to vacation for me, but I hope to see you in San Francisco.

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Posted in: Apple,Developer,iPHone,Mac,WWDC