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Sony Xperia E1: Funky and Affordable

Sony is just one of a growing number of international companies now attacking the bottom end of the Indian smartphone market. It isn't surprising, considering how much growth there is to tap in India, and how many people are still yet to buy their first smartphone. For customers, it's a win-win situation: high-quality phones are becoming more affordable, after-sales service is no longer a total gamble, and features keep trickling down from high-end handsets.

Sony, despite its ups and downs, has impressed us of late with some very slick, consistent hardware. The Xperia Z2 is a solid, well-balanced flagship phone and the Xperia M2 is beautiful in its own right. Let's see if Sony can manage to apply the same formula at a much lower price target and displace the popular Motorola Moto E.

Look and feel
The Xperia E1 Dual (and its near-identical twin, the single-SIM E1) are small, chunky and plastic all over. There are definite similarities to Sony's higher-end models, most notably the two-tone body and the power button in the middle of the right side. This could easily be the best looking phone in this price range, and the build quality is fantastic.

The E1 Dual is surprisingly light at 120g, but its thickness and matte plastic back make it really comfortable to hold. The screen measures four inches diagonally but thanks to the use of on-screen buttons, there isn't much plastic above or below it. There's a large Sony logo above the screen, plus a earpiece cutout, sensors, and notification LED that's invisible unless lit up.

The notification LED is a bit odd because when it isn't red or green to show your battery charge status, its colour seems to change depending on the angle you're looking at it. It could be white, blue, cyan, purple or orange and we wouldn't be able to tell whether they mean different things. There's also another hidden LED below the screen which lights up briefly in a random colour when tracks begin playing in the Walkman app, for no apparent reason whatsoever.

The camera lens on the rear is nicely recessed so that it won't scratch easily. There's another printed Sony logo and a more subtle engraved Xperia logo on the rear, but the most noticeable thing is the enormous speaker grille across the device's entire width.

The power button is on the right edge in keeping with Sony's current "omnibalance" design direction, but it doesn't work at all on such a small device. It's hopelessly inconvenient to get to when needed, and there are no shortcuts such as double-tapping the screen, which would have make this easier to deal with. Sony has also decided to place a dedicated Walkman button on the top right edge, right where the power button should be. Making matters infinitely worse, pressing the Walkman button even lightly makes music start playing at whatever volume you left it - it's possible to trigger this even with the screen locked if the button is pressed twice. Needless to say, this led to some very awkward moments in our office during the review process.

There's a headset socket on the top and Micro-USB charging port on the left edge. The rear panel pops off to reveal the removable battery and microSD card slot. You have to pull the battery out to get to the two regular-sized SIM card trays, but microSD cards can be hot-swapped. You'll also notice that the speaker itself is a lot smaller than the grille makes it out to be.

Features, specifications and software
The E1 Dual is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 SoC, with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and Adreno 302 graphics. This is decidedly low-end, but it's modern enough and should perform better than phones in this price range which are based on MediaTek silicon. We shouldn't expect more than half a gigabyte of RAM, and internal data storage capacity is similarly limited to 4GB.

The screen measures 4 inches diagonally, and its 480x800-pixel resolution is just about enough. We have to keep reminding ourselves how inexpensive this phone is, since it really doesn't feel cheap.

The 3-megapixel camera doesn't have a flash, and it's probably for the best that there's no front camera. The battery also seems a bit puny at 1700mAh. On the bright side, there's Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi b/g/n along with FM radio, A-GPS and a digital compass. The E1 Dual officially supports microSD cards up to 32GB in capacity.

Sony's distinct Android skin makes an appearance here, on top of Android 4.3. It's one of our preferred custom interfaces, though it does feel quite cramped on such a low-resolution screen. You also lose a bit of screen space thanks to the use of soft buttons - until an update to Android 4.4 is released, several apps and games won't be able to run in full screen mode. There are other tradeoffs too, for example the keyboard is cramped and it's really easy to hit the navigation buttons when typing since they're right beneath it. At least there's a dedicated Recents key instead of the more common but redundant Menu key.

The interface should be familiar to anyone who has used a recent Sony smartphone. There's the usual excessive bloatware both on the home screens and in the app launcher menu. Sony bundles loads of apps including its Sony Select content showcase, the Walkman app, Movies and Album apps, TrackID, Xperia Care Support, and Smart Connect. Then there's the usual suite of Google apps, including Gmail Maps, Hangouts, YouTube, Google+, News & Weather, and the Play store.

