"We call this contest PalmSpot and with it you get the chance to show the world how amazing webOS truly is in your own video," he wrote. "What is even more exciting is that Palm is helping us out to take this contest to a whole new level."

Budding creative directors create a video ad of 30 to120 seconds, eschewing vulgar language and offensive content, and not ripping off other copyrighted material.

There are three categories of ads -- funniest, most original, and best use of webOS -- with prizes for the winners and two runners-up in each category. Entries will be accepted until Friday, April 16, and then posted on the the webOSroundup YouTube page. The finalists will be chosen by the number of YouTube views, and then be reviewed by a final judging panel, with winners announced in May.

As of this writing, there are four submissions. They range from a simple, static, video walk-through of webOS features on a Palm Pre, ., to a similar demonstration with a soundtrack and motion added, by IcerC, to dramatic, impressively complex video that rivals the sophisticated advertising on broadcast networks, .

Writing for Engadget, Vladislav Savov says Thies' video "manages to achieve -- in a mere 30 seconds -- what Palm has been struggling with for nearly a year. It shows off the handsome device, the effortless multitasking, the variety of apps, integrated services and video capabilities, and, most importantly, emphasizes the sheer beauty and ease of use of WebOS."