Release Notes
September 27-29, 2016 | Indianapolis, IN
Great team members strive to learn the entire business of a company. They may specialize in development or design, but they also learn about the market. They learn about marketing, sales, operations, and human resources as well. At Release Notes you’ll learn about the business side of selling software and services, which will help you work with all the members of your team, in all disciplines. You’ll develop the skills you need to make yourself a more valuable team player, and prepare yourself to take on a leadership role in your company.
Great talks. New connections. Ample time for discussion and shared experiences. This is Release Notes 2016.
Tickets
If you are interested in attending Release Notes 2016, we suggest you act fast. Tickets are going quickly.
If you are in need of a companion ticket ($199 USD) for your spouse or partner you can purchase one here while supplies last. Companion tickets include access to the Keynote and all after-session activities.
Tickets for Release Notes are transferable, but not refundable. If you would like to transfer your ticket, let us know, and we’ll be happy to assist in getting the name and other pertinent information transferred.
Speakers
An exceptional group of indie developers, journalists, entrepreneurs, and leaders from the iOS and Mac development community is ready to share knowledge and experience with you.
Christina Warren
Mashable
Christina Warren is Mashable’s Senior Tech Correspondent, where she writes about technology, mobile computing, development, and design, with a focus on the intersection between new media and technology. She has been featured on CNN, NPR, Bloomberg, WSJRadio, the BBC, Fox News and Marketplace Radio. As a speaker, Christina has presented at Yale University, the Handheld Librarian Conference, SXSW Interactive, NAB Show, ANA, MediaVest and Zenith’s Mobile Agency Day and the Tribeca Film Festival. Christina lives in Brooklyn with her husband and their computer collection.
Greg Pierce
Agile Tortoise
Greg Pierce is the founder of Agile Tortoise, an independent software development company specializing in iOS productivity and utility apps. Through his apps, like Drafts and Interact, and the creation of the x-callback-url spec, Greg has been a champion of automation on iOS.
David Sparks
MacSparky
David Sparks is a business attorney in Orange County, California, where heʼs been eating other lawyersʼ lunch for years using Apple Technologies. David is also the author of the MacSparky Field Guides, the editor of MacSparky.com, and the co-host of the popular “Mac Power Users” podcast.
Halle Winkler
PolitePix
Halle Winkler is the CEO and developer behind Berlin’s Politepix, which produces OpenEars, the most popular offline speech recognition framework for iOS. She has worked in tech startups in the Silicons Alley, Valley, and Allee since the days of Web .9 and has been preoccupied with human factors since day one. Her first line of code was in BASIC on a Commodore VIC-20, but since then there has often been a sample buffer involved.
Matthew Bischoff
Lickability
Matthew Bischoff is one of the creators of Lickability, a small software studio in New York building apps for their customers and clients. Before going independent, he worked at The New York Times and led mobile teams at Tumblr. Matt talks quickly, obsesses easily, and makes a mean Old Fashioned.
Sarah Hatter
CoSupport
Sarah Hatter is a writer, public speaker and startup founder. She founded CoSupport in 2011 and has worked with over 200 companies since then, teaching excellence in customer support and user experience. Her public speaking career has lead her to present at Microsoft, Google, and Facebook, and tech conferences such as LessConf, MicroConf and the Business of Software Conference.
Litha Soyizwapi
GauRider
A graphic designer and a self taught iOS developer based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Litha is a creator of the GauRider app, an iOS app for Gautrain a rapid rail service that connects Johannesburg, Pretoria & OR Tambo International Airport in South Africa. Litha was also a speaker at TEDxSoweto 2014 and TEDxJohannesburg 2015.
Jaimee Newberry
MartianCraft
Most recognized for her work in the iOS and mobile apps world, Jaimee is an internationally sought after keynote speaker with talks delivered around the world. She speaks at global conferences for web, mobile, UX, design, creativity, development, women-in-tech, moms-in-tech, motivation/inspiration, change, and self-reinvention.
Ariel Michaeli
appFigures
Ariel has been building platforms and turning them into companies since graduating high school in 2002. From online dating to real-estate site management and an ecommerce platform, Ariel has been involved in a variety of different industries. appFigures is the 9th start-up founded with his brother, and he’s been CEO for all companies. When not in the office strategizing over the startup’s next move, Ariel enjoys tinkering with technology, playing the guitar, and occasionally flying model airplanes.
