According to a report of a survey currently underway by Google, the company is exploring a unique specialization for a smartphone. The survey seeks input on what would be considered a “YouTube Edition” of an Android smartphone. The concepts described in the survey cover software, interface and even potential hardware.
For consumers of content, the first feature of note is something called YouTwist. With YouTwist, a user merely has to rotate their smartphone to landscape orientation from the home screen to bring up a grid of YouTube videos that may be of interest. Some of the questions also refer to a dedicated hardware button to open up the YouTube app. That same button could also be used to quickly call up the video camera app via a method called YouCapture.
Another new concept is called Creator Connect that presents YouTube accounts across the top of the homescreen in an Instagram Stories type layout. Users can tap one of the icons to go directly to that creator's community feed in YouTube. A Live Lockscreen concept is also shown that gives users the ability to jump straight into YouTube from the lockscreen.
Outside of the new software being considered, the hardware for the phone itself appears to be on the mid-tier of the market. The screen, while a large 6.0 inches, is merely a regular full HD resolution instead of Quad HD, 4GB of RAM, a 3,700 mAh battery, a dual 12MP/5MP rear-facing camera and an 8MP front-facing camera. For this hardware, Google thinks pricing would come in between $360 and $400 USD.
Besides the ho-hum hardware, Google may also be considering making this YouTube Edition phone part of its Android One line of devices. That is based on one of the potential names proposed. In addition, Google also proposed “YouTube Edition by LG” and “YouTube Edition by Samsung” as candidate names.
For now, sources think the potential for a YouTube Edition phone is a preliminary concept and Google is really just testing the waters. Whether it makes it to an actual product for market remains to be seen.
If you could modify an Android phone for a more specific use, what would you propose?
source: Android Authority
