$4 million in prize money for more Tizen apps

Like every new smartphone operating system, Tizen has to answer the question: what about the apps? Tizen's answer is to entice developers to create apps, even though no finished Tizen devices are available, by holding a competition. The Linux Foundation, Intel and Samsung have together announced the "Tizen App Challenge", offering around $4 million in prizes.

The distribution of the prize money reflects the general priorities of smartphone users: the main prize for the best game is $200,000, while the best non-games app will be worth $120,000. A total of 54 prizes will be awarded across 9 categories, and an extra $50,000 each will be awarded for the ten best HTML5 apps. Ports from other systems are permitted. Developers will have until 1 November to submit their apps, which will be evaluated by 25 November. The winners will be announced in December and the grand prize winners are also required to turn up to an awards ceremony, the venue of which is still to be decided.

The success of the development contest could well decide the future of Tizen: successful long-term competition with established systems such as iOS, Android or even Windows Phone requires a well-stocked app store as well as attractive hardware. In Tizen's case, the hope appears to be that developers will gamble on creating applications for a device and winning in the competition; it is not known when consumers will be able to buy the applications being entered, as no Tizen devices have yet become available or have even been announced, despite the support from Samsung and Intel.

The Korean i24news news site quotes insiders as saying that, among other things, Tizen's ecosystem isn't yet mature enough for a release of devices. There are rumours that Samsung has postponed its Tizen smartphones, which were being prepared for an August or September launch, to the fourth quarter. However, the devices could be introduced at the IFA trade fair in early September. The release of the first tablet with Tizen is also expected in the fourth quarter.

(djwm)