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Love it or hate, Android is no stranger when it comes to UI’s. We first began seeing this from manufacturers like HTC who wanted to offer more features outside of stock Android and further differentiate themselves from their competitors by offering an enhanced user experience. Soon after Motorola jumped on the badwagon with Motoblur and soon after Samsung with their TouchWhiz UI. Whether or not these UI’s/themes/skins/launcher replacements actually enhance the user experience or hinder it is another talk for another time (but feel free to comment).
Well, it looks like we may start seeing carriers offer their own take on the Android UI. Sprint gave us a hint of this with their “Sprint ID” launcher replacement that essentially loads your homescreen with pre-configured app packs suited to each individual customers’ needs. Now, in Japan, there is a carrier called NTT Docomo who has just unveiled their Palette UI for Android which, like all UI’s, is aimed at simplifying and enhancing general ease of use on Android. Aside from the usual widgets and bubbled icons, Palette UI’s claim to fame is its handy app drawer that can group apps into categories and help you make sense of your growing app addiction. While mostly new to me, for some, this is nothing they haven’t seen on UI’s before like Motoblur, Timescape and even the new Sense which offer something similar.
NTT Docomo (I love saying that name) will be offering their Palette UI cross platform on devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S 2 and NEC Media. If you would like to see more, hit up the rather soothing video below and make sure to let us know what you think.
[Via Engadget]
I love Android, but I love the different UIs. I have been using Slidescreen for a while. Change is good. This looks great.
What really needs to be done is a completely revamped android UI… Cues need to be taken from CR’s and Manufacturers UI’s Stock android at the moment is so featureless in comparison to many others.
Its a little to Chinese-ee for me. Reminds me of a simpler MIUI rip. We can never have too many options though.
Huh? Chinese-ee? LOL, what makes it that?
I think because….. You know. Its in “Chinese.”
(Yes, I know its in Japanese but apparently @05b8beab78c0373e827c7f7ef1d27d1b:disqus doesn’t) =p
Chinese, Japanese, Dirty Knees, Look at these! lol
Thats a great idea :D
gotta say, i’m digging the organization of the app drawer. that’s a clever idea, and the pinch in to go to category is smart. I think ADW or Launcher Pro should incorporate something like this.
just install go launcher, it lets you create folders in the app drawer…
LG has exactly the same app drawer on their new phones with the same exact pinch to drop folders feature this has… exactly the same thing I believe….
samsung or LG make UI following docomo or AT&T(etc.)’s request. you should know that differences between producing and distribution. Their work fields are different.
laaaate, GO Launcher been allowed you to do this
Enhancing general use-paraphrase, that’s such a stupid thing to say, what in the hairy pile of shit do they think android spends it’s time doing? Do they think android sits around thinking up ways to make their ui generally LESS useful? There is absolutely no acceptable reason for any carrier or manufacturer to ruin android, at least none so far, “enhancing general ease of use” sure as shit isn’t an acceptable reason. Also, Chris Chavez, that history lesson in the first paragraph was so bland I expect my wife to serve it for dinner in the near future – bazing!! Seriously though after dragging through the first paragraph I was only capable of making it a few sentences into the second paragraph before posting this and falling asleeeeegjkdbsjdbsgsjsbsjdksnddjdjdbdbvajabshsjsbndfhickdndbdjdhxbzbjsjsbvzgxhdj
Change and these UI skins generally slow the release of Android updates. Users are at the whim of the phone manufacturer to get updates out.
I disagree. I think the only reason it seems that way is because manufacturers take shortcuts having control of the the actual firmware builds. If they built their UI correctly then it would be a lot easier for them to issue new versions of android and their UI. They also seem to like to incorporate requirements for their UIs in the kernel so that it makes it harder to move the UI Apk to other phones.