Sense UI vs Android UI

For those of you not familiar with HTC’s, Motorola’s, and other manufacturer’s phones running what is called the “Android OS”, here’s a quick rundown of what it is and why the two versions of it are so great.

But first, vocabulary you’re going to want to familiarize yourself with:

Important Terms

• Android OS: Google’s open-source operating system based on Linux and used by cell phone users all over the world
• Sense UI: a user interface designed and implemented by HTC that runs on all HTC-branded phones and the Google Nexus One, laid over the default Android interface
• Android UI: the user interface designed and implemented into the core Android OS by Google, used on all other Android phoness
• MotoBlur UI: a third, less common UI, very social networking-based, for phones like the Cliq, Devour, and Backflip

Phones

• Droid: a Motorola phone for the Verizon Wireless network, one of the most powerful Android-branded consumer phones, with slide-out keyboard
• Nexus One: Google’s first cell phone, running on T-Mobile, one of the most powerful Android phones currently available
• Hero: a popular HTC phone for the Sprint and GSM networks, with the bottom “lip”
• Eris: another Verizon Wireless Android device, running Android v1.6, has a Nexus One-like form factor
• Desire/Legend: two similar HTC phones that have yet to be released; promise to be the best Android phones yet
• Cliq: a Motorola slider phone running on T-Mobile, includes the MotoBlur UI
• Devour: a Motorola slider phone with MotoBlur, coined “the Droid’s little brother”, running on Verizon Wireless
• Backflip: AT&T’s first Android phone, includes the MotoBlur UI and a very unique design

So, what is the Android UI? Basically, it’s what most Android users are seeing on their phones if they have any phone such as the Motorola Droid and Google G1. The real distinguishing feature about the Android UI is how industrial it looks. It’s very clean-cut, uses matte colors, orange highlights, green checkmark and radio buttons, and a lot of silver and dark grey interface elements. Here’s an example:

This is an example of the 2.0 firmware Android lockscreen, found on the Motorola Droid. This is one of the better examples of the Android v2.0 UI’s flashy interface elements.

This shows what the screen on a Droid might look like while docked in a desktop dock. Android v2.0+ has a unique interface when docked that allows users to access, music, photo slideshows, and alarm clock settings, as well as weather, straight from the dock interface.

This is what a typical Android v2.0+ settings menu looks like. As all Android-based interfaces, it is very simple, easy to navigate, and the icon metaphors are east to decipher.

This is an example of the older v1.5 – v1.6 Android interface. Very plain, and sort of feels like an old Linux distribution. Good thing, too, because the Android OS is actually based on Linux.

So all in all, the default Android interface has come a long way from 1.5 to 2.0, and we have yet to see a good many changes come with 2.1 (whenever that is). Maybe not interface-related changes, per say, but it’s very possible that the Droid, which runs Android v2.0.1 and the default Android UI, might get some sort of Sense UI upgrade in the near future.

And now, Sense UI… My favorite. The Sense UI is an HTC-created interface that is laid over the Android system to make it look beautiful. Some people may disagree, but this being my personal blog, if you don’t like the Sense UI, you have no soul, and no sense of great design. Sense is gorgeous. Let me explain.

Let’s start with the lock screen.

It’s simple, it’s elegant, and it’s not obtrusive if you’ve got a background image you want to see when you turn your phone on.

Press the bar and drag down to unlock the phone. This version is the HTC Hero version of the lockscreen. The Droid Eris has more of a curved version of the clock/unlock bar that’s shown above.

This is what a Sense UI phone’s home screen looks like. The icons are a style fitting of the phone, and the bottom bar allows for quick access to applications, phone functions, and settings. The flip clock/weather widget on the top animates when the time or weather changes. Pretty cool. When I had my Eris (before I switched to the Droid), that was my favorite feature.

This is the “new” Sense UI, which people are guessing will be updated later this year. It’s codenamed “Espresso”, and is generally a nicer-looking update to the current Sense UI. As long as it has that widget… :p

So, to close, I hope you learned a bit about the two Android interfaces available to consumers on current Android-based phones. I know I didn’t cover everything there is to know about the UI’s, nor did I explain the (form) features of the phones that factor into the decision to run Sense or not, but that may be for another time. Until my next post.

[Via http://chrisdazzo.wordpress.com]

HTC: We have our own patents

Although not disclosing too much information, HTC don’t seem to be too worried about Apple’s ‘let’s sue because we’re scared’ tactics.

In an article on the Mobile Blog, HTC have said they will protect its’ innovations as creations and that they have their own patents. Google are also said to stand strongly behind HTC on the issue – and why wouldn’t they seeing as they develop the Android system themselves.

