Google is launching the Android Experiments I/O Challenge today in an effort to bring more interesting open-source apps to its Android Experiments showcase.

The three winners of the challenge, which will run until April 13, will get a trip to this year’s Google I/O developer conference. The five runners-up will get Nexus 6Ps (which, in turn, makes me think Google’s I/O giveaway this year will be a Nexus 6P).

In the world of mobile apps, open source isn’t quite as prevalent as in other areas of software development. Projects like this are at least partly about bringing more open-source mobile apps onto the platform so new developers can take this code and learn from it.

Here is what Google is looking for in the submissions:

• Creative uses of Android’s new or distinctive features
• Projects that explore how we interact with our devices, in small and big ways
• Unique visual aesthetics
• Open-source projects that can inspire other developers
• Surprise us — we want to see the amazing things you’re cooking up

These Android apps can be for phones, tablets, Android Wear and even robots.

Comments are closed.