Apple users make up one-fourth of Philadelphia population

Experian Simmons Mosaic profile of users of iPod, iPhone or Mac computers (including home and work)

Updated, Apr. 20, 1:33 p.m.: Due to rounding error that affected the language of the title and lede of the post, we’ve corrected the story to indicate that only one-fourth of Philadelphia’s population owns or uses Apple products, instead of one-third.

Count the computers you see at the coffeehouse to see if it jives, but Philadelphia is one-fourth Apple.

According to research firm Experion Simmons, 27 percent of the Philadelphia market, or 1.6 million people, use Apple products. The figure might seem incredulous if it wasn’t for the large number of white earbuds one can easily spot on the subway.

The firm says that the Philadelphia market is ranked 17th in nation for the number of its Apple users, after analyzing the propensity for a consumer to own an iPod, iPhone or a Mac computer.

In the top market, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Experion says that 32 percent of adults own or use at least one Apple product.

Where it gets interesting is in comparing the report’s top markets with locations of Apple Retail Stores, leaving out Apple Certified stores, or any retailers carrying Apple products.

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VC Roundup: Joe Biden visits BFTP

Welcome to the VC Round-up, where we’ll parse through venture capital news related to Philadelphia-based private equity firms and the companies they fund. Subscribe to the roundup as an email newsletter. If you have any VC-related news to pass along to us, please drop us a line.

DEFINITE READS

Vice President Joe Biden visited the northeast branch of Ben Franklin Technology Partners last week. The Scranton native spoke at BFTP’s new clean tech campus in Bethlehem which received federal funds as part of the stimulus package. Be sure to read the Morning Call’s excellent write up.

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GCV launches in Philly, still looking for companies

From Left: Jacob Gray, Len Lodish, Gil Beyda, Nate Lentz, Tom Balderson, Josh Kopelman

After stopping in Austin, Texas and the 67th Ward, GoodCompany Ventures has finally come home.

Last week, like they did in New York City, the socially-minded incubator gathered some of the sharpest local minds in venture capital to discuss the future of “social entrepreneurship” and to drum up attention for the incubator’s 2010 class, now accepting members until April 28.

Packed into the Blank Rome Conference Center, just off of Logan Square, journalists, students, investors, CEOs and entrepreneurs listened closely as the whirlwind presentations culminated into panel debate.

The result was an analysis of the local venture capital community and a spirited discussion about the merits of “social” investing.

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Event Highlights for April 19-25, 2010

Ah we long for the the good ol’ days Philadelphia.

You know, the days when Lower Marion only spied on one child, McNabb was still an Eagle and the Phillies were awesome. Wait, the Phillies are still awesome? Then we’re alright then.

In between watching Roy Halladay and enjoying this great weather, there are lots of events on our calendar that Technically Philly recommends you attend. You know, on the days when number 34 ain’t pitching.

This week: The Empowerment Group is going all out with nearly a dozen events that are sure to satisfy your entrepreneurial itch, Refresh Philly reveals the secrets behind one of the largest e-commerce sites the earth has ever seen and we shamelessly self-promote BarCamp NewsInnovation, the event that will solve all the media’s woes in six hours. Or at least spur we journalist-types to share some interesting ideas.

Ready? Jump.

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Thanks to our weekly sponsors

Technically Philly is made possible by advertisers and sponsors that are important to Philadelphia’s technology community. This week we’d like to thank:

Towerstream – Our newest advertiser is the leading fixed WiMAX service provider in the U.S. and is setting up shop in Philadelphia. Contact Towerstream to find out how, in less than a week, you can have first-class Wimax service for your business.

Gregory FCA – Public relations firm Gregory FCA will host on April 15 “The Art of News and Storytelling in the Age of Social and Digital Media,” an affordable panel about the changing landscape of news and social media with well-known attendees from the Associated Press, Forbes, New York Times, Columbia School of Journalism and more. Register here.

Mogo Media – Web and Graphic design event planner Mogo Media will host an Adobe InDesign training seminar May 5th. Use discount code “TECHNICAL” to receive 10 percent off the admission fee. We worked with Mogo on its successful Adobe Flash seminar in March. Register today.

Springboard Media – Springboard Media is a certified Apple Specialist and retailer based in Center City and now, in Exton. They’ve got a ton of accessories and a great trade-in program that can score you up to $1,500 when you’re ready to upgrade.