Rich Siegel
Bare Bones Software
Rich Siegel is CEO of Bare Bones Software, a company he founded in 1993. His text editor BBEdit has made him a driving force behind leading-edge software development on the Macintosh. In addition to crafting software, Rich is also passionate about music and motoring.
Format
| Registration, followed by Welcome and Keynote | Sept. 27, 6:00pm EDT |
| Closing, after Final Session and Remarks | Sept. 29, 4:00pm EDT |
Registration will begin on Tuesday, September 27 at 6:00pm. Our opening address and keynote will take place at 7:30 that evening. Closing will be after the last session ends on Thursday, September 29, at 4:00pm.
Throughout the conference, you will hear several talks from our carefully selected expert speakers. Between these talks, plenty of time has been set aside for you to discuss with the other guests what you just heard and to approach the speakers with questions. There will also be opportunities throughout the conference for guests to mingle with speakers and learn about their work.
Of course, networking with peers is another great reason to attend Release Notes. The conference will be attended by guests from all over the world, with a vast collection of experiences and expertise represented. Release Notes has been designed to create plenty of opportunities to meet other guests and learn from their successes.
The Dine Around
One special opportunity to network will be during our Wednesday evening dine around. After a full day of sessions, we will be splitting up into small groups and dining at various restaurants around Indianapolis.
This will give you an opportunity to socialize in a much smaller group setting. While being with everyone at once is wonderful, sometimes the deepest connections are formed over a shared meal around a single table.
The dine around will also be a great opportunity for our guests to see a bit of the downtown area and sample its cuisine. Once the meal is over, we will gather again at another local establishment as a complete group. It’s an evening of fun and local flavor you won’t find anywhere else.
Venue
Release Notes will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The Crowne Plaza is located in the heart of downtown, and is literally steps from the best that Indianapolis has to offer. Shopping, restaurants, bars, and pubs are all just minutes from the hotel. It's a beautiful city to visit in autumn.
The structure that now holds the Crowne Plaza Hotel was once the train shed of Indianapolis' Union Station, with thousands of people and tons of freight moving under its roof. When the Crowne Plaza Hotel took up residence in the building, its designers embraced the historic charm of the original structure, going so far as to park several train cars on the tracks of the second floor, where the trains were originally boarded. After closing in the exterior walls, the train cars were converted into modern and comfortable guest rooms that, even today, charm the young and old alike.
The head house of Union Station will host the conference itself, with its historic charm serving as the backdrop to all of our conference proceedings. Built originally in 1853, and then rebuilt in 1886, the Romanesque architecture of the head house originally served as a waiting area and office for all of Union Station. Today, this structure serves as the Crowne Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom, with its massive arches and enormous rose windows lending an air of elegance to every event it hosts. Without a doubt, Union Station is the crown jewel of Indianapolis architecture, and we are pleased to offer it to you and our guests as our conference venue.
Travel
Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown—Union Station
123 West Louisiana Street
Indianapolis, IN 46225
Planes
The nearest airport to the conference hotel, the Crowne Plaza Indianapolis Downtown—Union Station, is Indianapolis International Airport (airport code: IND), which is a 20-minute drive from downtown. Indianapolis International Airport is served by many major airlines including Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and more.
Those who arrive at Indianapolis International Airport have several options for ground transportation to downtown. For the budget-minded, GO Express Travel offers shuttle service to many downtown hotels, including the Crowne Plaza, for a flat $10 fare. Those staying at the Crowne Plaza should get off the shuttle at stop 4. For guests who would prefer more direct transportation, both taxis (~$40 fare) and Uber (~$50 fare) are available.
Trains
For those who would like to travel by train, Indianapolis has an Amtrak station which is conveniently located in the same building as our conference hotel, the Crowne Plaza. The Indianapolis Amtrak station is served by both the Cardinal and Hoosier State lines.
The Cardinal operates three days a week, and originates at New York City’s Penn Station with stops in Baltimore, MD; Philadelphia, PA; Washington D.C.; Charlottesville, VA; Cincinnati, OH; and other stops along the way. On this route, passengers will be able to enjoy views of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, and the white-water rivers of West Virginia, all from the comfort of their reserved coach seat or sleeper car.
The Hoosier State runs daily between Chicago and Indianapolis, with reserved coach seating available.
Automobiles
As the “Crossroads of America,” Indianapolis is easy to reach by car. The Crowne Plaza is conveniently located in downtown Indianapolis, just north of Interstate 70. Those approaching downtown from the East on I–70 should take Exit 79A onto Missouri Street. Those approaching downtown from the West on I–70 should take Exit 79B onto Illinois Street.
