Funtouch OS is one of the meritorious figures along the way with vivo smartphone business. Although its version number is much smaller than that of MIUI, Flyme and other peers, it is also a very mature customized ROM. If the manufacturer's hardware and software are designed for each other, the vivo X6 and X6 Plus with 4GB of memory launched at the end of 2015 should be the most suitable hardware for Funtouch OS in service.
So this report uses vivo X6 as the hardware benchmark to see the performance of Funtouch OS 2.5 in the form of evaluation report.
Operation logic and system UI
Funtouch OS was born in 2013. Today, three years later, it has been updated to Funtouch OS2.5. In the system design, there are many UI compromises made for ease of use and the habits of old users. Vivo's view is that practicality has a higher priority.
In terms of operation logic, vivo still retains the three key of Android and the setting key, and the multi task page can still be called by long pressing the home key. The desktop keeps the habit of using the old version of Android. Click the setting key to add plug-ins, change wallpaper, etc., but long press the blank desktop will not have any reaction. In addition, the OK key in the pop-up window is on the left by default, which is the same as iOS, but contrary to Android peers, Android users need a little time to adapt to their first use.
Funtouch OS is based on the new Android 5.1 kernel, but it does not use the gorgeous and detailed animation of the native system. The animation is simple and light, which greatly reduces the system's requirements for performance.
In terms of UI, the updated system has a stronger tendency to flatten. The flat and simple application icons are darker than their peers in terms of color and appear more calm.
The main color of the system background is silver gray, but it is rare that Funtouch still retains the horizontal and vertical lines used to separate elements. Simple and flat, but with the separation lines commonly used in the old style, this is the main source of visual incompatibility, but this cognitive burden is much smaller than the overall flattening. At least you can distinguish where the buttons and operation areas are at a glance.
Basic application
Dial up, SMS, cloud services
Weather, compass, recorder
Browser, e-book, photo album puzzle function
Calendar, player, alarm clock
In terms of its own applications, Funtouch OS is completely self-sufficient, and almost all its own applications are made at home, MIUI、 The input method field that the hammer ROM can't touch is no exception. The built-in applications are mainly simple and easy to use. The UI style is highly unified, and there are not many advanced functions. However, the UI design and function layout are traditional and familiar, and the cognitive threshold is low.
Theme store
The system has its own theme store, with its own font modification function, and also has a theme ecosystem that requires virtual currency to pay for purchase. It even has a scene theme (that is, an interesting desktop embedded with an application shortcut in a specific scene of a large wallpaper). It is the only customized ROM that can compete with MIUI in the number and quality of themes for the time being.
The characteristics of its own application can be summarized as follows:
Simple function: It is estimated that there is no need to use this to make profits. The app store is surprisingly simple and clean. There is no ranking list or special recommendation. It just focuses on letting users find applications. It is much simpler and more comfortable than products like App Treasure and Pea Pod.
The interface is tiled without scrolling: the interface is designed to be tiled as far as possible to avoid the second click, multiple menus and scrolling. The alarm clock application also has only one page. Repeated dates can be listed directly without entering the secondary menu and scrolling.
Dialing, calendar, compass and weather are all very simple, and SMS only has the function of inserting multiple contents in the attachment item. There will be no contradiction between the simple functions of the hammer and the huge function expansion.
Camera, camera function, filter
When it comes to traditional needs, advanced functions will be added in moderation. The photo album has its own puzzle function. The camera has been greatly reduced, and even the resolution control has not been found. However, the scene mode is quite rich. The default place is the filter, which has become a watermark, ranging from cute to non mainstream watermarks. It is estimated that it will be very popular with the target users. It may be that the offline tradition is grand, so there are a lot of offline and after-sales related contents in the system. The electronic manual, electronic warranty card, etc. are quite detailed.
System functions and details
Notification bar and pull-up control center
It is estimated that Funtouch OS is a customized ROM with the deepest integration of iOS features. There are pull-down notification bar and pull-up control center. The notification bar has a schedule list but cannot be customized. The pull-up bar can quickly adjust the brightness and has a shortcut switch button. However, there are many adjustments and compromises for ease of use and care for old users:
The all black notification bar and the all white pull-up bar are slightly separated, and the transparency is not high. In order to accommodate Android users' cognitive preferences, music control is still in the notice bar;
The screenshot mode is the same as that of Apple, which is a rare Android power+home button, and it also has a certain sense of fragmentation when used;
The highly enhanced and improved pull-up control center places functions such as quick switch, flashlight, and one button background clearing in one column, which lowers the height and improves the single hand operability, and the button sequence can be customized. Of course, it can also be regarded as a multitasking interface with shortcut buttons, and the gesture can be called out just like flyme.
Also for the sake of practicality, the multi task list does not use task cards, but more efficient application icons like the old version. It is a small pity that you can kill tasks on the top, but there is no drop-down resident background function. Although not cool, the operation efficiency is significantly higher.
