Entries open for Apple's 2008 design awards

Every Mac developer wants a small, softly glowing cube -- as long as it's not made from unstable isotopes or anything like that. The Apple Design Awards 2008 entry period has now begun; with competition in seven categories this year, including two for the iPhone, it's going to be fun to see what bubbles up to the top at WWDC.

Applications in the following areas can be uploaded and entered before 5 pm May 12:

• iPhone Developer Showcase

  Highlights innovative and compelling new iPhone applications built using the Beta iPhone SDK. Entries in this category must be pre-release, feature complete versions which run within the iPhone simulator or on an iPhone or iPod touch. Apple reserves the right to award more than one winning entry in this category.

• Best iPhone Web Application

  Highlights web applications designed specifically for Safari on iPhone, which offers iPhone users innovative, compelling, valuable, and highly desirable capabilities.

• Best Mac OS X Leopard Application

  Highlights trendsetting, innovative, best-of-breed Mac OS X Leopard applications. Entries in this category must be release versions.

• Best New Mac OS X Leopard Game

  Highlights games introduced on Mac OS X Leopard after June 2007, which take full advantage of relevant Leopard technologies and offer the best entertainment value to all ages. Entries in this category must be release versions.

• Best Mac OS X Leopard User Experience

  Highlights excellence in design, aesthetics, ease of use, compelling and appropriate use of animation, and pervasive integration with built-in Mac OS X Leopard system services and sharing technologies. Entries in this category must be release versions.

• Best Mac OS X Leopard Graphics and Media Application

  Highlights best-of-breed Mac OS X Leopard graphics and media solutions providing unparalleled functionality, performance, innovation, and stunning visuals and/or audio. Entries in this category must be release versions.

• Best Mac OS X Leopard Student Product

Winners get plenty of goodies: WWDC tickets and travel, MacBook Pros, Cinema Displays, iPod touches and iPhones, and (far and away the most valuable) a free mini-booth to exhibit at Macworld Expo 2009. See Apple's official site for all the rules and regulations, and best of luck! (Yes, that's the developer team of 2007 ADA winner Panic giving a full-on geek salute there in the winner's circle. Seems like they're pretty pumped.)