Overseas Travel
Coming to Release Notes from overseas? We have some additional information for you here.
Lodging
Rooms at the Crowne Plaza are available at special rates starting as low as $159 USD per night. That’s one of the lowest rates in the surrounding area. Enjoy the convenience of staying in the same building as the conference proceedings.*
To get our special conference rate, call the Crowne Plaza’s local number at +1-317-631-2221 Monday through Saturday between 9 AM and 6 PM Eastern Time. (At all other times you will be forwarded to the corporate office, which will not be able to grant you our special rate.) Use the block name “Release Notes” when you make your reservation.
*Limited quantities of special rate rooms available. Taxes and other fees may apply. Book your room early.
Community
As hosts, we take great pride in offering our guests the utmost in hospitality. We want everyone attending our event to feel welcome, safe, and included. All conference events will offer a variety of beverages, including non-alcoholic options. All conference events will be open to attendees under 21 years of age. All conference events will be accessible to those with special needs. We’ve taken care to make sure that our venues welcome all.
We want all our guests to feel welcome and at home, no matter their age, gender, ability, or who they love. In order to encourage that feeling, everyone participating in the conference will be bound by the Release Notes Code of Conduct. Providing a safe, comfortable, and hospitable environment for everyone is our top priority.
If you have any questions or concerns about our commitment to hosting an inclusive conference, please contact us, and we will be happy to discuss them with you.
The Release Notes Code of Conduct
Release Notes is committed to providing a great experience for all our guests. With that in mind, guests are expected treat each other with respect. Harassment will not be tolerated.
Harassment includes (but is not limited to) offensive verbal comments, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention. Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
If a participant engages in harassing behavior, conference organizers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expelling the offender from the conference without a refund. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of the conference staff immediately.
Conference staff will be happy to help participants contact hotel and venue security or local law enforcement, provide escort, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment for the duration of the conference. We value everyone’s attendance and want all our guests to feel welcome and safe.
App Camp for Girls
Indie developers need to work together to thrive in the maturing Apple ecosystem. It’s in our best interest to support the community and its efforts to provide a bright future for everyone who wants to participate.
That’s why Release Notes has once again named App Camp for Girls as its official non-profit organization partner for 2016.
App Camp For Girls is a place where girls can put their creative powers to work, designing and building apps, while learning more about the business of software and being inspired by women mentors in the field.
We want to help the future of our indie community by lending our support to the efforts of Jean MacDonald and her incredible organization.
During our conference, we will be accepting donations for App Camp for Girls. Guests will be able to donate at the conference, and a link will be available to accept online donations from those who cannot join us in person.
For every dollar we collect via the Release Notes campaign, Charles and Joe will match that donation, up to $1,000. Help us raise some money and make a difference in the lives of young girls who are interested in technology. Your investment in App Camp for Girls is an investment in the future of our community.
Last year, Release Notes attendees gave generously to this amazing organization. We hope to top our goal again for this year.
Learn more about App Camp for Girls and the incredible work they do at appcamp4girls.com
Guide
Indianapolis is a great city to visit even for those not attending a conference. If you decide to bring your family, we think that they will find there’s plenty to keep them occupied during the day while you enjoy the conference sessions. You may also want to consider extending your stay. An extra weekend in Indianapolis opens the door to some great day trip options that you won’t want to miss.
We have created a convenient guide to visiting Indianapolis, featuring places to see and things to do for people of all interests.
Price
Tickets are now available. Seating is limited. Get your ticket today.
| Faithful Ticket: purchased by May 2nd, 2016 | $799 |
| Regular Price: purchased on or after May 3rd, 2016 | $899 |
A limited number of companion tickets will also be available at a special price of $199 for spouses, friends, and significant others who would like to attend the keynote and participate in social events surrounding the conference.
Student Price
We are working hard to find sponsors to make discounted tickets available for qualified students. More details on how to apply for a student ticket will follow.
Sponsors
Our conference would not be possible without generous help from our sponsors. They are true supporters of the indie dev community.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available. If your company wishes to sponsor Release Notes, get in touch. We would be happy to talk to you.
Get on the Mailing List
Sign up for the Release Notes Mailing List to stay informed of upcoming events.
Looking for last year’s show?
Check out Release Notes 2015.