With IE9 approaching release time, Microsoft is taking a slightly different approach to the apps it wants developed for it.  It is looking at HTML5 as the principal content creator for its apps. Microsoft is looking for native HTML5 built apps, those that aren’t based on plug-ins like Flash or Silverlight.

Dev Unplugged

To that end Microsoft is launching a contest called Dev Unplugged which will look for apps that meet its criteria. Here’s what’s interesting. The contest isn’t limited to just those apps that work best with IE9. Rather, the content must also render Apps correctly that run on the latest Chrome beta and Firefox beta. Submissions must stick to HTML/CSS/JS on the client-side, but there won’t be any restrictions on the server-side.

Games and Music

Microsoft is interested in two categories of development, games and music. Beyond that, there are specializations like what are the most innovative uses of geo-location, and pinned sites, which is an IE 9 feature, Canvas and SVG, and design/UX, which is based on user experience. Developers will build all of these apps under the rubric of HTML5.

Faster Browsers – Better Apps

Microsoft is committed to building apps given the fact that browsers are at a new stage. They are faster and more powerful, so Microsoft wants to take advantage, and get developers to fall in line with HTML5.

The Dev Unplugged Contest

The contest starts on March 1. The public will be able to start voting on the gallery apps on April 5. Microsoft plans to allow the user community to vote for the top 40 finalists. From there the judges will select the winners based on “creativity, quality of implementation and fit with the contest theme.” The final App submission deadline is May 9, and the winners to be announced on May 23. The grand prize? $9,000, plus a trip to the Future of Web Apps Conference in Las Vegas on June 27.

Source: Dev Unplugged