Opera Software Widget Contest

In the recently released test version of the Opera 10.50 beta browser, the widget system was significantly changed - now all these mini-programs were able to break away from the parent browser and appear as full-fledged applications running directly in the operating system without the need to launch the Opera browser. At the same time, the functionality of widgets was significantly expanded, which now allows you to create more complex desktop web applications. In this regard, the company Opera Software has decided to hold a competition for developers to create a new generation of widgets that will use all the latest innovations of this technology.

So, the process of participation in this event is simple to the obscene:
1. Create a cool desktop widget, using the full power of web technologies, multiplied by the experience of developing desktop applications.
2. Publish your work on the portal widgets until May 18, 2010.
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Everything, waiting for results and get a reward. True, there are certain conditions that must be met.

In order to take part in a contest, your widget must be approved by company employees. As soon as such approval is received, your widget appears in public access and becomes a participant in the marathon.

Winners will be determined in two categories:
- Code quality and concept originality
- Popularity with users

To achieve good results in the first category, you should not limit yourself to your own capabilities - the organizers of the competition will only welcome your use of third-party, freely accessible libraries. As an example (you can use any others), these can be:

YUI Library (Yahoo)
script.aculo.us
jQuery
Prototype
etc.

At first glance, the second category looks simpler, but in fact you will have to show wonders of eloquence, mastery of persuasion, exude the energy of hundreds of Herbalife sellers — to convince your friends, acquaintances and just idle visitors to your blogs and home pages that it’s your widget - this is what they have strived for all their useless life. And the latest trump card: your “Padawans” will not even have to download the widget - it’s enough to vote for it. And this can be done in two ways.

Old-fashioned and boring (but in which your support group will at least see a screenshot of the widget) - go to the widget's page and leave your vote in support;

Modern and fashionable (though - with this option, people will, in principle, not knowing what to vote for) using Twitter. To vote for the widget, it’s enough for a voter to leave the following encryption on his Twitter account:

<widget_name> gets my vote in the Opera Widgets Code-to-Win challenge !!! opera # c2w

Where <widget_name> is replaced with the name of your software widget monster.

By the way, it won't take long to wait: every two weeks the most popular widget will be determined, and its author will receive a valuable gift. In addition, the two most popular widgets at the end of the contest in May will be awarded the Grand Prix.

Here, in general, that's all.

Although you are probably interested to know - what prizes are prepared for the winners? Well, write it down.

Category Code quality and concept originality

Two winners in this category will be awarded with a certain device under the obscure name MacBook Pro . At the request of the winner, the device can be replaced by a more familiar laptop of the same price category. Also not excluded gifts to participants at the intermediate finishes. In general, the surprise will be.

Category Popular with users

For the two best widgets based on the results of the entire competition in the Grand Prix qualifier, unassuming mobile phones from the HTC HD2 family will be awarded.
At the interim two-week finishes, the winners will be awarded Nintendo Dsi .

schedule

Prize award dates:


Dates for voting for widgets in the Popular category:

Stage 1
February 22, 2010
Stage 2
March 8, 2010
Stage 3
March 22, 2010
Stage 4
April 5, 2010
Stage 5
April 19, 2010
Stage 6
May 3, 2010
Deadline for accepting top prize widgets
May 18, 2010
Start voting for finalists
May 18, 2010
End of all voting
May 31, 2010
Winners Announcement
June 7, 2010

Documentation

We study Widgets SDK and read articles on Dev.Opera.com.

All questions and discussions - on a special forum .

Details in English

UPDATE
Answering a question about participation in the contest of already existing widgets.
Minor updates are not taken into account. If the changes are really serious - it is recommended to arrange it as a new widget.
my.opera.com/widgets/blog/2010/02/15/the-opera-widgets-code-to-win-challenge#comment19022101