Volume Rocker: Left or Right side?

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Left = right handed users can easily change it.

Right = left handed users can easily change it.

Samsung goes with the left, as does Apple.

HTC and Motorola go with the right.

I guess its some things like this that bother me. Why the need to differentiate? I guess the same goes for the 4 buttons at the bottom. My Milestone, Nexus S, and SGS2 all have different layouts. I know the SGS2 has only 3 buttons, but the back/menu buttons are still in different arrangements than the other 2 phones. It's frustrating switching around.

 

[ChronoReverse]

My HTC G2 had the rocker on the left as did my HTC Nexus One. They're all over the place really.

Honestly, I can adjust it easily on either side since it's only a matter of using my thumb or fingers. I often held my N1 with my left hand and operated the volume rocker with my thumb for instance.


The thing that drives me nuts is the different arrangements of the capacitive buttons. Only Seach is always on the right but that's the most useless Android button.

 

[vi edit]

Left side.

When I hold my phone for use, it's in my left hand so that my right hand can be used for touch input. Then my thumb can simply toggle the rockers. My index finger is used to hold the phone by my thumb doesn't really do much for grip. It's just there and available.

Same case when talking. I hold my phone to my ear with my left hand and again my thumb is usually just hanging around doing nothing. It's an easy move to use it to volume buttons.

 

[vshah]

doesn't matter, finger or thumb.

 

[Sheep]

Doesn't matter to me--I've gotten used to both.

Personally the change that I need more time to get used to is the headphone jack on the bottom of the GNex; it was on top of my Evo 4g. I see the logic behind putting it on the bottom but I'm trying to overcome years of muscle memory in dealing with it on top.

 

[trmiv]

Either works for me. Was on the right of my OG Droid, then left of my iPhone 4S and now Galaxy Nexus. wasn't much of a change.

 

[Oyeve]

Im lefty and I prefer my rockers on the left side of the phone. I have a SGS2 and a Razr and I dont use the razr for ANY media playback because the rockers are on the right.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I don't care.

 

[hanoverphist]

either works for me, my droidX has it on the right side. its not annoying or anything, and my thumb is always right there in case i need to use it. the only real plus i see for the right side is when using the camera. it puts the zoom on top of the phone.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

I don't care.

Same.

 

[notposting]

Guess it doesn't matter. OG Droid had them on right, HTC Trophy has them on the left. In the left hand (for two hand use or phone calls) left thumb can do it. In the right hand (one hand browsing etc) index finger can handle it. I would probably have issues with some of the giant phones regardless.

 

[PingviN]

Depends on phone size. I'm left handed, but if my thumb can't reach the rocker, I want it on the right side and instead use my index finger.

 

[Anubis]

doesn't matter, finger or thumb.

this, handedness does not matter, its a non factor on which side it is on

 

[Anubis]

Doesn't matter to me--I've gotten used to both.

Personally the change that I need more time to get used to is the headphone jack on the bottom of the GNex; it was on top of my Evo 4g. I see the logic behind putting it on the bottom but I'm trying to overcome years of muscle memory in dealing with it on top.

there is no logic in putting it on the bottom, its prob the only thing that annoys me about the gnex

 

[joshhedge]

My HTC has its rocker on the left...

 

[WelshBloke]

I voted left just because thats what Ive got at the mo. I guess it would take me about a week to get used to the right.

I find on/off switches at the top more of a pain to get used to.

 

[Sheep]

there is no logic in putting it on the bottom, its prob the only thing that annoys me about the gnex

I thought the same initially. I figured out that if you plug in your headphones and start listening and then put the phone top first into your pocket, the headphone jack will be coming out the bottom of the phone which is oriented upwards at this point. When you pull your phone out of your pocket, you'll be holding it in the correct orientation to look at the screen and the headphone jack will be on the bottom.

 

[shortylickens]

Either, it matters not.
What I miss are the hard buttons up front. I hate accidentally brushing the capacitive Back button.

 

[IGemini]

Works for me either way.

 

[Thegonagle]

I don't really care, but I guess I prefer the left side. Since the dawn of cell phones, they've been on one side or the other without rhyme or reason, so I'm used to both. I can deal either way.

I agree that the lack of standardization on the bottom Android buttons is a much bigger hassle. They're always arranged in a different order, the pictographs are different for each manufacturer, and even within the same manufacturer, some models have 3 buttons, and some have 4. Google should have laid down the law early on with that one.

(P.S., anyone remember when Motorola had the SEND and END keys reversed from how everyone else did it? It took about 20 years for everyone to get on the same page there. If history is any indication, it'll only be 17 more years before they standardize the Android buttons.)

 

[shortylickens]

I don't really care, but I guess I prefer the left side. Since the dawn of cell phones, they've been on one side or the other without rhyme or reason, so I'm used to both. I can deal either way.

I agree that the lack of standardization on the bottom Android buttons is a much bigger hassle. They're always arranged in a different order, the pictographs are different for each manufacturer, and even within the same manufacturer, some models have 3 buttons, and some have 4. Google should have laid down the law early on with that one.

(P.S., anyone remember when Motorola had the SEND and END keys reversed from how everyone else did it? It took about 20 years for everyone to get on the same page there. If history is any indication, it'll only be 17 more years before they standardize the Android buttons.)

It wont happen at all. I have a Droid and an Atrix 2. The buttons are mixed up.
Also, I really miss the dedicated send and end buttons on the G1. Last phone I ever saw with them.

Oh, not only are the buttons mixed up, but the home buttons look slightly different and menu buttons are completely redesigned.

 

[Anubis]

I thought the same initially. I figured out that if you plug in your headphones and start listening and then put the phone top first into your pocket, the headphone jack will be coming out the bottom of the phone which is oriented upwards at this point. When you pull your phone out of your pocket, you'll be holding it in the correct orientation to look at the screen and the headphone jack will be on the bottom.

i have always placed them in bot down and when i take my phone out its in the correct orientation

 

[Brian Stirling]

Neither! I think all the external (non touch screen) controls should be at the top so that when I pick up the phone by the sides I don't inadvertently change the volume which happens more than I'd like with my SGNexus.


Brian

 

[lothar]

Left side.

When I hold my phone for use, it's in my left hand so that my right hand can be used for touch input. Then my thumb can simply toggle the rockers. My index finger is used to hold the phone by my thumb doesn't really do much for grip. It's just there and available.

Same case when talking. I hold my phone to my ear with my left hand and again my thumb is usually just hanging around doing nothing. It's an easy move to use it to volume buttons.

This.