MAX 2009 ColdFusion Unconference - Call for Speakers/Comments
MAX is still a few months away (and I've yet to finish my presentations for CFUNITED), but it's time to begin early planning for the ColdFusion Unconference. Last year I think things went well, but there are some changes I'd like to make.
First - I booked every single possible hour (except for 2-3) with sessions. While I think this was good, it didn't leave much time for ad hoc sessions or just general bull sessions. What I'd like to do this year is leave something like 30% of the time open. This will be for any possible topic, and could be a good way to hash out ColdFusion 9 stuff that I assume will be fresh on people's minds. I'm also a big fan of show and tell. I'd like to offer some opportunities for folks to just plug in a laptop and show what they have been working on. Again, if ColdFusion 9 is out by then, or in public beta, this could be a great way to show the new shiny stuff off. Thoughts on this? Should I leave even more time open? Less?
Second - last year I was mistaken about lunch. I had thought lunch would be served at the Unconferences. This year there is no question about it - it won't be happening. So the lunch slot will always be open. Personally I plan on just bringing some food over and hanging out with the CF peeps, since we are, of course, the coolest kids on the block.
Speaking of food - some of the other Unconferences offered their own coffee and snacks. I'd like to open the Unconference to corporate sponsorship. I'm not 100% sold on this, but if a company would like to buy coffee and donuts, and maybe pizzas, I'd definitely be willing to let you speak for a few minutes at the start of each day (and to put up a small sign, whatever, something tasteful ;). I don't think the presence, or lack thereof, of food and drink will be a huge thing, but I thought it might be nice to have.
Third (or fourth? Lost count) - last year I included topics that were not 100% ColdFusion. I think this was a good idea as I think we need exposure to other technologies/subjects/etc. Any opinions on that?
So... thoughts? Comments? If you would like to speak, please go ahead and post a comment with a) your topic idea and b) your 'bad' times. Bad times being times when you are presenting at MAX or want to attend a session. I'll just pick a time outside of that to slot you in and we can hash it out later.
p.s. Also note this year I'll have not one but two helpers. Scott Stroz has offered to give me a hand again, and Charlie Griefer is my official Grunt Brute (my term, not his). CJ has offered to do anything and everything I demand of him, so I fully expect to take advantage of that and make him regret the day he met me. Just kidding. (Mostly. ;)
MAX 2009 Site Updated
Not much more to add to the title, but the MAX 2009 site has been updated. Once again Adobe goes for auto-play, loud video. Don't get me wrong, I think the video is cool, but seriously - who doesn't get that auto-play is normally a really bad idea? Am I the only one? (Maybe)
So bitching aside, I am happy to say that the Unconference were announced and ColdFusion will once again be featured. I don't have any details yet (we have a meeting with the MAX folks tomorrow), but I'll be posting details to the same URL I used for last year: http://www.coldfusionjedi.com/page.cfm/ColdFusion-Unconference
Holy Smokes - MAX 2009 Call for Speakers
Time just goes to fast. The MAX 2009 Call for Speakers is now open. I hope I get the chance to run another Unconference!
Reminder - MAX Sessions on AdobeTV
I mentioned this back in November, but do not forget that the MAX 08 sessions are being posted, over time, for free at AdobeTV: AdobeTV - MAX
This is free for everyone, whether or not you attended MAX. I remembered this when a reader asked me this weekend about learning BlazeDS. Turns out a presentation from MAX is available already:
Building Real-Time and Collaborative Apps w/ Flex and BlazeDS
MAX Videos to be available... to all
Wow, just read this over on Ted Patrick's blog:
We will be releasing this content FOR FREE, WITHOUT GEO-RESTRICTION ON ADOBETV starting the first week of December. We plan to release 20 sessions per week well into 2009. Additionally we will be posting all videos immediately to the MAX NA Group on Adobe Groups for the exclusive benefit of paid attendees.
So if you missed MAX, looks like you will get a chance to see it anyway. (And this will let me see the ORM preso I mixed and write up a blog entry on it!)
Is MAX over yet?
Yes, I think it is. I finally got back home Saturday night after a very long, and very exciting, week at MAX. I spent the latter half of the week at Broadchoice in some pretty intense meetings and am happy to be back in my office slinging code. In no particular order, here are my thoughts on MAX 2008.
MAX Sneak Peaks
I missed the sneak peaks last night at MAX, but I found an excellent review: Live blogging MAX 2008 sneak peak session. This blog entry puts my live blogging of the keynote to shame! I'll have to look into the tool he used before the next conference. Anyway, pay particular attention to the reveal at the end - server side actionscript.
MAX Day Two - Brazillian BBQ is Evil
So once again, my summary post is late due to a very full day at MAX, oh and that 20 pounds of meat last night at Espetus didn't help either.
Yesterdays keynote was definitely the high point of the conference. Not only did we get to see ColdFusion proudly displayed, we also learned about the new IDE (Bolt FTW) and frankly I thought the other developer and designer demos were impressive as well. I did an interview w/ O'Reilly and one of the points I made is that if Adobe can get me excited about Photoshop, they must be doing something right.
The ColdFusion Unconference continues to be a hit I think. Yesterday we had Douglas Knudsen, Jason Delmore, Kristen Schoefield, Nathan Mische (who fixed an old issue with ColdFire that troubled me for quite some time!), Charlie Arehart, Terrance Ryan (ask him about the dinosaur picture) and Mark Phillips as speakers. I want to thank them again for taking time to speak here and they all did a great job. (Maybe I'm biased, but I think all the cool kids are hanging out here. ;) Today we have another great lineup of speakers and I finally have my first "real" MAX presentation at 9:30.
The special event last night was... interesting. The museums were pretty cool, but I didn't stay too long as I was exhausted from the day (and again, the 20 pounds of meat I had eaten).
MAX Keynote Liveblog - Day 2
Woot, any presentation that begins with Tim Buntel is going to kick butt. They re doing a 'spy spoof' thing now with Lynch as the chief. Way to start a keynote Adobe!
MAX Day One - and why Brian Rinaldi is my hero
Good morning everyone. I wanted to post a Day One summary last night, but unfortunately I was diverted by Anchor Steam until about 1 in the morning.
Outside of the keynote, which I blogged about yesterday, my entire day was spent at the ColdFusion Unconference. So far it's been great, and I hope people are enjoying it. It feels like an all day user group meeting and the topics and discussions have been great. The biggest hitch was that I misunderstood the food situation. Luckily I wasn't strung up for it, and Brian came to my rescue with a plate of food. (But let's be honest, most developers can probably miss a meal or two. ;)
I want to give a big thank you to the speakers from day 1: Charlie Arehart, Brian Rinaldi, Kevin Hoyt, Mark Kruger, Joshua Cyr, and Brian Meloche.
I'll be blogging from the second keynote later this morning. Supposedly we have some ColdFusion goodies coming out way!
p.s. I mentioned that Mike Relm opened the keynote yesterday. I was lucky enough to get a chance to meet him personally later on and yes - I gushed like a fan boy. I walked away with a signed CD and DVD. Woot!