Verizon couldn't be dumber.

Verizon couldn't be dumber. - HTC Droid DNA

Anyone else see this?
http://www.droid-life.com/2012/12/03/no-verizon-the-droid-dna-doesnt-have-on-screen-navigation-keys/
I wish my Note 2 had two home keys and got .49Mbps. Fail.

Did not like them anyway. LOL

Lmao that's hilarious
Sent from my HTC Droid DNA

Am I the only one who prefers hardware buttons? I see on-screen buttons as a waste of screen space. I mean, I suppose you could make a phone slightly shorter (or the screen longer for non-DNA phones) but I think they use that extra space to pack in more hardware / a bigger battery. If for example the DNA has software keys and the phone was that much shorter (so the screen was just below the bottom of the phone) not only would the phone have to be thicker, but imagine how uncomfortable it would be to hold the phone one handed and reach those keys.

Soft keys provide much more utility because they can be modified and changed on the fly.
Not so for hardware keys. The JB keyboard is a perfect example. The 'back' soft key on the Gnex changes to a downward arrow to hide the keyboard when in use. If it stayed as a back softkey, it would give an impression that it leaves the app or goes to a previous screen. When the keys aren't needed, such as in a video, they can be hidden.
Soft keys are the future, IMO.

Hmm well most companies, even big name corporations, do make mistakes quite often. The graphics designer and the inspector of the ad must take the fault, not Verizon itself.
But eh I laughed at it

Well IF HTC ever decides to go all software keys, I'm just going to use GMD Gesture app to assign home back search and menu as gestures and remove software keys because I don't want to loose screen real-estate.

I would worry more about legacy menus chewing up your screen real estate.

adrynalyne said:
Soft keys provide much more utility because they can be modified and changed on the fly.
Not so for hardware keys. The JB keyboard is a perfect example. The 'back' soft key on the Gnex changes to a downward arrow to hide the keyboard when in use. If it stayed as a back softkey, it would give an impression that it leaves the app or goes to a previous screen. When the keys aren't needed, such as in a video, they can be hidden.
Soft keys are the future, IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
couldnt agree with you more.

adrynalyne said:
Soft keys provide much more utility because they can be modified and changed on the fly.
Not so for hardware keys. The JB keyboard is a perfect example. The 'back' soft key on the Gnex changes to a downward arrow to hide the keyboard when in use. If it stayed as a back softkey, it would give an impression that it leaves the app or goes to a previous screen. When the keys aren't needed, such as in a video, they can be hidden.
Soft keys are the future, IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back has always done this. I don't think that's confusing. And you can still customize hardware touch buttons, besides adding more of course. You can still make them do things with double taps and holding them. There always will be some sort of chin too for grip while held landscape, so they might as well be there to give you more screen space.

flaring afro said:
Back has always done this. I don't think that's confusing. And you can still customize hardware touch buttons, besides adding more of course. You can still make them do things with double taps and holding them. There always will be some sort of chin too for grip while held landscape, so they might as well be there to give you more screen space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back has always done what? Turned into a completely different icon to convey its intentions? I don't think so....unless on Nexus devices and JB.
You may be able to change hard key functions, but you cannot clarify their function by changing the icon/image. That is the problem.
Hard key function changes may be fine for us geeks, but the general public needs visual cues as well. They aren't going to understand that the button with a house on it does anything but go home. I'd wager a lot of them don't know about long presses either but that is a whole different can of worms again solvable by soft keys,
You could have soft keys change to a DIFFERENT image on long press, so to convey its function as well. Good luck doing that on capacitive keys.

adrynalyne said:
Back has always done what? Turned into a completely different icon to convey its intentions? I don't think so....unless on Nexus devices and JB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand your point for other things but imo that example isn't confusing. I brought up the keyboard to type, now I want to undo that so I hit back. The screen keys don't help much in that sense either. Holding home for google now is a nice feature but isn't obvious unless someone reads the guide etc. Unfortunately smartphones are probably always going to be harder to learn than a PC due to their size and input restrictions. Though Windows 8 may prove me wrong lol

flaring afro said:
Anyone else see this?
http://www.droid-life.com/2012/12/03/no-verizon-the-droid-dna-doesnt-have-on-screen-navigation-keys/
I wish my Note 2 had two home keys and got .49Mbps. Fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Razr got .49mbs on LTE all the time, so I guess this ad is PROOF that they think that speed is good for LTE. That and the month's and month's on the phone with them. LOL

Related

Capacitive button solution - ICS upgrade?

Good day. It seems that alot are having problems with capacitive buttons not being responsive and on almost every xperia s review, they always mention having difficulty in having the buttons register. But, they say also that when ICS upgrade comes, those buttons would be useless anymore and wouldnt be used. What do they mean? In what way, will the ICS upgrade affect the useability of those buttons?

