Tag Archives: Austin Convention Center

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Why Google Won South by Southwest

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By Tim Beyers and Alison Southwick, The Motley Fool

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South by Southwest isn’t a contest, per se. But in six hours, Google positioned itself as the undisputed leader in wearable tech while Apple‘s rumored iWatch was nowhere to be seen.

Two devices were on display at Google’s makeshift camp across from the Austin Convention Center. First, Glass, the interactive spectacles that bring the Web to wearers willing to pay up $1,500 to get access to the prototype.

Second, shoes. That’s right: footwear. In the three weeks leading up to SXSW, engineers hacked together 12 pairs of shoes with chips and gear for broadcasting data to the Web. A thought experiment that spokespeople said were meant to demonstrate how brands might use the Internet to engage more fully with customers and prospects.

Do either of these devices matter? Or do they typify the sort of creativity we expect from a company whose stated intent is to fund a handful of “moonshots” in hopes of a 10 times or better return? In this interview with The Motley Fool’s Alison Southwick, Tim Beyers of Motley Fool Rule Breakers and Motley Fool Supernova says Google is pushing design limits in all the right areas. Please watch, and then leave a comment to let us know what you think.

For further analysis, read our newest premium research report in which we dissect Google’s sprawling empire and tell you what the search king is worth, and whether the stock deserves a place in your portfolio. Access your report now by clicking here.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

SXSW's Favorites: Do They Really Become the Next Big Thing?

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By Muneeza Iqbal

Mars Rover

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(NASA)

Every March, Austin absorbs a massive influx of talented artists and entrepreneurs for the South By Southwest Conference & Festivals, aka SXSW. There, they get to network, bask in each others’ genius, and showcase their own work, while those of us who aren’t able to attend salivate in anticipation, waiting to see what “next big thing” will be revealed at the festival.

Sometimes, it really is the next big thing: In 2007, Twitter set up massive screens at the Austin Convention Center to encourage attendees to tweet about their experiences. The company won the conference’s Web Award (now known as Interactive Awards) in the blog category, and even though the company had been around since 2006, that SXSW proved its real coming-out party.

But how good is SXSW at reading the tech world tea leaves? We’ve looked at a few of its past award winners to see how they fared after their shining moments in Austin.

2012

Storify (Social Media): Thanks to the boom in social media, our thoughts and moments tend to be scattered across a multitude of sites: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others. Storify helps you pull it all back together, weaving those threads into timelines with coherent narratives — in other words, your stories. And it works with input from large groups as well. Founder Xavier Damman says Storify has been used by the New York Times and the White House to document various events, and people have pooled the social input from friends and family to “storify” their weddings and birthdays. The site’s popularity has been growing rapidly, but there have been some privacy concerns as of late.

2011

Airbnb (Mobile Award): Airbnb connects travelers seeking cheap and convenient lodging, with ordinary folks who have some space they’d like to rent out temporarily. Although Airbnb had been around since 2008, the launch of its mobile app has made it faster and easier to use (and won it this award). The company has been associated with its share of scandals and rental disasters, but none have cut into its growing popularity.

2010

Aadvark (Community Award): This popular search engine connected users with a network of their friends and friends of friends to answer their questions. Google acquired the company around the time it won this accolade, but shut it down a year later. It may have seemed like a great idea at the time, but the evolution of social media rapidly made it fairly obsolete.

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Gowalla (Mobile Award): One of the first location-based social media sites, Gowalla allowed users to “check in” wherever they were. The app was similar to Foursquare, which was also nominated in this category. Facebook acquired Gowalla in 2011, and then shut it down a year later. Meanwhile, Foursquare lived on, and has grown substantially. One can find celebrities like …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Articles of Interest

Joss Whedon On ‘Lost’: ‘I’ve Never Seen It’

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By The Huffington Post News Editors

Joss Whedon screened his delightful Shakespeare adaptation “Much Ado About Nothing” at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival on Saturday afternoon, but during a post-screening question and answer session, one intrepid audience member had little interest in the Bard’s tale. He wanted to know if Whedon, the geek master of the universe behind “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” “Firefly” and “Marvel’s The Avengers,” had ever watched “Lost.”

“Settle in, people,” Whedon said as the audience at the Vimeo Theater inside the Austin Convention Center laughed. Was Whedon about to throw the polarizing series, produced and co-created by fellow geek icon J.J. Abrams,, under the bus?

“I’ve never seen it,” Whedon said, to some surprise. “I missed out on a lot of culture: you either make TV or you watch it. So, yeah I’ve never seen it.”

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Hyatt Announces Acquisition of Austin's Historic Driskill Hotel

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

Hyatt Announces Acquisition of Austin’s Historic Driskill Hotel

Acquisition deepens Hyatt’s presence in one of the fastest growing markets in the U.S.

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Fresh from announcing the opening of the 296-room Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYS: H) today announced that a Hyatt affiliate has acquired the 189-room Driskill Hotel for approximately $85 million from an investment fund managed by Lowe Enterprises Investors, which was represented in the transaction by Jones Lang LaSalle’s Hotels & Hospitality Group.

The transaction closed earlier today and the hotel will continue to be marketed as The Driskill Hotel under the umbrella of Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. The hotel will undergo a two-year, approximately $8 million renovation to preserve its reputation as one of the most storied hotels in Texas.

“Our investment in this hotel, which has a highly visible and long-standing presence in a vibrant market, is a great example of Hyatt’s willingness and ability to apply our capital to increase our brand presence in key locations for our guests. Austin has a diverse economy driven by technology, the state capitol, and the University of Texas, and is a rapidly growing tourism and convention market,” said David Tarr, senior vice president of North American development and real estate for Hyatt. “We are excited to have the opportunity to continue the tradition of hospitality that Lowe Enterprises and Destination Hotels & Resorts have been providing at The Driskill Hotel during their ownership and management of this special property.”