That's a lot of preloaded apps; many of which have overlapping functionality and none of which are removable. These plus the multiple default homescreen widgets make the phone's software feel cluttered. While the Sony Xperia E1 Dual is a very affordable phone, all this confusion means it might not be the most suitable choice for first-time Android users. Sony could easily have toned down its software assault for this device.

Camera
Some things are scaled down, for example the camera app. Sony's usual plethora of filters, effects and modes are mostly missing. There's only an Auto Scene mode, a Manual mode, Sweep Panorama and Picture Effect. Auto mode is pretty self-explanatory, and there's almost nothing you can do other than point and shoot. 

Manual allows you to adjust the exposure compensation, white balance, ISO, and photo/video resolution. There are 16 scene presets to choose from manually, such as low light, fireworks and snow, as well as a largely useless HDR setting. The Picture Effect options are just basic filters, and you can expect the phone to slow down significantly when using them.

The Xperia E1 Dual is definitely not going to help you take amazing spontaneous photos. For starters, the camera app is terribly slow - much more so than the rest of the UI - and there's way too much shutter lag. The camera itself has a fixed-focus lens - you can't tap to focus or compose images.

The photos we took with the E1 Dual during the course of our testing were all uniformly disappointing. You can forget about taking shots of any landscape or scenery; the camera only works on nearby subjects such as faces. The leaves on a tree, for example, just looked like an artificially generated texture. Edges were harsh and poorly defined, and exposure was completely off balance. Even with simpler subjects, the camera was underwhelming - don't expect to be able to read regular-sized text or see any subtle detailing.

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Performance
The Xperia E1 Dual isn't a speed demon by any stretch. It's good enough for basic everyday usage and a bit of music, social networking and Web browsing on the side. It takes a second or so to switch apps or move between screens and in some cases Sony's own animated transitions make the phone feel like it's slow to respond.

Benchmark results were quite average, though we were happy to note that graphics scores were around twice as high as those of even slightly higher-priced phones, thanks to the choice of a well-balanced Qualcomm SoC rather than a competing chip with more CPU cores but worse GPU performance.

The screen is not all that sharp, which means that text is just a bit blocky and colour gradients look grainy. This isn't really a problem unless you're used to higher-quality screens already. The backlight can get really bright but contrast is lacking. This also means legibility is poor in sunlight.

Sony is heavily pushing the E1 Dual's speaker, which we agree is surprisingly loud and clear. Even classical music doesn't sound terrible - though that isn't saying much for a phone's built-in mono speaker. The Sound page of the Settings menu has an option called Clear Phase which claims to improve quality (though we couldn't discern any change) and another called xLOUD which pushes the maximum volume level quite a bit.

Battery life was a bit disappointing at just over five hours in our video loop test. However call quality and network reception were good.

Verdict
The Sony Xperia E1 Dual competes with the Motorola Moto E, HTC Desire 210 Dual SIM, AsusZenfone 4, and Nokia X Dual SIM, in addition to multiple options from local brands. We find that Sony, Motorola and Asus have the edge here, each with a different set of strengths and weaknesses.

The Moto E is a shade less expensive than the Xperia E1 Dual and will appeal to fans of stock Android, though in every other regard the two are very similar. We'd lean towards recommending the Motorola option for anyone new to smartphones, thanks to the E1's awkward button placement and cluttered software. The Zenfone 4 has an interesting advantage with 8GB of internal storage and we were very impressed with its larger sibling, the Zenfone 5. To be fair, its Intel Atom Z2520 processor is not yet proven, so we'll reserve judgment on the Zenfone 4 till we've tested it ourselves.

We do like the Sony Xperia E1 Dual (and by extension, its cheaper twin the E1) but it's a crowded market. Go for this phone if you're comfortable with Sony's Android skin and if its style appeals to you. Otherwise, the Moto E is a solid alternative.

Xiaomi Mi 3 With Snapdragon 800 Launched in India at Rs. 13,999

Xiaomi has on Tuesday launched its first smartphone for the Indian market, the Mi 3, priced at Rs. 13,999. The smartphone, first announced for India last week, is available from July 22, 12pm IST, exclusively on Flipkart. Pre-registration opens on Tuesday and will last until July 21 midnight.

The company also announced the Redmi 1S and Redmi Note will be launching in India in August.

