MoDaCo Launches MoDaCo Prize for Innovation 2003 - Win £500!

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

We are very excited to annouce the MoDaCo Prize for Innovation 2003.

An anonymous benefactor has donated £500 as a prize for the individual that can produce a freeware development for the Microsoft Smartphone platform, that provides the best benefit for Smartphone users.

This could be an application, a game, a tweak, a particularly nifty homescreen or maybe something completely different!

There are only two constraints placed on the winner, firstly that it is, and will remain, freeware, and secondly that it has not been available before the start of the competition.

The competition will begin immediately, and close at midnight GMT on Sunday 14th December. Judging will take place in the following week using a specially selected panel, and the winner will be announced, and receive their prize, in time for Christmas.

Submissions should be posted on the forum (in the dedicated area).

Good luck, and thanks once again to our anonymous sponsor of this prize.

:)

P

[Guest Crispy]

What a brilliant idea! ... Maybe it will persuade someone to finally make some science applications :)

[Guest NederSoren]

I wish i was able to code an app.. :cry:

Well.. Maybe i can figure something else out.. And if i can't.. then i hopefully can enjoy other peoples work :)

[Guest Brody]

With the competition running into December the use of .NET comes into play, that should make the coding of apps a little more accessible :)

I look forward to seeing some of the entries and hopefully entering the competition myself if I can think of something worthy!

[Guest thetruth]

does this include projects developed for smartphone 2003? Opening up C# to developers will without doubt increase the number of entries :)

[Guest Brody]

Thats what I was saying, i believe the answer is yes, it is open to Windows Mobile 2003!

[Guest fozzie]

Where'd that msmobiles post just go? Was about to remind him that:

"]There are only two constraints placed on the winner, firstly that it is, and will remain, freeware, and secondly that it has not been available before the start of the competition.

and so his MS Mobiles Servant app is ineligible since it was out on 29 Sep 2003.

[Guest www.msmobiles.com]

Where'd that msmobiles post just go?  Was about to remind him that:

and so his MS Mobiles Servant app is ineligible since it was out on 29 Sep 2003.

yes, I realized it :idea: , therefore I removed the post :wink: !!! thanks Fozzie 8) for recollecting it. Well, I have no chances :cry: for this 500 pounds unfortunately :oops:

[Guest blumf]

Aw shucks, HipFTP missed out by 48hrs - that's Harsh man!! :roll:

Oh well, next project! :)

[Guest Overheat]

Are the software attempts going to be submitted on this site and if so where?

I LIKE FREEWARE :)

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

They will be in the dedicated MPfI forum (see the 'Temporary' category on the front page).

P

[Guest muff]

hi Paul,

just wondering if you could shed any more light on the judging rules for the new competition?

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

See post in dedicated forum... (shortly)

P

[Guest roke]

Hey guys,

is there anyone out there who is aware of the existence of fax software for smartphones? I never found this, and it would be a great app, as I constantly have to shutdown my phone, power up my P800 and my iPAQ 5450 and open a bluetooth link to be able to fax. tip... tip... :wink:

[Guest viliescu]

I have created a freeware chess game based on .NET Compact Framework.

The first version was released in March for PocketPCs and desktop computers, the second version (beta) was released in September - it supports Smartphone 2003.

The official release of second version will be in the following weeks.

Am I still eligible for the contest, considering there is no official Smartphone version yet?

See the details at http://www.valil.com/chess2/smph.html

Thank you

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

I think this has already been available prior the announcement of the competition (albeit in beta form), so it will not be eligible i'm afraid.

Sorry!

Feel free to enter with any unpublished apps tho :)

P

[Guest maxh2003]

This is the best thing I've seen on this site in, ooh, weeks (OK, days...)! It can only stimulate development of Smartphone apps. I assume the benefactor will be eagerly reading this thread to see what transpires, so THANKS to them! I think that particular £500 will buy a lot of new software...

Anyway, can we be told whether the benefactor is acting on behalf of an organisation or is "just" a person? Or would that be giving the game away too much?

Also, presumably copyright for any app entered for this will remain with the person who wrote said app?

Last one: are uncertified apps allowed, or are we talking only about signed apps? Of course if it's the latter, not much will be submitted, so I assume the former...?

[Guest Paul [MVP]]

Also, presumably copyright for any app entered for this will remain with the person who wrote said app?

Correct.

Last one: are uncertified apps allowed, or are we talking only about signed apps? Of course if it's the latter, not much will be submitted, so I assume the former...?

Correct again. :)

P

[Guest midnight]

And remember guys, bonus points for Innovation, so a chess game, no matter how good, is hardly an innovation cos theres already 3 chess games on the smartphone :)

[Guest maxh2003]

Of course, if you wanted to *really* spur Smartphone development, then the apps would be not only freeware, but with compulsory publication of source code! That way everyone could learn about how to write Smartphone apps as a cute byproduct of the competition.

On the other hand, people seem strangely protective of their source code even when the app is free, so it might affect the number of entries. I've never understood why developers are so protective of their source code...

[Guest Monolithix [MVP]]

NB:

If anyone DARES try and enter a Tamagotchi-alike app....

;p

[Guest roke]

If anyone DARES try and enter a Tamagotchi-alike app....

Actually, that would be a nice app :)

[Guest MARKUKCOUK]

there already is summut like that i think

[Guest siu99spj]

If anyone DARES try and enter a Tamagotchi-alike app....

Well there goes my app :)

Its run for a day and already mono is banning things! :roll:

Have ](*,) to ](*,) think ](*,) of ](*,) something ](*,) new ](*,)

On a more serious note, I having a hard enough time tweaking PocketMVP, god only knows how I'd start something anew

:-k

[Guest chucky.egg]

There are loads of ideas for apps in the Development section, but I think maybe there should be a policy of checking with (or telling) the person who suggested an idea that you are working on an app based on that idea - it might also reduce duplication if several people want to develop the same idea.

Q1 - Presumably if people collaborate on projects they share the prize if they win - I think the original post says the prize goes to an "individual"

Q2 - Is the comp open to software houses? (if any are actually interested!)