Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×

Wozniak to Judge American Idol-Inspired Mac App Contest 147

Posted by ScuttleMonkey from the idol-wastes-of-time dept.
cmundhe writes "Mac entrepreneur Phill Ryu today launched My Dream App, a new American Idol-inspired online competition where contestants can win the chance to have their killer app idea realized by experienced Mac developers. Over forty industry luminaries, including Apple founder Steve Wozniak, have signed on to My Dream App as guest judges to help contestants hone their ideas."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Wozniak to Judge American Idol-Inspired Mac App Contest More

Wozniak to Judge American Idol-Inspired Mac App Contest

Comments Filter:
  • A very good intiative indeed.

    Programmers as such need a platform at times to capitalise their genius ideas.

    This may be a short step in that direction but will give hope to lot of programmers(Mac only sadly :()

    One the other side of the coin,the idea may be incorporated into Apple's products.

    Definitely programmer got his idea shaping up and working but uder Apple's name.

    lets see what programmer chooses :)

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Xiroth ( 917768 )
      It's not for programmers - the contestents only present a concept, and the idea is that the winners will have their concepts converted into shareware applications. It's an interesting experiment, although I would guess that a fair number of people would be reluctant to put their ideas into such a public forum.

      • Re: (Score:1)

        by b1ufox ( 987621 )
        ---It's not for programmers ... Really? Are programmers barred or not allowed?

        IMO there are many programmers who have some concept, dont they?

        Although they may be skeptical to submit their concept in public like this, but some may not be...

        • Re: (Score:1)

          by Xiroth ( 917768 )
          Heh, I actually meant to say it's not only for programmers, but failed. Should've remembered the preview button...
        • If you are a programmer and have a great idea, why not just implement it yourself? (Perhaps the idea is for a huge app that would take one person too long to implement...)

  • Outsourcing gone mad or a good idea? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by epo001 ( 558061 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @04:45AM (#15954089)
    I'm alternating between thinking that this idea is ridiculously stupid, or alternatively, truly inspired.

    I propose an optimisation, let the winner be the one with the best elevator pitch - "It's like excel meets my-space, you arrange your friends into rows and columns ..."

    just like high-concept movie ideas where a one-sentence summary gets turned into a 90-minute film.

  • I have to ask ... (Score:4, Funny)

    by forgotten_my_nick ( 802929 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @04:47AM (#15954091)
    But what would be an application that would equate to William Hung [wikipedia.org] ?

  • Uggggh (Score:5, Funny)

    by $RANDOMLUSER ( 804576 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @04:58AM (#15954108)
    When can we vote this whole American Idol concept off the island?

  • Smart move (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Denial93 ( 773403 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @05:00AM (#15954111)
    This is a not-so-expensive method of asking the userbase what it wants, and getting their ideas. I'm willing to bet a number of entries (especially of those which didn't win, or didn't even make it into the round of 24) will end up as features in the next MacOS.

    I believe we will see more ventures of this kind in the future, even outside software. The ideas that "little people" never had the resources to implement are a resource that can be valuable and is easily tapped. What is funny is that the whole model started not in some corporate think tank, but in FPS mods. Final Doom [wikipedia.org] is the first instance I can think of.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Chaffar ( 670874 )
      -Fill out this form, tell us what you want in the next MacOS, and give your name, age, address.

      - Hell no I'm not filling no form I have my privacy to protect you sodding bastards rant-rant-rant-rant....

      [1 week later]

      - Hey come join our new crappy tv show where the best application ideas can be selected and win! All you need to do is fill in an application with your name, age, address, and the premise of your idea.

      - Where do I sign up ??!?

      Seriously, lessons on how to protect your intellectual capital s

    • What is funny is that the whole model started not in some corporate think tank

      Corporations never EVER produce anything original. Ever.

    • I'm willing to bet a number of entries (especially of those which didn't win, or didn't even make it into the round of 24) will end up as features in the next MacOS.
      Oh oh oh! I hope one of the entries that wins is working PEAP-GTC session resumption support in the Apple Airport wireless driver. I'm not holding my breath on that one though.

    • Little People Patents (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Dareth ( 47614 )
      "The ideas that "little people" never had the resources to implement are a resource that can be valuable and is easily tapped."

      Unless they protect them with patents prior to entering them in the contest. Does the winner get a royalty? Ever wonder if the "recording contract" an American Idol wins is better than a regular "slave contract" other artist sign?

      Hopefully just submitting the idea is considering publishing it. Software patents are bad enough without someone else patenting your idea.

