Image via Complex Original
Innovation matters. Nowhere is this more paramount than in Austin every March. Startup companies, VCs, bloggers, tech journalists, developers, and coders descend on the state capitol to get a taste of the future at South by Southwest Interactive. During my five days in town I had a chance to experience some of the most forward-thinking technologies around. What follows are my favorite picks from this year's conference. As you'll see, the future looks mighty, mighty promising.
And for all our SXSW Interactive coverage, relive our daily dispatches here.
DAY 1: Austin or Bust!
DAY 2: Elon Musk's Vision of the Future
DAY 3: Where Are All the Black and Latino Entrepreneurs?
DAY 4: Julie Uhrman, Ouya, and the New Gaming Ecosystem
RideScout
RideScout is what we talk about when we talk about redefining transportation apps. The startup debuted in Austin this year and was on the ground showcasing its numerous features to locals and Interactive attendees. The app allows users to book rides, rate transit options (taxi, pedicab, Car2Go, bus, etc), view peer-to-peer ride selections, and provides detailed directions to any destination. The future of transit apps has arrived thanks to RideScout.
Gigg
Plain and simple, Gigg gives photo-sharing new meaning. With a database of over 2.5 million song lyrics, from indie artists to pop acts, the social app allows users to post photos with accompanying lyrics. With Gigg, you can finally match the perfect selfie with Jay-Z's classic line, "Remind yourself/ Nobody built like you, you design yourself." What's also great about this app, it introduces your followers to inspiring songs and artists they may have never known if it weren't for Gigg.
VCNC
Korean startup VCNC launched their private-sharing app for couples a little over a year ago and it now boasts over 2.8 million downloads. When I asked Edward Lee, a VCNC value innovator and iOS developer, during Interactive what separated Between from, say, texting or email, he offered a simple anwer that I felt captured the essence of the app. "It's like a hotline for you and your significant other." Thanks to Between you can finally relive all your special moments in one place.
SynapTop
The SXSW Accelerator finalist and Toronto startup created a cloud-based personal browser that let's friends and followers experience web interactions together, in real time. The computer platform features a web browser, notepad, media player, and an application for live presentations. Store and share files, watch movies, stream songs, video chat, or work on documents all with friends at the same time. It's easy to see why SynapTop will succeed: the startup plans to revolutionize the way we collaborate and interact with not just friends, but business partners, colleagues, and family members.
Rock Lobby
Think Yelp but for local live music. With Rock Lobby, you are the music critic. The inventive social app let's you discover the best music in town, write reviews of concerts, follow your favorite musicians, and provides a list of the best upcoiming shows in your area. Much like Yelp redefined the way we interface with restaurants, Rock Lobby has the chance to enhance fan interaction and fuel exposure for independent artists in a revolutionary new way.
Guide
With online platforms, social and otherwise, becoming the go-to source for breaking news and the most interesting stories, Guide seems like a no-brainer. The SXSW Accelerator finalist recently unveiled its app that turns Internet news—your favorite stories from, say, Complex.com or FirstWeFeast.com (naturally)—and transforms them into video content for TV-ready viewing. The startup uses advanced avatar and speech technologies to create virtual anchors right on your smartophone or desktop. The anchors read the news as if a real newscast is happening. There's no telling if Guide will eventually make news anchors obsolete, but as pure innovation goes, it doesn't get much cooler than this.
ProxToMe
Say, for instance, you're giving a presentation to colleagues or classmates and you want to share your work, ProxToMe lets you do that. The app, which recently debuted on iOS and Android, lets users share digital files with anyone in close range. "There's a need for ProxToMe," co-founder Carlo Capello told me during the Expo. And he's right. The app is a great way to easily share information and meet people at the same time. Best of all? It's free.
PartyTapper
Launched in August, the Dallas, Texas startup PartyTapper could very well be the next social platform to transform the way we experience parties and live events. With a focus on event engagement and social discovery, the app lets users promote events, upload images and video clips, listen to live streaming audio from the party, and join events remotely all from your smartphone. You'll never miss out on a good time again.
VHX
VHX co-founder and creative technologist Casey Pugh has a quiet presence about him. And it's easy to see why: VHX speaks for itself. The spunky startup helps filmmakers and artists distribute video content to users directly, without all the hassle of rights restrictions (including Doin' It In The Park, a Complex favorite). The startup debuted in 2011 but their presence was inescapable during Interactive this year. I kept hearing of the company's success in conversations, and if "VHX Presents"—a news service that provides special deals—is any indication of the direction the company is going, Casey and his team are onto something big.
Neurowear
Of all the pioneering technologies I had a chance to experience during Interactive, Neurowear's Mico may have been the most impressive. The startup debuted its brainwave-detecting headphones in Austin to much fanfare (the long line to test the device at the Expo was but one indication). Through a censor attached to the headphones, Mico creates a playlist depending on your mood. Think a smarter and more customized version of Pandora controlled by your brain. As technologies go, Mico has an opportunity to totally reshape the music listening experience.
