Android Developer Challenge Launch Party Uganda

Google Uganda proudly hosted the Android Developer Challenge Launch Party organized by GTUG Kampala at their office on 6th May 2011.

The event drew close to 120 participants in the I.T industry, developers, students, bloggers and mobile enthusiasts.

Presentations were done on Android trends by Google Uganda Country Manager, Ham Namakajjo, SMS Media Business Convergence director Simon Kaheru presented on opportunities Android provides for developers whereas Victor Miclovich, an Android developer presented on how to write android apps and the android Marketplace.

The presentations of the day can be found at http://kampala.gtugs.org/presentations , pictures can be found at http://goo.gl/53CT2

Information about the Android Developer Challenge Sub Saharan Africa can be found at http://code.google.com/android/adcafrica

Uganda, let the Droiding begin

Android Developer Challenge - Sub Saharan Africa

Google launched an Android Developer Challenge for Sub Saharan Africa http://goo.gl/vwc14

The Android Developer Challenge is designed to encourage the creation of cool and innovative Android mobile apps built by developers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Invent apps that delight users and you stand a chance to win an Android phone and $25,000 USD. To get started, choose from one of three defined eligible categories (see below), build an Android app in a team or by yourself, and submit it via the competition website by July 1st. 

Developers submit their apps to one of three specially-designated ADC (Android Developer Challenge) categories beginning June 1st at 12 AM GMT. An application may only be submitted to a single category

Categories

• Entertainment / Media / Games
• Social Networking / Communication
• Productivity / Tools / Lifestyle

.

Timeline

• April 14th: Competition opens
• June 1st: Submissions open.
• July 1st: First round submissions are due at 11:59 PM GMT.
• July 15th: Finalist applications announced.
• August 30th: Finalist applications are due at 11:59 PM GMT.
• September 12th: Winners are announced.

Visit http://code.google.com/android/adcafrica/ for more information about the Android Developer Challenge.

Google Technology User Group Kampala shall have an interactive and fun filled launch event for the Android developer Challenge, where students, mobile developers, android fans, technology bloggers and anyone interested in ADC will be invited.  The details about the launch event will be communicated soon.

Let us take on the Challenge Now.

Ugandan App, mdgmaps, receives Honorable mention during Apps for Development competition

A Ugandan app, called mdgmaps.appspot.com has received honorable mention at the apps for development competition http://goo.gl/G9wMT

The application, designed by a GTUG Kampala member, is a geovisualization tool for the Millenium Development Goals. It enables one to generate printable maps for the different indicators.


The application, is built on Adobe flash technologies and Google Appengine.

Joshua, the developer of the software, won $2,000 USD for the award.

Way to go Joshua

Mdgmaps Screenshot

Google Technologies at Work in Uganda's education Sector

Chris Ntwatwa is a developer and administrative assistant at Makerere University.

Chris is a staunch User of Google technologies, moreso Google Web Toolkit.

He has used Google technologies to develop an Education Information System. Using GWT and other technologies, Chris developed an EIS, that handles Students Administration, Finances, student application and admission, student registration, document management of students and results management.

He has found using GWT interesting because of the nice user Interface one can create, doesn't require user sessions, the use of Ajax technology, platform independence among others. Chris' system is now being used in three academic institutions that include Makerere University, Makerere University Business School and Multitech business school.

He keeps adding functionality to the system and customising it depending on the user. The figures below illustrate two data entry forms and a report generated by the EIS.

Google Africa

Google Africa has released a new website specifically for Africa. http://www.google.com/africa/
The New website clearly outlines Google Africa's mission which includes:

• Reducing access as a barrier to all potential users
• Making the Internet relevant and useful to Africans
• Helping strengthen an Internet ecosystem in Africa that is vibrant, and sustainable and self-sufficient in the long-term

More to that, the website has links to great resources for developers, universities, tech businesses, those seeking  jobs to mention but a few. 

Google Africa has been around for some time now, in Uganda, we have had activities like G-Uganda that brought together tech enterpreneurs and developers, mapping competition and mapping party for the universities within Uganda. Google Global Caches are operational at some ISPs within Uganda and the Google University programme has been initiated within Universities in Uganda starting with Makerere University. 

Google Technology User Groups (GTUGs) are more like the LUGs (Linux User Groups) now, promoting the use of Google technologies and ICTs to businesses and individuals. You can join your local gtug by visiting the website http://kampala.gtugs.org

We believe Google will have great things for Africa in 2011.

Apps for Development Information Meeting

The World Bank is hosting an information Session to shed more light on the apps for development competition at Rwenzori House on 21st December 2010.

The apps for development competition challenges the public to create innovative software applications that move the world bank closer to solving some of the world's most pressing problems. The World Bank has opened up it's data and APIs for the world to use, license free and with very little restriction.

The Competitions has two simple rules:
1. Your app must use some data from the World Bank open data catalog
2. Your app must in some way address (or reference) one of the Millenium Development Goals.

The apps created are 'not' for the world bank - the people who create them retain the Intellectual Property.

Apps that are commercially viable are completely fine too, all that stays with the creator.

Therefore, give the competition a try http://appsfordevelopment.challengepost.com/

In order to attend the information session, please visit http://appsfordevelopmentkla.eventbrite.com/

Venture Capital for Africa

VC4Africa is an initiative whose aims is to connect entrepreneurs and members of the business community in Uganda.  As a developer or tech entrepreneur, one can utilise this opportunity to come up with a business idea, design a prototype and put it up, get feedback  and entice investors http://www.vc4africa.biz/ventures