Based on feedback it's received, Google’s also made significant updates to the Android software developers kit (SDK), an update to which will be made available in a few weeks. It’ll include a number of user interface and API enhancements.

So the deadline's also been extended in part to allow developers who would like to take advantage of these SDK improvements for their contest submissions can.

The Android contest is divided into two parts, with a total of $10 million in prize money at stake. In the first part, 50 entries will receive $25,000 to fund further application development. 10 of these winners will then receive an additional $275,000, with another 10 $100,000 each.

The second part, where the rest of the prize money will be distributed, won't begin until the first handsets built on Google’s mobile platform become available. It is estimated this won't happen until the second half of this year.

Here's Google's new timeline for the first part of the challenge: