A security app tailor-made for women called GYNOID impressed the judges to take top spot at the recently concluded Samsung AppStar 2012 Challenge, a platform for Malaysian youth to showcase their creative and innovative talents in mobile app development.
Samsung received more than 3,700 app submission ideas from over 40 universities and colleges in Malaysia. The 5-month long campaign saw judges shortlisting 12 finalists for the Samsung AppStar 2012 Finale.
Some interesting mix of ideas shortlisted included car lock notifications, location-based reminders and a security app that protects women against crime.
The initial shortlisting process involved participants submitting ideas to a panel of judges. The final 12 were sent to a Samsung bootcamp where they were guided by industry experts in areas of presentation and marketing. Their polished ideas were presented during the finale.
The eventual winner was GYNOID, a simple, easy-to-use security app tailor-made to protect women. The winning group was awarded a cash scholarship of RM24,000, and three units of Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the GALAXY S III. The first runner-up received RM12,000 and three units of the Samsung GALAXY S III, while the second runner-up rewarded with RM6,000 and three units of the GALAXY S III.
Samsung is looking into the possibilities of commercialising some of the apps presented by the finalists.
For more information on the Samsung AppStar 2012 challenge, visit Samsung Mobile Malaysia’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/samsungmobilemalaysia.
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The Grand Finale of Samsung’s AppStar 2012
Harnessing the limitless innovative minds of Malaysian youth
Kuala Lumpur, 3 December 2012 – Samsung, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, concluded the Samsung AppStar 2012 challenge, a platform for Malaysian youth to compete and showcase their innovative, creative and inventive skills in formulating ideas to develop mobile applications.
The 5-month long campaign saw Samsung receive more than 3,700 submissions from over 40 universities and colleges in Malaysia, with a panel of judges shortlisting 12 finalists for today’s Samsung AppStar 2012 Finale. Among the final contenders, proposed app ideas encompass car lock notifications, location-based reminders, and a security app that protects women against crime.
After submitting their entries, participants present their ideas to a panel of judges for the initial shortlisting process. The 12 shortlisted groups were then sent to a Samsung bootcamp, where they learnt vital skills in presenting and marketing ideas from industry experts. This geared them for the ultimate finale, where they presented their polished ideas to a panel of judges.
Head of Mobile Phone Division at Samsung Malaysia Electronics, Vincent Chong, said, “The Samsung AppStar 2012 challenge is our initiative to incorporate the raw, creative powers of Malaysian youth in the app development process. Living in today’s ever-changing technological landscape, youths are in a prime position to contribute fresh ideas that push the boundaries of innovation while remaining relevant to consumers.
“We believe in providing unique opportunities, and the challenge gives youths a chance to showcase their creative flair in bringing ideas to life. More than that, Samsung AppStar 2012 is also our effort in cultivating the local app industry.”
According to Vincent, Samsung is looking to enhance and diversify the apps ecosystem – providing consumers with a wider selection of apps that enriches the mobile experience.
The winners of AppStar, GYNOID, presented an application idea that acts as a security measure for women, allowing its user to automatically send distress signals when in danger. Team leader, Ang Hooi Lean, a student at Universiti Sains Malaysia, spoke of the opportunity, “AppStar was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us. We appreciated what we learnt during the bootcamp, where we were able to fine-tune our app idea based on advice from industry experts. We’ve never joined a competition such as this before, and this experience definitely gave us new insights into our own potential and how we can harness it.”
The winning group was awarded a cash scholarship of RM24,000, and three units of Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the GALAXY S III. The first runner-up received RM12,000 and three units of the Samsung GALAXY S III, while the second runner-up rewarded with RM6,000 and three units of the GALAXY S III. More importantly, Samsung is looking into the possibilities of developing some of the apps presented by the finalists, essentially bringing these ideas to life.
For more information on the Samsung AppStar 2012 challenge, visit Samsung Mobile Malaysia’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/samsungmobilemalaysia.
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