Centrafuse "Connected Car" Developer Challenge Sponsored by mp3Car

**Heather** · 08-19-2010, 07:13 AM

We are at it again, giving stuff away for free to innovators. This time, we have partnered with the guys at Centrafuse.

The Challenge - Build the coolest "connected car" plug-in you can think of.
We're talking about a location-based or "location-aware" app here -- like when your mobile phone knows of good restaurants nearby... but in the car... and way cooler; like if your car could let you know if you were entering a high-crime area and automatically lock your doors for you. Neat stuff like that. The winner will be the entry demonstrating the most creative and innovative use of GPS location in a plug-in application for Centrafuse Auto as determined by the voting forum members.

First Prize
Lilliput 7-inch Touchscreen LCD - courtesy of Mp3Car.The first prize winner will be chosen using a poll where forum members will cast their vote for their favorite submitted "connected car" app over the span of 10 days, following the contest deadline. On day 11 we will count the votes and the first-prize winner receives a brand new 7" Lilliput touchscreen LCD, compliments of our friends at Mp3Car along with a free t-shirt from the Centrafuse Gear Shop. The first prize winner will also have their app featured in the upcoming Centrafuse "app store" which is now underway. More info on that later.

Second Prize
Free map upgrade and item of choice from Centrafuse Gear ShopSecond place prize will be awarded to the developer with the 2nd most votes, and will receive a free map upgrade (when available) and a free item of their choice from the Centrafuse Gear Shop.

Third Prize
Free item of choice from the Centrafuse Gear Shop. Third place prize will be awarded to the developer with the 3rd most votes, and will be receive a free item of their choice from the Centrafuse Gear Shop.

Challenge Rules

Use the latest Centrafuse 3.1 SDK
Create a plug-in app for Centrafuse Auto
Must use GPS location (from Centrafuse Nav API or other source)
Must work with the default "Clean" skin - (see helper PSD here)
Must have at least 1 language file (English)

Register for the challenge here.

Contest begins August 22nd and the contest deadline is September 26th, 2010.Submit your finished compiled working plug-in application by the contest deadline. (see below)

Contest deadline:
All contest submissions must be uploaded by midnight US Eastern Time on September 26th, 2010.

See official contest rules and submission guidelines here.

On Your Mark, Get Set... Go!

Get started now and start planning your plug-in idea. The contest officially starts on August 22nd so start brainstorming now, or if you already have your evil plan, get a head start on the rest of the pack.

Get the SDK here and get started now!

**SapporoGuy** · 08-19-2010, 07:29 AM

What if you can't program but have the killer idea?
Or the idea isn't GPS based?

**Enforcer** · 08-19-2010, 07:52 AM

Does my CFFuelPrices qualify

**Sonicxtacy02** · 08-19-2010, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by Enforcer

Does my CFFuelPrices qualify

this is a good question. Do existing plugins qualify? If not its gonna be a pretty small contest cause there's only so much you can do with GPS. Most of the location-aware stuff is already completed (fuel prices, nearby poi, traffic, vehicle maintenance). Seems this competition is about 6 months late lol

**Heather** · 08-19-2010, 08:21 AM

Hey guys, raygun (reagan) should be popping on to answer this, I emailed him. The rules are up to him. And, he will be here this weekend as well to discuss further.

**SapporoGuy** · 08-19-2010, 08:27 AM

Which is why I asked those questions.

However, I can see the need for this. At the moment, progression has stalled and CF is to a certain extent feature rich. However, some things can still be added / advanced.

lolo, the map upgrade is worthless to me. I live in Japan. ugh....

**malcom2073** · 08-19-2010, 08:49 AM

I think this is tricky. Including existing plugins kind of makes it pointless for a developer to try and start something new... but at the same time most of the ideas are already taken and impliemented well so no reason to duplicate effort.

That can however be a good thing, for it would force developers to create something new, creative, and never thought of before.

**raygun** · 08-19-2010, 09:28 AM

Hey everyone,

I tried to make the "rules" as flexible as possible by placing very little restrictions except what you see in the rules posted here

@Enforcer - Sure, you could submit anything that already exists... if you think it will win. The Fuel Price is a cool plugin already, but maybe it could be spiced up somehow.

@malcom2073, @sonic - I would disagree that most plug-in ideas are taken. I hope I am wrong, and hope this challenge will prove it!

@SapporoGuy - If you have a cool idea and you're not a developer, you're halfway there. Try to find one who is looking for an idea. Unless you don't feel comfortable sharing your idea. That's up to you.

The magic ingredient is obviously data -- data from the internet in most cases, but I didn't want to specify that as a restriction. Think mashups - check out ProgrammableWeb.com for a nice index of web service APIs.

Also, keep in mind we (CF or Mp3Car) are not judging this contest, the Centrafuse forum users will choose the winner - All voters should choose the most creative and - innovative use of GPS location.

Thanks
Reagan

**Sonicxtacy02** · 08-19-2010, 11:16 AM

Does buyin you a beer saturday night and finding out "the missing plugin" disqualify me? lol

@SapporoGuy, if you have an idea you want to see come to fruition you can always PM me/tweet me/gtalk me/msn me blah i'm way too connected.