HP recently released their TouchSmart Application Developer Guidelines to third party developers, allowing anyone to create touch-friendly applications that integrate and run within the TouchSmart Software suite on the popular HP TouchSmart PCs. As part of the release, HP has gotten behind the Touchsmart Community to distribute the guidelines to developers while providing an environment for TouchSmart developers to interact. Also on the site is a download hub that allows TouchSmart developers to upload and share their creations with TouchSmart owners in a central location.

To kick off the new development initiative, the TouchSmart Community is running a promotion that will send one lucky developer (travel expenses paid) to demo their software in the HP booth at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, along with a free TouchSmart PC, HP MediaSmart Server, and a month of promotion in the community. Developers are encouraged to participate by downloading the developer guidelines and creating finger friendly ports of their applications. The promotion runs through December 5th; details are located here: http://www.touchsmartcommunity.com/contest

TouchSmart owners need to upgrade their TouchSmart Software to the latest version in order to install third-party applications. The upgrade is available free from HP's Support site. Two programs have already been submitted, including Proxure's KeepSync software and FreeHand System's Solero Music Viewer. Both programs and the Developer Guidelines can be downloaded here: http://www.touchsmartcommunity.com/downloads

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