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Screenshots have leaked showing the redesigned TouchWiz UI on Samsung’s Galaxy S5 phone. Here’s what you should know about the new TouchWiz interface, based on the most interesting rumors and leaks.
1. Flat Icons Are Confirmed
Is Samsung lining up a redesign of its much-maligned TouchWiz UI? http://t.co/tyowDRr8R5 pic.twitter.com/7RijSRw2UJ
— Gizmodo UK (@GizmodoUK) February 11, 2014
Neowin reports that flat icons will definitely be a part of the new TouchWiz UI. The brightly colored icons bring a fresh, clean look to the interface, and many Android fans have reacted positively thus far.
2. 9 Different Focus Areas
Samsung to unveil revamped S Health app with new version of TouchWiz on Galaxy S5 http://t.co/UEIw9GrFXI
— Pocketlint (@Pocketlint) February 3, 2014
Android Spin notes that the new icon set for the Galaxy S5 is focused on nine main areas. They explain:
“Samsung is inviting everyone to tune into their Unpacked 5 event and the invite features presumably the 9 different focuses that they’ve employed for designing the Galaxy S5, which include: Speed, Outdoor, Curiosity, Fun, Social, Style, Privacy, Fitness and Life.
I’m most intrigued by fitness as Samsung hasn’t really alluded to any fitness-centric products in their repertoire, unless the Galaxy Gear 2 is going to be a glorified fitness tracker, but I guess we’ll see what they mean about this and all the other focuses at the Unpacked event.
The general appearance of the icons are also quite different from what we’re used to with Samsung, and hopefully they incorporate a lot of this in their actual UI.”
3. The TouchWiz UI Might Show Up In Other Places
Q of the day: Where are the #mobile devices from Samsung running Tizen OS?http://t.co/6ZySa8445f
— ITworld (@ITworld) February 12, 2014
Ubergizmo notes that, in addition to being featured on Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S5 smartphone, the TouchWiz UI might also show up on Tizen devices.
They write:
“Thanks to a leaked Tizen screenshot obtained by the folks at nowhereelse.fr, it [is] more or less confirmed that the icons used in the teaser image are indeed from Samsung’s upcoming new user interface that we might expect in Tizen devices and the Samsung Galaxy S5.”
Tizen is a Linux-based operating system for mobile devices. According to GSMArena, Samsung is expected to unveil their first Tizen smartphone in Barcelona at this month’s Mobile World Congress.
4. The UI Might Foreshadow Biometric Features
Samsung Galaxy S5 tipped to feature fingerprint scanner on bezel-free display http://t.co/6XMu4hSLPO
— NDTV Gadgets (@NDTVGadgets) February 12, 2014
In their coverage of the screenshot leak, TechRadar notes that the icon sets shown in the screenshot reflect Samsung’s focus on privacy and fitness tools. TechRadar even goes so far as to suggest that these icons might be foreshadowing the addition of fingerprint scanners to the Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone.
5. Nothing Is Final ‘Til Barcelona
Google allegedly pressures Samsung to tone down TouchWiz http://t.co/fZBaIxhXEw by @Skynet98 pic.twitter.com/KvTXQqAKpX
— RootzWiki (@RootzWiki) January 30, 2014
Despite all of the screenshot leaks and speculation, Samsung fans will have to wait until the Unpacked event on February 24 to see how the TouchWiz UI for the Galaxy S5 shakes out.
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Samsung TouchWiz UI Rumors & Leaks: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know