The Xiaomi Mi 3 runs a highly tweaked version of Android 4.4 KitKat, called MIUI version 5. It comes with a 5-inch full-HD LCD display (1080x1920 pixels) offering a pixel density of 441ppi

With the announcement of Mi 3, Xiaomi has become the first handset manufacturer to offer an Android smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset below the Rs. 15,000 mark. It is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (MSM8274AB) processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and Adreno 330 GPU. The Mi 3 is listed with 16GB of inbuilt storage with no expandable storage support.

It sports a 13-megapixel rear camera featuring a f/2.2 aperture and dual-LED flash while the front houses a 2-megapixel camera. It is backed by a 3050mAh battery. The Mi 3 measures 144x73.6x8.1mm and weighs 145 grams. It will be available in Metallic Grey colour.

Apple seeks to secure iPhone supply chain with acquisition of Japanese chip venture

The future of Apple Inc's supply chain for its flagship smartphones has come under industry scrutiny as people familiar with the matter said Apple is in talks to buy control of a Japanese venture that makes key semiconductors for its iPhone screens.

The talks on what would be a rare acquisition in Japan for the U.S. technology giant come as competition heats up in the smartphone industry, with pressure to produce larger, sharper and less battery-draining screens. That makes the advanced chips made by the Renesas Electronics Corp division all the more valuable in future.

Renesas, a loss-making Japanese chipmaker that is restructuring to focus on its core auto business, is also in talks with other companies on selling its 55 percent stake in the chip division, known as Renesas SP Driver, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The people did not name the other companies, nor indicate the current status of the talks.

Desire for control over a venture that makes all the display control chips for the iPhone as Applebattles rival products from the likes of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd makes a compelling case for Apple to seek a deal, industry officials and analysts said.

"It (Apple) certainly might not be happy that someone else might want it (the venture)," said Damian Thong, analyst at Macquarie.

"Apple routinely buys in key technology components and software which they feel are important for the development of their products. It's not new. What is unusual is that they're doing it in the context of a Japanese firm."

Renesas said on Wednesday it was considering selling the Renesas SP Driver unit, but declined to comment further.

Apple did not respond to an email seeking comment.

'Grave significance'
The Nikkei business daily, which was first to report on the talks, said Apple could buy the Renesas stake for 50 billion yen by summer. It added that Sharp Corp could also sell its 25 percent stake if requested to do so by Apple. Taiwan's Powerchip owns the remaining stake.

Shares of Renesas surged after the report by as much as 19 percent to 934 yen, their highest in more than three years. They pared those gains to end up 6 percent at 831 yen, compared with a 1 percent rise in the benchmark Nikkei average.

A deal by Apple would be a rare foray into a Japanese technology industry that has suffered from aggressive competition by ambitious rivals like Samsung Electronics in the last decade.

Renesas, formed from struggling chip units at conglomerates Hitachi Ltd, Mitsubishi Electric Corp and NEC Corp, has racked up nearly 650 billion yen in net losses over the last eight years.

Sharp has also posted heavy losses in recent years.

Renesas SP Driver, the largest maker of chips used to control mobile device screens, supplies all three of the companies that make displays for the iPhone, industry sources say: Sharp, Japan Display Inc and South Korea's LG Display Co Ltd.

"There's no doubt that, for Apple, the question of who buys Renesas SP is a matter of grave significance," said one Japanese display industry source, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Control over the supply chain has become increasingly crucial among smartphone makers. While up to now Apple has relied on outside suppliers for many key parts, Samsung Electronics makes vital parts for its Galaxy smartphones, from screens to chips to capacitors, in-house. That gives it greater control over costs, production schedules and specifications, as well as product information.

The business at the centre of the talks has its admirers, industry watchers say,

"Renesas SP Driver is strong in technology for LCD (panel drivers," said one industry analyst, who declined to be named. "Other driver makers can't catch up to its technology," he said, emphasising its strength in high resolution and power-saving features.

WWDC 2014 dates confirmed, tickets by random selection

Apple has announced dates for its annual World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC). The WWDC 2014 conference will be held from 2 June to 6 June at San Francisco's Moscone West exhibition centre.

The Cupertino-based company said in a press note, "At this year's five-day conference, developers from around the world will learn about the future of iOS and OS X, giving them the latest tools and technologies to continue creating the most innovative apps for the millions of iOS and Mac customers worldwide."

Apple has revealed that this year's WWDC conference will see about 100 technical sessions and over 1,000 Apple engineers.

