Database Info

Repurpose menu capacitive button when AOSP ICS roms are available?

I am referencing my own post in the Evo 3D forums, but when an ICS rom is made from AOSP, I think it would be cool to give the option, via an apk, or something for users to flash, to repurpose the menu capacitive button to do the same task as the task switcher "button" on the Galaxy Nexus (Prime). Wanted to get people's thoughts on this.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1359960

That would be awesome and I would love you forever

tokuzumi said:
I am referencing my own post in the Evo 3D forums, but when an ICS rom is made from AOSP, I think it would be cool to give the option, via an apk, or something for users to flash, to repurpose the menu capacitive button to do the same task as the task switcher "button" on the Galaxy Nexus (Prime). Wanted to get people's thoughts on this.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1359960
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When the Shift gets ICS it probably won't have the soft keys like the Galaxy Nexus, so there would really be no need for this. I've flashed the from source build for the Nexus and it doesn't have soft keys.. so you still need the menu key. Not only to get into settings but also for menus inside apps. With the Nexus S if you hold the home key it gives you the new ICS "task switcher" or recent apps screen, so I don't really see the need to remap the hardware buttons.

crump84 said:
When the Shift gets ICS it probably won't have the soft keys like the Galaxy Nexus, so there would really be no need for this. I've flashed the from source build for the Nexus and it doesn't have soft keys.. so you still need the menu key. Not only to get into settings but also for menus inside apps. With the Nexus S if you hold the home key it gives you the new ICS "task switcher" or recent apps screen, so I don't really see the need to remap the hardware buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahhhh....I did not know this. This is good info. I was assuming the format of the apps would be the same across all phones, so the menu screen would be visible, even if you had a physical/capacitive menu button. I'll be curious to see when some "official" (read: stable daily driver) roms come out, and see what happens.

My idea of the button configuration for samsung.

I love the fact that samsung continues to use hardware home button but dont like that they still use inflexible capacitive buttons. So whats the solution?
Well my solution is slightly pricier but I doubt it would raise costs too much. Instead of having capacitive buttons at each side of the home button, how about we have 2 tiny OLED screens? This way you could change the position of the buttons from left to right, you will be able to have a dynamic menu key so no need to have it all the time. You could have a dedicated search button if you want or a dedicated task switcher or nothing at all. We know an OLED screen consumes very insignificant power when displaying all black. Basically you will have a hardware home button AND the flexibility of on-screen buttons in one phone.
I would go with a back key on the left and would leave the right screen to dynamically display the menu button whenever needed. Basically everyone could have their own configuration how they see fit. Sounds like a great idea to me seriously but lets see others opinion.
PS: I posted the same topic in the nexus 4 forum but seems like not many people were interested in the discussion.

the hardware buttons always crash in 2 years.
my galaxy s ,s2......

realpg said:
the hardware buttons always crash in 2 years.
my galaxy s ,s2......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The power button of a phone with no home button is also likely to crash earlier than for a phone with a home button.
I think 2 years is not a bad period to be honest...iPhone home button has a similar life so it just seems a technical limitation right now.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda app-developers app

It's a neat idea, but I don't think there are enough people who feel the need to customize the buttons for Samsung to bother.

Pretty useless to customize the buttons in my opinion.
I feel that once you get used to the configuration, it is one of the best combinations in phones.

system.img said:
Pretty useless to customize the buttons in my opinion.
I feel that once you get used to the configuration, it is one of the best combinations in phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think we can all agree that there should be a dynamic menu button instead of a fixed one cant we? It still happens to me that an app has actions with the menu button and I never knew before because I never pressed the menu button. With a dynamic menu button that problem is gone.
I completely understand why samsung wont give a dedicated task switcher as accidentally pressing it can be quite annoying but really the fixed menu key needs to go.
What about the back button? If its displayed on-screen then it is capable of changing shape to tell you that your next press will exit the app. This is so helpful and only possible on-screen.
And secondly having a flexible button system can be really useful with an evolving OS like android. Who knows google might introduce another navigation button in the mix as all their phones use on-screen configurations.

I think it is a crime to put a hard home button on a top phone made in 2013. It's not 1995 anymore. Samsung insists on hard buttons just to make it easier for people coming from iPhone, which is an emberassment for the Android community.

aydc said:
I think it is a crime to put a hard home button on a top phone made in 2013. It's not 1995 anymore. Samsung insists on hard buttons just to make it easier for people coming from iPhone, which is an emberassment for the Android community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope the love hard button.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

aydc said:
I think it is a crime to put a hard home button on a top phone made in 2013. It's not 1995 anymore. Samsung insists on hard buttons just to make it easier for people coming from iPhone, which is an emberassment for the Android community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My biggest issue with having just a single screen is that there is just no gap between the actual screen and navigation buttons. If you increase the gap then ofcourse it becomes a massive waste of screen. I believe google should switch to using a separate screen in the next nexus for navigation allowing for a bit of gap between the actual screen and buttons. Efficient use of space be damned there is a balance you gotta keep between that and practical usage.

I love the hard button. When I had the Moto Defy, sometimes my finger would slip and touch the home button (I have big hands). It angered the heck out of me.

how many people still want menu button

Samsung reportedly losing physical home button i think it should stay as its nice to have physical button what do you people think please vote it will be interesting what you guys and girls think

i would give up the menu button or any other physical button for onscreen buttons only if the bottom bezel is extremely thin, just like the side bezels. Unless otherwise its of no use. having a thick bezel at the bottom and onscreen menu on top of it is lame and a waste of screen space

Psychical buttons are one of the reasons why i bought Samsung phone. All other phones have onscreen buttons, i cant see them well, i cant feel them under my finger. Sony uses onscreen buttons but on their phones there is so much wasted space, on most phones that i saw it was so i didnt like them. I find great that S4 and S4A have psychical buttons, i really like them.
One of the most used things by me is menu button. I dont have to waste time to search those unituinitive 3 dots im just pressing hardware key. Much more often im using menu than switching between apps. For switching im using great app Swipe Home Button.
from S4 Active Blue Ocean

If they remove the menu button they might as well remove the home and back button at the same time.
I like them but I wouldn't say no to a pair of stereo speakers on either side of the screen.

bala_gamer said:
i would give up the menu button or any other physical button for onscreen buttons only if the bottom bezel is extremely thin, just like the side bezels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1

I am may be the only one bothered by the return/back button. when I start or use the camera, I very often accidentally touch it with my "big" finger while adjusting/moving my hands position and that close the camera application . This a real pain and a design mistake.
The best about the sensorless buttons would be to make them customizable upon customer wishes and needs. That way everybody is happy, Ge and Sammy fans.

bala_gamer said:
i would give up the menu button or any other physical button for onscreen buttons only if the bottom bezel is extremely thin, just like the side bezels. Unless otherwise its of no use. having a thick bezel at the bottom and onscreen menu on top of it is lame and a waste of screen space
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds great having thin top and bottom bezel. But when realize this, you will have bad time gaming..your palm will touch the screen you cannot rest your palm..
Sent from my GT-I9500

Yes I still want dedicated menu, home and back buttons.
I'm sure the alternatives require taking up user screen space? Otherwise what's the point.
Our galaxy tab 2 doesn't have menu button and annoys me.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

For those who dont like physical keys just install 3 dot menu mod and cover buttons with duct tape. There you go nexus mod
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

i hate the we could have a bigger screen if this wasn't there
[I'm helping to tell developers how they can protect their app from being pirated and how they can protect it, in that way you can consider to not worry about your app being patched. too many developers have a bad protection.]

it seems a lot of people would like to keep menu button i hope it stays as i really like having the menu button its nice to have one physical button

They're removing it because it's a waste of space. The 3-dot overflow menu is always there. Why have a button that duplicates functionality?
As well, the menu button is unintuitive when there isn't actually a menu. The 3-dot overflow menu doesn't have this problem; it just disappears.
Changing it to a Recent App capacitive button adds functionality, since it's much faster than long-pressing, and much more intuitive to find. It also greatly increases how fast you can navigate your device, which is why Google implemented in their navigation bar.
Times are changing, and for the better. Keep up!

I originally had a Sony Xperia S but once they removed physical buttons from new models I went to Samsung.. I don't know what's the point of adding physical buttons to the screen.. It makes the bottom of your screen ugly black and wastes important space for nothing.. And the big problem is tapping it while you're driving or not looking at the screen, Just awful.. Don't do that Samsung !
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

AnaMajhol said:
I originally had a Sony Xperia S but once they removed physical buttons from new models I went to Samsung.. I don't know what's the point of adding physical buttons to the screen.. It makes the bottom of your screen ugly black and wastes important space for nothing.. And the big problem is tapping it while you're driving or not looking at the screen, Just awful.. Don't do that Samsung !
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They didn't. They just swapped the menu button for Recent Apps.

AnaMajhol said:
I originally had a Sony Xperia S but once they removed physical buttons from new models I went to Samsung.. I don't know what's the point of adding physical buttons to the screen.. It makes the bottom of your screen ugly black and wastes important space for nothing.. And the big problem is tapping it while you're driving or not looking at the screen, Just awful.. Don't do that Samsung !
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should asked Google that question. They designed Android and not Sony. Samsung is still living in the Gingerbread era, they should move with the times.

