Announcing IE Add-ons Contest Winners!

Just after we released IE7, we announced a contest for developers. Create and submit an add-on to www.IEAddOns.com and the best add-on would win a trip for two to MIX07. Entries needed to be submitted to www.IEAddOns.com between November 1, 2006 and February 9, 2007, had to be either a completely new add-on or an enhanced version of an existing add-on. We recruited members of the Internet Explorer product team to install and review the add-ons. With over 400 entries, it was a difficult decision to find the best ones, but the ones below are pretty sweet.

Grand Prize – A Trip for two to MIX07

Inline Search by Core Services

Inline Search provides a way to search for content on a webpage without bringing up the Find Dialog.  It incorporates find as you type, highlights search terms and has several other really useful features!

First Prize - $2000 Cash

ieSpell by Red Egg Software

Checks your spelling in textboxes on a webpage.  A great feature for blogging and filling out online forms.

Second Prize - $1000 Cash

FoxyTunes by FoxyTunes

An add-on that allows you to control your favorite media player without ever leaving your browser.

Third Prize - $500 Cash

RoboForm by SiberSystems

Password manager and form filler that automates password entering and filling out of forms.

Honorable Mentions – Each winner will receive a Zune

GooglePreview by Edward Ackroyd
IE Screenshot Pro by BrowserTweaks
IEWatch by IEWatch Software
FreePicGrabber by FreePicGrabber

The entries were judged on ten factors:

• Creativity: Creative and innovative application.
• Productivity: How does the add-on increase the productivity of someone browsing the web?
• Practical Use: Does the add-on solve a practical problem or make something easier?
• Performance: Does the add-on cause any slowdowns to Internet Explorer?
• Difficulty Of Problem Solved: How challenging was this problem to solve?  Did the developer have to come up with a new way of thinking?
• Cool Factor: Is this something that people are going to want and think it’s something they have to have?
• Footprint: Does the add-on have a small footprint for its purpose?
• Ease Of Use: Was the add-on easy to install and figure out?  Did the user have to look at the read me or instructions to figure out how to use it?
• Application Design/Architecture: Clean, easy-to-understand and well designed application.
• Widespread interest/Use: Usefulness of the application across a wide audience of consumers.

Congratulations to the winners, and thanks to all who entered!  It was a tough decision to pick the best of all of the entries!  We’ll be contacting the winners via email over the next couple of days.

PEte LePage
Product Manager