for a while I tried "to walk" in the shoes of ADC judges.. and though only theoretically, I came to some disturbing conclusions.

If i were a an appointed ADC judge from phone-Foo manufacturer, what would I look for in this big bucket of entries that I am about judge?

Well, first comes Google's #1 criteria - "Originality". But thinking further, this #1 is primarily what Google is going after - a new talent, a really original, possibly ground-breaking ideas for Android apps.

Now me, as phone-manufacturer, I ask myself: can I take that risk and venture into the land of "new and original concepts”? i.e. shall give higher scores to such entries? The short answer would be - sorry, Nope.

The longer answer, one needs to think of the motives behind a company X joining Open Handset Alliance:

* Windows Mobile and Symbian are everywhere. If I am to preinstall my next hardware with this new Android, I need a bunch of kick-ass apps to make it really sell. Not just kick-ass, but the GUARANTEED KICK-ASS ones.

* based on the above: I am skimming through the list of entries, I notice something obviously cool, and maybe even much cooler than the similar ones that competitor Y runs on their non-Android platform. Well - I buy it! give it 'A'

* No I see some app with a concept I’ve never seen before, I mean totally new, not even a re-make of the a familiar and popular one. What am I to do? Even though I am a judge, I’m in this for _business_, NOT for some further risk-taking... I let the Google take risks, while I’ll be protecting my own investment. So yes - I don't by it, i give it 'B' or 'C'

stepping out of "the judges shoes", it is indeed unfortunate, but so are some hard realities of the market. Myself as non-marketing guy, I will surely be checking out the Top-50 when it comes out,

but I will be more inclined in shuffling through the gallery of the rest of 1700+ submissions just to find those real hidden "Diamonds in the dirt..."

and no offence to Google guys, they did the best thy could for Android/ADC, but some things will always remain out of reach