Is this thread talking about just the menu button? Or the physical home button? Or all the buttons at the bottom??? What I read is Samsung is replacing the menu button with the recent app button(which I find its way better as it really speeds up multitasking)... Not about removing the physical home button or all the buttons to become on screen buttons.

On a 5'' or bigger phone the menu button makes one hand handling easier!
Plain and simple. I am going to miss it.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

I want touch capacitive physical button. Like those used on HTC One but keeping the Samsung home menu back three button layout. That would be perfect for me, seriously.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I am a heavy multitasker so the answer is easy ... menu button should have disappeared long ago ... and replaced with the recent apps button ... because long pressing the home button isn't very efficient and doesn't feel nice at all ...

As someone who has always used samsung devices it will be strange to not have a menu button

[Q] Can the middle button behave like a capacitive button?

Is there any way to set the fingerprint button to behave like a capacitive button? I really just want to dab my finger on it and not have to depress, like the other two keys. I know the scanner registers contact but that click press it's really annoying when I just want the "desktop" etc. I think it would do wonders for the buttons longevity too... This may seem like a minor thing but it would really make the make the whole user interaction thing more standard. Having to big press one of three buttons is odd..

You can get a lot of apps that add "soft buttons" to your screen for things like Home. One that jumps to mind is called Button Savior.
That was my way of saying that, no, I don't think you can use that button without actually "clicking" it.

You could try the app called swype home button, just swype up from the screen just above it and itll take you home.

I completely agree with your desire here OP. Coming from an LG optimus G, I find myself gently tapping the button hoping for home.
As an alternative, I'd recommend the pie launcher app in the play store. No root required unless you want menu button functionality. Makes for a nice, easy to reach one handed set of on screen buttons that are only there when you need them, and you can use it as an app launcher too.

pisanty said:
Is there any way to set the fingerprint button to behave like a capacitive button? I really just want to dab my finger on it and not have to depress, like the other two keys. I know the scanner registers contact but that click press it's really annoying when I just want the "desktop" etc. I think it would do wonders for the buttons longevity too... This may seem like a minor thing but it would really make the make the whole user interaction thing more standard. Having to big press one of three buttons is odd..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There has to be a way to do it because of the fingerprint sensor. I'm sure custom kernels soon will have this feature.

Bump any new ideas here?

Softbuttons? Nougat? Huawei? Facebook?

I'm not really sure what my question is related to, but I'm sure it's a stupid one. This is my first phone with softbuttons. My previous phones were Samsungs, which had capacitive buttons. My last phone was a Note 3, which was still on Lollipop. I had always assumed that softbuttons were simply an on-screen version of what I was used to, but the behavior is different. Not sure if that's related to the newer OS, or what. The left capacitive button brought up the menu in the app, which was often redundant to an on-screen menu option within the app, but not always. For example, in Facebook, clicking the left button would bring up several options, logging out being one of them. On the Mate 9, there's a back button, which does the same thing as the back capacitive did, there's a home button, which does the same thing the main home button did, but the square button brings up the recent app list. On my Samsung, that was done by holding the home button. So there doesn't seem to be an equivalent to the menu button I had on the Samsung.
So the short question is: how do I bring up that short blue menu in Facebook with the option to log out?

There is no button menu,you have to logout from fb menu.

So, the little quick menu in Facebook that has Logout, Settings, About, and Report a Problem is only available on phones that have capacitive buttons? You have to wade through the much longer list of options within the Facebook app to find those things? It seems odd there isn't a softbutton equivalent. Or at least an option to add one.

For some reason Google thinks the menu buttom was useless and they got removed. Even Samsung phones now doesn't have it.

On the Mate 9 you have option for Back, Home, Recents, Notifications (optional).
Swiping left/right will turn on 'reachability' mode. Holding Home brings up Google Now/screen search. Holding Recents will activate split screen mode.
Sent from my MHA-L29 using XDA Labs

Even exist a floating button with home , recents,block and back options. You can activate it from quicksettings
Enviado desde mi MHA-L29

Ah yes the floating dock.
Sent from my MHA-L29 using XDA Labs

Lodix said:
For some reason Google thinks the menu buttom was useless and they got removed. Even Samsung phones now doesn't have it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, ok, so this is really an issue of me being used to Lollipop, and moving to Nougat. I wasn't sure what the cause was. Thanks!

dscline said:
Ah, ok, so this is really an issue of me being used to Lollipop, and moving to Nougat. I wasn't sure what the cause was. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well Google never implemented the menu buttom in the software-ones, just home/back/multitasking.