Montreal Tech Watch

Antoine Azar (@antoineazar), pictured left, is the founder of 2XM interactive, a Montréal company specialized in mobile application and touch surfaces. It’s a relatively young company, with many local corporate customers.

To the left, the 2XM development team checks out the gear installed for the evening. 2XM prides itself in having the most talented mobile developers in the city.

2XM invited the whole technology community, as well as its own network to come for the launch of umanity, a creative mix of Twitter, Google Maps and trending topics. It’s the first time that the Notman house hosts a product party launch, and most equipment installed for the evening such as the audio system, projectors and even coat hangers had to ordered and installed in just one day.

To the left, Felipe Coimbra, instigator of MtlNewTech and 63Squares, demoes his Android smartphone. Felipe and Massimo Farina (to the right) are usual suspects at Montreal tech events, being entrepreneurs and technology fans.

Events like the Umanity launch or MtlNewTech help the community get together, exchange news about current projects, or connect to new people, especially if you are new in Montréal or if you are still not sure about starting an online project.

2XM Interactive ordered whole plates of sandwich bites, veggies and cookies. It’s a cool idea, since the event started at 6pm, leaving no time for busy Montréalers to get dinner. There was also free beer and wine!

It’s just before 7pm and there is now 50 people at Notman House. 20 more people will come in the next hours, happy to check out the new Montreal app

Antoine Azar happily demonstrates Umanity to attendees. It’s fun to browse the umanity interface and discover what people are thinking about in other places. Zoom in the map and you can see what’s happening currently in an area!

There’s always 2 or more people wanting to try the glass touchscreen. Other people to the right and left are checking out the application on their iPhone.

Antoine Azar finally welcomes attendees, and tells the story of Umanity. Did you know the application was done in less than a month? It’s a cool technology showcase for 2XM, as they are now well positionned in the mobile and local space.

Attendees hear about 2XM and Umanity. You can see here the lead developer of Umanity (center left)

Sylvain Carle (@afrognthevalley) talked after Antoine to tell a few words about Notman, inviting everyone to come over to the Notman Café and spread the good word

A special celebratory cake was made for the event. It looks delicious, too bad for those who weren’t there!

After a couple of hours, attendees didn’t tire of umanity. Going through people’s pictures, checking out your favourite city and place is an endless source of entertainment.

2XM Interactive also invited many Montréalers outside of the startup community, which is a great idea. It’s time to mingle with other creatives and other industries, and leverage what they are doing.

Props, contests and photo booths are an essential part of a successful party.

At bottom left, Antoine Azar from 2XM looks for new photography angles. Hopefully, there would be a way to find again those fun photos.

At the open bar, more Notman residants are lining up for beers… or maybe it’s just because the waiters were also like-minded developers?

It’s their first time using the uManity application and there is joy, excitement and sense of wonder. Download the uManity application, folks, it’s free

This would be the poster of the next movie coming out from Notman.

Congrats to the party goer who didn’t back down for a uManity photo opportunity

Robin Ahn is Montréal’s StartupDrinks organizer. She’s not always like this, folks!

To the right, there’s Daniel Haran from recoset, and Christine Renaud (@christinerenaud) from e180

And this is why we need name tags at the Notman House.

Many attendees were curious about the Notman House, and wanted to visit the “future home of the web”. It’s always an exciting propositon. Here Godot Huard (bluetrader) and Anne-Laure Putigny from Institut du Nouveau Monde.

This young lady here has come from Paris for the party and Notman House… well almost.

Props are fun!

It’s a video opportunity for the Montreal Girl Geeks! They also have an event planned at Notman House.

That’s all folks!