      Do you suppose

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by hhawk ( 26580 )
      There are;

      * Killer Apps (never many of these... and over time they lose their "killing" edge spreadsheets, email, etc.)
      * Industry Specific Apps (software for your type of job)
      * General Productivity (word processing, calendar, etc.)

      It seems to me that while it's possible that such a contest will produce a new Killer App, it's not likely.. But then what were the odds that American Idol would really produce someone on the Idol level (Elvis, Johnny Cash, etc.).

      If it can make a Killer App "on demand" it would be
    • I believe we will see more ventures of this kind in the future, even outside software. The ideas that "little people" never had the resources to implement are a resource that can be valuable and is easily tapped.

      We already do. Chances are, if you work for a corporation, the contents of your brainpan are already enriching someone with "resources"--not to mention the power to derive wealth from your ideas.

      We have a word in English for this: exploitation. And I'm sure you're right, we'll see a lot more

    • This contest is SO last century. Building stand alone applications for specific OS's just isn't interesting anymore. All the interesting new applications are web-based and run in any browser. At best this contest will produce some clever little organizational application. /yawn.

  • But unlike everyone else, we're not searching for skilled programmers. Instead, we're simply looking for the greatest ideas

    The greatest ideas.. oh yeah! I found one! so uh, it would be a game, and it would be about bricks of different shape stacking up each other, and when you got a full line of bricks it disappears! oh wait I have another great idea incoming! It would be a lil yellow character, in a maze, eating pills and ghosts/monsters.

    Damn it's too easy for me to come up with the greatest ideas, I onl

    • Re: (Score:1, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      That site already exists, even more reason to be lazy! http://www.halfbakery.com/ [halfbakery.com]
    • if the experience proves successful by having great thinkers connected with great developpers

      Well, see, that used to be called the "economy" until the whole thing was turned into a game show by middle management.

      Had the guy that wins this contest presented the company with his idea they would have told him to fuck off. But as long as they can make the guy stand on a stage so people can laugh at him and make sport of the whole idea of being an inventor or thinker, well, that's just fine because management

  • I wonder... (Score:4, Funny)

    by locokamil ( 850008 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @05:51AM (#15954232) Homepage
    ... if they can write an automatic lameness filter that recognizes when a Mac is being an officious and superior bastard and initiate a shock sequence by way of response. I recommend the following performance vs. penalty scheme:
    • 1 shock every time user logs on to Apple hardware related forum to masturbate about what new hardware may or may not be revealed during Steve Job's next keynote address
    • 2 shocks for every DRM ridden iTunes song downloaded by the user because "it works out better for the artists, and because it gives me the flexibility to do whatever I want with my music." Discretionary shocks may be assigned on the basis of whether or not the song is subsequently downloaded to an iPod (max. 1 shock), and if said iPod is a "special edition" U2 iPod (max. 2 shocks)
    • 3 shocks for every "My mac 'just works'" comment. Additional shocks in the event that Mac breaks down 1 day after warranty expires (max 3 shocks); further shocks may be assigned if user has to go to friend who uses Linux to get the problem sorted out (max 4 shocks)
    • 4 shocks for every time user says that Apple is the only sensible platform for him/her because he/she is an "artist."
    • 5 shocks for every "I never get viruses" comment to a PC user. More shocks if the user is a graphic designer who uses his computer for nothing except photoshop (max 6 additional shocks). Fatal shock may be administered if user is a graphic designer talking to a sysadmin in charge of maintaining a network of PCs.
    Now where's my iPod?

    • Re: (Score:1, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      ... if they can write an automatic lameness filter that recognizes when a Mac is being an officious and superior bastard and initiate a shock sequence by way of response. I recommend the following performance vs. penalty scheme: 1 shock every time user logs on to Apple hardware related forum to masturbate about what new hardware may or may not be revealed during Steve Job's next keynote address 2 shocks for every DRM ridden iTunes song downloaded by the user because "it works out better for the artists, and

    • Re: (Score:2, Redundant)

      by NatasRevol ( 731260 )
      I never get viruses in Mac OS X. Because there aren't any. Yet. Of course, I've been saying that for five years now.

      A couple of trojans, maybe. And of course, they required admin privs. Not much of a trojan there.

      Yes, users will always be able to rm -rf ~. It's their user space, they can do what they want with it. You can't protect people from stupid.
      • It's okay-- you escape being shocked because you are replying to another Mac-user.
      • Yes, users will always be able to rm -rf ~. It's their user space, they can do what they want with it. You can't protect people from stupid.

