Developers, Developers, Developers! Google doesn’t have Steve Balmer to dance around screaming that out, but they do have a heck of an informative (and fun) developer conference in Mountain View each year and your chance to enter the draw to buy a ticket is now open.
Google I/O will be held from May 8th until May 10th this year at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California which is right next to the Googleplex – also a fun place to visit.
The window to apply to purchase a ticket is open now and runs until Tuesday February 27th, 5pm PST – for us here in Australia that’s midday on Wednesday, February 28th. The tickets to Google I/O aren’t free, if you win the draw you can expect to pay $1,150USD (about $1467AUD) for a general admission ticket, or if you’re a full-time student, professor, faculty/staff at a high school or higher education institution you’ll get an academic ticket for $375USD (about $478AUD). Of course you’ll have to factor in flights, accommodation etc. as well – but having been to the last few Google I/O conferences if you get the chance to go, do it.
The event will start with the usual keynote where we’ll find out what Google has planned for the next year, and it’s followed up by Codelabs, Sandboxes, and a chance to talk with Googlers about the announcements. This year, the themes for Google I/O is Platforms, Grow & Earn, Building on Mobile and Beyond Mobile.
As well as the Ticket draw, Google has also published a list of what sessions you can expect to see. This is of course a preliminary list, with an updated lists based on the keynote announcements going up soon after it ends. Topics range from Android (of course), to Google Assistant and AR/VR (Daydream Yo!) and all the usual Google products.
To apply to purchase a ticket you’ll need a Google account to sign in and you’ll need a method of payment associated with that Google account. If you want to go, head over to the landing page and make your case.