The Free the TV Challenge is part of a global rollout of developer-focused contests
and events led by Samsung around the globe that open up TVs to developers wanting
to distribute their content on the biggest screen in the home and on an easy-to-use
platform.
During Free the TV Developer Day, developers will learn more about the SDK and how
to enter Samsung’s Free the TV Challenge to create the most innovative applications
based on the Samsung Apps platform. Developers entering the challenge are eligible
for the winning prize valued at half a million dollars and also have the opportunity
to reach audiences in about 120 countries, where the service has been introduced.
Samsung launched a similar challenge in Korea earlier this year, and will launch the third
phase of the global challenge later this year in Europe. From the challenge in Korea, a
multi-language Fairy Tale Book was built to enable viewers to enjoy fairy tale books in
various languages via the TV. A TV karaoke application was also created as part of the
contest.
Built with the developer in mind, Samsung Apps supports common web standards, like
Javascript, XML and support for Adobe Flash Lite 3.1, and uses a single SDK for apps that
runs across HDTVs, Blu-ray players and Blu-ray Home Theater systems. This eliminates
many of the barriers to development by allowing applications to be written once and
deployed across several platforms, ultimately enabling more versatile monetization for
developers and a consistent, intuitive experience for consumers.