First off, I know that doing this is looked down upon as samsungification by the Nexus master race and in the past I have agreed that it didn't make sense to have the Samsung style button layout. On this phone however, I've found that it drastically improved one handed usability for those who don't have huge hands (if you hold you're right handed). The buttons are in order of importance (back, home, and recents) going from easiest to hardest to reach with your thumb. I personally have to re adjust my grip to reach the left-most button one handed.
You can do this easily with gravitybox (swap back and recent keys).
I found it awkward at first (i kept instinctually hitting the recents button) and actually switched back because of that, but I found myself missing the reachability of the back button and now it's my full time set up. You get used to it within 2 days. Give it a chance, I bet you'll like it
One of the first mods I made with gravity box when I first got the phone. Having come from a samsung, I'm quite used to the back being on the far right. There's also an option in GB to add the overflow/menu button to the navigation bar. Most menus already have the menu or over flow accessible in one way or another, but this keeps it on the screen consistently.
You should really read through the themes and apps section.
Or you could get one of these: http://shop.flygrip.com/?ref=pg-home
Yes, they're expensive, but once you use one it's hard to imagine not having it.
Related
New Fuze user and new user to WM in general. I like the device, but it's been a bit overwhelming trying to get things together and tweaking it.
My biggest gripe right now is the sensitivity of the 4 way directional pad. Up and down work pretty well, but left and right are tricky to hit and I usually wind up going home, canceling, or going back. It's quite frustrating and I'd much rather use the directional pad than peck on the touchscreen in many situations.
I'm a bit befuddled: is navigation via the directional pad touch sensitive or is it a physical button? Is there anyway to adjust the sensitivities or sensor zones/regions so as not to accidentally hit one of other hardware buttons?
Thanks.
Got the same issue. The up / down navigation works fine, but left and right is just horrible. It would almost be better if you could use the touch sensitive part, rather than having to press the buttons fully down.
yup its a problem on all i think
lbhocky19 said:
yup its a problem on all i think
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Wow, how did this get pass R&D and QA? The lack of responsive and accurate left/right keys is abysmal (makes me unable to use Calendar). I sure hope there will be some remedy ....
Yeah, I agree, the d-pad is sorely lacking. It seems to be getting a little easier as I get accustomed to it, but the d-pad from my 8525 was much better.
I agree 100%. And like vexingv said, this is particularly annoying in the calendar application. The D pad on my 8525 was far easier to use.
And all this time i thought i just kept messing up. I have the same problem also.
calendar is where the problem really does shine
This is the WORST part about this new phone redesign. It's almost as if MARKETING came up with this idea than actual engineers.
I wonder if we can just cut the surface so we get the d-pad left-right back and so it's not shared with other buttons.
Thanks a lot HTC! You now have THREE buttons that do the same thing instead of 2 last time on the Kaiser:
Home goes back to Home
Back (formerly OK), goes back to home anyways
Hangup goes back to Home anyways already!
So hitting left or right you have 66% of it going straight back to HOME.
Then, you take away the scroll-wheel capability and replace it with rocker buttons for volume that only do that and nothing else.
Genius by HTC.
NuShrike said:
This is the WORST part about this new phone redesign. It's almost as if MARKETING came up with this idea than actual engineers.
I wonder if we can just cut the surface so we get the d-pad left-right back and so it's not shared with other buttons.
Thanks a lot HTC! You now have THREE buttons that do the same thing instead of 2 last time on the Kaiser:
Home goes back to Home
Back (formerly OK), goes back to home anyways
Hangup goes back to Home anyways already!
So hitting left or right you have 66% of it going straight back to HOME.
Then, you take away the scroll-wheel capability and replace it with rocker buttons for volume that only do that and nothing else.
Genius by HTC.
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Well, the scroll wheel does work, but its ability is to zoom/decrease the text size, which for most intents and purposes is a waste.
For clarification, is the directional rocker currently touch-sensitive or is there a physical button that is being depressed (albeit poorly).
If this keeps up, how about mapping some of the other 4 hardware buttons to provide some L/R functionality?
