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[Q] How do I increase the capacitive button brightness? (back, settings, search, home

How do I increase the capacitive button brightness? (back, settings, search, home) Their brightness are so low it bothers me. Thanks to anyone who can help!

Never heard of it. But if its possible I'm sure that would be in the kernel.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App. Developer of brickROM, and OP of XDA Thread of The Year 2011.

stu5797 said:
How do I increase the capacitive button brightness? (back, settings, search, home) Their brightness are so low it bothers me. Thanks to anyone who can help!
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Mine are clearly visible unless under harsh bright light (super sunny summer day).

Does anyone know a way I could possibly

Doubt it mate, I believe the backlights only have the on/off option and not dimming/brightening capabilities from a software standpoint.

Sounds like you have a defective phone or defective eyes if they're that hard to see. Mine are visible in even full sunlight.

Mine are really dim too.... almost look brown they're so dim...
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using xda premium

i don't think you can, it looks like they are tinted.

SOLUTION
Change the number value for a little number of the button-backlight/max_current
in System/etc/hw_config.sh
I want help You

Braneless said:
Sounds like you have a defective phone or defective eyes if they're that hard to see. Mine are visible in even full sunlight.
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In this case you don't see the button brightness (light from buttons) but simply buttons are white backgrounded
sent from my NS

They're just LED Bulbs so I don't think you can control the intensity of the light being emitted.

Why are manufacturers still making phones with buttons?

One of the coolest features on ICS is the lack of capacitive buttons on the phone. the nexus has done it, the tablets have done it - why do companies like HTC and Samsung insist on using capacitive buttons on their ICS ready flagship phones? Isn't it time we get rid of these buttons once and for all?

Some people like or are used to buttons...
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App

While people still buy phones with buttons... manufacturers don't have reasons to change

I guess, cause users still like them..
I for myself, would love to have a trackball and I would even pay some bugs more to have a new ICS device with a trackball.
For sure, it's cool without any buttons, but usability of a trackball is unbeatable.
Sent from my Premium Xx

I think it will happen in the next round of phone releases. You can see with the new lines coming out that they have diminished the number of buttons transitioning, if you will, to the no button design.
The only advantage to having the physical buttons it's the screen realestate is not taken up by the nav bar. For example, the 4.65 in Galaxy Nexus is much smaller than the 4.7 in of the One X. As the nav bar buttons take up the bottom at all times, though im sure they still auto hide when necessary.
You get the idea...
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium

I'm one of those old fashioned people who actually likes hard buttons on my phone. As I see it, I want fast access to the actual phone. I realize I'm one of a dying breed who likes the answer and end buttons, among others, but the main function of my phone is to be a phone. I like to be able to feel for the buttons in a dark room or in my pocket. I like that if my digitizer dies, I can still make and receive calls until a replacement arrives. Yes, hard buttons are just one more thing to go wrong, but they provide me with more benefits than anything.
-- Sent from my TouchPad using Communities

cajunflavoredbob said:
I'm one of those old fashioned people who actually likes hard buttons on my phone. As I see it, I want fast access to the actual phone. I realize I'm one of a dying breed who likes the answer and end buttons, among others, but the main function of my phone is to be a phone. I like to be able to feel for the buttons in a dark room or in my pocket. I like that if my digitizer dies, I can still make and receive calls until a replacement arrives. Yes, hard buttons are just one more thing to go wrong, but they provide me with more benefits than anything.
-- Sent from my TouchPad using Communities
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I agree. Benefits of Capacitive and Hard keys out way the "cool factor" of the navigation bar.
~E.R.A.

Some people may like it. But I believe its essential. In case the screen freezes or touch stops responding theres always a hardware button to get through right?

I think sum people dont like to use touch phone..

I'm generally OK without mechanical buttons on the device. I do wish it had a dedicated camera button. Taking pictures by tapping the screen makes it much harder to get a good, quick picture.

I'd rather my row of four capacitative buttons than a few on screen icons. It bothers me when there is screen real estate not available to apps, as is the case when there are buttons there. I'm sure they can probably auto hide or whatever, but they are there at least some of the time and I'd rather just have them as buttons.

The on-screen buttons have a lot of disadvantages as well, one of them is you can't quick reset your phone. If touchscreen stops responding, you can do nothing!
A minimal button is at least needed!

Samsung does it to copy iPhone. All they care about is stealing users from Apple. Since most Apple users aren't sophisticated, they get scared when they see a phone with no buttons.

tahsin.arnob said:
The on-screen buttons have a lot of disadvantages as well, one of them is you can't quick reset your phone. If touchscreen stops responding, you can do nothing!
A minimal button is at least needed!
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Well not necessarily true as power buttons more than likely won't go away, as well as volume buttons which can be used for a hard reset in the event the touch screen is unresponsive.

In Android devices, I want mechanical buttons. There ease the situations, like advanced user methods. However, on WP7 (f.e. Lumia 800/900) i dont want mechanical buttons, but capacitive yes. On-screen buttons? Danke, nein. Camera button wont standard at everywhere.
Sent from my Blade using XDA

Because some buttons are actually pretty necesary. Power button, for example. How else are you gonna use your phone?