ARC X12 said:
Good day. It seems that alot are having problems with capacitive buttons not being responsive and on almost every xperia s review, they always mention having difficulty in having the buttons register. But, they say also that when ICS upgrade comes, those buttons would be useless anymore and wouldnt be used. What do they mean? In what way, will the ICS upgrade affect the useability of those buttons?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ICS has 3 onscreen buttons (home, back, menu), but i guess ppl will not like its on their phone!

keunhuvac said:
ICS has 3 onscreen buttons (home, back, menu), but i guess ppl will not like its on their phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As we have the capacitive buttons they could still utilise them couldn't they? At least that way we don't lose screen to the onscreen buttons like the GNEX has!
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium

ianford10 said:
As we have the capacitive buttons they could still utilise them couldn't they? At least that way we don't lose screen to the onscreen buttons like the GNEX has!
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suspect that the capacitive buttons will continue to be used much like the nexus s. has Sony indicated otherwise?
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium

More likely Sony won't utilise the "on screen" ics buttons and simply remove those in favor of the extra screen realestate. The physical buttons are in the exact same position as the ics on screen buttons so no point in having 2 of each button to do the same job.
I don't have much of an issue now with the buttons, practice makes perfect.
Try sliding up the buttons instead.
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium

krohnjw said:
I would suspect that the capacitive buttons will continue to be used much like the nexus s. has Sony indicated otherwise?
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I'm aware no they haven't and to be honest I would prefer the capacitive buttons
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium

Similar to somemadcaaant, here's what I realised. Almost 80% of the time I just need the back button.
I am sliding my finger around the button area from right to left. This action feels natural for going back.
For home button, I make a small circle in the middle. I so seldom use the menu button it doesn't bother me.

I just hope that there would be an option to use the on screen buttons or the capacitive buttons when ICS is implemented. I just cant imagine why a big company like sony could have mislook this possible problem with the capacitive buttons.

Yeah, after having capacitive buttons on the original Nexus, and a few other devices they are all the same.
Sometimes a little inconsistent, and you just need to adapt to them. the S is no different.
Took me a day or so to get used to it.
Hopefully they just integrate the buttons into the ICS rom and don't bother with the screen ones.

Really, I don't get this whole "unresponsive capacitive button" thing.
They are responsive, it just takes getting used to. You find the sensor, you touch it, it works, it is responsive, but the dots just confuse people. You can't hit the buttons well because of big fingers or well you keep thinking its the silver dots? Use the swipe method.
They respond just fine it's not a matter of them needing to be more sensitive or larger, it's a matter of getting used to it. Part of the joys of having a new shiny device, learning how to use it .
And if ICS brings the onscreen buttons, I will disable it, because I can use my "unresponsive capacitive buttons" perfectly fine, and don't want to lose screen space.

i really hope they remove the on screen buttons or atleast have an option to tun them off, it will just look out of place having two sets of the same fuctioning buttons.

shmoejoe said:
Really, I don't get this whole "unresponsive capacitive button" thing.
They are responsive, it just takes getting used to. You find the sensor, you touch it, it works, it is responsive, but the dots just confuse people. You can't hit the buttons well because of big fingers or well you keep thinking its the silver dots? Use the swipe method.
They respond just fine it's not a matter of them needing to be more sensitive or larger, it's a matter of getting used to it. Part of the joys of having a new shiny device, learning how to use it .
And if ICS brings the onscreen buttons, I will disable it, because I can use my "unresponsive capacitive buttons" perfectly fine, and don't want to lose screen space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I totally agree, since I had this Phone i never experienced unresponsive buttons or something, and its my first phone with capacitive buttons.

I simply swipe upwards. It's not a huge movement, just a fraction of an inch.
Took about a day to get used to it, quite like it now.
Sent from my Xperia S via transwarp beacon.

Hope no! That would take realstate of the screen. I got used to the tiny buttons ....
Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk

shmoejoe said:
Really, I don't get this whole "unresponsive capacitive button" thing.
They are responsive, it just takes getting used to. You find the sensor, you touch it, it works, it is responsive, but the dots just confuse people. You can't hit the buttons well because of big fingers or well you keep thinking its the silver dots? Use the swipe method.
They respond just fine it's not a matter of them needing to be more sensitive or larger, it's a matter of getting used to it. Part of the joys of having a new shiny device, learning how to use it .
And if ICS brings the onscreen buttons, I will disable it, because I can use my "unresponsive capacitive buttons" perfectly fine, and don't want to lose screen space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Razje said:
I totally agree, since I had this Phone i never experienced unresponsive buttons or something, and its my first phone with capacitive buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
out of interest, do either of you use a screen protector?

I have the one that came factory installed, and yes it is actually a screen protector, it's clearly visible from closeup.

Phone comes with a screen protector already on.
Sent from my LT26i using xda premium

Amazing hint
Sliding the buttons instead touching really gaves a warm nd better feeling as well as all the issues people arr having with touch buttons are gone!!!
I think sony made it sliding only but didn't mentioned anywhere!
Sent from my Sony Xperia S LT26I

Another way to get more responsitive buttons is to remove the screen protector from the buttons area... they get a little bit more responsive...

