What's so special about Boston?
As home to the legendary Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where some of the most important technology breakthroughs have been made, Boston has built up a thriving tech industry.
In fact, Tech Hotpots judge, Luke Mellors, goes as far as saying Boston is America's east coast Silicon Valley.
Boston is probably best known for MIT, which has been a centre for a significant amount of groundbreaking research into tech including cybernetics, artificial intelligence, computer languages and robotics.
Open source software got off the ground in Boston when Richard Stallman started the GNU project in the mid-1980s, which contributed components to the Linux kernel launched in 1991, providing a real alternative to proprietary software. The GNU project now raises awareness of open source and continues to develop software.
The city also has Harvard on its doorstep, another world-renowned seat of learning. Bill Gates spent time at Harvard before leaving to found Microsoft, while very recently Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg started his social networking phenomenon on the campus.
Boston - along with nearby Cambridge - is home to a number of big names in the tech world attracted by the cutting-edge research. Highly touted virtualisation company VMware has offices here and business software giant EMC is based in the area. Google also has a Boston office while Polaroid is another famous name.
Key tech companies Google, VMware, Facebook, EMC.
Key institutions Harvard, MIT.
Local salaries Software engineer $61,000.
Famous faces Web guru Tim Berners-Lee, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and EMC CEO Joe Tucci.
Population 4.4 million in the Boston Metropolitan Area.
iPod cost $149 Source: CommSec, Apple.
Time zone GMT -5 hours.
Voltage and plugs 110V US-style.
How to get there Fly in to Boston Logan International Airport.
Watch out for Lots of historic buildings.
Places to stay, eat or drink Nine Zero Hotel.
What you might not know The T, Boston's hybrid underground and streetcar system, was among the world's first electric railways.
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