We know, we told you our holiday giveaway series would feature some of our largest contests to date. And it did - we gave away over a dozen tablets and nearly as many phones to our readers. But we thought we'd start the new year off with our biggest giveaway yet (an international one, to boot) - 10 Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphones, courtesy of our amazingly generous friends at AVAST Software.

This contest is now over. There were over 13,500 entries, making it our largest contest ever by a huge margin (unsurprisingly). Apologies for the long wait - it takes a long time to finalize these giveaways, and with CES I had a whole lot of stuff going on at once. Here are our winners, selected at random:

  1. William Ralls
  2. Vishal Sheth
  3. William Jones
  4. Branden Willetts
  5. Grant Phillips-Sewell
  6. Neil Lund
  7. Nithin Anand
  8. Steve Donaghy
  9. Melina Meissner
  10. Adrian Willings

Congratulations, guys (and gal) - all of you will be contacted for your information in the near future and shipped 10 brand new Galaxy Nexuses!

Everyone else - keep participating and stay tuned to Android Police so that you don't miss our upcoming giveaway announcements. You can follow AP on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and RSS.

Update #1: And here are Adrian and Nithin with their prizes:

Update #2: Here are Steve and Bill:

Update #3: Check out Vishal and Neil:

Update #4: Melina's showing off her drawing talents:

Update #5: Check out Will's tiny body next to a giant Galaxy Nexus:

avast! Mobile Security

You may know AVAST as the company that bought the rights to the best Android anti-theft app around, Theft Aware. AVAST has integrated all the awesome functionality of Theft Aware (including root-level installation and features) into its brand-new Android mobile security suite (along with a ton of other stuff), avast! Mobile Security. It's one of the best Android security apps available - and it's 100% free. Check out our review of the app here, and hit up the Market to download it. While we're extremely grateful for AVAST's contribution to this contest, we wouldn't need a promotion in order to recommend their software - it really is top-notch.

Coming from someone who's usually skeptical of the need for such applications, I have to say, avast! Mobile Security is an exceptionally useful security suite that contains so many features and tools that it seems almost silly not to use it. Even if you don't want virus or malware protection, the anti-theft features are so robust that the rest of the app is really just gravy - heck, you don't even have to use the rest of the app. You can even uninstall it and the anti-theft protection features will still work just fine.

The Prize

The Galaxy Nexus is a phone that needs no introduction - it's the hottest Android device on the market right now. If you win, you can choose between either the Verizon (LTE) or international unlocked (GSM) version, regardless of where you reside. 10 winners will be selected, each receiving a Galaxy Nexus.

Gaze upon the Ice Cream Sandwich goodness.

Also, here are some specs:

  • 1.2 GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4460 processor
  • PowerVR SGX540 GPU
  • 1GB RAM / 32GB internal storage (16GB for GSM unlocked version)
  • 4.65" 720p Super AMOLED PenTile display
  • 5MP rear camera (with 1080p video), 1.3MP front
  • 1,850mAh (LTE), 1,750mAh (GSM) battery
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (no UI overlay)

How To Win

There are three methods, and each method counts as an entry, increasing your chances to win for each method used. You must complete at least one of the methods as part of step one (remember, completing all three will triple your chances), and you must complete step two.

Step 1

And/Or

Crazy! @avast_antivirus and @AndroidPolice are giving away ten (10!) Galaxy Nexuses http://bit.ly/AP-AVAST-GN. <Your own custom message here>

And/Or

  • Like the Android Police and avast! antivirus fan pages on Facebook. No need to leave a comment on either fan page, simply liking will do the trick. If you're already following both, simply proceed to Step 2 below.

Step 2

Fill out this simple form so that we can get in touch with you if you're the lucky winner. (note: you must link to your entries from Step 1 as instructed in the form in order to be eligible. We will not count persons who simply submit a name and email address with no links.)

The Terms

The giveaway starts immediately and runs until 11:59PM PST, Saturday, January 7 after which the winners will be chosen randomly and notified via Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or email.

This is an international contest - check the eligibility list in the full contest rules below to see if your country is listed. One entry per person for each method is allowed; entering multiple times through the same method will not increase your chances of winning.

