Adobe® AIR® App Challenge, Sponsored by Sony
FAQ
1.Can I submit multiple projects?
Yes'you can submit multiple projects. You must submit one form for each project or application.
2.Can I submit apps in other languages? What countries are eligible for entry?
The contest is open to participants in Germany'Italy'Japan'Spain'UK'and USA. Due to the need for early access to prerelease prototypes'Sony Tablet prototypes can only be made available for developers in Germany'Italy'Japan'Spain'UK'and USA at this time. Your submission form must be entered in English and you must provide translations for any materials (project plan'images'videos'etc) submitted so that the judges can evaluate your submission.
3.I have an Adobe AIR app already developed for Android or other platform. Can I propose it?
Both newly developed and existing Adobe AIR applications are eligible to compete. So yes you can submit Adobe AIR apps already developed'as long as your final app will support Android 3.1 (Honeycomb) or later'will be optimized for the Sony TabletTM P split screen'and will be compatible with the Sony TabletTM S.
4.Can my game have third party content?
Yes'if you have secured permission for use of the content from the owner of that content.
5.How do I get a prototype Sony TabletTM S or Sony TabletTM P to develop and my app?
Register and submit your app or app project online. If your app or app project is among the best 80 apps selected as Finalists'you will be notified by the contest sponsors and be eligible to receive one Sony TabletTM S prototype and one Sony TabletTM P prototype*. Note that devices are awarded to the first 80 projects accepted based on the listed judging criteria and are on a first come basis'so submit as soon as possible and no later than October 10!??*Requires signing a non - disclosure and loan agreement due to the prerelease nature of devices and software. Devices will only be shipped to valid addresses in Germany'Italy'Japan'Spain'UK'and USA. Sony TabletTM S and Sony TabletTM P prototypes are loaned from Sony and should be returned 4 weeks from the date you've received them.
6.Is there an advantage to submitting proposals early?
Yes'only the best 80 apps or app projects selected as Finalists will receive prerelease access to Sony Tablet prototypes for 4 weeks and the latest version of Adobe AIR runtime, SWC-based ActionScript Library for Sony TabletTM P dual-screen detection with accompanying documentation'and extended trial serial numbers for Flash Professional CS5.5 (6 months) and Flash Builder 4.5 (valid until February 29). So if you submit early you have a better chance of being among the top 80 projects selected as Finalists. See details in the prior FAQ.
7.Can I update or revise my submission?
Yes'once you create your account'you can update your submission until the MAX Showcase working app deadline (September 16 2011,11:59pm PST'until the Entries deadline of October 10 2011'11:59 PST) and until the Final app submission deadline (November 11 2011'11.59 pm PST)'including making the following changes:
Add/replace pictures and videos?
Add powerpoints'word documents'builds
Edit text'contact details'name of entries
Withdraw entry
8.Do I retain the IP to my app?
Yes'you or the original content owner retain the IP to your app.
9.What if I have not heard back on my project submission?
Due to the high volume of submissions'we are not able to answer questions about the status of your submission. All Entries with app or app project submissions to be considered for Finalist status must be received no later than October 10'2011. Judging for Finalist status will take place on a biweekly basis. If you have been selected as a Finalist'we will notify you through the contact information you provided in your Entry. Finalists must submit their final apps to the Android(TM) Market and by updating their Entry on the contest website by 11:59 PM PST on November 11'2011. All final app submissions by Finalists will be judged between November 12 – 17'2011. The winners will be shown on the Challenge website on November 17. Those Finalists that want to be considered for MAX Showcase Apps prizes must submit the entry by September 16'2011. MAX Showcase Apps Prize winners will be selected between September 17-September 23'2011.
10.What does premium promotion on Sony Tablet mean?
More details will be be provided at a later date. Follow the latest developments in the Challenge on Twitter: #AIRac
11.What kind of apps can participate?
In the first phase of the contest'you can submit an App or App Project'which can be an existing AIR app'native apps you’ve deployed in the market'or submit an App Project for an app that's currently in development. There are 4 categories that you can submit your App into: Business & Productivity'Entertainment'Games'and Lifestyle & Community. We will also award a prize to the Most Innovative App'from any other category that don’t fit into these categories. See the How to Enter and Rules and Regulations sections on the website for the requirements your final app must meet to be eligible if selected as a Finalist'including being an Adobe AIR app built with Adobe Flash Platform tools and optimized for the Sony TabletTM P and Sony S1 compatible.
12.Can I submit my app across categories?
Yes'you may submit across categories if your App or App Project falls into more than one category'but your app can only win one of the category prizes. To do so'log into your account once you’ve registered and click on Add more Apps. Enter the app information again'but choose a different category.
13.Why can’t developers outside Germany'Japan'Italy'Spain'the United Kingdom and the United States'enter the Challenge? Why can’t you make the contest available to other countries without providing access to the devices?
