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By Leo Kelion Technology reporter, Las Vegas
Sony has announced a new smartphone that can be used in the shower or bath
without the risk of damage.
This water-resistant feature is relatively common in Japan, but has not been
included in many top-end smartphones released elsewhere.
The Xperia Z can also record HDR (high dynamic range) video, a facility
borrowed from its camera division.
One analyst said it was evidence of Sony Mobile making progress but added "it
still had a mountain to climb".
The Japanese company announced it was taking control of the smartphone unit -
which had previously been a joint venture with Ericsson - in October 2011.
Sony posted a full-year loss of 56.7bn yen ($5.7bn; 3.5bn) in May and has
continued to lose money over subsequent quarters.
Water-resistant movies
The Android-powered device was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las
Vegas.
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In isolation this looks like a very strong product and it's the most attractive
Xperia phone that I have seen for a very long time
Ben Wood CCS Insight
Sony says the handset, which has a 5in (12.7cm) screen, is capable of being
submerged in water of up to one metre (3.3 ft) in depth for 30 minutes.
"If you want to want to sit in the bath and watch an HD movie this is the
device for you," Sony Mobile executive Steve Walker told the BBC.
"You can take it in the shower if you want, or more usefully if you get it
dirty you can wash it under the tap."
He added that about one in 10 people had dropped their phone down a toilet at
some point, something this would protect against.
The trade-off is that handset's various ports, including the one for its
headphones, all feature protective plastic covers that must be unclipped before
they can be accessed.
HDR video
Sony smartphones The Xperia Z features a 13 megapixel camera and 4G LTE data
connectivity
Other features on the 7.9mm-thick (0.3in) device include 4G LTE connectivity, a
Micro SD slot, a 13 megapixel camera and a 1080p x 1920p high-definition screen
that borrows technology from the firm's Bravia TV division to enhance video
playback.
In addition a NFC (near field communication) chip is used to start streaming
content to Sony's latest televisions by tapping the handset against their
remote controls.
The firm also boasts that the device includes its proprietary Exmor RS image
sensor technology, allowing it to record HDR video.
This allows it to combine exposure readings to tackle problematic situations
such when a person is standing against a bright background; Sony says that
without HDR either the person's face looks too dark or the background too
light.
Nvidia's latest Tegra chip can also do this but has not been built into a
handset yet.
Recovery boost?
Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight, noted that Sony's mobile unit is enjoying
a recovery, and recently passed HTC to become the third best-selling smartphone
brand in the UK.
He added that efforts to share designs and technologies across the firm's
different divisions would likely be the key to its revival. However, he added
that it was too soon to say whether the new handset would be a winner.
"In isolation this looks like a very strong product and it's the most
attractive Xperia phone that I have seen for a very long time," he said.
"But we don't know what this device is going to be competing with this year."
"Until we see the next Samsung flagship device and other top-end phones at
Mobile World Congress in February it's hard to know how it will do."