Let's face it. The proprietary UIs used by manufacturers to customize the Android OS, such as HTC Sense and Samsung TouchWiz, haven't been the most popular ideas with users. Granted, overlays provide a way for the device manufacturer to stand out. But things have only been getting slightly better now, with the more streamlined HTC Sense 4.0 and Samsung TouchWiz Nature UX.

Luckily, the open-source nature of Android means that there are ways to get around the manufacturers intrusions into the Android experience. That of course doesn't mean that OEMs will stop tweaking their products, in the hope that consumers will one day find their overlays appealing.

According to an application found by PatentBolt, late last year, Samsung filed a patent describing a new way to organize and use folders in the TouchWiz UI. Some of the features, which also include 3D effects, would be quite amazing if implemented. Let's take a look at a few:

• Dragging an app icon over another would stack them on top of each other, giving a feel of a stack of cards.
• Opening/Expanding a folder is done by tapping the stack, which then opens up like an accordion. The “accordion” also folds back once done.
• Another method would be opening up the folder on a secondary screen. But this time, it includes 3D effects and animation when opening and closing the folder.
• A final suggested method features a vertical scrolling option, where you are scrolling up and down the folder, which is open on the homescreen itself (not as a secondary screen).

You can find PatentBolt's full findings, along with some more images that will help you understand the methods suggested by Samsung, here.

The race between manufacturers to become the best at all things Android has been going on for a while now, and even the seemingly small things like 3D animations could make the difference. When these particular features will be implemented, or if they'll ever be used at all, is yet to be seen. Anyone thinking Galaxy Note 2?

What are your thoughts? Which folder option among the three do you think is the best? Let us know in the comments section below.