In order to optimize your app for the Sony TabletTM P dual screen and have it be Sony TabletTM S compatible'you'll need to use a SWC-based ActionScript Library that will be provided to Finalists under Adobe PreRelease Program and to test your app on the actual devices themselves to make sure it works well on both devices. We expect that some developers will wish to enter the competition despite being outside of the countries where devices can be sent. Unfortunately however'to keep the competition fair we must insist that all Finalists have a level playing field and can receive device prototypes. Due to the need for early access to prerelease prototypes'Sony Tablet prototypes can only be made available for developers in Germany'Italy'Japan'Spain'UK'and USA at this time.
14.Does it indirectly mean you can only submit apps whose target markets are the countries that are eligible for participation in the Challenge?
Apps can target countries other than Italy'Germany'Japan'Spain'US'and UK. You'll need to fill out the form in English and provide translations for non-English apps and materials so the judges can evaluate.
15.How can I get a Sony Tablet device? I need it to develop my app.
The judges will on an ongoing basis select the top 80 App or App Projects submitted as Finalists. The last date to submit your App or App Project to be considered a Finalist is October 10'2011. Finalists are eligible to receive (1) Sony TabletTM S prototype and (1) Sony TabletTM P prototype on loan to build & test their app for 4 weeks'upon signing a non-disclosure and product loan agreement with Sony due to the prerelease nature of devices. Devices will only be shipped to valid addresses in Germany'Italy'Japan'Spain'UK'and USA.
Finalists will also be eligible to receive prerelease access to latest Adobe AIR, SWC-based ActionScript Library for Sony TabletTM P dual-screen detection with accompanying documentation'and Extended trial serial numbers for Flash Professional CS5.5 (6 months) and Flash Builder 4.5 (valid until February 28). To receive these benefits'Finalists will need to become a member of Adobe PreRelease Program which includes signing a non-disclosure agreement with Adobe due to the prerelease nature of software.
16.If I have an app already built and available on the markets'do I just submit that without worrying about how well it works on the Sony Tablet devices since I don't have devices in hand? What part of the application process qualifies you for the test devices?
In the first phase of the contest'you submit an existing app or an app that is in development'now or up to the October 10 deadline. In your Entry you should submit a description of your app and how you intend to optimize for the Sony TabletTM P. The judges will on an ongoing basis select the top 80 App or App Projects submitted as Finalists to receive prerelease access to the Sony Tablet prototypes'latest version of Adobe AIR 3 mobile software and SWC-based ActionScript Library for Sony TabletTM P optimization. In the second phase of the contest'Finalists will need to submit final apps optimized for the Sony TabletTM P and compatible with Sony TabletTM S.
17. When and where can I buy a Sony Tablet device? Do you have any special deals for developers?
Sony Tablet devices will first start shipping in fall 2011. On July 13'we announced that AT&T would be the exclusive U.S. mobile broadband provider for the Sony TabletTM P. We cannot provide additional details on availability in other regions at this time.
18.My app is already on Android Market'do I have to use Adobe AIR and optimize my app for the Sony Tablet to enter the competition? How do I do that without having a device in hand?
See the answers to questions 11'15'and 16. See also the How to Enter and Rules & Regulations section of the website.
19.How can my AIR app use both screens on the Sony TabletTM P?
The dual screens are presented to the Adobe AIR runtime as a single surface'just like a normal tablet. We will offer Finalists SWC-based ActionScript Library that will allow them to identify that the device is a Sony TabletTM P so that their AIR app can use both screens and display properly.
20.What does Sony TabletTM P optimized mean?
The Sony TabletTM P has dual touch screens that enable the consumer to use applications in either a single screen or both screens at once. Some key applications will be optimized for use with both screens'such as the Web Browser. Finalists should optimize their apps for use on single screen devices (Sony TabletTM S compatible) and dual screen devices (Sony TabletTM P optimized). Sony TabletTM P optimized means that your app has a layout that is optimized for the dual-screen view on the Sony TabletTM P by leveraging SWC-based ActionScript Library that will be provided to Challenge Finalists to properly layout your app. In some cases this may only entail placing controls on the lower screen'although we expect some applications to use both screens for more advanced interfaces.
21.What is a SWC-based ActionScript Library?
For the purposes of the Challenge'we will provide Finalists with SWC-based ActionScript Library which is a component library written to provide access to the dual screen API on the Sony TabletTM P.
22.Where can I find out more information about the SWC-based ActionScript Library needed for optimizing my app for the Sony TabletTM P?
You can learn more about the SWC-based ActionScript Library if your app is among the top 80 App or App Projects selected as Finalists. Finalists will receive an invitation to a special Adobe PreRelease Program'different from the general Flash Runtimes PreRelease Program. There'you will have access to the same latest Adobe AIR 3 build drops as in the Flash Runtimes PreRelease Program'as well as the the SWC-based ActionScript Library needed to tap into a dual-screen API on the Sony TabletTM P'and accompanying documentation.
23.So'if I make an app that is split 50/50 in the height'each half will be shown on a screen?
Yes'although you should not assume that both screens would always be the same. Devices in the future may have larger or smaller displays for example.
24.Any kind of specific optimization we need to do for the Sony TabletTM S to be eligible?