Okay guys. Here is the weird crazy part. I had the same problem, I just flashed the original stock att rom back (Well, tried to freeze in the middle to return ) but I had the att rom on it, I tried to re-install via the microSD card, and after it went through all the customization, I was so suprised that the left and right were working, it blew me away. I was like, "wdf? Is this the same phone." I have no idea what happened, but they seem more responsive. No tricks. At first I thought it was just me, but I started to use it more and more and it was working much better than before. No idea what fixed it, but I'm a happy camper
Here's some pictures of a guy who dropped it. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=2904011&postcount=1
Looks like distinct buttons. We just need to keep the face plate from sharing the presses.
Stock rom here... Moving 'left' seems to work okay but 'right' either hits Call End or Back. And here I thought I was doing something wrong.
NuShrike said:
Here's some pictures of a guy who dropped it. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=2904011&postcount=1
Looks like distinct buttons. We just need to keep the face plate from sharing the presses.
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Seriously! Whose idea was it to make all those buttons into 1 face plate! stupid idiot designer. At least they could've separated the d-pad somehow, maybe a very precise circle.
Yeah with the new excitement with touch interfaces, HTC seemed to have left their minds/brains elsewhere. But judging from the pictures in the linked thread above, it seems like none of the 4 directions have physical buttons.
Count me in on this problem...
For the Calendar I just open the keyboard and use that D-pad on the bottom right.
SOLUTIONS...
I propose someone should create software to do 1 of 2 things:
1) Use the G-sensor to control scrolling. This function would be activated by touching, not pressing/clicking, the center of D-pad. Similar to how you focus the camera. This action would activate the software thus allowing scrolling in all 4 directions by tilting the device.
2) Change the input so we only have to Touch the D-pad (like how we zoom in on pictures/Opera) to move in the desired direction.
So who's up to the challenge of developing some software to make this happen? I will gladly donate $$$ as the D-pad is the ONLY thing I dislike about the Fuze/Touch Pro.
it took me 10 days to realize how to left and right buttons work (sprint).
Hmm...maybe the designers/engineers meant for BOTH hardware buttons on either side to be depressed nearly simultaneously in order to register navigation to either the left or right?
Eg.: Placing the tip of my right thumb parallel with the end the bottom of the phone between the two hardware buttons (farther away from the D-pad than one normally would) such that both buttons depressed, I was able to get much better accuracy navigating to the right. Can get the same response on the left side, but it's not as feasible due to the awkward positioning of the hands/fingers.
I got tired of this problem before so I used G-controller. It works.
[Link]
The buttons are both touch-sensitive and physical buttons. The problem is if your thumb is touching any of the big buttons, it will prefer that over the directional click. Add to that the fact that the area the phone considers to be part of the non-directional buttons is much bigger than what it considers to be the directional buttons and it is a problem.
I wish people would stop following Steve Jobs's design ideas. Fewer buttons does not a better product make.
Why is it so hard to push the left and right keys? they should have made it just like the up and down keys.
I want to play frogger and you just cant do it lol
Is there anyway around this?
I agree. It is SOO HARD
is there any way to "hard mod" it by like dremaling holes in the faceplate and just attaching little button nubs to the sensor? anyone tried this? i would rather it worked than looked pretty....seriously htc, what the heck.
just find the point between the home icon and phone icon an press it over and over on each side it really is a "sweet spot" as described in another thread. Once you get it it will come naturally, at least for me it did
SUPAstarr said:
just find the point between the home icon and phone icon an press it over and over on each side it really is a "sweet spot" as described in another thread. Once you get it it will come naturally, at least for me it did
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I've had my Fuze since launch and it is still hit and miss. The bad thing is gaming, when you really rely on the buttons... you don't have time to look down and get the thumb placement 100% right. This is the problem.
What I would LOVE to see happen is to completely get rid of the Today and Back buttons, since I never use them anyway. The Red End key works as a Today button and I'm accustomed to using the X close button to minimize/close my apps.
With the Today and Back buttons disabled it would be much easier to use Left/Right because then you wouldn't have to worry about ending up at the today screen.
