This event has been certified as grade-A extra fancy.

I’m sitting here chomping on a grade-A apple that apparently meets or exceeds the FDA guidelines for extra fancy apples. So far, everything I’ve seen from 3DS meets and exceeds my initial expectations of the event.

Last year this event could have been defined as creative chaos. This year, I see organized chaos. When I walked into ATI a couple hours ago, the group rooms were already abuzz with chatter on how to monetize everyday problems. These groups weren’t just brainstorming random ideas, they were actually fleshing them out. Impressive.

We’re just a little ways away from the product pitches (and dinner, huzzah!) and I’m getting excited not just at the prospect of hearing some really cool ideas, but that the product(s) that get chosen will already have some serious thought and put behind it.