eSIM Studios
Most modern phones have big displays and access to millions of apps. But there are a growing number of niche phones aimed at folks looking for mobile devices that are a little less capable. The idea is that a phone without social media apps or maybe even a web browser will be a little less addictive, while still letting you talk, text, and stream music on the go.
The Sidephone is an upcoming phone that stands out for a few reasons. First unveiled earlier this year, it has a 2.8 inch display and a number pad, making it look more like a classic Nokia-like candy bar-style dumb phone than a modern smartphone. That number pad though? It can be swapped for different input modules. And while the Sidephone runs an Android-based operating system, it's been stripped down to provide a more distraction-free experience (and to play well with a small screen). Now the folks at Sidephone have shared a demo video that shows the software in action.
The operating system basically looks like Android, because it is. There's a stock Android-style lock screen, Quick Settings drop-down panel, and home screen launcher with support for widgets, app icons, and multi-page layouts.
But there's no Google Play Store or other Google apps and services. There are only a handful of applications installed by default, including camera, photo gallery, clock, contact, file browser, SMS, and phone apps. There's no web browser installed by default.
You can install a web browser and some other applications from an App Library, which features a small number of curated applications. The repository also includes Olauncher, which is an even simpler home screen & app launcher for folks that want an even simpler user interface.
Don't want to be tempted by even the possibility of installing a web browser on your distraction-free phone? You can actually remove the browser or other apps from the repository so that they're no longer even visible in the list of installable apps. You can re-add them by visiting the Sidephone website and scanning a QR code.
On the other hand if there are some apps that you'd prefer not to live without, you can sideload pretty much any Android app – since this phone doesn't include Google Mobile Services, it won't be subject to the restrictions on sideloading that Google plans to impose next year. But not all apps are going to play well with a 2.8 inch display. If nothing else, the screen is so small that if you bring up an on-screen keyboard for typing, it's going to cover most of the display.
One of the most interesting things about the Sidephone's operating system is a key remapping feature baked into the Settings app. It will let you change the functionality of any key. Want to use the volume buttons to skip forward or backward when playing media? You can use the remapping function for that. Want to remap the # key to function as Caps Lock? That's possible too.
The Sidephone is expected to launch later this year for around $249. Specs are expected to include:
A prototype of the phone measures 126 x 55 x 12.5mm (4.96″ x 2.17″ x 0.49″), making it pretty small by modern smartphone standards (if a bit on the thick side).
via NotebookCheck
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