Adobe and Sony have launched the Adobe AIR App Challenge Sponsored by Sony to encourage the creation of innovative Android apps for Sony tablet devices, and offer developers the chance to win $200,000 (£170,000) in cash prizes. Adobe and Sony have also announced the expansion of their long-standing relationship to deliver great content experiences for Sony tablet devices. Both companies will enable developers to tap into native device capabilities and combine Adobe Flash technology and HTML5 to deliver mobile apps using Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 and the open source Flex framework.

Sony is developing two tablets for release later this year under the brand name Sony Tablet. The first will be optimised for rich media entertainment; the second for “mobile communication and entertainment”. The tablets will be available in the autumn.

“Creative Suite 5.5 and our latest developer tools combined with Sony’s innovative tablets provide content publishers with the ideal platform to deliver great experiences,” says David Wadhwani, senior vice president, creative and media solutions at Adobe. “We are excited about Sony’s sponsorship of the App Challenge, which will recognise the most creative applications our developer community produces.”