OR an even better solution would be to simply re-assign the Today and Back keys as softkeys (which could then be reassigned in the game's button mapping) or remap the hard keys to Left/Right for easy use. Either way it would work pretty well.
For the time being... I wonder if you could place a small circular sticker on the "correct" placement... thus fooling the sensor that every time it is pressed it "see's" the sticker thinking it is your thumb and triggers left/right actions.
OR if that doesn't work... what about finding the correct placement location and installing some kind of "dimple". Like a small half-bubble-like sticker that will enable you to "feel" where the correct spot is. This way when your playing, you could at least find the dimple, and press... all without looking.
Just a few ideas. I haven't tried any of them, so if anything works let me know.
I think I know the answer....but I am hoping someone knows if there is a way to turn this off. It's so big. Hate it. As far as I can tell...its not optional.
Sent from my Thunderbolt using Tapatalk
Nope, can't turn it off.
not yet, give it time for the framework to be ripped apart. root and s-off have just arrived, patience
Agreed that it's a bit large, but I actually like the feature.
My biggest complaint with the TB (other than TFT vs SAMOLED screen) is the placement/arrangement of the capacitive menu buttons at the bottom of the screen. I don't have tiny hands, but they're not particular big either, so the size of the phone and the placement of the Home button make it just about impossible for me to use the phone with just one hand like I do my 4" phones. My thumb just can't reach the Home button when holding it in my right hand without risking dropping it, so it's difficult to do the long press to get the recent apps screen up. I can comfortably drop the shade and select from there, though, so I like it. Obviously a YMMV thing, and accessing the Home screens still takes two hands for me.
yeah, the recently used apps in the notification bar was poorly thought out. It's redundant as holding the home button does the same thing and isn't needed. If they were going to put anything up there, it should've been the quick toggles like the Galaxy S line of devices.
Yes...I also miss the quick toggle from Cyan....I still find myself pulling down the shade only to realize its not there.
And I miss being able to dismiss notification with a sideways swipe.....A LOT!
Sent from my Thunderbolt using Tapatalk
rckymtnrfc said:
Yes...I also miss the quick toggle from Cyan....I still find myself pulling down the shade only to realize its not there.
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Click to collapse
Check out Widgetsoid. It does what you want but takes a bit of setup
Couldn't you just use a different launcher like ADW? Or is it built into the framework? If so, what a turn off.
I am so happy about this. Samsung was breaking my balls with this. Finally....
http://blogs.computerworld.com/android/23359/samsung-android-menu-button
Lol they can dump the rest of it......
why this good news i like the menu button
pnr2020 said:
why this good news i like the menu button
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The menu button is objectively... wrong!
The first relates to Samsung's decision to include the Menu button -- an element Google removed from the platform at the start of the 4.0 era. The old-style Menu button was eliminated for a specific reason: On button-free devices, a special onscreen icon signals the presence of functions related to the OS or to specific applications -- functions like accessing advanced settings in Gmail, requesting a desktop version of a website in Chrome, or viewing your list of installed apps in the Play Store. In Samsung's setup, there's nothing to let you know when those options are available unless you think to tap the Menu button at the right time.
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http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...iew_A_real_world_evaluation?pageNumber=2#goto
http://blogs.computerworld.com/smartphones/22921/7-silly-things-galaxy-note-3#buttons
To bad I liked the button to
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
jastonas said:
I am so happy about this. Samsung was breaking my balls with this. Finally....
http://blogs.computerworld.com/android/23359/samsung-android-menu-button
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Not too bothered about the menu button, although obviously best Samsung move with the design of android. Would have rather they had changed the physical home button to a capacitive one. Although I dont see them changing that one anytime soon, because if they do that they might as well use on screen buttons, which would mean a slight decrease in screen size and perhaps the loss of their identity (as it would resemble a nexus/other brand phone).
I like the menu/back and the physical home button is one of the reasons i like them
each to there own and all that crap.
After my beloved HTC Incredible S, I vowed never to get another HTC as they had removed the menu button, leaving just 2 buttons.