I had a Nexus S and when CM9 (ICS) came to that it just didn't have the on-screen buttons. I'm 99% sure that'll be the case on this phone.

Navigation bar vs Capacitive... which do you prefer?

At first I thought having the Navigation controls in AOKP enabled was pretty damn cool but I have to admit, even at their smallest height (dp), I still prefer to have the capacitive. I simply hate losing ANY screen real estate. Just wanted to get some other opinions. I know there's a way to get them to temporarily hide but it didn't seem to work as flawlessly as I was hoping...

I still use the cap buttons - although I turned off the backlighting.

Capacitive. It doesn't make sense to use on screen buttons unless the phone was designed for it.

I switch back and forth because I like the one-click option for my recent apps with the on-screen buttons as opposed to the long-press with the capacitive ones. But I do like the capacitive buttons more because they don't take up any screen real estate.

When I get a phone that doesn't trade screen area for functionality that's already present, (or close enough) I'll let you know. Until then, I'll be rockin' my capacitive buttons.

I prefer capacitive. It seems redundant having two sets of buttons that do the same thing right on top of each other!

Cap buttons. The nav bar takes away screen real state.

mgd76 said:
When I get a phone that doesn't trade screen area for functionality that's already present, (or close enough) I'll let you know. Until then, I'll be rockin' my capacitive buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldnt agree more. I tried the navigation buttons and was really surprised how much it bothered me that I was missing that little bit of room on the screen.

cap button , no use wasting screen real estate , have never used them . Even when cap buttons were not working i was using LMT

mgd76 said:
When I get a phone that doesn't trade screen area for functionality that's already present, (or close enough) I'll let you know. Until then, I'll be rockin' my capacitive buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I'll happily use on screen buttons when the bezel is smaller than capacitive buttons.
Look at the ONE X (why they didn't just do 4 buttons and have menu I don't get), its the same physical size as the galaxy nexus, with a bigger screen, and still fit buttons in the bezel. So you actually use the whole screen, until HTC's shortsightenedness of no menu key catches up. Not to derail the thread, but I think that is a huge oversight. To have a foot in both camps: capacituve and on screen buttons.
Sent from my Galaxy S II (i777)

Cap buttons all the way but from what i can tell from supposed looks of sgs 3 most phones will probably do away with cap buttons once ics is the norm on all new phones
Sent from my SGH-I777 using XDA

I like em both.. prefer cap buttons because of the native search button.. almost a must for me. Nice shortcut!
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium

cap most definitely. I really dont like that nav bar at all.

I hate the cap buttons but losing screen space is worse to me right now

Cap buttons. The way it was designed.
Looking over your shoulder...

Cap.
/thread

Glad I didn't create a poll... haha
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium

Seriously, there was a thread not long ago about disabling the cap buttons completely so you could use the on-screen buttons...I read that thread and was like, wtf? Why would you waste screen space on buttons when the phone already has them in hardware? Doesn't make any sense to me, but to each his own I guess.

Appearance wise the nav bar is much nicer. Usefulness is also greater with the nav bar because you can customize it. But because we already have cap buttons it just feels like a waste. At the end of the day i'd probably prefer a gnexus setup

Capacitive...unless they were not there at all.

[Solved] The capacitive home, back & menu button issue

Many of you are having the problem where the back, home or menu buttons are insensitive and don't respond very well.
After some tests and confirmations, it is believed to be what is called 'hard capacitive buttons'.
What does hard capacitive mean? It means you have to press with a bit more force like the galaxy nexus.
Reason for hard capacitive buttons?
To prevent accidental pressing of them, thus requiring to use a bit more pressure. I makes sense now doesn't it?
please feel free to test and confirm for your own confirmations, hope this closes all the cases regarding the capacitive buttons issue!

royalbloodvi said:
Many of you are having the problem where the back, home or menu buttons are insensitive and don't respond very well.
After some tests and confirmations, it is believed to be what is called 'hard capacitive buttons'.
What does hard capacitive mean? It means you have to press with a bit more force like the galaxy nexus.
Reason for hard capacitive buttons?
To prevent accidental pressing of them, thus requiring to use a bit more pressure. I makes sense now doesn't it?
please feel free to test and confirm for your own confirmations, hope this closes all the cases regarding the capacitive buttons issue!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
true story!

royalbloodvi said:
Many of you are having the problem where the back, home or menu buttons are insensitive and don't respond very well.
After some tests and confirmations, it is believed to be what is called 'hard capacitive buttons'.
What does hard capacitive mean? It means you have to press with a bit more force like the galaxy nexus.
Reason for hard capacitive buttons?
To prevent accidental pressing of them, thus requiring to use a bit more pressure. I makes sense now doesn't it?
please feel free to test and confirm for your own confirmations, hope this closes all the cases regarding the capacitive buttons issue!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, just to let you know people will have their issues regarding this problems forever. I have gone though two Xperia S and quality of buttons differ in one another. But either way never had to push too hard to activate it. Has been pretty good but this clarify things for people with questions again.
Thanks