Many times I do wish there were send and end buttons.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA

masondoctorjt said:
Many times I do wish there were send and end buttons.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA
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Yup. One of many reasons I still use my HD2.

IMHO none of the reasons listed so far makes sense. The Samsung Galaxy series has garnered enough reputation that people will buy the damn thing with or without buttons. I think it's something with their designers or someone further up in the company that got scared about lack of physical buttons (even though power and volume buttons are still there.)

Lock button Not sticking out much

Okay So ive had the international One X for the past few days. I love it! well picked up the AT&T One X today. Well Is the lock button supposed to not stick out far? its very noticable and uncomfitble to unlock

the AT&T version`s just doesnt stick out as far

yeh i hate the button. it shoulda had more click feeling..

jtwlbz said:
yeh i hate the button. it shoulda had more click feeling..
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So its not a defect?

Hopefully we'll get volume rocker wake up, that's my preference anyways
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA

hyelton said:
So its not a defect?
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No, its not a defect.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Volume Rocker Wake works on CM9 Alpha 5
I've been using CM9 Alpha 5 for a few hours now and it's great !
The first think I set was the Volume Rocker Wake as the Power Button is not as easy to press when using most cases covering the power button.
To enable it, go to SETTING --> DISPLAY --> VOLUME ROCKER WAKE
it enables waking the phone by pressing the volume rocker EITHER up/down.
There is no way to specify one or the other
However, it works great ! I'm really liking CM9, my only complaint is the missing HTC Camera which was just amazing with the hardware burst (I'm still looking for a way to flash it if that's even possible).

same
same here. hate this button

It amazes me that this button layout made it to production. Did they forget to test it before mass producing them? It's horribly uncomfortable to reach up there and press it. Only takes one awkward reach to realize that.

Stay Frosty said:
It amazes me that this button layout made it to production. Did they forget to test it before mass producing them? It's horribly uncomfortable to reach up there and press it. Only takes one awkward reach to realize that.
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agreed, it really is amazing. It like nobody ever tried pressing it before they started rolling the phones off the line. How could you not notice it sucks?

Not an issue with my speck case, the button sticks out plenty far. The button would have been better placed just above the volume rocker tho.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

blindmathguy said:
Not an issue with my speck case, the button sticks out plenty far. The button would have been better placed just above the volume rocker tho.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
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Not Me I like having the volume/power on different sides, makes it easier to get into the bootloader/fastboot and recovery.

mlaws90 said:
Not Me I like having the volume/power on different sides, makes it easier to get into the bootloader/fastboot and recovery.
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Same here. Would've preferred the Galaxy nexus layout and buttons, not enough feedback on these.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

Found issue! Need to come up with solution...
So my HOX had great "clicky" unlock button that now all of a sudden is "soft". I was so bothered by it that I took the phone apart and found the issue. On the actual switch there is supposed to be a small dot on the bubble portion of the switch. If you look at the volume switch on the right side you should see what it should look like. This dot is something looks like it was stuck on on the exterior of the bubble surface so I am trying to think of a solution. Maybe a dot of crazy glue? Any ideas?

If you use crazy glue, chances are, the area of pressure on the bubble is going to increase, possibly not allowing the bubble to rebound.
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda premium

My fix...
Yeah glue didn't work. What I did was get a tiny piece of strong tape, actually used a piece from some industrial strength velcro, and added my own little dot on the bubble. Now it works better that ever! There is a site that sells the actual power button so if this doesn't work for a long perios of time I will just end up replacing the switch. The image of the button shows the little black dot that I was missing on mine.
18th.abn said:
If you use crazy glue, chances are, the area of pressure on the bubble is going to increase, possibly not allowing the bubble to rebound.
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda premium
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I guess the only way to fix it is with a case. To be fair though, it's no where near as bad as my old inc S. The power button on that was pretty much flush and really mushy too.

jeifei72 said:
I guess the only way to fix it is with a case. To be fair though, it's no where near as bad as my old inc S. The power button on that was pretty much flush and really mushy too.
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That's why I use slide2wake
Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk 2

How do you feel about the physical home button now?

When the first came out I was disappointed that it was going to have a physical home button. Have had phone now since it was released (Verizon) and I gotta say it doesnt bother at all. In fact it feels like it should be there. Not sure how it would feel without it actually.
You wish it wasn't there? Used to it now? Love it...hate it?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

I've grown to like it. At first I thought I would hate it but after using it some I like that it's a physical key (and that I have the option to turn off the LED backlights on the menu and back keys)

I like it, plus it doesn't really hurt to have the option.

I like it for waking the device. Reminds me of my Nexus One. Like the other poster I also love that Samsung made it so we can disable the backlight for the softkeys. On my Thunderbolt it took a separate app for that. I vote yes for the home button .