Alex Hillman – IndyHall‘s Alex Hillman has signed on as Technically Philly’s first “Philanthropist” sponsor. Be sure to check out his blog.

Nonprofit Technology Resources – Fairmount-based NTR refurbishes used computers and peripherals for families and individuals in Philadelphia who may not otherwise be able to afford to buy a computer. We urge you to donate to this great local cause.

Interested in joining these organizations and individuals in supporting Technically Philly? Check out our ad packages and contact our Ad Sales Manager. Can’t find something that fits? We’ll customize a package for you.

Code for America founder Jennifer Pahlka on bringing open government help to Philadelphia

If you talk to someone involved in government budget negotiations — from small towns to the federal government and everywhere in between — you might find a lot of eternal, undying truths.

One that comes to mind is what gets funded in the lean times: fundamental core services and the projects near and dear to the hearts of those most powerful and connected. It’s some variation of the old ‘bread and circuses.’

It’s why funding for government IT projects — particularly at the financially-tighter municipal level — are so hard to come by. They aren’t core services — their impact is often harder to grasp — and many in power haven’t much come to know the trans-formative potential for a more efficient, transparent and responsive government that can come from technology implementation. There are those who might more cynically say that those in power wouldn’t want any sweeping changes in government efficiency, transparency and responsiveness anyway.

Whatever the cause, it leaves us with a quandary.

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Venture Beat East Coast technology tour skips Philadelphia

Remember that flurry of excitement earlier this year after Philly Startup Leaders co-founder Blake Jennelle helped stir up a conversation on why Philadelphia had to be among the five most emerging entrepreneurial markets in the country.

It might be important to note that while the region itself is working hard to develop a consensus on its direction, the destination of the Philadelphia startup is hardly accepted more universally.

As if we needed another reminder, VentureBeat wrote on a East Coast tour of technology communities: Washington D.C. to Boston, with a New York City in the middle, but not a stop in Philadelphia to be found — even if trains and the highways all take them our way. Now, Baltimore may take issue with all of this too, but even partners in locally-founded investment companies are talking about the67thward.

As VB’s DemoBeat wrote: “We’ll be back on the road over the next few months, to continue our search for more entrepreneurs intent on changing the world with their technologies.”

Maybe they’ll come our way then.

Links: Bentley Systems CEO talks unemployment, Daily News Pulitzer and More

The Inquirer’s Mike Armstrong reports on a speech given by Greg Bentley, the CEO of infrastructure software company Bentley Systems.

CNET reports that Philly.com is trying its hand at sports gambling for revenue generation.

The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that Drexel, Penn and Cheyney universities and Inovio Biomedical were awarded a $2.8 million Pennsylvania state grant to develop a DNA vaccine to treat hepatitis C.

After a more than 10-year dry spell, local journalists in the employ of a Philadelphia daily newspaper have won a prestigious Pulitzer Prize. See the bold Daily News ‘Tainted Justice’ series collected online.

Every Friday morning, we make sure you didn t miss anything with Friday Tech Links.

Comcast Roundup: Moving forward with national broadband plan, Cole Hamels shills and More

DEFINITE READS

• The Washington Post has an interview with former FCC chair Michael Powell, in which the agency’s recent battles with Comcast are discussed.
• The Post also reports that leaders pushing for a reform of the national broadband plan are holding strong on the notion that their movement won’t be sidetracked by the recent court ruling that ruled against the FCC having the authority to control Comcast’s bandwidth limitations. An op-ed in the New York Times argues the same point.
• The Post adds depth to the court ruling, though, noting that it may be less a clear victory for Comcast and instead the start of a battleground between the cable giant and host of companies in tangentially related arenas like Skype, Google and Microsoft.

Below, details on Comcast’s 3D taping of the Masters, Cole Hamles breaks plates for Xfinity and more.

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Shop Talk: The DIY game-makers of Port127

A screenshot from "Hipster City Cycle" Port127's iPhone game based in Philly.

Much has been written about the mass exodus of the city’s video game talent from Drexel and Penn as most students studying the digital arts usually lament the lack of job options and leave town.

The guys at Port127 decided they’d at least put up a fight.

The company is led by its one full-time employee: Ignite Philly presenter, Penn Digital Design-grad and video game film maker Michael Highland. The company’s other “employees” are made up of freelancers, most with ties to the University of Pennsylvania.

Highland says his ultimate goal is highlight video games as more than an entertainment device. But first, he must put the company’s trust in an 8-bit hipster riding his bike through Philadelphia.

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