I tried this method and i still couldn't get it all the time. The sliding worked better but why should it be that way? As an SE fan from W910, i wanted to love it but couldn't mainly for this reason.
I think overtime time people can get it right but SE did screw it up. Just like iPhone antenna issue there is way to not let it bother you. But there are just too many design flaws with this phone for my liking.
Sent from my LT15a using xda premium

sliding my finger over the capacitive buttons works 100% of the time, so I prefer this method.
also this doesn't require a "hard press" I can just lightly slide my finger and it will register.

ssj_jaypee said:
sliding my finger over the capacitive buttons works 100% of the time, so I prefer this method.
also this doesn't require a "hard press" I can just lightly slide my finger and it will register.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 that

Nimche said:
Well, just to let you know people will have their issues regarding this problems forever. I have gone though two Xperia S and quality of buttons differ in one another. But either way never had to push too hard to activate it. Has been pretty good but this clarify things for people with questions again.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Noticed the difference myself going through the second Xperia experience...
Both phones are a bit different but the pressure used is the same.
Only the size of the capacitive buttons is different :-/
Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

I wasn't aware there was a pressure activation?
I always swipe from the transparent bar up, works 100% no "pressure" or unresponsive problems at all. I use it just as swiping in an app
I don't consider this an -issue- its more of a learning curve .

I'm not convinced by this. I can activate them with an extremely light touch (I just tested this) but only if I do a slight swiping action.
Even a touch as light as I can use on the screen works on the buttons as long as I am in the right place.
A hard press probably just spreads your finger pad out more so you get the right area more easily

Within minutes of getting my XS I naturally started using the slide technique. Can't see an issue with the buttons myself. I get the occasional miss but nothing that causes an issue.

agree with slide on them . It works perfectly
The totally active space is above the dots ,between screen and dots .

I'm with slide since I got the phone. Works better.

I've had my XS for 2 weeks now and from day 1 I didn't have problems using the capacitive buttons. I miss occasionally but that happened also with other devices.

no the buttons has an issue,when you press softly it work sometimes sometimes dont same swiping and pressing hard so no one please try to fool your self here it just doesnt work like others do

cihanleanne said:
no the buttons has an issue,when you press softly it work sometimes sometimes dont same swiping and pressing hard so no one please try to fool your self here it just doesnt work like others do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok you are right,you feel happy now
Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

gm007 said:
Ok you are right,you feel happy now
Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not about hapiness its about paying something and not working properly. we have to find a workaround device paying a lot money

cihanleanne said:
its not about hapiness its about paying something and not working properly. we have to find a workaround device paying a lot money
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Believe me if you use your phone for 2-3 weeks you will get used to it.
Now I don't miss any button.
Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk 2

Hy, the 3 sensitives buttons don't work if you slide your finger down ( screen to led bar ), but if you slide up ( led bar to the screen ) he respond immediatly.
If you come by the screen, you did to go up when you arrived on the level of the sensitives buttons.
If you just slide down buttons stay inactive.
Sent from my LT26i using XDA

My first day was annoying and frustrating, but
after 24-48 hours of use I never missed a hit again.
You get used to it pretty fast once you find the "g spot" and your brain learns to automate the task.
(hint: side dots upper medial, home dot slighty up)
Now it's piece of cake

3Shirts said:
I'm not convinced by this. I can activate them with an extremely light touch (I just tested this) but only if I do a slight swiping action.
Even a touch as light as I can use on the screen works on the buttons as long as I am in the right place.
A hard press probably just spreads your finger pad out more so you get the right area more easily
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, i'm not sure about the pressure difference it might be possible, but i can also activate it with a light touch. And hard pressing results in touching with more surface, just like you said.
It also looks like the sensitive part is just a little above the dot.
The buttons do not always work, and we should not have to swipe.
Did Sony mention these buttons somewhere? manybe in the manual? lol
Maybe it is a problem just like the yellow screen is, but no one knows

[Q] My one concern about buying this phone - How do you deal with no home button?

