Sony Underwater Apps Launched on Google Play for Select Xperia Phones

Sony Mobile Communications has released six new 'Underwater Apps' for its Xperia Z1S, and Xperia Z smartphones, in a special section on Google Play. Users report that US-based models of Xperia Z1 also support the app.

The six fun apps - Goldie, Photo Lab, Platimal, Rainy-oke, Sink Sunk, and Tiny Umbrella - are only available for US consumers to download on their Xperia Z1S and Xperia Z water-resistant smartphones. It seems that all the apps are only meant for showcasing the Sony's water-resistance capabilities in Xperia smartphones, and don't really do much apart from providing momentary entertainment.

All the apps reportedly use Sony's technology to detect if the Xperia phone running the app is underwater. The detector generates a test tone with frequency above human hearing frequency, and records the transmission of the sound with the two microphones on the Xperia Z1S and Xperia Z smartphones. It then generates spectrograms with different values allowing the smartphone to establish its state (water or air).

Sony has also provided developer code for the apps on its Sony Xperia Developer GitHub website.

Both, the Xperia Z and Xperia Z1S smartphones has been Sony's flagship devices with water-resistant designs. Sony has started the trend of launching flagship devices at every six month interval. The anticipated successor - Sony Xperia Z3 - is already rumoured to launch at an event scheduled on September 3, ahead of the IFA 2014 event. The invite, leaked by a tipster for a pre-IFA 2014 event, suggests a range of new devices will be unveiled on September 3.

The purported invite was captioned "You are invited to the IFA 2014 Sony press conference and exclusive booth unveiling," with images of what may be more than one smartphone, a lens camera, speakers, a television, and some sort of stand.