Sadly, I did not attend Rootstech 2011 but I plan to be there in 2012! I've read many of the rave reviews those in attendance have given and my #rootstech Twitter feed is still very active. There is a movement here that this conference started and I for one am looking forward eagerly to see where it takes genealogy.
On the Rootstech website the major
conference sponsors are listed at the bottom of the page. That's a fairly impressive list considering several are not companies you associate with genealogy:
- Microsoft
- Dell
- Novell
- Oracle
- Sprint
There are a couple of others, but these jumped out at me. Hmmmmm who is noticeably missing??? Who could it be??? Maybe their name starts with an A and ends with pple!?! I heard that there were over 3,000 attendees and I think 3,000 is worth Apple's time to visit.
It will be interesting to see how the sponsorships change and increase for 2012 along with the exhibitors. I also hope the conference planners plan for significantly more than 3,000 next year! Looking forward to it!
There were assumptions from the crowd (genealogists love to assume) that FamilySearch didn't ask/invite/allow Apple, but I don't believe that. Besides, Verlker the CEO had an ipad right there on the podium when he spoke the first day.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see who does show up in 2012. That will tell you where genealogy ranks in their eyes.
I heard that it's because Apple doesn't "do" conferences. That's a mistake, if it's true...
ReplyDeleteMissy, I think that's right now that you bring it up. Apple has their own conference, they don't attend CES either.
ReplyDeletePerhaps ask on Anne Roach's blog if Apple was asked to participate? Anne was the conference chair and she writes the Technogenealogist.
ReplyDeletehttp://fsanne.blogspot.com/
In Australia I found, when organising technology conferences for people with big $$$ to spend, a big vendor atarting with A was always difficult to deal with and didn't want to share the sponsorship limelight with others.
ReplyDeleteI still don't buy those fruity products because I didn't like the way the company worked.