Design Your Dream Mac App

Ever had a good idea for Mac software? Even if you aren't a developer, your chance to see it developed and to make money from it has arrived.

A contest called My Dream App is accepting written ideas through August 30 for Mac software that eventually will be developed into full-fledged shareware programs.

Submitters do not need to know how to write code; they need just a good idea and description. The limit is 500 characters, or about 100 words, according to rules published on mydreamapp.com. An application form is on the Web site.

Judging Process

The submissions will be weeded down to 24 finalists by three Mac developers, Austin Sarner, Jason Harris, and Martin Ott. The criteria for selection are innovation, marketability, and development feasibility.

Once picked, the finalists will develop their ideas further over five weeks, blogging and podcasting and building a case. Throughout that time, tech notaries such as Kevin Rose of Digg.com, Mac evangelist Guy Kawasaki, New York Times columnist David Pogue, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak will weigh in, according to the Web site.

After five rounds of public judging, three ideas will prevail, which will then be developed into shareware applications and published by My Dream App. The winners will receive royalties equal to 15 percent of the net income from the sale of the applications.

All of the finalists will receive Apple product prizes, according to My Dream App.