So I just have one concern as the title says moving to the sony line and that's the lack of physical / off the screen home/back/menu buttons. I've gone from a Galaxy S, to Galaxy S II, to iPhone 5.. now I'm heading back to Android on my personal phone as I've got a 5S from work.. and I'm really ready to give sony a try after years of Samsung.
The only thing I am very nervous about is the fact that there is no physical home button on the Sony, meaning that effectively you're losing out on a fixed portion of the screen for a home / menu /back button instead of it being fixed in the bezel / frame of the phone and out of the way of your display area. I dont understand why this isn't talked about more often in reviews about the sony. Isn't this effectively eliminating a normally useable portion of the screen's resolution? also if the phone locks up.. where as before you could count on a hardware home button to try and force some action.. what happens with the sony implementation?
I realize that this is similar to the Nexus 5, but I guess this could be directed to both phones, it seems to me like, (correct me if i'm wrong as I've stepped away from android after the galaxy S II for the past year or so) if you fire up a full screen video game, the home/menu/back UI software buttons will just be there in the software at all times taking away from the full screen experience of the screens. Isn't having a hardware button a significant benefit not only for full screen real estate, but for quick access to task management and home (example, what steps do i need to worry about with the sony to get out of a full screen movie and immediately to the desktop with no home button?) instead of one button press which I can access blindly anywhere, i have to press a few targeted screen commands?
I really feel like there are strong points to be given for a hardware home / menu / back button, to recap, 1.) more real estate can be used on the screen at all times for the rest of the UI, 2.) not as quick no look access to task manager / multitasking / home 3.) significantly worse full screen gaming experience due to the persistent ui / on screen softkeys.
This is the only thing thats tipping me towards the Galaxy S 5, I guess i wanted to ask what your real world usage with this sony implementation is like and if you feel it is really a hinderance or not. Thanks!

nickbarbs said:
So I just have one concern as the title says moving to the sony line and that's the lack of physical / off the screen home/back/menu buttons. I've gone from a Galaxy S, to Galaxy S II, to iPhone 5.. now I'm heading back to Android on my personal phone as I've got a 5S from work.. and I'm really ready to give sony a try after years of Samsung.
The only thing I am very nervous about is the fact that there is no physical home button on the Sony, meaning that effectively you're losing out on a fixed portion of the screen for a home / menu /back button instead of it being fixed in the bezel / frame of the phone and out of the way of your display area. I dont understand why this isn't talked about more often in reviews about the sony. Isn't this effectively eliminating a normally useable portion of the screen's resolution? also if the phone locks up.. where as before you could count on a hardware home button to try and force some action.. what happens with the sony implementation?
I realize that this is similar to the Nexus 5, but I guess this could be directed to both phones, it seems to me like, (correct me if i'm wrong as I've stepped away from android after the galaxy S II for the past year or so) if you fire up a full screen video game, the home/menu/back UI software buttons will just be there in the software at all times taking away from the full screen experience of the screens. Isn't having a hardware button a significant benefit not only for full screen real estate, but for quick access to task management and home (example, what steps do i need to worry about with the sony to get out of a full screen movie and immediately to the desktop with no home button?) instead of one button press which I can access blindly anywhere, i have to press a few targeted screen commands?
I really feel like there are strong points to be given for a hardware home / menu / back button, to recap, 1.) more real estate can be used on the screen at all times for the rest of the UI, 2.) not as quick no look access to task manager / multitasking / home 3.) significantly worse full screen gaming experience due to the persistent ui / on screen softkeys.
This is the only thing thats tipping me towards the Galaxy S 5, I guess i wanted to ask what your real world usage with this sony implementation is like and if you feel it is really a hinderance or not. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Nick, yeah I see your anxiety, for a while I had the same.
To be honest the fact that there is no home button, aesthetically, for me is a massive plus. I love the idea of just a blank slate where everything is controlled from the screen. I actually hated the samsung implementation of having a touchscreen PLUS hardware button PLUS capacitive buttons. To me that's extremely messy. The all-touchscreen phone is the ultimate minimalism, and I think it's this minimalism that is attractive and impressive as tech goes forward into the future. Hardware buttons on the front face are becoming (and should be) a thing of the past.
In relation to the screen real-estate problem, which I too will have when I get my xperia z2, you should do what I plan on doing and download an app called GMD AUTOHIDE. Youtube it.
There are many others but from youtube this looks the most fully featured. You need to be rooted, but once you have it you can hide and summon the software keys at your leisure (and in different ways), thus using the full screen real estate when you need to and bringing the buttons back easily with a slide up or some other gesture.
Youtube it, it looks awesome.
ps. if you're afraid to root or just don't want to, there are certain apps that support android's 'immersive mode' which means when launched the software keys hide anyway.

It's the way Google have been pushing since ICS, and to be fair it is a good way of doing things. It enables larger screens for movie playback for a start. Instead if thinking it as a waste of screen real estate, think of it as buttons being a waste of bezel. The buttons will always be buttons, but with on screen buttons, the space can be used more. In regards to the hardware button being an override for crashes, I've had a nexus 7 (2012) since launch, and it's never ever been a problem.

Once you get past the need for physical touch, the on-screen buttons will be God sent. Not only does that allow the screen to be bigger, but you can customize the button and do other cool stuff.

