Five multi-faceted individuals using just one converged device — the Sony Ericsson Xperia XI. Personalization is the latest trend in a mass-produced world, giving consumers a way to make technology more relevant to their individual needs. The latest Xperia cell phone from Sony Ericsson delivers a seamless blend of mobile Web communication and multimedia entertainment and boundless personalization options. A key feature is an innovative panel-based user interface that may be customized to reflect each user’s personality and priorities. It brings ease-of-use to a new level by allowing users to display up to nine panels of their most accessed applications right on the desktop of their phone.
With its rare blend of function and design, the Xperia X1, a week into its commercial release in the Philippines, has already managed to make converts out of individuals whose lifestyles are characterized by the multiplicity of their interests and passions.
A lot of people may already know how entrepreneur Jay Aldeguer made a success out of Island Souvenirs. His inventive retail concept was born of his passion for travel and his desire to portray “the vibrant and colorful character of the Philippine Islands.” Not surprisingly, Jay is also into photography and classic cars. “I’ve always been fond of cars, classic sports cars to be exact, but it was the driving that appealed to me the most.”
Yet another venture, Island Banca Cruises, a fleet of small boats with iPod docks, WiFi internet access and extra-wide sunbathing decks, not only indulges Jay’s wanderlust but also requires him to be continuously on the move. “Sometimes I’m in the office meeting with my staff while some days I’m on a banca checking out new destinations. A device such as the Xperia X1 is perfect for me since I’m very mobile. I’m not at the office the whole day but I want to stay constantly connected.”
It took a trip to Europe in 1973 for modernist designer Joey Yupangco to change his perception of what he could be good at. After going back to school at age 29 and learning from his mentors at Pratt Institute, Joey, who heads Dumani, is now a leading player in the industry. He humanizes the design process by focusing on the relationship of the spaces he creates with the people who inhabit them. The uniqueness and individuality of each client become major considerations in his designs.
Projects keep him pretty busy but Joey is quite firm about how he divides his time. “I dedicate 99 percent for my family and profession, and one percent for myself.” Part of that small percentage he keeps for himself is his love affair with music (he plays the guitar and can sing, too). Being steeped in the arts, he has found the Xperia X1 “a handsome and delightful piece of design” with which “I can do immediate browsing on the Internet for source information and do some conceptual sketches while traveling. The Xperia X1 is a complete machine that you can pocket.”
Vincent “Chot” Reyes fulfills his role as a coach well, both on the hardcourt (for Talk’N Text) and in the boardroom (he is also a certified life coach to top executives and CEOs) and even on himself, being an avid golfer who gets his caddy to capture him on video in action using his Xperia X1. “It’s a lot of similar principles, about relationships, about trust, about building teams. ‘Follow your passion’ is the best advice I can give to both my players and students.” The very useful mobile phone also helps him get his game on. “I’m a basketball coach, so the No.1 thing that’s important is this — I can draw my game plan, my diagrams on the (Xperia X1) screen, its all diagrams.”
When it comes to his family, the natural coach turns into a cheerleader. He and his wife own the popular salon Toni & Guy. “That’s my entrepreneurial side but my wife’s passion. Being a cheerleader, that’s my job there.” Oh, and did we mention that PBA announcers call Chot the best-dressed coach? “Dressing more casually helped in relaxing my approach even in the game. It became something people talked about. My wife is my stylist, and I enjoy it.”
It would be so nice if people called us public servants rather than politicians,” says Taguig mayor Freddie Tinga. “There are not too many nice things to say about politics.” Well, this youthful, forward-thinking and — there’s no other word for it — “cool” official is a far cry from the stereotype. Apart from successfully turning the once-sleepy town into a progressive city, Freddie is also a techie (“there is a saying that if you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance less”), a sportsman (“basketball, baseball, badminton and golf are just some of the sports I play or have played”), and a music aficionado (“I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like music, and in my case I like almost all kinds”).
These aspects of his life have also manifested in his work, from the many sports-related projects he’s spearheaded, the advocacies close to his heart, to his use of available technology to make lives better and more productive. The Xperia X1 easily keeps up with Freddie Tinga, whether he’s planning a project or creating a soundtrack for it. “It is probably the first PDA phone I’ve had that doesn’t make me look like a geek. I think they’ve come up with a great phone that balances style and substance, and that’s not an easy thing to do.”
I love to work!” Venisse Laurel-Hermano declares and we might as well call her superwoman because aside from being the head of operations and human resources of brother Rajo Laurel’s couture lines RLE and Rajito and atelier House of Laurel, she also runs a nanny-training center, is a financial adviser to a special needs school in Alabang (“education for me is very important”), an unofficial wedding singer for relatives and friends (“that’s a lot of weddings, I should have gotten paid”), and a wife and mom.
Venisse says, “(It’s all about) time management! I’ve told Rajo that my weekends are sacred and strictly for my family,” but having a converged mobile device doesn’t hurt either. “With the Xperia X1, I can take pictures of our designs, listen to songs that we may use for a show, check mail or the latest fashion blogs, answer queries, see sales reports and upload the kids’ videos into the memory. It’s multi-faceted, just like me.”
Sony Ericsson’s Xperia X1 sets a new standard for the mobile user experience. High speed turbo 3G ensures mobile Internet without compromise, a 3” WVGA screen makes content come alive, while ultra-fast switching between applications puts the world at your fingertips, anytime, anywhere. The X1 promises enhanced connectivity, messaging and multimedia features in one sleek and desirable device.