There are only two pages for all settings
The setting menu is highly simplified and unified. The two page primary setting items are probably the shortest in the Android camp. Even if the setting module is not named, the distinction between the four modules is clear enough. This is an ease of use priority system, and the settings at the bottom of the system and a number of advanced functions are undoubtedly placed at the back. Perhaps to take care of old users, it also retains many features of previous Android:
Long press the Home key to call up the multitasking interface with shortcut buttons. Of course, it is actually the control center that is called up.
It originally supported double clicking the desktop lock screen, but an additional one button lock screen button was placed on the desktop.
Press and hold the setting key to call out the voice assistant, etc.
In addition, it is worth mentioning that the update route of system components such as App Store, Calendar and iManager is similar to that of Google. They can be updated independently outside the system, instead of upgrading the entire system just to upgrade one or two small functions like MIUI and Flyme. This is also an important reason for the slow increase of the version number of Funtouch OS, but the use experience is better than the hype. It is better to upgrade a painless system version every Friday. It seems that only Samsung is using similar strategies in the Android camp.
Advanced Features
I Housekeeper, flow management item, power management
Many of the advanced functions of Funtouch OS are concentrated in the new iManager, which has a tendency to incorporate menu items. Perhaps to bridge the gap between advanced and simple, all advanced functions have animated displays or detailed text descriptions, which are relatively rare in domestic ROMs.
Although no geek has ever been advertised, there are more advanced functions of gesture operation and geek flavor in Funtouch OS than most peers:
The screen capture function is even more abundant than that of Samsung Note series and Hammer ROM. In addition to the screen capture of rolling screen capture pattern, there is also screen recording, which also supports recording;
Graphical and intuitive electricity prediction and analysis;
The online application shows that this is a function that may not be provided by third-party applications;
The system's own information also includes CPU real-time data, although this is not significant;
After the fingerprint lock is set, the alternative scheme has a pattern in addition to the password;
Not only notifications and floating windows can be controlled, but even desktop shortcuts can be controlled;
It may be that the target users use TF cards to expand in a high proportion, the SD card management function is highly enhanced, with its own support for application transfer, and the file manager has a striking SD card label;
Factory applications can be managed by themselves, which is more conscientious than those systems that uninstall by themselves but pop up pre installed applications after restoring factory settings;
Voice assistant can be started when it is close to the ear. This is the most practical voice control mode outdoors. Speech recognition that is directly and normally open under the light screen.
Somatosensory operation setting item
Funtouch OS has the earliest and most complete somatosensory function in China, double click on black screen and bright screen, rest screen operation (black screen up and down stroke or gesture trigger function), isolated operation (hand scanning to view notification or unlock), cover screen mute and a lot of other options.
In addition, this is the only Android customized ROM that directly makes the file directory into Chinese.
Fluency
Although the system has many advanced functions, the UI and architecture of the system itself are very lightweight, and even the entry-level machine with a lower configuration does not have too much pressure to run. The vivo X6/X6 Plus is equipped with 4GB of memory. In addition, the system itself is lightweight, so users do not need to manually clean the background. 2.6 GB is available when starting up. Even if all the built-in applications are opened, the available memory exceeds 1.5 GB, leaving a huge surplus for third-party applications and games,
The response speed of the system is very high. Unless the background opens Taobao, Tieba and other cancer applications at the same time, you will not feel any fluency problems. Double click wake-up and lock screen respond quickly. If the screen is black again, there will be a password lock soon, so even if the sensitivity is improved, there will be no previous problem of mistakenly dialing the phone.
In addition, the scheme of back fingerprint identification should be mentioned. The front home key fingerprint identification needs to click the home key to wake up the machine, but the back scheme can be unlocked by putting a finger on it. In the process, there is no need to press the physical button, and no additional sliding screen unlocking is required. The speed and experience of entering the desktop are even faster and simpler than those without encryption. The Vivo X6's impressive fingerprint recognition speed also gives people a certain bonus to the smoothness of the machine.
summary
Funtouch OS is a carefully customized ROM. When you use it, you can sometimes feel the design team's consideration and choice between function, UI and ease of use: The flat and simple icon style tries to win over young users, but for Xiaobai and the previous generation of users, it adds rare separation lines and darkens the color matching to a certain extent. The system is characterized by ease of use and simplicity, but many gestures and advanced functions designed for efficiency are left in the settings.
Of course, many customized ROMs have the following contradictions. Vivo's attitude seems to be trying to guide but not demanding: the multitasking interface and shortcut switch can be integrated, so long press the home key and pull up the control center are directly retained. After a long time, it will naturally use more convenient upward stroke trigger. Advanced functions such as gesture and somatosensory operation are not turned on by default, but detailed animation and text instructions are left.
Funtouch OS 2.5 is a little like the girl next door. The system does not look amazing, but it is very familiar and easy to use. On the balance of aesthetic and functional ease of use, it obviously tends to be easy to use and functional, and it is very grounded. If you really want to talk about the problem, it is the set key, long press of Home key and many other things that seem superfluous to advanced users, as well as the UI aesthetics that vary from person to person.
