Android Police Editorial: Why On Screen buttons will be great

[Bateluer]

http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...-in-android-ice-cream-sandwich-will-be-great/

Ice Cream Sandwich will be the first phone version of Android to support virtual buttons. It seems like a lot of people don’t "get" the whole idea behind them. If used correctly, virtual buttons will be way better than the painted on Back/Home/Menu/Search we have now. So I figured I would lay out the benefits for everyone and hopefully start a nice discussion.

His write up actually brings up some very good strengths of the virtual buttons. I'm not really sold just yet, but there's definitely advantages.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Lies. I love my 4 physical non capacitive buttons. It always gives a satisfying click and I KNOW that i pressed it rather than thinking that the screen is being funky.

 

[Bateluer]

Lies. I love my 4 physical non capacitive buttons. It always gives a satisfying click and I KNOW that i pressed it rather than thinking that the screen is being funky.

That is my concern as well. I've only had phones with capacitive buttons, but haven't only had one or two issues where the phone was stuck horribly since 2009.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

how about fucking camera shutter buttons yeah?

 

[prism]

I've only had an iPhone for a smartphone (guess you could count my Blackberry Curve...), and never really thought about how the OS would be with fixed, capacitive buttons. Nice to see an Android site acknowledge a benefit of iOS

 

[Bateluer]

I've only had an iPhone for a smartphone (guess you could count my Blackberry Curve...), and never really thought about how the OS would be with fixed, capacitive buttons. Nice to see an Android site acknowledge a benefit of iOS

Derp . . .iOS has a physical button, always has.

If anything, this smells more of WebOS.

 

[aceO07]

Derp . . .iOS has a physical button, always has.

If anything, this smells more of WebOS.

The HP Touchpad has 1 physical button (besides power and volume). Though, it doesn't really need it.

I don't mind of they get rid of some physical buttons, though bring back the physical dial/hangup buttons.

Instant access to call from anywhere. That's what a phone is for. No need to quit an app and then go to the 'phone' app to make a call...

 

[vshah]

The HP Touchpad has 1 physical button (besides power and volume). Though, it doesn't really need it.

I don't mind of they get rid of some physical buttons, though bring back the physical dial/hangup buttons.

Instant access to call from anywhere. That's what a phone is for. No need to quit an app and then go to the 'phone' app to make a call...

its always easy enough to get there with the call notification in the notification shade. Sense has a nice feature where a call notification has an END button right in it, so you can end the call without even leaving the other app you're in.

 

[Deeko]

Ugh. A trend in the wrong way. I miss physical buttons.

 

[Munky]

There's also disadvantages. I prefer physical buttons. In fact, I prefer a physical qwerty keyborad.

 

[SunnyD]

Lies. I love my 4 physical non capacitive buttons. It always gives a satisfying click and I KNOW that i pressed it rather than thinking that the screen is being funky.

Physical buttons: Just more parts to break.

 

[Fire&Blood]

Physical buttons are awesome but I do think they are on their way out, just like slide out keyboard phones, and less are being made in favor of touchscreen.

Interacting with the phone without touching and covering precious screen real estate is the best anti fingerprint smudge method ever.

 

[pm]

I don't have physical buttons on my Asus Transformer and I've never missed them.

 

[Oyeve]

I don't have physical buttons on my Asus Transformer and I've never missed them.

I was gonna say this too. I just wish the virtual buttons were a bit more below on the screen. i always end up touching them.

 

[runawayprisoner]

I can lay out why virtual buttons would be bad then...

1) It takes up precious screen space. Especially bad in fullscreen apps. I'd much rather use my whole screen to watch that Youtube clip, thank you.

2) There is a chance you'll hit something else while trying to hit that "button" if you have big thumbs.

3) Rotating icons hog resources. Especially when they are doing so while the phone is running a 3D game.

4) It's more tweaks to hog more resources trying to get rid of it.

5) Extremely bad idea for smaller phones like the Xperia Mini.

So I'm all against it. If anything, perhaps whole screen gestures is more useful. Like on the N9, or WebOS.

 

[theeedude]

They should do something like Palm has done with WebOS, where a swipe from the edge is interpreted as a button push.

 

[aceO07]

its always easy enough to get there with the call notification in the notification shade. Sense has a nice feature where a call notification has an END button right in it, so you can end the call without even leaving the other app you're in.

But there's no call button/icon everywhere.. It takes a few steps to get to the dial screen.

I suppose going with senseamp's idea, they could take a universal multitouch gesture that would work anywhere in the system to make a call.. but I'd still like buttons for it.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I love how people are receptive to this too! If this was an article written by an Apple blog, we'd all be flaming the idea now!

Edit: So it's ok for Phandroids to tell us what we want and what's best for us, but when Steve does it he's shoving it down our throats.

 

[cheezy321]

I love how people are receptive to this too! If this was an article written by an Apple blog, we'd all be flaming the idea now!

This.

 

[pm]

Let's keep this on topic please. The topic is virtual buttons on Android, not which OS has the more enthusiastic fanbase.

Moderator PM

 

[YoungGun21]

I think I'll just have to see it implemented. Supposedly the Prime will have this, but if it has a 4.5" screen I'm not sure that it would really be a problem.

 

[BoberFett]

As long as it's optional, it's a good feature to add. I personally prefer physical buttons for functionality which should always be available.

The Back and Home buttons I would leave as is, I would however gladly trade the Menu and Search buttons for Call and End buttons. It's a phone first and foremost. Handling calls is the thing you should never have to hunt around for.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Will the software buttons meld with the status bar, ala Honeycomb? Will app makers have to re-write their apps in some cases to be compatible with the permanent status bar- ala Honeycomb? Too many questions. I do hate physical buttons though for the light leak.

Between the HD screen and the no buttons the Nexus Prime is going to be a rough ride compatibility-wise for at least a year. I know that is the point- the Nexuses are supposed to push the standard. But it seems that many people have signed on that the Nexus Prime is going to be a superphone finally competing with the polish of the iPhone, when really it might be a usability nightmare for early adaptors.

 

[Raduque]

I had physical buttons on my myTouch3G, then I switched to Vibrant with capacitive buttons, and I missed the hard buttons. Now I'm on a myTouch4G Slide and I really couldn't imagine going back to capacitive buttons, or worse, on-screen buttons. With my hardware buttons, i KNOW I pressed it. With capacitive or OS buttons, you have no real idea if you pressed it right, or if the OS is just being derpy.

As for the guy who thinks it's too many steps to get to the call screen: Press home, tap "Phone" icon, dial. It's one more step. Note also that incoming calls are given priority over everything else, so the answer/reject screen will pop over any app running.

 

[BoberFett]

As for the guy who thinks it's too many steps to get to the call screen: Press home, tap "Phone" icon, dial. It's one more step. Note also that incoming calls are given priority over everything else, so the answer/reject screen will pop over any app running.

Eh, I'd prefer to press a physical button rather than slide to answer or decline. I can press a physical button sight unseen. Tactile feedback is still valuable thing regardless of whatever new shiny shit is coming out of Cupertino.