I think a number of phones cross platforms are heading towards no physical button.

edge3uk said:
It's the way Google have been pushing since ICS, and to be fair it is a good way of doing things. It enables larger screens for movie playback for a start. Instead if thinking it as a waste of screen real estate, think of it as buttons being a waste of bezel. The buttons will always be buttons, but with on screen buttons, the space can be used more. In regards to the hardware button being an override for crashes, I've had a nexus 7 (2012) since launch, and it's never ever been a problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree somewhat that google has been going this way, but disagree that it's a good way of doing things and also disagree that it enables larger screens.
** Disclaimer ** these are just my opinions
1. I see Google's Nexus phone (yes I've owned 2 of them) as a framework for Android, not so much what it wants all other Android manufacturers to go. For example, the SD-Card. No Nexus devices come with an SD-Card. Does this mean that SD-Cards will die on Android? As we can see, their inclusion is becoming more widespread, not the other way around.
2. Agree that hardware buttons aren't ideal. However, I see nothing wrong with capacitive buttons. Make them generic shapes so users can assign custom actions to them. It would free up space, allow everyone to be happy, and allow for things like swipe-2-wake with little to no battery penalty.
3. Capacitive buttons were removed on the HTC M8, did the bezel go away, no. I think the LG G2 is the phone with the smallest bezels on record and it still has plenty of space for capacitive buttons below the screen.
With all that said, I don't think it's a big deal to have on-screen buttons. They work the same and with android making the UI elements transparent it doesn't feel as bad as before when it really felt like it cut down on screen space. Honestly, I don't know what was so wrong about the original 4-way capacitive button layout from a few generations back. Menu, Home, Back, Search. I'd love for someone to explain to me how searching for 3 dots or if there's a pullout pane on the left or right is better than always being able to press a menu capacitive button.

se1000 said:
I agree somewhat that google has been going this way, but disagree that it's a good way of doing things and also disagree that it enables larger screens.
** Disclaimer ** these are just my opinions
1. I see Google's Nexus phone (yes I've owned 2 of them) as a framework for Android, not so much what it wants all other Android manufacturers to go. For example, the SD-Card. No Nexus devices come with an SD-Card. Does this mean that SD-Cards will die on Android? As we can see, their inclusion is becoming more widespread, not the other way around.
2. Agree that hardware buttons aren't ideal. However, I see nothing wrong with capacitive buttons. Make them generic shapes so users can assign custom actions to them. It would free up space, allow everyone to be happy, and allow for things like swipe-2-wake with little to no battery penalty.
3. Capacitive buttons were removed on the HTC M8, did the bezel go away, no. I think the LG G2 is the phone with the smallest bezels on record and it still has plenty of space for capacitive buttons below the screen.
With all that said, I don't think it's a big deal to have on-screen buttons. They work the same and with android making the UI elements transparent it doesn't feel as bad as before when it really felt like it cut down on screen space. Honestly, I don't know what was so wrong about the original 4-way capacitive button layout from a few generations back. Menu, Home, Back, Search. I'd love for someone to explain to me how searching for 3 dots or if there's a pullout pane on the left or right is better than always being able to press a menu capacitive button.
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I completely understand your worry, but as said, you can change your mind pretty quickly. I went from a Xperia X10 Mini Pro (with physical navigation buttons) to a Xperia S (capacitative nav. buttons), and now coupled with a Tablet Z (on screen navigation buttons). First improvement I had from the X10 MP to the XS, was that even with tight spaces (pockets, or whatever), the buttons weren't pressed by accident. The capacitative buttons on the XS are a bit hard to press at first, but you easily get used to them. Unlike Samsung's, they don't offer a high change of also being pressed by accident when holding the device.
Now, with the Tablet Z, with only on screen buttons, it was a worry for me at first, having both status bar and navigation bar, using more space. However, after a bit, I got used to it. With the awesome Double Tap to Wake function, I almost never need to reach the power button anymore. Sometimes, I even get myself trying that on the XS, and wondering why it isn't working, only to then realize it doesn't have that function lol
When using media apps, like video players, gallery apps, etc, the buttons either hide completely or, with 4.4 devices, enter the Translucent Mode, where the bars have a gradient and the content can be seen under it. To bring them back, or swipe the status bar down once, or touch the screen once. So, in the important cases, they just go away, not taking your precious real screen state.
Regarding capacitative buttons, like you said, aren't that much of a big deal. But, believe me, switch to on screen buttons and you will see how better it is. When you don't need it, they simply go away. Also, it uses much less internal space to put them on the screen than capacitative ones. Last, but not least, they don't stop working
Regarding the HTC One M8, if you look at teardowns pictures, you will see that the "extra" bezel was needed to fit the components inside the phone. There's so much tech inside such a small body. It's not easy to put all of that inside that. If they were to reduce the bezel, they would need a ticker device. The Xperia Z2 has a quite big bezel compared to other devices, but like the M8, there's so much tech inside that body, that they need to sacrifice on something to compensate on others. Part is also due the OmniBalance design, that demands some harmony, symmetry.
Lastly, part of the answer to the 4 button vs 3 dots is based on what I said earlier, regarding accidental touches, etc. But, most importantly, is so that the user KNOWS there's another menu there, that they can access. With my old X10 MP, I took 1 to 2 months to really understand the use of that third button on the device. When I pressed it and saw a menu pop, I was like "Ohhh, so there's more stuff here!". That was the main idea, at least from what I know.
Btw, sorry for the huge post...