Read the full article here

[Via http://desirefanatics.wordpress.com]

Droid Eris 2.1 Leaked

Few weeks ago I mentioned how some of the Droid Eris users were getting Android 2.1 OS update. Some of us began to wonder if the OTA update was finally being delivered to the Droid Eris users. But that wasn’t the case. With Android 2.1 OS OTA around the corner we come across leaked 2.1 OS update. Yesterday an HTC employee in China supposedly posted the ROM on XDA, what he posted was a valid 2.1 OS.

You can follow these directions to get your very own Android 2.1 OS. Follow these simple direction.

You can always go back to the original source for help XDA-Developers

Motorola Droid users you’re in for a surprise too. Phandroid has mentioned that:

Over at DroidLife, Kellex had to do a factory reset on his Droid and used the “fresh start” as an opportunity to test out the Motorola Droid 2.1 Update that had been leaked and posted a few days ago.

You can follow those links and get yourself started on it too.

-=VERY IMPORTANT=-

I highly recommend that you back up everything from your device before performing any of these steps.

A lot of you have been asking if you update your Droid Eris on your own, will you still be able to get the VZWs (Big Red) official Android 2.1 OS push?

The answer is no. If you loaded this IMG file you should not receive the OTA update when Verizon pushes it. Your phone will show that it is already up to date. Unless they change something major you will have to revert back to 1.5 and then wait for the OTA. But with this IMG you should be able to receive any future fixes from Big Red just not the 2.1.

I was going to give this a shot but I think I’ll wait for the official release by VZW. If the Big Red takes forever with the  official push then I’ll just update it myself.

VIA | XDA Forum, Thekrtek, Phandroid

[Via http://prresblog.wordpress.com]

5Words: Being Sued is a Drag

HTC won’t enjoy Apple lawsuit.

A Palm Pre-like BlackBerry slider?

Daily Show, Colbert depart Hulu.

Twitter and Microsoft: crazy idea?

Analyst: Microsoft Palm buyout unlikely.

Twitter employee quits his blog.

Western Digital’s Solid State Drives.

Apple and Amazon’s music squabble.

_______________________

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[Via http://technologizer.com]

The Connection

Making that connection with a consumer is what I love most about advertising. The ability to take a meaningless product and give it a life outside of its packaging. What is for sale is no longer an item for sale. There is no monetary value attached to it because no price could be put on such a product that defines you, right? That is advertising to me and that is why I want to pursue my career in such a hardworking and competitive industry. I can’t wait to start.

Below are a few of the ads that produce that connection or feeling I am talking about. These are some of the advertisements I most admire.

HTC – “You”

Agency: http://www.deutschinc.com/

Travelers – “Prized Possession”

Nike – “Move”

I remember seeing this commercial when I was in high school and watched it over and over again. Still one of my all time favorites.

[Via http://2guys2jobs1city.wordpress.com]

Facts about the HTC Desire, Legend and HD mini you may not have known

A few facts about the HTC Desire, Legend and HD mini that you may not have been aware of.

HTC HD mini

• You can use it as a WiFi router
• The phone antenna is actually on the removable back cover
• HTC designed the inside to be as beautiful on the inside as it is outside

HTC Legend

• The device chassis is crafted out of a single block of aluminum.
• The battery door houses the antenna for the phone.
• HTC Leap is installed, which means if you pinch the screen all of your home screens will be displayed.

HTC Desire

• The web browser installed is a bespoke one designed by HTC
• Press and hold on word on a web page and a contextual menu will be displayed that allows you to copy the word, look it up on Wikipedia, in a dictionary or translate it.

[Via http://blog.clove.co.uk]

The Importance of Accreditations

When crossing borders to obtain healthcare many patients are enticed by the cheaper price and the higher personal comfort that many healthcare facilities can offer. However, to find information about patient safety regulations and quality of the provider, consumers are compelled to do their own research.

As a help, there are several healthcare organizations that guide, inspect and educate healthcare providers to obtain and maintain the high standards of patient care and safety. One of the best symbols for this is International Accreditation.

Accreditation is a process of both internal and external evaluation used by healthcare organizations to accurately assess their level of performance in relation to established standards. It is important to remember that medical standards vary around the world, and the practice of international accreditation is fairly new.

To look for the provider’s international accreditation should be an important factor in the patient’s decision making. To make things more complicated for the patient there is not one single organization responsible for accrediting the providers and ensuring that their operating standards are wholly safe and ethical. However, with this in mind, there are several organizations that perform international accreditation.

Below is a list of the most common global accreditation organizations:

Joint Commission International (JCI), based in the U.S.

Australian Council for Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI), based in Australia

HealtCare Tourism International (HTC), based in the U.S.

The United Kingdom Accreditation Forum, based in the U.K.

The International Medical Travel Association, based in Singapore

Accreditation Canada, based in Canada

Several medical facilities also hold an ISO certification (International Organization for Standardization). However, ISO is not considered to be an international healtcare accreditation scheme.

[Via http://novasans.wordpress.com]