Skip to main content

Submit your crazy and innovative app ideas to the Android Experiments I/O Challenge

android experiments io challenge 2016 experiment
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Have a crazy idea for an Android app? Google is putting out the call for intriguing, innovative ideas two months before Google I/O with its Android Experiments I/O Challenge.

The best three submissions for the challenge will get tickets to I/O, where they’ll show off what they came up with to a crowd full of top developers. The next best five submissions will win a Google Nexus 6P smartphone.

To help developers come up with interesting ideas, Google has offered a few suggestions on where to start. For example, it might be a good idea to come up with something that makes use of Android’s new capabilities, such as multitasking. Apps that have unusual effects and can inspire other developers are even better. If you still can’t think of anything and need ideas, you can see what other developers have done by heading to the Android Experiments gallery.

The apps can be built for phones, tablets, and even robots; however they have to use the “unique capabilities of the Android platform in an innovative way.”

The challenge is really part of the Android Experiments initiative that Google launched last year. Since it arrived, the website has racked up a fair number of submissions. With I/O just around the corner, Google wants more.

The Android Experiments initiative is similar to Microsoft Garage, but the apps built for Microsoft Garage are normally built by the company’s employees. Microsoft doesn’t mandate that the code for the apps built for Garage be open-source, either.

Submissions to Android Experiments must include a link to source code on GitHub, as well as a link to the app on the Google Play Store, and a video demonstrating the app on YouTube. A description of the experiments and contact information must also be submitted, and you can put your app in the running by heading to the website.

Editors' Recommendations

Christian de Looper
Christian’s interest in technology began as a child in Australia, when he stumbled upon a computer at a garage sale that he…
No, the Journal app on your iPhone isn’t spying on you
Apple Journal app on an iPhone 15 Pro.

If you've spent any time on Facebook, TikTok, or any other social media site over the last couple of days, there's a chance you've seen people claiming that your iPhone is spying on you — specifically, with a feature called "Journaling Suggestions."

One post I stumbled across on Facebook made it sound rather frightening, warning me that the feature shares my FULL NAME and EXACTLY where I'm located to anyone nearby. The post told me to go and toggle the setting off immediately because it was "Very scary stuff!!"

Read more
The best iPhone and Android apps for Black History Month 2024
best iPhone and Android apps for Black History Month.

February is celebrated as Black History Month to honor Black Americans' remarkable achievements and contributions. The theme for this year is "African Americans and the Arts," which shines a light on the impact of African Americans in different artistic fields, such as cultural expression, visual and performing arts, fashion, literature, and more.

In this regard, we present a list of popular iOS and Android apps developed by Black-owned businesses and cover various topics such as finance, entertainment, wellness, and more. These apps run on all the latest smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro.
Calendly

Read more
How to save text messages on iPhone and Android
iMessage on an iPhone.

We receive a lot of important information via text. Whether it’s a date you need to set or important work-related info, you might find yourself wanting to save a text message. Modern smartphones all offer a way to back up your core data and transfer it to another device. However, transfers sometimes don’t include your text messages unless you save them ahead of time or are transferring across the same mobile operating system.

Here's how to save your text messages in Android and iOS.
How to save your text messages on iPhone
There are multiple ways to backup your iPhone text messages. Here are the easiest.
How to make iPhone text message backups using iExplorer
The most universal method of saving your iPhone text messages is via the iExplorer program.

Read more