After spending 2 years with 4 capacitive buttons on the Vibrant, I find the physical button to be preferable. I love being able to find the home button by feel.
On the Vibrant I would frequently manage to hit the menu or back buttons by mistake, especially in low light conditions.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Stresa said:
I love being able to find the home button by feel.
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I agree with this. I was accidentally hitting the back and menu buttons on this sgs3 until I put a case on it. Now all is well.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

I wish it was capacitive like the back and menu keys. The one thing I do like it for is the ability to wake up the phone. A lot less cumbersome than having to reach for the side of the phone.

Still hate it. Soft keys on CM10 are the way to go. Makes multitasking so much better.

I would like it more if it were sensitive, it almost had to be pressed just right and with a bit of force, makes me wonder how long it will last....
That being said I still would prefer it to not be there.

I actually really don't mind it. it comes in handy

I'm still not a fan. I feel like a physical button is more old fashioned. I have to physically move something when there's a perfectly good alternative that's both standard and more responsive. I also find a uniform row of capacitive buttons more elegant than a mix 'n' match arrangement of capacitive and physical.

It doesn't really bother me, but I definitely prefer all soft keys like the Galaxy Nexus. In fact, I still have my GNex and whenever I go back to it for a spell, I remember how much I miss the soft home button. On the other hand, the GS3 has more screen real-estate than the GNex, so that makes me feel better. But ultimately, we could have both: larger screen like the GS3 but with all soft keys across the bottom. I just feel like it takes too much time to press the home button all the way down when I could just lightly touch the soft key...

My wife has the Galaxy Nexus and I think I prefer the touch buttons. I'm use to the home button but think the phone would have been slightly better without it. Although I do like that it wakes up the phone.

I agree you don't have to worry when your physical button is going to go.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

coming from an iPhone to the SG3... i have to say i have grown accustom to having the physical button over the past four to five years and i cannot say that i would enjoy the phone as much as i do had it not had the physical button. i tend to find myself holding the phone with three fingers behind and my thumb resting gently over it as leverage, makes the phone feel more secure in my hand (i don't have a case yet).
the only problem i have found with the physical button is that it actually managed to get the top right corner "Stuck" under the phone bezel somehow and the button was constantly being pressed. all i had to do to "un-stick" it was gently push the button towards the bottom of the phone.
other than that... no problems.

Sorry double post...

I like it, but the side buttons are a pain in the butt. I always, always hit the enter key when I hit back after typing and sending a message.

Rarely use it. I prefer to use the back button to clear out of tasks when possible. OCD

I prefer a capacitive button instead.

I really like it but I think mine is already wearing down as it feels like there's something inside of it
Sent from my Rooted, Synergized (1.7) and now unlocked bootloader VZW S3!

Your thoughts about on screen buttons?

Sorry if this is a type of discussion that has been done before a lot.
However, I am posting this thread since I cannot find one.
I want to know your thoughts about on screen buttons.
It seems like Americans love them and my fellow Koreans hate them (no wonder why Samsung is swaying away from onscreen buttons (or they might be doing it since they do not want burn-in on their Amoled devices))
I personally hate it on phones and love it on tablets.
On phones, it is limiting already small screen space and leave the bottom bezel space wasted by not effectively using it. Also, unlike Google claimed, it does not seem like on screen button allows manufacturers to reduce bottom bezel (In fact, Nexus 4 seems to have slight bigger bezel than that of Optimus G) and many of phones with onscreen buttons have bottom bezel large enough to accommodate hardware buttons or their bottom bezels are actually larger than those with hardware. Also I found On-screen buttons are not intuitive (I am not able to press it without looking at it) and often interfere with the actual screen (eg, games, keyboards, camera, etc...), and the weird aspect ratio (15:9....)
On the other hand, on tablet, I think it is wonderful idea since capacitive buttons on a bezel are annoying when holding the tablet horizontally.
So, what is your thoughts?
Please share them!

I used to hate the on screen button..only because I came from a phone that had "push" buttons. Now they are not so bad once you get used to it. True it does take up some of the screen, there are some custom roms that allow you to hide it until needed.
Regardless I'll probably always rather have a button than on screen.

My least favorite is the physical home button found on many Samsung devices (as well as all Apple devices). I prefer the capacitive buttons found on the sgh-t989 for example, but I don't mind the on screen buttons.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

i dont like on screen buttons... wastage of space..that too when u only have 4.3" screen size
best are feather touch buttons...

I like having the hardware buttons personally since it does not detract from the screen size. I also like having a physical home button that I can press without having to look where I am pressing on the phone since I can feel it with my thumb.

I used to despise the idea of not having physical buttons. The idea seemed too foreign to me. But now that I have a Galaxy Nexus, I have grown to get used to the soft keys, and now I look forward to moving to all soft buttons...

The problem is why there is so thick bezel when there is no hardware/touch key.
Also it should increase the resolution height so the display ratio is still 16:9 excluding the onscreen button.
Sent from my GT-I9500

I like the idea to have no physical buttons. As long as I get 16:9 excluding the software buttons.
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