Last night the winning apps were rewarded at the NYC BigApps Awards Ceremony. It was an exciting event with Mayor Bloomberg and several leaders from City government in attendance. The "Investors Bar," where apps makers and entrepreneurs got to speak with some of the East Coast's finest investors, was packed all night.

Congratulations to the winning teams, which you can see here. PLEASE make sure to visit the gallery and write a congratulatory note to the winners.

Thank you to everyone who created an app, spread the word, added their support on the competition homepage, and played any part in the dissemination of City data or the running of the Challenge.

Over two months have passed since the NYC BigApps competition opened, and now you can vote for your favorite app!

There were 85 eligible apps submitted from individuals and small businesses across the country, from New York to California to Washington DC. We received web and mobile applications across several platforms. Software developers worked hard to make apps that improve life in New York City, and now it's your turn to spread the word and vote for your favorite.

Our esteemed panel of judges will be evaluating each app over the next several weeks. Your single vote will count toward the two Popular Choice awards. Please spread the word through your social networks about these great apps, vote today, and start using them.

Deadline for apps next Tuesday December 8th! -- Just a friendly reminder that apps are due in one week, Tuesday 12/8, for the NYC BigApps $20,000 software competition.

Be in touch with us anytime at info@nycbigapps.com with questions. Thanks for your support!

In this update:

1) Deadline for apps -- December 8th!
2) NYC BigApps DevCamp - this Saturday November 21
3) Previous Meetup video

1) Deadline for apps -- Remember, the deadline to submit your apps is December 8th, 2009.

2) NYC BigApps Devcamp -- We\'re having a DevCamp this Saturday, November 21st from Noon to 5 pm at the Open Planning Project. It will be an informal gathering to develop applications in person for NYC BigApps. If you have a team, feel free to bring them. Or if you\'re looking for someone with whom to collaborate on your app, feel free to use the Meetup mailing list or post a comment on the DevCamp wiki. RSVP for the DevCamp here.

Location: Open Planning Project, 148 Lafayette Street, 13th floor (take elevator to "PH")
Thanks to the Open Planning Project for the space, and to Noel Hidalgo and Philip Ashlock for co-organizing.

3) Previous Meetup video -- We had a great Meetup last month. We enjoyed gathering your feedback and hopefully we were helpful to you. For those that couldn't make it, you may watch the video here. Thanks again to the Open Planning Project for the space, and to Lou Klepner for filming and uploading.

Thanks for your support, and please spread the word about the deadline on Twitter!

A few things in this update:

1) App suggestions
2) Data Set suggestions
3) Meetup in New York November 2nd

1) App suggestions -- We have a new, open section of the site where people can suggest apps they want to see, and vote their support for other suggestions. (We do have to approve them for appropriate language but we will try to do that within a few hours after each submission.) If you want a certain kind of app that relates to NYC BigApps, please post it there. Note to software developers: your apps need not be influenced by the suggested apps section, as it will NOT be part of the judging criteria for submitted apps. Here's the link: http://www.nycbigapps.com/suggest-app

2) Data Set suggestions -- There has been a lot of great feedback through email and through the NYC.gov Data Mine contact form. But now there is an open section of the NYC BigApps site to do the same, and to vote on other suggestions. Here's the link: http://www.nycbigapps.com/suggest-data. The City would love your feedback as they improve upon this first stage of their government transparency effort.

3) NYC BigApps Meetup -- We\'re having a Meetup in New York next Monday, November 2nd, at 7 pm EST at the Open Planning Project. We, and representatives from the City will be there to listen, to answer questions, and to meet people in person. This isn\'t just for software developers but for anyone who is interested in NYC BigApps. If any relevant competition questions are asked that are not on the website Q+A page, we\'ll add them after the Meetup and let people know about it. Feel free to join our Meetup group and RSVP here: http://www.meetup.com/NYCBIGAPPS/calendar/11642599.

Thanks for your interest and support in making New York City better.

Today, the City launched the inaugural NYC BigApps Competition to encourage talented application developers to create innovative online and mobile applications to serve New York City residents, businesses, and visitors. By developing these apps, you can help us make City government more accessible to all New Yorkers.

We have worked diligently to make a considerable amount of City data available on the new NYC.gov Data Mine (coming the afternoon of October 6th). The data will remain accessible upon conclusion of the NYC BigApps Competition for all New Yorkers.

NYC BigApps provides a competitive outlet for developers and encourages the general public to get involved as well. We welcome public comment on the process – indicate your support for the competition, share app ideas, and inform contestants on what type of app you'd like to see. "Popular Choice" winners will be selected through open voting on the site, so make sure to vote for your favorite app starting in December.

Thank you for your interest in NYC BigApps. If you plan to compete, best of luck.

Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor, City of New York