Am I the only one who doesn't like on screen buttons?

[ChronoReverse]

I disagree, it's much better. With Pie I can move the nav buttons from the top to the sides, where ever I want.

And every time I handed the phone to someone, they'd be confused where the controls were and when I explained how it worked they say, "that's neat but kinda complicated" while giving me the "ah, a geek" look. It doesn't actually bother me but it's anecdotal evidence that it's not really as nice as what us head-in-sky types like to believe.

I don't like Samsung's approach because it makes the bezel that has the buttons useless for holding. Every single time I've given someone my Samsung phone to show them something they accidentally pressed menu or back, without fail. Literally every single time unless I specifically warned them about those buttons.

I know what you mean, mine are set to light up all the time because of this and has become a non-issue. Battery life impact has been negligible.

Plus software buttons means the front of your phone is slick and clean, all glass, no ugly buttons there. Buttons are old news, don't need anything but the volume rocker and power button IMHO (for complete shut down or turn on, double tap does a much better job of waking and sleeping).

I won't address beauty since that's clearly in the eye of the beholder but there's something to be said for a physical presence on your phone.

Double-tap or swipe to wake is interesting (I can turn it on for my phone with a checkbox) but it's honestly only nice if you don't have a button on the front in the first place. I take out my phone from my pocket in a single motion while simultaneously turning on the screen. Not nearly as elegant when I try double-tap only (i.e., disabled front button).



In the end, the fact is the GS4 is a better OSB, double-tap to wake, etc. phone than any other phone (matched only by the LG G2) while simultaneously having the option of hardware button+ capacitives. I only wish it had better battery life (which is decent but doesn't match up to the LG G2, Note 3, etc.).

 

[bearxor]

So I think the takeaway from this thread so far has been:

Everyone has an opinion.

 

[Red Storm]

So I think the takeaway from this thread so far has been:

Everyone has an opinion.

Indeed. At the end of day I'm happy Android has options for people.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

And every time I handed the phone to someone, they'd be confused where the controls were and when I explained how it worked they say, "that's neat but kinda complicated" while giving me the "ah, a geek" look. It doesn't actually bother me but it's anecdotal evidence that it's not really as nice as what us head-in-sky types like to believe.



I know what you mean, mine are set to light up all the time because of this and has become a non-issue. Battery life impact has been negligible.




I won't address beauty since that's clearly in the eye of the beholder but there's something to be said for a physical presence on your phone.

Double-tap or swipe to wake is interesting (I can turn it on for my phone with a checkbox) but it's honestly only nice if you don't have a button on the front in the first place. I take out my phone from my pocket in a single motion while simultaneously turning on the screen. Not nearly as elegant when I try double-tap only (i.e., disabled front button).



In the end, the fact is the GS4 is a better OSB, double-tap to wake, etc. phone than any other phone (matched only by the LG G2) while simultaneously having the option of hardware button+ capacitives. I only wish it had better battery life (which is decent but doesn't match up to the LG G2, Note 3, etc.).

Not sure what I wrote the other day but yeah PIE is more a gimmick than a mainstream interface. I use buttons PLUS PIE.

Regarding dt2w, s2w, etc. Those are nice to have, but I used them in addition to the home button on my GS2. In my world I'd like to have it ALL. So far that value system seems to line up the best with OnePlus One.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Not sure what I wrote the other day but yeah PIE is more a gimmick than a mainstream interface. I use buttons PLUS PIE.

Regarding dt2w, s2w, etc. Those are nice to have, but I used them in addition to the home button on my GS2. In my world I'd like to have it ALL. So far that value system seems to line up the best with OnePlus One.

That's pretty much how I feel. I'm hoping the OPO is the homerun I want it to be. I'm even willing to go to a larger phone for what it promises (all the flagships this year seem to have gotten larger anyway).

 

[alkemyst]

Rotary phone users hated the number pad at first.

Good luck finding a rotary phone that works easily.

 

[kpkp]

Not sure what I wrote the other day but yeah PIE is more a gimmick than a mainstream interface. I use buttons PLUS PIE.

Maybe we use different dictionaries but I find it hard to define Pie as a gimmick. It's a completely valid (if not better) alternative....
What I want to argue is that efficiency of an interface/interaction has nothing to do with the popularity of it (example: terminal, keyboard shortcuts...).
You can make one big button just under your screen that does everything and you can call it simple, but it's hard to argue that is an efficient way to execute multiple functions and I hope that was what we were striving for in this topic.

 

[Throckmorton]

On this I wholeheartedly agree. Pie controls gets us closest to that (buttons are hidden, soon as you swipe up from the bottom they show up). It's the best of both worlds. No software buttons taking up space, and no buttons on the bezel. Combine it with a phone like the G2 with its minimal bezel and the double tap to wake and you have the best phone yet at least in regards to waking and locking the phone and nav button management.

You have to swipe just to get the buttons? More steps = worse usability

 

[kpkp]

You have to swipe just to get the buttons? More steps = worse usability

Maybe you don't know how Pie works...
The fair comparison is a tap in a fixed location vs. a short swipe in a predeterminated (but customisable) location&direction. Arguably Pie is more complicated, since you don't see the buttons all the time... But is hard to argue that it requires more steps... it's a tap vs a swipe.

 

[Red Storm]

You have to swipe just to get the buttons? More steps = worse usability

It isn't more steps. It's a swipe compared to a tap. You don't swipe and then tap, you just swipe up to Home.

And it definitely is not a gimmick, unless the definition of the word gimmick has recently changed...