Flash Lite Innovation Competition

If there are any Flash Lite developers out there who want an opportunity to take home part of a $250,000 prize fund, and get international recognition for your work, then Nokia may have the answer for you.

Calling All Innovators Competition

Nokia are currently holding a competition for Flash Lite developers to create a brand new application for their S60 or Series 40 Nokia devices, using either a Symbian Signed .SIS format (for S60 devices) or .NFL format (for Series 40 devices).

For those who are unfamiliar with Adobe’s Flash Lite technology, it is a mobile-optimized version of Flash offering a quick and effective way of building on your existing skills to create mobile content. Flash Lite is supported across all Nokia S60 and most Series 40 devices, and it is widely integrated with Nokia’s mobile WebKit browser. For more information, check out the useful Flash Lite QuickStart Nokia have produced.

Prize Fund

There are several overall categories (Internet Innovation, Flash, Emerging Markets & Mobile Necessities, Apps on Maps), but the Flash category is obviously what the FlashDen community and other Flash readers reading this will most be interested in.

The top three submissions in each category will receive cash and prizes that include:

  • Grand Prize winner: $30,000 USD in cash; “Spotlight” placement featuring the winning application for 4 weeks on the top page of Nokia’s newly announced Ovi Store, where consumers will find the best mobile applications and content for their Nokia devices; and paid travel to demo the winning application at a Nokia-specified event in the Fall 2009.
  • 2nd Place: $15,000 USD in cash; “Spotlight” placement featuring the winning application for 3 weeks on a relevant category page in Nokia’s newly announced Ovi Store, where consumers will find the best mobile applications and content for their Nokia devices.
  • 3rd Place: $10,000 USD in cash; “Spotlight” placement featuring the winning application for 2 weeks on a relevant category page in Nokia’s newly announced Ovi Store, where consumers will find the best mobile applications and content for their Nokia devices.

Special Prize for Flash Developers

There is an additional price in the Flash category of an extra $10,000 USD, for a winning entry that also receives funding from the Open Screen Project Fund this year. More information about how to get this funding is right here.

Types of Applications

The Flash Lite application can be just about anything, but here are some categories that might give you an idea of what Nokia are looking for:

  • Communications – Flash applications to enhance mobile messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, and communities.
  • Entertainment – Flash applications that are more than simply distractions, including games, video, music services, or social networking.
  • Life Balance – Flash applications for health advice/guidance, health monitoring using sensors, route-planning (such as for exercise routines), “brain” games for mental exercise.
  • Personal Information Management – Flash applications that integrate contacts and/or calendar functionality of the device. Using the capabilities of the Nokia Flash Lite Platform Services.
  • Social Responsibility – Flash applications that aid environmental and ethical decision making, such as a “quiz” based on scenarios (right or wrong choices).

The applications are not just about personal productivity. Think entertainment, creativity and fun. In fact, all types of applications that incorporate Flash Lite from Adobe are considered, but those that have broad appeal and make the most of Nokia’s platform capabilities are most likely to catch the interest of the judges. Flash applications that make the most of touch-based input methods should be your number one priority.

When’s the Homework Due?

Submissions for the contest will be accepted until 30 June 2009, so you have over 7 weeks as of today to concept and develop your ideas. Winners will be announced by Nokia in September 2009. Good luck to all those that enter!

Community Spirit

Let us know in the comments if you have already experimented with Flash Lite or if you are thinking of entering the competition. Maybe even leave some feedback if you have Flash Lite running on your mobile phone and want to talk about some of the best applications you’ve seen/used so far. If you don’t have time to enter the competition, perhaps you could think about some really cool and useful concepts and leave them in the comments so that someone reading can run with your idea and make it a reality? How awesome would it be for a FlashDen author to win this competition?! :)

Extra Links

Here’s a roundup of all the information you need to get cracking with your Flash Lite application:


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Scott

Scott is the Down the FoxHole blog editor. He is also a reviewer for ActiveDen. Scott is a freelance Web and Interactive Media Designer having previously worked as the Lead Web Designer for a well-known children's hospital in the US for 8 years. Follow him on Twitter @scottwills