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First of all, yes, I am calling it the mySlide 4G. But, my question is, how good is the keyboard? And I don't mean "how good is the keyboard compared to the [Insert Phone Name Here], I mean is the keyboard usable, does it get the job done, and can it be used fast? I have never owned a keyboard before so I am not super worried about adjusting, but in the time I (im)patiently wait for my phone to arrive, I thought I would get thoughts of what real users think of the keyboard. Despite watching/reading all the reviews of the mySlide, it's refreshing to find out what people who don't compare phones for a living think.
natehoch96 said:
First of all, yes, I am calling it the mySlide 4G. But, my question is, how good is the keyboard? And I don't mean "how good is the keyboard compared to the [Insert Phone Name Here], I mean is the keyboard usable, does it get the job done, and can it be used fast? I have never owned a keyboard before so I am not super worried about adjusting, but in the time I (im)patiently wait for my phone to arrive, I thought I would get thoughts of what real users think of the keyboard. Despite watching/reading all the reviews of the mySlide, it's refreshing to find out what people who don't compare phones for a living think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like the keyboard, sure I wish it had a dedicated number row but no biggie. It feels great my fingers. The only thing I'd really change at this point is moving the .com button. I'm constantly hitting that when I want an "a". But I really don't understand why there are so many reviews trashing this keyboard. I'm very particular about my hard keyboards and this one fits in with my high standards.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App
I think given the amount of real estate that the keys could use on the phone. That they are too tiny and close together. I'm constantly hitting keys I didnt mean to. And to reach some of them it feels akward, I have to reach further than feels natural. Namely the space bar feels too far to the left.
The response time seems fine. Keys work smoothly. It's just a bit off for me, and not really a comfortable keyboard to use. I'm sure I will adapt and eventually wont notice it anymore.
I really didn't think I would like the Slide's keyboard after using the Touch Pro 2 for so long, but it isn't that bad. The only thing I find myself doing is hitting the '.com' key more often than not when I want an 'a'. I've only had the phone since Tuesday, so I'm sure that with a little bit more time, it won't be an issue.
I think the keyboard is quite usable, and I can type at a relatively quick speed on it.
hah, funny how different typing styles result in different annoyances with the keyboard.
I'm quite liking it, personally. the G1 is still my favorite of the hw keyboard android phones I've had, but the slide is just fine. the only things I would change:
-the back button is pretty inconveniently placed for my typing style. it's not uncommon for me to be typing a sentence and when I end it I accidentally hit "back" and lose everything (unless it's a text or whatever that saves a draft). I also hit "menu" occasionally when typing a comma.
-tactile feedback. I like a nice "click" or at least a pronounced "smoosh" when I'm typing. with the slide, you almost can't tell you've pressed a key.
some things that I really like about it so far:
-however superfluous they may be, the leds at the top of the keyboard that tell you if you have caps or alt on. nice touch.
-spacing is nice. I look at, for comparison's sake, the D3 and can't imagine how anyone with hands bigger than a toddler can type accurately on it. the slide has good spacing and while I agree with azscrewloose on the size of the keys (they could be a smidgen larger), overall, it feels good even with huge hands like mine.
I've never used a slide-out keyboard before but all-in-all this phone feels really nice. The most awkward part for me is the spacebar but I love the www./.com button and caps lock/alt leds, it makes it easy to punch in numbers. The keys they chose to make default work very well. And I think once this phone gets root/s-off/overclock it's going to be a force to be reckoned with.
this phone qwerty and the rest of the hard buttons went kaput. broken. tried factory reset and did not help. these phones are pieces of crap. sending them back and done with android maybe. idk. htc dropped the ball on this one and tmobile lost customers. hope this helps some considering. dont do it.
fireinthesky2night said:
this phone qwerty and the rest of the hard buttons went kaput. broken. tried factory reset and did not help. these phones are pieces of crap. sending them back and done with android maybe. idk. htc dropped the ball on this one and tmobile lost customers. hope this helps some considering. dont do it.
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Click to collapse
lol... this happens with any phone from any manufacturer on any carrier. any electronic device, for that matter. it's called a hardware defect and sometimes it happens. get a replacement and get over it.
pmcqueen said:
-tactile feedback. I like a nice "click" or at least a pronounced "smoosh" when I'm typing. with the slide, you almost can't tell you've pressed a key.