Also, some manufacturers are taking advantage of on-screen buttons to make really small bezels. Check out the LG G2 and the Moto X. Their bezels are small enough that putting physical buttons there would be extremely awkward, so you end up with a smaller device/larger screen (however you want to look at it) thanks to on-screen buttons. I have a feeling phone designs will increasingly move in that direction.

when the screen gets big, having a dedicated home button will be really awkward to press when you are holding the phone near the middle. i thought i will never able to escape from the home button from the galaxy line, but after using nexus 4, i could never go back to using the damn home button...

theclueless said:
when the screen gets big, having a dedicated home button will be really awkward to press when you are holding the phone near the middle. i thought i will never able to escape from the home button from the galaxy line, but after using nexus 4, i could never go back to using the damn home button...
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Thanks for your comments- looks people do have views on this but many of you are fine with it - can anyone confirms how these software navigation keys will behave in games and movies ? Do they ever disappear ? How do you get them back if so?
Thanks - I'm feeling a bit better about trying it out ...

nickbarbs said:
can anyone confirms how these software navigation keys will behave in games and movies ? Do they ever disappear ? How do you get them back if so?
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Almost all movie apps will cause them to disappear. This has been a feature of Android for quite a while now. You just tap the screen and they come back.
A few games/apps also cause them to disappear. This is a new feature of Android as of KitKat (4.4) known as "immersive mode," so there are limited games/apps that support it. You get the controls back by swiping from the top or bottom of the screen, but simply tapping or swiping elsewhere on the screen will not bring them back, so you can continue using the app/game in full-screen.

Will LG again waste displayspace by annoying softkeys?

Hi,
I´m really eager to know if LG finally is smart like Samsung and HTC, to use the space below the display for control keys instead of wasting part of the screen. Come on LG, it´s not so hard to learn! I am not willing to carry a large, unhandy device which is not even capable of using the complete screen for displaying contents.

Buy a Samsung then. I prefer soft keys. Hardware keys are retarded.

Is this the first time you've used an Android phone? The old ancient phones used capacative and hardware buttons, on-screen buttons are the newer way of interacting with your device that is replacing capacative and hardware buttons. The benefits of course mean you can have smaller bottom bezels, the buttons can hide when using immersive apps like videos and photos, they can change based on your preference or when the OS gets updated, etc.
Physical and capacative buttons are archaic.

Well, not the smartest kind of an answer but that was to be expected - fanboys even would argue bull**** to gold.
Seems you never used a modern smartphone with these softkeys integrated in screen but below the display.
Its not very hard to understand, that this is the way to get the most of the surface area of a smartphone.

No question the g5 will have software keys. I have to say after bouncing between LG and Samsung phones I much prefer Samsung's setup. The bottom bezel on my v10 isn't any smaller than that on my note 4, so LG could easily integrate capacitive buttons on their devices. Yes the software keys disappear in certain apps, but that just means it takes another swipe or tap to get them to reappear, which is only adding an extra step to exiting an app.
I also much prefer Samsung's home/fingerprint sensor setup. You can turn on the screen with the home button (no need for double tap to wake,) and when using the fingerprint security you can still unlock the phone when it's laying on a desk or in your car cradle without having to input a pattern or pin.
I'm not saying software keys are an absolute deal breaker, but they offer no benefit compared to capacitive keys and have several drawbacks.

Thank you rivera02,
thats the best description about it, you brought it to the point.
Its not that Samsung smartphones are absolutely best, I think the G4 has many advantages like the changeable battery and the sdcard slot. But every oem builds in certian disadvantages, so everybody has the choice to take what annoys him or her the less

Bluecharge said:
Well, not the smartest kind of an answer but that was to be expected - fanboys even would argue bull**** to gold.
Seems you never used a modern smartphone with these softkeys integrated in screen but below the display.
Its not very hard to understand, that this is the way to get the most of the surface area of a smartphone.
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First off, they aren't softkeys if they are below the display, they are capacative keys. They can not change, they are printed into the phone itself. And yes, I had an S6 and Note 5 so I know well what they are like. Having to physically press a button is really annoying when trying to press it one handed, where the phone is already delicately balanced in your hand. For the capacative buttons, I much prefer on screen keys that disappear when you don't need them, and ones that you can change at will or when Android gets updated.

geoff5093 said:
First off, they aren't softkeys if they are below the display, they are capacative keys. They can not change, they are printed into the phone itself. And yes, I had an S6 and Note 5 so I know well what they are like. Having to physically press a button is really annoying when trying to press it one handed, where the phone is already delicately balanced in your hand. For the capacative buttons, I much prefer on screen keys that disappear when you don't need them, and ones that you can change at will or when Android gets updated.
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Hi geoff5093,
sorry that was my misunderstanding. You're right and I didn't mean hardwarebuttons but capacitive keys below the display. I personally think, that disappearing softwarekeys have much disadvantages, because you have to make them appear and this often interacts with the app you were using to this point. With capacitive keys below the screen they are available whenever you need them, they don't need any display space and they don't interact unwantedly with the before-used app.
The ideal way may be both of them. Capacitive keys below the screen and aditional softwarekeys for whoever likes to have an idividual layout. But I think that nobody would do this, as there seem not to exist any mod for additional softwarekeys e.g. for Samsung or HTC devices.