Finalist apps need to be optimized for the Sony TabletTM P and look and perform well on the Sony TabletTM S to be eligible. The Sony TabletTM S should only require minor modifications to existing AIR for Android code'such as changing a few images.
25.Where can I get access to Adobe AIR 3?
Adobe AIR 3 beta for desktop is available today on Adobe Labs. To learn more about AIR 3 mobile capabilities'you can also apply to participate in the Flash Runtime private prerelease program at: http://adobe.ly/jmajkr
26.Do I need to use AIR 3 or can we use AIR 2.6 or 2.7 to build my app?
At this time, we recommend using AIR 2.7 and current tools (Flash Pro CS5.5 and Flash Builder 4.5.1) to begin building and testing your AIR app. If you are selected as a Finalist, you will be invited to a special Adobe PreRelease Program that will provide access to the SWC-based ActionScript Library (SWC) needed to optimize your app for the Sony TabletTM P dual-screen layout and to the latest AIR 3 mobile builds.
27.Is the Adobe AIR 3 SDK available now?
The AIR 3 SDK is not available publicly at this time. You can apply to participate in the Flash Runtime private prerelease program at: http://adobe.ly/jmajkr
28.Can I keep the Sony Tablet prototype devices if I’m selected as a Finalist? Or will there be an option to buy the devices after the 4 weeks instead of returning them?
The Sony Tablet prototypes must be returned 4 weeks after receipt to maintain a fair competition and because the devices are prerelease prototypes'not final commercial units. The idea is to give you the opportunity to be one of the first to get your hands on the devices to test and optimize your apps so they are ready when the devices start becoming available for consumers.
29.You are saying that those who receive the Sony Tablet prototypes have to send them back within 4 weeks. Do we need to pay for the transport and insurance for the devices?
The Challenge will cover all transportation costs and arrange shipment of the devices to you. The device prototypes are insured during transportation'but while they are in your possession'you need to make sure you are insured in case the prototypes are stolen'broken or damaged while in your possession. We will pay for return postage and provide instructions for how you should ship them back.
30.How "final” will the Sony Tablet prototypes be?
We expect that the prototypes will be very close to final devices. That said'the Sony Tablet prototypes are pre-commercial units and thus there may be some differences from the final commercial units that will be made available to consumers starting in the fall.
31.Is there any sort of emulation environment or virtual machine one can experiment with to test the dual-screen layout?
At this time'there is no emulation environment available. This is why we will provide Sony Tablet prototype devices to the entries selected as Finalists'so you can optimize test your app on the actual devices.
32.Will Adobe Flash Builder be updated to simulate apps with a dual screen device?
At this time there is no plan to update Flash Builder with this capability. However'you can test your application on the desktop without the need for dual screen support'as Flash Builder sees both screens as merely one large stage.
33.Will there be a Sony app store on Sony Tablet devices?
The market for Adobe AIR apps on the Sony Tablet devices is the Android market. Apps submitted by Finalists need to be deployed to Android Market by November 11'2011.
34.Are both screens on the Sony TabletTM P touch sensitive?
Yes.
35.Are the Sony Tablet devices WiFi only or offered together with an operator data plan?
Both tablets are WiFi and WAN (3G/4G) compatible. The Sony TabletTM P will have WiFi and WAN(3G/4G) support in the US through AT&T.
36.Do you know what screen size (e.g. xlarge'large'etc) would the app match on the manifest when it is on a Sony TabletTM P?
This has yet to be determined. The information will be made available to selected Finalists.
37.I want to submit my app for the Most Innovative App prize. What should I do?
If you think your app is innovative and should win the Most Innovative App prize'highlight the innovative aspects in the description of your app and select “Most Innovative App” as the category field in the form.
38.I am interested in showing my app at Adobe MAX 2011 from October 1-5. What should I do to make that happen?
To be considered for MAX Showcase App prizes'submit your App or App Project entry and a working version of your app by September 16'2011. Submitting earlier means you can get prerelease access to Sony Tablet prototypes sooner to optimize and test your app on prior to MAX if you’re selected as a Finalist. The judges will select at most 10 apps as MAX Showcase App winners that are ready to demo on Sony Tablet. You will be contacted by September 23'2011 if your app is selected as a MAX Showcase App winner.
39.You say that it is possible to win up to 130,000 US$. How does that work?
Any one app can potentially win a maximum of $130,000 if the app is selected to receive:
the Grand Prize Award (100,000 US$)
one of the category prizes (20,000 US$)
the MAX Public Favorite prize (10,000 US$). If you submit your entry and a working version of your app before September 16'you can be selected as a MAX Showcase App winner (maximum of 10 winners possible) to receive premium promotion on Sony Tablet (upon signing a Premium promotional agreement with Sony)'Adobe MAX full conference pass '4-night Los Angeles hotel from Oct 1-5'roundtrip airfare to/from Los Angeles (up to a maximum of $1,000)'prominent promotion at MAX'and automatically be entered as a candidate for the MAX Public Favorite voting.
If you win all of the above prizes'this adds up to 130,000 US$.
40.Will my MAX conference pass be reimbursed if I win as a MAX Showcase App and already have one?
Yes.