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Click to collapse
This was one of my worries. Although I have never owned a QWERTY keyboard phone, I imagine some tactile feedback would be nice.
fireinthesky2night said:
this phone qwerty and the rest of the hard buttons went kaput. broken. tried factory reset and did not help. these phones are pieces of crap. sending them back and done with android maybe. idk. htc dropped the ball on this one and tmobile lost customers. hope this helps some considering. dont do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I agree with pmcqueen, just because your phone had problems doesn't mean every phone did. And I certainly wouldn't get rid of Android due to this, it is a great and probably the most powerful phone OS out there. Get a replacement, I guarantee that it won't have the same problems. And if it does, contact T-Mobile and get a free Sensation and a discount on your plan or something lol.
I like the keyboard. I find typing on it to be a much better experience then some of the other phones i've tried, I don't run into the problem of hitting other keys I didn't mean to.
Seems like they are spaced just far enough apart, and raised to just the right height.
Another thing I like is that all the keys are backlit, so I can see them even when it's dim and the light from the screen makes everything around it hard to see.
The one thing I don't like is a lack of arrow keys, but I suppose I can live with that, even though it really sucks.
I like the combination .com and www. button, and the symbol button. The symbol button pops up a choice of symbols on the screen that you can tap to insert. Very helpful.
Blue6IX said:
I like the keyboard. I find typing on it to be a much better experience then some of the other phones i've tried, I don't run into the problem of hitting other keys I didn't mean to.
Seems like they are spaced just far enough apart, and raised to just the right height.
Another thing I like is that all the keys are backlit, so I can see them even when it's dim and the light from the screen makes everything around it hard to see.
The one thing I don't like is a lack of arrow keys, but I suppose I can live with that, even though it really sucks.
I like the combination .com and www. button, and the symbol button. The symbol button pops up a choice of symbols on the screen that you can tap to insert. Very helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do wish that the backlighting was more generous, but hopefully there will be an app for that once the phone is rooted.
Plus, for the arrow keys, the optical scroll pad works great!
Keyboard is not to my liking
I had the "mySlide 4G" for a week. I hated the keyboard. I have used a G2 a couple times, the slide fails to match that experience. I thought after a week I would get used to the keyboard, that did not happen. I hated it and returned the phone, even though i am currently phoneless I am not going to get that phone. I hate software keyboards so much, I thought this phone was going to be amazing. The keys are spaced to wide, I thought that would accommodate my fat fingers, but it was worst than the G2. I did not get the feedback I was expecting, the keys are a bit too far in for my taste. The slide mechanism felt flimsy after a couple days use and battery life was terrible compared to my previous nexus one.
TL;DR The keys do not have good feedback and are too far apart. Battery life is meh.
I would say it's on par with the other physical keyboards that HTC has released. I still think the G1 was the best, because of the number row....even though it took time getting use to holding it. So far I am having issues with the MTS4g, but I think it's because I am coming from the G2. Comparing the G2 to the MTS4G, the Alt and Shift keys are literally backwards. So I am constantly hitting Shift when I want to hit Alt, just because they are backwards and I am used to the G2 button location.
I just wish I could figure out what button I am hitting that shuts down my SMS in the middle of typing....that's starting to get annoying.
All in all, I would give this a 6.5 out of 10.
cberbes said:
I would say it's on par with the other physical keyboards that HTC has released. I still think the G1 was the best, because of the number row....even though it took time getting use to holding it. So far I am having issues with the MTS4g, but I think it's because I am coming from the G2. Comparing the G2 to the MTS4G, the Alt and Shift keys are literally backwards. So I am constantly hitting Shift when I want to hit Alt, just because they are backwards and I am used to the G2 button location.
I just wish I could figure out what button I am hitting that shuts down my SMS in the middle of typing....that's starting to get annoying.
All in all, I would give this a 6.5 out of 10.
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Click to collapse
almost certainly the "Back" button on the SMS shutdown. if I remember right, the G2 just had a search and menu key on the keyboard... for better or worse, the MT4GS has [rather inconveniently if you ask me] placed a "back" key right next to the period. I regularly hit the back button when trying to punctuate properly.
so I guess I either look like a halfwit when making business communication or I have to deal with losing a few messages (usually they just save as drafts when I press back, but sometimes I lose them altogether) and start from scratch.
thankfully, though, s-off and permaroot are now officially right around the corner and we can remap these buttons. yayyyy.
The 4g slide's keyboard definitely needs some getting used to.
I LOVED the 3g slides keyboard and thought it would be pretty much the same.
The buttons are MUCH more sensitive and are taking time to get used to.
I liked the g2's buttons (as far as feel) better, and I liked the original slides the best. I've been reading that people have been keyboards that have different feels so you mileage may vary. I noticed pressure differences in the two 4g slides I bought (mine is ultra sensitive).
