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| Sharp’s Feel UX Android skin takes Android customization to a whole new level Posted: 18 Jun 2012 08:21 AM PDT  While Sharp has not had much of an impact on the Android world outside of Japan, that’s not stopping them from teaming up with frog to deliver a “new Android smartphone experience that is easy to use, highly personalized, and visually stunning.” Sharp has been using custom skins on their Android devices for some time, but the new Feel UX takes things to a whole new level. Sharp and frog have decided to break away from the traditional Android UX by removing the customization home screen and replacing it by categories which divide your apps, widgets, and shortcuts. Within these categories, users can customize the location of their apps, create folders, organize and resize widgets. Rather than explaining it all, take a look at the video below. Feel US will be available on Sharp’s new Aquos Android phones in Japan later this summer. What do you think of Sharp’s new Feel UX? Have they taken Android customization too far or should other OEMs be taking notes if they truly want to offer a unique Android experience on their devices? Feel UX feature highlights
frog Redefines Android Experience The new Sharp AQUOS smartphones with Feel UX, designed by frog, will be available in Japan summer of 2012. TOKYO, June 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Leading design and innovation firm frog today announced that it has partnered with Sharp Corporation (Sharp) to create “Feel UX”, a new Android smartphone experience that is easy to use, highly personalized, and visually stunning. The collaboration brings together a global interdisciplinary team of strategists, designers, and engineers across both companies to design a distinctive and meaningful connected experience for the next generation of Sharp’s AQUOS smartphones. According to global business analytics firm comScore, four out of five mobile phone users in Japan currently own a feature phone. However, in February 2012, the number of purchased smartphones surpassed the number of feature phones over the same period. This signals an ever-increasing importance for handset manufacturers to design and develop compelling and differentiated smartphone experiences for consumers. “To capture the expanding market of smartphone users, we wanted the new Sharp AQUOS handsets to be a unique kind of Android experience, to look and feel different and standout from competitors,” said Paul Pugh, Vice President, Creative, Software Innovation at frog. “By simplifying the interaction model and reducing clutter through a more curated experience, it will be immediately apparent to customers how to use the phones and make them more personal. In addition, the design caters to current Android users by giving them new tools to organize and optimize their handsets, while personalizing the phone in ways not previously possible.” The newly designed “Feel UX” for Sharp’s AQUOS smartphones will be available in Japan during the summer of 2012 and include the following features: Personalized and innovative lock-screen experience, allowing users to browse photos and widgets without unlocking the devices “frog was chosen as Sharp’s innovation partner because of the company’s unique combination of consumer insights, strategy, design, and software engineering capabilities,” said Itsuki Kouchi, Division Deputy General Manager, Global Product Development Center at Sharp. “Through our collaboration with frog, we have adopted an advanced approach to Android’s concept, features, and philosophy, creating a distinctive device that will ultimately increase the life of the product and enhance customer satisfaction.”
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| Nexus 7 makes an appearance in Picasa Web Albums Posted: 18 Jun 2012 06:36 AM PDT  In case any of you curmudgeons were still doubting the existence of a 7″ Nexus Tablet, more evidence is mounting for the soon to be announced slate. A picture of a ceiling was taken from inside Google’s Building 44, and EXIF data suggests the pictures were taken from a device named Nexus 7. While EXIF data are easy to manipulate, The Verge suggests the pictures are likely legitimate when you consider that the photographer’s Google+ account has several other Google employees in his circles.
The Nexus 7 should be making an appearance at Google I/O later this month, with a widespread release slated for July. With the Nexus 7, Google is hoping to get more users to adopt Android tablets by offering high-range components with a $150-200 pricetag. We’ll be bringing you all the news, Nexus 7 and otherwise, from Google I/O, set for June 27th in San Francisco.
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