Built in 1886, The Driskill Hotel is one of downtown Austin’s most recognizable buildings and was designated a national historic landmark in 1969. The hotel’s location provides easy access to the Central Business District, the Texas State Capitol and the Austin Convention Center, as well as the areas that comprise the heart of Austin’s cultural and entertainment activity, including the 6th Street Entertainment District, the Warehouse District and 2nd Street Retail District.

“We are thrilled to add such a well-loved local icon to the Hyatt family and are delighted to be increasing our presence in Austin, which offers world-class business and educational institutions, as well as thriving entertainment and technology scenes,” said Rakesh Sarna, group president – Americas for Hyatt.

Hyatt continues to grow its portfolio across all brands globally. The company’s executed contract base is larger than it has ever been, and as of December 31, 2012, it included management or franchise …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

3M Debuts Interactive Virtual Presenter at South by Southwest Interactive

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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3M Debuts Interactive Virtual Presenter at South by Southwest Interactive

Digital Interactive Avatar Helps Conference Attendees Find Panels & More

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Imagine a world in which you don’t need to speak to a car salesperson to get a trade-in quote, or a restaurant hostess to find out the wait time, or a hotel concierge to find the hottest city attraction. This world of dynamic digital merchandising is now possible as 3M debuts its first fully integrated, interactive Virtual Presenter at South by Southwest Interactive (SXSW).

3M Virtual Presenter offers panel suggestions to SXSW Interactive attendees in Austin, TX. (Photo: Business Wire)

SXSW attendees can interact with the life-like digital avatar through a touch screen to get conference panel recommendations, learn more about 3M through a game-like interface, and share information about their Virtual Presenter experience with friends on Facebook and Twitter. The new addition of a programmable touch panel to the 3M Virtual Presenter now unlocks the possibility for countless interactive applications.

Three Interactive Virtual Presenters will be on display throughout the Austin Convention Center during SXSW Interactive 2013 for attendees to be inspired by the possibilities of this new technology. These helpful “guides” will be on hand at the Connection Centers (outside exhibit halls 2 and 4) and the 3M Interactive Lounge (Meeting Room 1) to assist conference attendees with information.

“The interactive 3M Virtual Presenter represents the next generation of interactive digital communication,” says Bill Hibbard, 3M Business Development Manager. “While virtual presenters have been seen at trade shows, airports and drugstores during the past few years, 3M’s new integrated, interactive virtual presenter provides the opportunity to capture data, generate leads, customize content and drive social engagement. With all the creative minds and innovation leaders coming to Austin this week, we’re thrilled to enhance the SXSW Interactive experience for attendees looking for schedule information.”

The 3M Interactive Virtual Presenter brings 3M‘s unique culture of collaboration to life, combining several key 3M technology areas – light management, films, projection, touch systems and commercial graphics – to create an innovative solution that can used to enhance communications and merchandise products. The Virtual Presenter is made possible by 3M’s rear-projection film, which works like an optical lens. Millions of nano-sized glass beads focus the projected light so it exits at just one small …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Hyatt Place Austin Downtown Celebrates Official Opening

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By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool

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Hyatt Place Austin Downtown Celebrates Official Opening

296-room Hyatt Place hotel located in the heart of downtown Austin

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYS: H) and White Lodging Services today announce the opening of Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, just steps from the Austin Convention Center and the city’s famous Sixth Street.

Hyatt Place Austin Downtown, Photo Credit: Neil Goldman

“With thousands of music, film and digital enthusiasts arriving to our great city from around the world, there couldn’t be a more exciting time to be a part of this new opening in downtown Austin,” said Brad Haas, general manager, Hyatt Place Austin Downtown. “We can’t wait to welcome guests to the new hotel and show them the authentic hospitality and purposeful service for which Hyatt Place is known.”

In addition to its proximity to the convention center, Hyatt Place Austin Downtown is just minutes away from the University of Texas and major companies including AMD, Whole Foods and Silicon Labs. Additionally, the hotel is close to more 50 restaurants and only 15 minutes from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Hyatt Place Austin Downtown offers:

  • 296 spacious guestrooms, all of which feature a 42-inch HDTV, the plush Hyatt Grand Bed® and a sectional sofa sleeper
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout the hotel
  • Complimentary a.m. Kitchen SkilletTM, featuring freshly prepared breakfast sandwiches, a variety of fresh fruits, hot and cold cereal, yogurt, breads, premium coffee and an assortment of juices
  • 1,800 square feet of flexible, high-tech meeting and function space
  • 24/7 Guest Kitchen serving made-to-order snacks and entrees
  • Intimate Bakery Café featuring specialty coffees, premium beers and wines and cocktails

“It’s a wonderful feeling to grow with a city,” said Bryan Hayes, chief operating officer, White Lodging. “Today marks the opening of White Lodging‘s 22nd Austin hotel. We’re thrilled to be able to be part of the fabric of such a unique city.”

HYATT PLACE …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

News, Politics, Government

More Indies, More VC, More Interesting People, That's SXSW

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By Ewan Spence, Contributor

Hugh Forrest cuts a tall figure in the halls of the Austin Convention Center during South by Southwest (SXSW). But towering over its Director is one of the biggest tech events of the year… SXSW Interactive. Of all the strands that make up the festival of culture that descends every year on the state capital of Texas, it’s Interactive that is making the biggest waves. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest