Preview of Sharp Galapagos Android Devices
Introduction
The “Galapagos” is Sharp’s new entry into the burgeoning Android phone market. Does it have what it takes to beat the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S? With 3D capability and the latest Android operating system, the Sharp Galagapos may be able to put up a good fight, tongue twisting name notwithstanding. Here is a preview of what Sharp has in store for us.
Design
“Galapagos”, a strange name to say the least, is Sharp’s rather convoluted moniker for its new Android phones. “Galapagos”, in case you’re wondering, was apparently named after the Pacific Islands that inspired Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, with the the new phones having evolved to bring fresh, new experiences to the user.
The new experience in this case, which Sharp is hoping will help distinguish them out of the ordinary, is a 3D screen. If you think you will look cool wearing 3D glasses while answering your phone you are out of luck. The Galapagos phones will allow you to enjoy the mobile phone experience in all three dimensions without the use of glasses thanks to the use of autostereoscopic technology. As Sharp makes a similar screen for the Nintendo 3DS, it presumably didn’t have too much of a problem fitting the same technology to the new phone models.
Features
The phones come in two models: the 003SH, which only has a touchscreen and the 005SH, which has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. They will have 3.8 inch WVGA displays have a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels but there is more to these phones than a fancy screen. The Galapagos boasts integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, assisted GPS, 7.2 Mbps WCDMA broadband and SDHC-capable microSD slots. Both models will be powered by a 1Ghz Snapdragon CPU running Android 2.2, with the 8 megapixel camera on the 005SH and the 9.6 megapixel camera on the 003SH allowing you to capture fantastic images and 720p video in their pristine glory.
More Features
Perhaps mindful of the increased competition in this segment of the market, Sharp has bundled some interesting games such as Mega Man, Ghosts ‘n Goblins: Gold Knights, and Resident Evil: Degeneration from Capcom in to the Galapagos phones to show off the 3D capabilities, although it remains to be seen what they will contain when the devices hit the US and Europe. However, if you are disturbed by the sight of dead people, bombs and assorted wallpaper hurling themselves at you, there is the option of switching to 2D and restoring some sanity to your mobile experience. But will Sharp succeed in this highly competitive market, or will the glasses free 3D phone prove to just be a passing fad? Fittingly enough, we can be only sure that the fittest will survive.
References
https://www.engadget.com/2010/11/04/sharp-galapagos-003sh-and-005sh-bring-glasses-free-3d-to-japanes/
