droidcon
File:Droidcon Berlin 2016.jpg in 2016.]]
Droidcon is the franchise name for a series of community conferences in Europe, focused on software development for Google's Android smartphone framework. The droidcon conferences are the largest Android developer conferences held outside the USA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/22/droidcon/|title=Android con offers ex-Nokia staff discount|last=btn|first=Bill Ray 22 Oct 2010 at 13:30|website=www.theregister.co.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-28}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.sys-con.com/node/2419015|title=Arxan Technologies to Speak at Droidcon London on Protecting Android Apps Against Reverse-Engineering and Hackers {{!}} SYS-CON MEDIA|website=www.sys-con.com|access-date=2019-02-28}}
droidcon started in 2009 in Berlin, as a grassroots effort organized by Android developers.{{Cite web|url=http://news.siliconallee.com/2014/05/08/fitting-in-at-droidcon-a-passionate-android-conference/|title=Fitting in at Droidcon With the Passionate Android Community|date=2014-05-08|website=Silicon Allee News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-28}} It grew continuously and by 2015 was held in 19 countries. So far droidcon conferences took place in Berlin,[http://conferencehound.com/conference/droidcon-berlin-2012/60067 droidcon Berlin 2012 (60067) | Conference Hound] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212110623/http://conferencehound.com/conference/droidcon-berlin-2012/60067 |date=February 12, 2012 }}{{cite web|title=Epson shows developers the future of augmented reality in Berlin droidcon 2014|publisher=Digital AV Magazine|url=http://www.digitalavmagazine.com/en/2014/05/12/epson-shows-developers-the-future-of-augmented-reality-in-berlin-2014-droidcon/|website=www.digitalavmagazine.com|accessdate=24 September 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141021041420/http://www.digitalavmagazine.com/en/2014/05/12/epson-shows-developers-the-future-of-augmented-reality-in-berlin-2014-droidcon/|archivedate=21 October 2014}} London, Tunis,{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/topic/organization/barcamp-profile-49877/photo-gallery|title=Barcamp Photo Gallery: Latest Pictures, Best News Photos, Images about on Barcamp|website=Firstpost|access-date=2019-02-28}} Bangalore,{{cite news|title=A conference for Android enthusiasts|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/a-conference-for-android-enthusiasts/article4062403.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=7 November 2012|location=Bangalore|issn=0971-751X|accessdate=24 September 2014}} Bucharest,{{Cite web |url=http://www.computerworld.ro/evenimente/droidcon-conferinta-dezvoltatorilor-de-android-2-3-noiembrie/ |title=droidcon: conferinţa dezvoltatorilor de Android - 2-3 noiembrie {{!}} ComputerWorld.ro |access-date=2012-10-27 |archive-date=2012-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010051650/http://www.computerworld.ro/evenimente/droidcon-conferinta-dezvoltatorilor-de-android-2-3-noiembrie/ |url-status=dead }} Amsterdam,{{Cite web |url=http://www.devfest.info/vhackandroid/sponsors |title=GDG DevFest |access-date=2012-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918043905/http://www.devfest.info/vhackandroid/sponsors |archive-date=2012-09-18 |url-status=dead }} Murcia, Brussels, Turin, Paris, Madrid,{{Cite web|title = History {{!}} Droidcon Global|url = http://droidcon.com/?page_id=10|website = droidcon.com|accessdate = 2015-12-01|archive-date = 2015-11-23|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151123094952/http://droidcon.com/?page_id=10|url-status = dead}} Stockholm, Tel Aviv, Moscow, Kraków, Dubai, Zagreb, Thessaloniki, Montreal and New York.{{Cite web|title = Droidcon Global {{!}} Business and Development in the android ecosystem|url = http://droidcon.com/|website = droidcon.com|accessdate = 2015-12-01}} Two of the largest droidcon events held so far were in London in 2022 (over 1.400 attendees) and Berlin in 2023 in combination with Fluttercon Berlin with over 2.000 attendees in total. The conferences continue to grow in size and in new locations. 2019 Droidcon edition was set to happen at [Chennai]. {{Cite web|url=https://sessionize.com/droidcon-india-2019-in-chennai/|title=droidcon India 2019 in Chennai: Call for Speakers @ Sessionize.com|website=sessionize.com|access-date=2019-09-02}}
droidcon provides a forum for developers to network with other developers,{{cite web|title=On the droidcon 2012 in Berlin|url=http://www.tphonenews.com/on-the-droidcon-2012-in-berlin/|website=www.tphonenews.com|accessdate=24 September 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20141021041402/http://www.tphonenews.com/on-the-droidcon-2012-in-berlin/|archivedate=21 October 2014}} to share techniques,{{Cite web|url=http://java.sys-con.com/node/2419015|title=Arxan Technologies to Speak at Droidcon London on Protecting Android Apps Against Reverse-Engineering and Hackers {{!}} Java IoT|website=java.sys-con.com|access-date=2019-02-28|archive-date=2019-02-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228192306/http://java.sys-con.com/node/2419015|url-status=dead}} to announce apps and products,{{Cite web|url=https://skillsmatter.com/skillscasts/3779-future-of-android|title=Future of Android|website=Skills Matter|language=en|access-date=2019-02-28}}{{Cite web|title = Sony Xperia Sola with Floating Touch Hands On at droidcon 2012 {{!}} Netbooknews - Netbooks, Netbook Reviews, Smartbooks and more|url = http://www.netbooknews.com/46813/sony-xperia-sola-with-floating-touch-hands-on-at-droidcon-2012/|website = www.netbooknews.com|accessdate = 2015-11-16}} and to learn and teach.{{Cite web|url=https://droidconin.talkfunnel.com/2012/571-agile-development-for-mobile-apps|title=Agile development for mobile apps – Droidcon India 2012|website=droidconin.talkfunnel.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-28}}{{Cite web |url=http://lanyrd.com/2012/droidconde/sqhhg/ |title=Cloud Desktop for BYOD: Native Android and HTML5 (Live Demo) at droidcon 2012 {{!}} Lanyrd |access-date=2012-10-27 |archive-date=2013-01-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119040813/http://lanyrd.com/2012/droidconde/sqhhg/ |url-status=dead }} The conferences open with a "bar-camp" - 5-minute presentations on topics by potential speakers. The audience votes on presentations that they'd like to see in expanded form, and these are scheduled for later in the event.
In 2010, Lucasfilm claimed the rights to the word "droid" based on its Star Wars franchise, and issued a "cease and desist" writ against droidcon.[http://www.openintents.org/en/node/711 How much Star Wars is Android? from openintents.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120001422/http://www.openintents.org/en/node/711 |date=November 20, 2012 }} However, as of 2014, the conferences continue to be called "droidcon".{{Cite web|url=http://news.siliconallee.com/2014/05/08/fitting-in-at-droidcon-a-passionate-android-conference/|title=Fitting in at Droidcon With the Passionate Android Community|date=2014-05-08|website=Silicon Allee News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-28}}