ANDROID POLICE AND AVAST GALAXY NEXUS GIVEAWAY CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES

1. Eligibility

ANDROIDPOLICE.COM, A CALIFORNIA SOLE PROPRIETORSHIP (referred to herein as “Contest Provider”) IS THE PROVIDER OF THIS CONTEST. THIS CONTEST IS OPEN ONLY TO RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, MEXICO, CHILE, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE, ISRAEL, INDIA, FRANCE, BELGIUM, THE UNITED KINGDOM, LUXEMBOURG, GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND, SWEDEN, FINLAND, DENMARK, NORWAY, SPAIN, IRELAND, RUSSIA, THE NETHERLANDS, SOUTH KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA, TAIWAN, ITALY, PORTUGAL, SLOVENIA, ESTONIA, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, ROMANIA, SLOVAKIA, MALAYSIA, VIETNAM, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, CROATIA, THE UKRAINE, POLAND, BULGARIA, AND HUNGARY WHICH ARE OVER THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN THEIR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE ON THE DATE REFERENCED BELOW AS THE START DATE FOR THE CONTEST ("ENTRANTS"). If you are under the legal age of majority in your country of residence, but are (i) over the age of 13 years of age and a resident of the United States of America, or a member country of the European Union other than Spain, or the United Kingdom; (ii) who is least 14 years of age and a resident of Spain, the United Kingdom, or Russia; or (iii) who is at least 15 years of age and is a resident of the Republic of Korea; one of your parents or legal guardians must submit a signed, written statement that they have read, understood and agree to these Contest rules with your entry, and that such agreement constitutes acceptance of these Contest rules on behalf of you and themselves. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. There is no cost to enter or win. Offer void where prohibited.

2. Disclaimer

Contest Provider will not be responsible for: (a) any late, lost, or misrouted transmissions or entries; (b) any Contest disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of Contest Provider; or (c) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest.

3. Contest Period

The Contest begins January 2nd, 2012 at 2:00PM Pacific Time and will continue until January 7th, 2012 at 11:59PM Pacific Time (the "Deadline"). All entries must be received before the Deadline to be eligible to win the Prize.

4. Prizes

Ten (10) eligible entrants will be chosen by the Contest Provider at random as “Winners,” and each will receive a “Prize,” one (1) Samsung "Galaxy Nexus" smartphone device, estimated retail value $740. Each winner will be allowed to choose to receive either a Verizon Wireless-compatible Galaxy Nexus, or a global GSM Galaxy Nexus.

The Prize will be provided “as is,” Contest Provider and Prize Provider provide no warranties of any kind, express or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF THE PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.

Shipment of The Prize will be the sole responsibility of Contest Provider. Shipment method and carrier will be selected by Contest Provider. Contest Provider and Prize Provider assume no responsibility for loss of or damage to the prize prior to or during shipment. If the Prize, after shipment, is returned to the Prize Provider as undeliverable or for any other reason, Contest Provider and Prize Provider reserve the right to disqualify the Winner and to designate another Entrant as the Winner.

5. Collection of Information:

The Contest entry requires you to submit a first and last name, email address, and shipping address to meet the Contest’s Eligibility requirements.

If you are a citizen of France and/or any of the other countries whose citizens are eligible for this Contest, and pursuant to French law pertaining to data collection and processing, you are informed that the data collector is AndroidPolice.com, and the data collected will be transferred to the United States of America. Upon request, you will be provided with access to your personal data. To exercise this right, please contact giveaways@androidpolice.com.

The Winner consents to allowing Contest Provider to disclose the following information to Prize Provider for the purpose of awarding the Prize: (1) first and last name, (2) email address, and (3) shipping address. Shipping address must be located in one of the countries or regions listed in the Eligibility section. Failure to provide an address in one of the countries or regions listed in the Eligibility section will result in disqualification from the Contest.

6. General Release of Liability

By entering the Contest, you release the Contest Provider and Prize Provider from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Contest or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use the Prize.

7. Affidavit and Release:

As a condition of being awarded the Prize, the Winner will be required to execute and deliver to Contest Provider a signed Affidavit of Eligibility, which includes an acceptance of these Official Rules and a release of liability. The Affidavit of Eligibility may be submitted by email.

8. Contest and Prize Providers:

Contest provided by Android Police. Prizing provided by AVAST Software. Any questions regarding the Contest should be directed via e-mail to Artem Russakovskii at giveaways@androidpolice.com.

9. Choice of Law:

The Contest and these Official Rules will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of the United States.

10. Miscellaneous:

Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of the Contest Provider, which are final and binding in all respects. Contest Provider reserves the right to change these Official Rules at any time, at its discretion, and to suspend or cancel the Contest or any entrant's participation in the Contest should any causes beyond Contest Provider’s control affect the administration, security or proper play of the Contest or Contest Provider otherwise becomes (as determined by its discretion) unable to run the Contest as planned.