NYC's Big Apps are Back

Yesterday Mayor Bloomberg announced Big Apps 2.0, a follow up to last year's successful (and fruitful) competition, which yielded applications for locating directions to the nearest subway, reporting a bully cab driver, and mapping local trees. The city has doubled the number of data sets available to the public—including building complaints and real time traffic numbers—and opened the competition to companies and non-profits with fewer than 50 employees (in addition to individuals). The carrot? This year's winner will receive a $20,000 cash prize.