Once we have root, one of the FIRST things I'm doing is editing the keymappings and making the retarded www.com key a tab button. WTF are people that lazy that it warrants a dedicated key? I understand TAB with linux since it autocompletes and I use a shell and ssh a lot. Oh well.
pmcqueen said:
almost certainly the "Back" button on the SMS shutdown. if I remember right, the G2 just had a search and menu key on the keyboard... for better or worse, the MT4GS has [rather inconveniently if you ask me] placed a "back" key right next to the period. I regularly hit the back button when trying to punctuate properly.
so I guess I either look like a halfwit when making business communication or I have to deal with losing a few messages (usually they just save as drafts when I press back, but sometimes I lose them altogether) and start from scratch.
thankfully, though, s-off and permaroot are now officially right around the corner and we can remap these buttons. yayyyy.
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Click to collapse
Yup, that's it. Good call. I just looked at both of my keyboards and I think you nailed it on the head. Which of course brings up another issue with the physical keyboard....more of a software issue than anything. I can NOT get the physical keyboard set to auto-punctuate and auto-cap. With my G2 running CM7.1.0, I have auto punctuate and auto cap, so I don't have to worry about apostrophes, capitalizing "I", and what not, and double space ends the sentence.
I miss those features.
I'm getting used to the keyboards lack of tactile feedback but the lack of a dedicated number row is my biggest annoyance. If u could hold the buttons down and get the alt function that would help a lot. Hopefully a new rom can give us that option. I do miss my touch pro 2 kb...
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA App
I'm on the fence about what I think. On one hand, I actually prefer having such wide spacing between keys, a shallow travel, and soft response. I'm the type of person who loves the keyboards on palm phones since the centro; I like that soft touch, and I like that I can input with my nails if i need to. But the problem for me is that response among keys is uneven, on my model at least, with the keys towards the outwards edges being perfect, whereas a few keys towards the center, like the "t" and "g", barely provide me with any feedback. So little that I was actually looking around to whether I can enable virtual keyboard sounds or vibration feedback when using the hardware keyboard. I wonder whether its just a quality control issue because I haven't seen others have problems with specific buttons like that, they might just not like the keyboard at all but I haven't read about an uneven response.
Which is a shame because otherwise the phone is absolutely spectacular, and imo the best overall android offering out there. I have no issues whatsoever with using a virtual keyboard, but given the possibility, I'd rather use a physical one to save real estate and for the sake of my fingers.
However, I've only had the phone for 2 days, and I have clearly noticed that the keys are "breaking in". It was much worse the first day, but now response has improved substantially. I can tell because some of the outer keys had little response as well before but now click more satisfactorily after I spent a good amount of time pressing keys randomly in the notes app to wear the keys in.
I like this keyboard a lot. The only thing that absolutely sucks about it is that when using it your hands cover the bluetooth radio. For me since I am constantly listening to music on my phone via my bluetooth headphones... I am constantly annoyed by skipping music during texting or browsing. So I generally use the touch screen keyboard while listening to music via bluetooth.
Sent from my myTouch_4G_Slide using XDA App
On another note, does anybody know if their is a version of the stock gingerbread keyboard available with hardware spelling suggestions? The hardware keyboard is a lot more usable for me when used with suggestions. Better Keyboard has it and works well, but its prediction simply isn't as good as either gingerbread's or HTCs, mainly because it doesn't correct a lot of words where you type in an extra letter. And HTCs keyboard, though good as well, simply annoys me because it alwaayyysssss autocorrects "lol" to "LOL", which though minor, I find incredibly irksome when texting. No one uses caps for lol unless they are actually find something hilarious. Everybody knows that lol doesnt actually mean you're laughing out loud most of the time, lol. See? I didn't laugh.
I can't say for other tablets, but on the Transformer at least the soft keys for back, home, and multitasking are hard to use like they are. This tablet is so wide that it feels sort of silly to use it in the portriat orientation and it’s just a little too heavy to be held with just one hand in landscape for any significant length of time, so after a while I find myself gripping the sides with both hands and using my thumbs for navigation. This is all well and good until I need to use one of the soft keys at the bottom. It seems like they would be so much more useful at the top, so that you could hold onto the tablet with two hands and still be able to hit the back button quickly if you need to, which I always find myself doing when I'm on the internet and trying to go back from a page that had loaded a flash video. I don't know if anyone else has experienced this but I literally have to hit the back button 4 times really quick in succession or the page with the flash will just refresh over and over again.