First the incredibly useful search button gets removed off Android, now this.
If I wanted pretty much no buttons I'd go for an iPhone. But I don't - I want easy control over my phone and not having to rely on the touchscreen for every single command! :crying:
Yea, there's nothing wrong with that button. I like it!
Hardware menu button is logical and very intuitive. Instead of search and explore sometimes awkward interface, i can press menu button and get menu. Also, not every app looks good with always visible menu button. I'm using 3rd party dialer where only dial keyboard and call log/contacts are visible. Where to put menu button? Make whole bar just for this button? It's lame! And there are many other apps where on-screen menu button will look like 5th leg for dog.
I like present Samsung button layout and would like to have it in the future phones.
they should 100 % keep menu button its just nice having physical button will really miss it
they should keep the physical button i have no problem with it
I love the menu button!
My old HTC One S had a recent apps button instead of menu. All EVERY custom ROM ever did was remap it to menu! What I hope sammy does is ditch the physical home button and go metal!!
Actual buttons setup is very good (only difference from nexus is menu button instead of multitasking button). But multitasking is already accessible through home button (like in ios) and menu button is smart (don't have to search for the 3 dots). Removing it is a bad move, samsung would ditch one of its best intuition.
Sent from my Galaxy S4
Menu button is definitely needed especially on big screens because on screen menu button is at the top! I hope it stays on the future galaxy phones.
gsmyth said:
Not too bothered about the menu button, although obviously best Samsung move with the design of android. Would have rather they had changed the physical home button to a capacitive one. Although I dont see them changing that one anytime soon, because if they do that they might as well use on screen buttons, which would mean a slight decrease in screen size and perhaps the loss of their identity (as it would resemble a nexus/other brand phone).
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Actually physical home button is one of my favourite features on Samsung phones. It just makes it so easy to wake up the phone (yes - i'm left handed, so power button on the right side is not very comfortable for me!), but also to answer a call. Especially when using gloves and/or S View pouch that i have.
I will be ditching Samsung next year when I am due for upgrade. They should ditch their crapwiz as well.
windozeanti said:
I will be ditching Samsung next year when I am due for upgrade. They should ditch their crapwiz as well.
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Now that they are changing touchwiz?
First of all...f*ck you Samsung!
There, I got it out of my system now..
I knew android had this button since always and I always used it since my first smartphone, the Galaxy S I9000.
I find the fact that they'll change it a horrible idea!
I hope the S5, Note 4 etc will keep the current design...
Even if they don't though, you can remap any key if you've rooted your phone and I'll make it again an options menu even if the icon shows otherwise.
nfsmw_gr said:
First of all...f*ck you Samsung!
There, I got it out of my system now..
I knew android had this button since always and I always used it since my first smartphone, the Galaxy S I9000.
I find the fact that they'll change it a horrible idea!
I hope the S5, Note 4 etc will keep the current design...
Even if they don't though, you can remap any key if you've rooted your phone and I'll make it again an options menu even if the icon shows otherwise.
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Google forced the menu button to be inside apps so having a hardware menu button is redundant. I prefer the button too, blame Google... No more menu button, no external sdcard support for Nexus...
Enviado do meu Galaxy S4
I'm trying to use pixel 2 with one hand, and I often have issues with "back" button. I'm used to Samsung phone where it used to be on the right as opposed to it being on the left.
On Pixel 2, since it's on the left side, I often have issues pressing the button.
I know you can switch left and right, but I'm wondering if there's anyway to move the entire soft key to the right (or to the left). The beauty of soft key is that you can do whatever you want, so I'm hoping it's something I can do. thoughts?
Custom Navigation Bar has this option. Yes you can flip (thats why I use it). You can also move one button left or right, or all three. I don't remember if this is free or part of the in-app purchase. Its a good app regardless.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.paphonb.systemuituner
dbrohrer said:
Custom Navigation Bar has this option. Yes you can flip (thats why I use it). You can also move one button left or right, or all three. I don't remember if this is free or part of the in-app purchase. Its a good app regardless.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.paphonb.systemuituner
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thanks!! I'll check it out!