Different experiences with Xperia

So, you’re one of those who like playing games on your phone. Sony Ericsson takes gaming to a whole new level with Xperia Play, an Android smartphone with real game controls. It is the first device that’s PlayStation-certified, which means you can play PlayStation Suite games on your phone. The phone slides sideways to reveal the console controls — dedicated gaming keys, shoulder buttons and an analogue touch joystick.

First released in Europe in April this year, Xperia Play also has great stereo sound and support for multi-player gaming. Yes, if you’re stuck in traffic you can play games with your friends. The four-inch touch-screen is awesome with crisp colors and smooth 3D gaming graphics powered by a Snapdragon graphic processor.

For sure, this will make for new PlayStation widows — or widowers!

Train with it: Xperia Active was designed to withstand the elements so you don’t have to worry about your phone when you’re out running or biking and it suddenly rains. You can also sync it to your heart-rate monitor and use it as your training log.

During the recent launch in Singapore, Sony-Ericsson corporate vice president and head of Asia Pacific Matthew Lang, said, “We want to emphasize that Xperia Play is a smartphone first. It can be used for all the smartphone functions and it’s not compromised as a smartphone in any way. We were very clear, we did not want to produce a device that was gaming first and then a smartphone. Xperia Play is a smartphone first and with great gaming on top. That’s a trend that we think will continue.”

Sony Ericsson also revealed three other phones that will be rolled out in the third quarter of 2011: Xperia Ray, Xperia Active and Sony-Ericsson Txt.

My eye is on the Xperia Ray. You really can’t describe many phones as “beautiful,” but this one is. It’s a slim, feminine-looking Android phone that can fit easily in an evening purse. It comes in an aluminum frame and mineral glass. Unlike other phone cameras that can produce only grainy photos, Xperia Ray was designed to take great photos and videos even in low-light conditions thanks to the Mobile Bravia Engine.  

A ray of beauty: Xperia Ray is a slim, beautifully designed Android smartphone that’s slim enough to fit any evening purse. Like other Xperia devices, Facebook is integrated into the phone’s system.

Next is Xperia Active, designed for people who lead an active lifestyle. You can run with it, even trek or hike under the rain with it because it’s built to be water-, scratch- and dust-resistant. At the launch they showed just how sturdy this Android phone is by dipping it in a bowl of water. Yes, it still worked. And no, it is not recommended that you take it swimming — but with Xperia Active, at least you don’t have to worry about sudden rain during your run or when you’re out biking. 

In fact, Xperia Active lets you scroll easily even when your fingers are all sweaty. It also comes with a strap that you can link to your heart-rate monitor during training and is preloaded with sports apps so you can plan and log your training.

The phone is perfect for runners in Manila. I’ve often heard stories from friends who left their phones in their cars during a run and then were stolen. Now they can just tale it with them because it’s small and light enough and tough, too.

Chat mate: Sony Ericsson Txt makes it easy for you to text and chat with your friends on your social network accounts.

Sony Ericsson Txt, which Lang described as an “entry-level” phone, is for people who like to text and chat, and don’t need all the functions of a smartphone. There are shortcut keys for faster communication, you can chat and browse via WiFi, and add five of your buddies to the Friends app. Its full keypad makes it easy to chat on Facebook, GoogleTalk or send out those tweets.

Lang said Sony Ericsson this year introduced more phones than it did in 2010. Xperia Play has begun its rollout in Asia and the three other phones are scheduled for the third quarter of the year.

“Android is at the heart of everything we do,” Lang said. “We’re very focused on smartphones in the large majority of our portfolio. We’re not just here to sell Android but to sell Android with something else on top — that’s where all the Sony entertainment capabilities come and the Sony Ericsson design.”

“No two people are the same,” he explains the depth of Sony Ericsson’s portfolio. Some lifestyles will fit Xperia Active more than the other Xperia phones but all the Xperia devices have one thing in common: “We’ve built in Facebook inside Xperia,” he said. “We worked closely with Facebook to build an application and functionality that go very deep down into the Android layering itself. “

Sony Ericsson Philippines marketing manager Patrick Larraga at the recent launch of Xperia Play, Xperia Active, Xperia Ray and Sony Ericsson Txt.

For Filipinos who are glued to Facebook all day, Xperia enables that addiction.

“All the functions of Facebook are integrated into the Xperia phones,” says Patrick Larraga, Sony Ericsson Philippines marketing manager. “You can tag photos in your phone gallery, write comments and see photos that your friends like without having to open another app. Your Xperia and Facebook calendars are synced automatically so you don’t miss events or a friend’s birthday. Notifications appear onscreen when your phone is locked so you can stay up-to-date, even when you’re busy.”

Patrick says the Xperia contact list is automatically synced with your friends on Facebook so you can see what their “likes” are, their interests, as well as any news they share on Facebook.

With these Sony Ericsson phones, you no longer have to adjust to what your phone offers — always a hassle when you change phones — but simply pick the kind of phone that you need.

Sony Ericsson global head of marketing Steve Walker and corporate vice president and head of Asia Pacific region Matthew Lang show off the new Xperia Ray at the Singapore launch.