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Sharp introduces the Feel UX, a new Android UI overlay for its Aquos smartphones
Sharp is a brand that we associate more with television sets rather than its line of Android phones, but the company is determined to capture a slice of the ever expanding smartphone market. The first step towards that goal is to create a unique Android experience that looks and feels different from what the competitors are offering. Taking inspiration of HTC’s Sense and Samsung’s TouchWiz UIs, Sharp is introducing, the Feel UX, a new user interface for its Android-powered Aquos series smartphones.
Developed together with Frog, a software design company based in San Francisco, the Feel UX was built with a simplified interaction model in mind. Their vision was to create a sleek line of smartphones that is easy to use, yet offers stunning visuals and a highly interactive experience.
The simplistic look of the Feel UX is dominated by large icons. Users will be able to browse photos and access widgets without unlocking the device. There’s a real-time weather display with animation that dynamically changes according to real-time weather patterns, neutral-color visuals, and a streamlined home space that is accessible for beginners, but offers high flexibility for advanced users.
The Feel UX will make its debut on seven of Sharp’s Aquos smartphones in Japan, this summer. It’s currently unknown when the new UI overlay will be available on the company’s other Android offerings worldwide. The last time we heard about Sharp Aquos in the US was when one model of the series, the Aquos SH-01D, made a stop at FCC back in November of last year. Despite its rather impressive specs on paper, such as a 4.5-inch HD 3D display and a 12MP shooter, we haven’t heard much about the device over the last months.
It’d be quite a while before we see this new UI coming out of Japan, but how do you like what you see so far of Sharp’s Feel UX?