Determined to create tablets that stand apart from the Android herd, Sony has announced it will sponsor an APP challenge to drive the creation of innovative Android applications.

The electronics and entertainment company is offering developers a chance to win $200,000 in total cash prize to the winner of the ‘Adobe AIR App Challenge Sponsored by Sony’ for the two models of Sony Tablet devices

Both Adobe and Sony will enable developers to tap into native device capabilities and combine Adobe Flash technology and HTML5 to deliver unique, high-performance mobile applications using Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 and the open source Flex framework.

Announced earlier this year, Sony Tablet will deliver S1, which is optimized for rich media entertainment and S2, which is ideal for mobile communication and entertainment.

The S1 model measures 9.4 inches and boasts a wedge shape that angles the screen for comfy typing and feels like a folded magazine.

The S2 is clamshell device with two 5.5-inch displays which, in unfolded mode, can operate independently or as one big screen.

Both tablet devices will become available in the global market starting in fall 2011.