MWC 2011: Orange makes the homescreen smarter

Reveals new gesture-based UI and live wallpapers for Android

The 'Orange Gestures' UI lets users speed through to actions or apps with a single action. It provides 27 designs that can be assigned to anything from making a call to checking a widget to pulling up a contact.

This removes the need to scroll, search or click through multiple steps.

For example, you could draw a heart to phone your wife. Or an x to phone your ex.

ME’s news coverage of MWC is supported by NewBay

In a linked announcement,  Orange launched Live Wallpapers, which use visuals to demonstrate the functions of the phone. So, in one instance, a candle burns down in six stages, giving a true indication of battery life.

It also flickers as a user scrolls from left to right.

Five more designs will be rolled out across 2011.

Both products will be available to users of Orange Android Signature smartphones this year.
 
Yves Maitre, senior vice president, Orange Group Devices and Mobile Multimedia, said, “ We are continually looking at ways to bring added value to our customers through the Orange Homescreen, offering simple, differentiating services and improved functionality.

"The homescreen plays a fundamental role in our Signature strategy, introducing both new and relevant Orange and third party services to our customers."

ME’s news coverage of MWC is supported by NewBay, the leader in cloud-based digital content services. NewBay’s LifeCache white label platform enables operators and device makers to deliver a lifetime of content experiences across mobiles, PCs, tablets and TVs. Customers include T-Mobile, Telefónica O2, France Telecom Orange, AT&T, Telstra, LG and more.