Softkeys have their benefits. They can be customized, moved around, even their appearance can be changed. However they DO waste screen space. Whenever these comparisons come up people claim that phones with sofkeys can/do have smaller bezels and that "sofkeys disappear when you don't need them anyway". The former is simply not true. Capacitive buttons take up so little space that you could fit them in any phone with softkeys. As for the latter, softkeys are still there 95% of the time I'm using the phone. Browsing/texting/using the dialer, they are still there making the usable screen noticeably smaller. It's the only thing I actually like about Samsung phones. Note 5 and Nexus 6P share the same screen size and yet the Samsung is smaller in hand AND has a larger usable screen area because no space is ever wasted on softkeys. LG G5 with sofkeys and 5.3" screen would mean roughly the same usable space as 5.5" LG G4 and also a more compact device. The bad thing is that in the case of this particular phone it would mean these modules would need to come with integrated capacitive buttons as well.

geoff5093 said:
Is this the first time you've used an Android phone? The old ancient phones used capacative and hardware buttons, on-screen buttons are the newer way of interacting with your device that is replacing capacative and hardware buttons. The benefits of course mean you can have smaller bottom bezels, the buttons can hide when using immersive apps like videos and photos, they can change based on your preference or when the OS gets updated, etc.
Physical and capacative buttons are archaic.
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I won't even buy a phone if it has hardware buttons. It's not 2011 any more.

I kinda like soft keys actually, I never have to bother with which way is up when operating the phone in landscape and less oops I've hit the home/back key scenarios. I've done the whole HTC/Samsung/Sony/LG round from actual buttons, capacitive buttons and some weird capacitive dot thing.
If only they could figure out a better way to make buttons appear when in full screen. That's the only complaint since sometimes it will miss.

Someone above said home button is better than double tap to wake. Wat a BS, lol. Are you from samsung or what? Following this approach, I am wondering why you did not say there should have been numeric hard keys to dial instead of touch screen.

I left Samsung because of that button. Got tired of the button waking the phone and then accidentally unlocking phone. Then making accidental phone calls and answering them. Love softkeys! Makes my phone look sleeker
Sent from my LG-H901 using Tapatalk

hardware keys are lame and waste internal space and bezel. software keys for the win!

Nobody wrote about hardwarekeys.
First read, then write. Some of you never will get it.

capacative and hardware buttons, are the best for me.
on-screen buttons sometimes don't disappear when playing some games or sometimes on app's aswell.
they should have all 3, capacative and hardware buttons and on screen button.
if you want to use capacative or hardware botton use it. and if you don't like it then use on screen button by going to the setting and change it. like. like onePlus Two did.

Waxim1 said:
Someone above said home button is better than double tap to wake. Wat a BS, lol. Are you from samsung or what? Following this approach, I am wondering why you did not say there should have been numeric hard keys to dial instead of touch screen.
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No doubt. That is one of the most bizarre posts I have ever seen. Double tap to wake is a must for me now and any phone that doesnt have it is nearly a deal breaker. It is definitely better than hitting home and there is truly no way to logically argue that it is and yet somehow someone is trying.

Sorry but I did not get the message of this thread. Even a device with capacitive keys needs place for those keys, not on the screen but on the device that will increase the size of the phone. Biggest screen on the smallest device is possible only with softkeys. And these can be hided by the system in particular application in order to use the entire screen.

Bluecharge said:
Well, not the smartest kind of an answer but that was to be expected - fanboys even would argue bull**** to gold.
Seems you never used a modern smartphone with these softkeys integrated in screen but below the display.
Its not very hard to understand, that this is the way to get the most of the surface area of a smartphone.
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Click to collapse
...like my Oneplus Two...:good:

AMDZen said:
No doubt. That is one of the most bizarre posts I have ever seen. Double tap to wake is a must for me now and any phone that doesnt have it is nearly a deal breaker. It is definitely better than hitting home and there is truly no way to logically argue that it is and yet somehow someone is trying.
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Lol well to each their own, but I think arguing that it's more convenient to tap a screen twice than to tap a button once is a pretty illogical argument. Much more so when you take into account the fact that LG has never gotten the double tap feature to work with one hundred percent accuracy.

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