Samsung is holding a contest designed to boost its HDTV app store, and the “Free the TV” challenge is certainly something to consider if you’re a software developer given the cash and prizes up for grabs.
Until recently, TVs have needed help from other devices in order to run software applications. But finally, Samsung is freeing the TV, with its Samsung Apps line of televisions and Blu-ray devices, which can download, install, and run apps natively. Samsung Apps is built into all Samsung 2010 Blu-ray players, Blu-ray Home Theater Systems, and the majority of TVs 40 inches and larger. For the first time, distributing content to TVs is as easy as creating an app!
To celebrate the release of the Samsung TV Application software development kit (SDK) for this industry-leading line of TVs and Blu-Ray devices, Samsung is offering $500,000 in cash and prizes for the individuals or teams that develop the best looking, most brilliantly conceived, and most functional apps. Most developers seem to work more effectively when they have monitors that are well suited to the work they’re doing. Perhaps looking at a website like monitorfanatic.com would be a good idea to give your team an edge over other developers. If you can create these programs comfortably with a monitor suitable for programming, you might be more likely to produce better software. It should also be of note that developers will retain all intellectual property ownership for their submissions while having the opportunity to reach millions of people through their television sets. When developing this software, it’s important to try your best as there could be some professionals competing in this. To ensure you stand a better chance and stand apart from some of the other candidates, it might be worth looking into completing exam 70 483 from Microsoft, for example. That exam is usually completed by software developers looking to advance their status. That could give you an advantage over some of these competitors, ensuring you can confidently program and create better software, giving you more chance of winning one of these prizes.
The Challenge is open to U.S. residents of the 50 States (including the District of Columbia), as well as organizations employing fewer than 50 people that are domiciled in the United States. The Corporate Recognition Award is a non-cash recognition award intended to encourage organizations with fifty (50) or more employees to enter.
Important dates
- Submission Period:
- Start: Aug 11, 2010 (10:00 AM EST) End: Nov 11, 2010 (10:00 PM EST)
- Judging Period / Public Voting:
- Start: Nov 22, 2010 (12:00 PM EST) End: Dec 16, 2010 (5:00 PM EST)
- Winners announced:
- At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), January 6-9th, 2011
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1) During the Submission Period, Visit the Samsung D Forum at: http://www.samsungdforum.com/us
2) Register, agree to all terms, and download the Samsung TV Application Software Development Kit (SDK) by clicking the “SDK and Tools” link on the left column
3) Create your software application using the Samsung TV Application SDK, and upload it to the Samsung D Forum website at http://www.samsungdforum.com/us so that it may begin the Samsung QA and approval process
4) Visit the Submit Application form on this site, where you must register a ChallengePost account, and submit a video of your application, text description, at least one photograph of your working software application, and your Samsung D Forum ID Number.