        Obviously you didn't see the WWDC announcement about Time Machine [apple.com].
        • Heh, I've seen people that can't quite grasp the concept of putting items in their dock. Time Machine is going to be just too far out there for stupids.

    • Re:I wonder... (Score:5, Insightful)

      by TomorrowPlusX ( 571956 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @09:51AM (#15954981)
      ... a whole lot of not-funny ranting from some asshole

      How about 10 shocks for Windows/Linux users who are constantly angry at Mac users simply because Mac users can't get it in their heads that they should just give up and use PCs? I mean, come on? Don't you arrogant elitists realize that your computers are worthless and that you're assholes for even using Macs?

      You know what? I'm an "artist", a graphic designer. I use macs because, well fuck] I've used Photoshop, Quark and illustrator -- on macs -- since the early/mid 90's. I like the platform. I know the platform. The platform fucking works. I don't need to justify being an elitist asshole if your definition of being an elitist asshole is that I'm a guy who makes a living, you know, eating, paying rent, etc by using a computer you clearly disapprove of.

      Also, I'm a programmer. I've done professional embedded systems programming on Solaris ( cross compiling to embedded hardware ) and I used linux exclusively at home for several years. I've also done Win32 programming, as well. You know why I have a Mac at home now? Because they're so goddamned well designed, at the API level that they're a dream to program for. And the hardware works. Quite well, too.

      And you know what? I've not had a virus on any mac of mine since maybe 1993 or 1994.

      So I say you get 10 shocks for being a dismissive PC user who insists that everybody do things the way you do, because clearly you know better than us how to do what we do.

      • I'm a big Mac fan myself these days, but I still got a laugh out of the original post.

        Nonetheless, yeah - you make a great point. Windows users seem to think they've made the Mac irrelevant for graphic-artist type work because "all the apps" are available in Windows versions as well as native Mac versions these days.

        To an extent, that's true - but it's usually the underlying OS-related issues that keep artists on a Mac. EG. An OS-wide color matching system integrated into MacOS, vs. loading application-sp

    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by tehcyder ( 746570 )
      if said iPod is a "special edition" U2 iPod (max. 2 shocks)
      You're being way too soft there, I think a dozen or so at least.

      BTW I read a great heckler story in the Guardian the other day. Bono was doing his "every time I clap my hands a child dies in Africa" speech at a gig, when someone shouted out "well stop fucking clapping then you idiot."

    • This is probably fairly high visibility stuff, so why not use it as a forum to push for anti-drm stuff.

      Perhaps extending Front-Row to work on a Tivo, so i could stream my purchased itunes audio and video there.

      There must be some good forward looking projects that would only be possible if apple loosened their grip.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by Mr.Ned ( 79679 )
      That was awesome, thanks for the laugh.
  • I didn't know you could jump the shark on a Segway!
  • Sounds like a cool competition; a word of warning to entrants- no-one call your project 'Lisa'.

    I won't go down too well :|
  • I just hope there's some mechanism in place to prevent people from claiming ideas they took from elsewhere as their own. Please can go pretty low to try to get a buck!

  • Dream App? Why not go all the way... (Score:3, Funny)

    by JasonBee ( 622390 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @09:06AM (#15954745) Homepage
    How about a new Finder?

    *hangs head*....

  • Native Hypercard for OS X (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Old.UNIX.Nut ( 306040 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @09:36AM (#15954884)
    This is a no-brainer.
  • Virtual Valerie? I mean, come on, that was fun. Admit it. You know you liked it.

  • So... (Score:3, Funny)

    by tnk1 ( 899206 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @11:02AM (#15955511)
    Is Woz playing Simon, or is he going to be Paula Abdul?

  • Apple Idol (Score:3, Funny)

    by owlman17 ( 871857 ) on Tuesday August 22, 2006 @11:06AM (#15955543)
    AI style:

    Randy Wozniak: "C'mon dawg! S'da right language selection, needs to be a bit optimized here but its ok."

    Steven Abdul: "You have great potential and your code just moves me. The UI looks fabulous! Just keep shining, win or not, you're l337!"

    Steve Cowell: "Appalling, simply appalling. Dreadful. It's a no."
  • My dream app is a secure, stable operating system with good performance and no radical changes every year.

    Now implement that!

  • Isn't this already being done (at least in theory) for Web 2.0 stuff? Fergzample, at cambrianhouse.com.

    No prizes, but royalties. They're looking for community coders, too, which I think is the limiting factor.

    Still, an interesting idea. Dunno if it actually has any realworld promise, but an interesting idea.

Slashdot Top Deals

Without life, Biology itself would be impossible.

Close