Notably, the tickets for WWDC 2013 - the 24th edition of Apple's annual developers conference, were sold out in a record 90 seconds. As a comparison, WWDC 2012, the 23rd edition of Apple's annual developers conference, was sold out in 1 hour 43 minutes.

It seems Apple, considering the rush, has decided to push for a new strategy for attendees -seemingly following in Google's footsteps. The company has announced random selection of tickets to attendees.

The company notes in a statement, "Developers can apply for tickets via the WWDC website now through Monday, 7 April 2014 at 10:00 a.m. PDT, and tickets will be issued to attendees through random selection. Developers will know their status by Monday, April 7 at 5:00 p.m. PDT."

Google had also announced a similar system in March for its I/O 2014 conference, where after registration attendees would be selected at random.

Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing said in the statement, "We have the most amazing developer community in the world and have a great week planned for them. Every year the WWDC audience becomes more diverse, with developers from almost every discipline you can imagine and coming from every corner of the globe. We look forward to sharing with them our latest advances in iOS and OS X so they can create the next generation of great apps."

At WWDC 2013, Apple unveiled iOS 7 with a complete UI overhaul, apart from iTunes Radio free music streaming service and its new line of OS X Mavericks and Mac Pro.

iOS 7 bug reportedly allows Find My iPhone to be disabled without password

As a security feature, requiring people to enter the password of their Apple ID before disabling Find My iPhone is a helpful move, as it means that someone can't just steal your phone and disable the only methods available to find it. However, a new report on 9to5mac shows that this is actually pretty easy to circumvent.

The whole process seems really simple, and apparently just needs access to the phone's settings menu. Once in, you can go to iCloud settings, and then simultaneously disable Find My iPhone and tap "delete account". When you're asked for the password, reboot the device and you can repeat the process, and remove the account. This means that someone with access to the phone can create a new account on your device, and you've got no means to track it.

While the iOS 7 bug will likely be patched out by Apple soon, it highlights the importance of putting a passcode on your phone, or if you have an iPhone 5s, using the TouchID sensor to unlock the phone. These are very basic security measures everyone should take, but would still be more than enough to completely stop an exploit like this in its tracks.

Apple released iOS version 7.0.6 as a patch to provide 'a fix for SSL connection verification', a bug that possibly left email and other encrypted communication open to hacking if the user was connected to an unsecured Wi-Fi network.

Apple acquires Novauris speech recognition firm to work on Siri

While work on the development of the iPhone 6 might currently be in overdrive, Apple had quietly in the fall of last year gone on to purchase an automatic speech recognition technology company called Novauris Technologies.

Born out of Dragon Systems R&D UK Ltd, Novauris currently has Yoon Kim (CEO), Melvyn Hunt (co-founder) and John Bridle (co-founder) at the helm of affairs. After being acquired last year by Apple, it now has offices in both the UK and the US.

According to a report by Techcrunch, the team now works on helping improve Siri. On being contacted by Techcrunch, Apple gave further proof to the acquisition by saying that it 'buys smaller companies from time to time.' Of course it refused to give out any terms or details of the actual deal.

Novauris has been around since 2002 when the team from the erstwhile British voice and dictation software firm, Dragon Systems regrouped under Jim Baker to found Novauris Technologies. It was only after being purchased out by Bridle and Hunt, in 2004, that Kim came on board as CEO.

Why is Novauris important to Apple? For starters it has a huge database of automatic speech recognition (ASR) technology. Apple had also tried to acquire Nuance, the technology that beats at the heart of Siri. While the partnership with Nuance continues, the acquisition of Novauris will ensure that Apple will have more in house tech and research to improve its voice assistant Siri.

Novauris itself has quite an impressive customer sheet that includes the likes of Verizon Wireless, Panasonic, Samsung, BMW amongst others. Its products are supported on the iOS and the iPhone, it has operated in the embedded space ASR (NovaSearch Compact) as well as the server space ASR (NovaSearch Server).

Some of its apps include a London guide 'Speak&Go London', and also the ASR software-developed in partnership with Panasonic - Novalite. In 2012, it collaborated with Existor, to build a Siri-esque device. The languages supported on its voice recognition products, include US, UK and Singapore English, German, Canadian French, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish, Mexican amongst others.

Given its impressive profile Novauris' ASR technology will be a huge boost for Apple especially since the latest variant of the iPhone is scheduled to release later this year. Will new changes be incorporated into Siri, or is Apple planning something different? How will the team from Novauris fit into Apple's plans? These are all questions that would make for interesting discussions regarding Apple's future