Gadget competitions Desktop Gadgets Discuss Gadget competitions in the Vista Features forums; Hi Everyone. I would like to introduce you to the the Microsoft Vista Gadget Competition(s) that Microsoft is rolling out across Europe Middle East and Africa. These competitions are ...

[Dave Webster (microsoft)]

Hi Everyone. I would like to introduce you to the the Microsoft Vista Gadget Competition(s) that Microsoft is rolling out across Europe Middle East and Africa. These competitions are all local to a particular country or subsidiary in Microsoft, and each one will have very cool prizes for the best gadgets.
It should be fun so start getting creative.
As you have questions or ideas please post them here.

I will post up the competitions as they start over the next few months.
The first one is in Switzerland:

http://www.gadgetcompetition.ch

Good luck
Dave Webster
Microsoft EMEA

[crabby]

So... if it is local to Switzerland... can brits enter this one, or do we have to wait?

crabby

[Dave Webster (microsoft)]

Yes you will need to wait a bit - before entering the competition. However its never too early to start thinking up some ideas and building gadgets.

[dazzlin]

Dave! (And yes, everyone, I've verified that this Dave is authentic and really from Microsoft).

We'll be following all of the competitions closely. I'd love to see our members participate and build some gadgets. And hey, if anyone wants to build a Vista Babble gadget, that'd be cool too!

[Dave Webster (microsoft)]

Here are the overall details:

The Swiss competition is set up in two phases:
Phase 1
From now till 31 May 2007: Developers design their gadgets to take part in the competition.
Phase 2
1 June till 15 June: Public voting. Any Swiss user may vote for their favorite gadget.

How does public voting work?
Criteria
1. Number of votes, weighing 30% of total score
2. Average gadget score based on customer’s votes, weighing 70% of total score
Examples
1. Number of votes: The gadget with the highest number of total votes gets 5 points. All other gadgets are valued in relation to the highest number of votes (5000 votes = 5 points, 3’000 votes = 3 points, 100 votes = 0,1 points)
2. Average gadget score: User give scores between 1 to 5 (5 = excellent, 1 = poor). Only full points can be given. The total number of points divided by the number of votes = average score.
Final score
Both results are added, based on their weighing. Should the total score be equal
1. The contestant with the higher average gadget score wins
2. Should both criteria be equal, the winner will be elected by a lucky draw

Prizes for developers
• 1st prize: Fly to the Professional Developers Conference 2007. The prize includes admission, flight in Economy Class and hotel accommodation during PDC. Value: approx 3‘500 US Dollars.
• 2nd prize: One Toshiba Flat Screen TV (82 cm, HD-ready, HDMI Digital Input und Active Vision III Plus). Value: 1’300 US Dollars
• 3rd prize: One Windows Vista Ultimate Edition (Full version)

URL
All information is available in German and French on www.gadgetcompetition.ch

[Znod]

Great, and welcome, Dave. We have been eagerly awaiting your appearance and the contest.

[ProCookie]

Is that what the big news was from the other week?

[dazzlin]

Not exactly, but it is related to it, yes.

[ProCookie]

Ok so still something for me to think about

[crabby]

Did we ever get our competition?

crabby