Tagged: techcrunch RSS
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Spencer Schoeben
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Spencer Schoeben
Winning TechCrunch50 Tickets
TechCrunch, the popular technology blog, hosts a conference every year called TechCrunch50 where they select 50 start-ups to launch there companies at the event.
I really want to go to this event but the tickets are very expensive—$2,995. Luckily, they are holding a contest, where users are asked to append the hastag #techcrunch50 to tweets about startups and technology to be entered to win a ticket to the event. There is a winner each day and so a total of 45 winners.
I tried many times to win and I gave up for a while. Then, I decided I would give it one more shot and so I wrote another tweet with the hashtag. Much to my surprise, I won!
Tweet declaring me the winner!
The tweet that won me the ticket!
However, there is still a problem. I can’t go alone. I can’t drive and I certainly don’t want to stay in a hotel alone. So, my dad needs to get a ticket.
We have a few options, I could buy a student ticket for $200 and my dad could use the ticket I won. I have asked Alex Miller (the guy winners are instructed to contact) if this is okay, but he hasn’t responded yet.
But, most likely, my dad will have to get his own ticket on his own. He could try entering to win just like I did. Or, he could ask around and see if any VC’s are willing to give him a ticket.
Anyone willing to hook us up with another ticket???
Update: My dad now has his ticket!
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Spencer Schoeben
Comment: The Case Against Apple Is Just As Much A Case For Apple
MG Siegler just wrote an amazing post on TechCrunch in response to a post written my Mahalo’s CEO and Founder, Jason Calacanis.
MG’s post acts as a rebuttal to what Jason wrote earlier today. While Jason argues that Apples arbitrary and controlling principals are hurting their business, MG says the opposite—they’re helping Apple. Jason’s main point is that Apple is becoming the type of company that they used to make fun of Microsoft for being.
While I think both people are making good points, I tend to agree with what MG wrote. Here is a comment that I left in response to his post: (view original)
This was an absolutely amazing post MG. It was very long and at first I just scanned though it. Then, I decided it was worth reading the whole thing and I did. You have done an outstanding job making a very good point which I completely agree with.
A lot of people like us have looked at Apple and think that what they are doing is a bad thing. Everyone who I engage in conversation with over the Mac-vs-PC argument says that PC’s are better because they give you more control. However, I agree with you, Apple’s lack of control is what makes them so popular.
Everything runs so smoothly. Everything is so organized. They control everything, even the retail which makes for a great user experience, one that PC’s (as we know them) will never be able to match. I think that as Microsoft opens some of its own stores we might see some interesting stuff. But, for the most part, Apple’s products and user experience rock because of their incredibly streamlined ecosystem.
I believe that their hardware is superior to others. But, more importantly, is something does go wrong, the Apple Stores are very helpful. Apple’s closed ecosystem is what make the stores possible.
Just this morning, I had to take in a MacBook Pro because it was having some issues. They decided that they will replace my entire machine and even migrate my data. All I have to do is pick it up when it’s ready. Easy!
The experience I had at the Apple Store is a more appropriate example of the result of Apple’s policies than any of the negative things that also come along with their policies. Sure, I would love to have Google Voice on my phone. But, their are trade offs. I think Apple made a bad decision to reject the app but it’s just one example. Who knows, after the whole FCC thing, the app might show up again.