But what seems even better than having the soft keys at the top is to just not have them at all and instead use a multitouch gesture based system for doing the same things. I believe the iPad had something similar in an early developers build of iOS 4 or 5. The gestures could be designed with thumb use in mind and maybe a thin strip along sides of the screen to serve as an area where the gestures can be preformed. Or one thick strip could be used on one side to completely replace the huge bottom bar, which seems to both be in the wrong place and take up more space than it needs
I like it how it is. But I am strange.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
hi guys...
since i started using an android phone i've been surprised of how the interface is poorly designed for the comfort of the user, one of the major issues for me is the "back button", and the problem is a lot worst with phones with screens over 4". everytime you need to go back you have to move your finger to the lower part of the phone where this button is located and if you dont have big hands it is very uncomfortable, it is even painful after a while,
i think that those buttons should be removed from android, now with ics and jellybean there is that software buttons that keep the same problem and also are a waste of space on the screen.
every app should have its own "back button" in some place that is easy to reach with your finger like the apps for the iphone ( dont kill me for using the iphone like an example in this particular aspect).
what do you guys think???
rodmc123 said:
hi guys...
since i started using an android phone i've been surprised of how the interface is poorly designed for the comfort of the user, one of the major issues for me is the "back button", and the problem is a lot worst with phones with screens over 4". everytime you need to go back you have to move your finger to the lower part of the phone where this button is located and if you dont have big hands it is very uncomfortable, it is even painful after a while,
i think that those buttons should be removed from android, now with ics and jellybean there is that software buttons that keep the same problem and also are a waste of space on the screen.
every app should have its own "back button" in some place that is easy to reach with your finger like the apps for the iphone ( dont kill me for using the iphone like an example in this particular aspect).
what do you guys think???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, iPhone has the back button embedded in the app and many are saying they need to implement dedicated back key in their phones. So its all about personal choice bro.
And I don't think Android needs to remove the back key and if you've used an iPhone you would know the hassle using it without a back button. Many iOS apps have back key located at various areas in their UI. So a normal user, who don't have much experience in using smartphones would get confused easily. But if dedicated back key is there, it makes all easy.
EDIT: Regarding the ICS/JB soft-keys option, if the manufactures think its a waste of space, they can simply disable it by modifying a line in one of the xml files. And if they decide they need not have to give their phones any hardware/capacitive buttons, they'll enable it. So google have given this feature as optional, and why would anyone think of removing that handy feature.
coolsandie said:
Well, iPhone has the back button embedded in the app and many are saying they need to implement dedicated back key in their phones. So its all about personal choice bro.
And I don't think Android needs to remove the back key and if you've used an iPhone you would know the hassle using it without a back button. Many iOS apps have back key located at various areas in their UI. So a normal user, who don't have much experience in using smartphones could get confused easily. But if dedicated back key is there, it makes all easy.
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Click to collapse
i think the back button is useful, but this is an ergonomic problem.. i think having a back button in the app it is a better solution, the waste of space on the screen also sucks, and i doubt that some pepole could be confused by a button with a back-arrow icon on it
rodmc123 said:
i think the back button is useful, but this is an ergonomic problem.. i think having a back button in the app it is a better solution, the waste of space on the screen also sucks, and i doubt that some pepole could be confused by a button with a back-arrow icon on it
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Click to collapse
After all, everyone gets a User-Manual with their phones. And every people that have paid for their new shiny phone would die to boot up fast and they'll look around, and by looking around they can easily know, the arrow stands for the Back key. :silly:
rodmc123 said:
i think the back button is useful, but this is an ergonomic problem.. i think having a back button in the app it is a better solution, the waste of space on the screen also sucks, and i doubt that some pepole could be confused by a button with a back-arrow icon on it
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Click to collapse
The main problem of the iphones back button is, is that sometimes it had different words, its in different places within the app, and its not simply a back button sometimes.
For example, when I use the keyboard on iOS, I have to tap on an area in the screen to close the keyboard, whereas on android its just a simple tap of the back button. Its just extremely consistent and I found myself tapping the empty area next to the home button on an ipod touch more than a few times expecting there to be a back button.
Although I have never used something as big as the One X, I imagine it would be hard (as you said) to reach the button without risking dropping the phone. But then I guess you buy a phone that fits your hand size, not something too big that you know will be a hassle
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium
If you use your left hand to hold the phone, why can't u use your little finger of your left hand to press the back button (it's convenient to me)
If u use the right hand, u can use the thumb of the right hand to press back.
Just my advice, no offence
rodmc123 said:
i think the back button is useful, but this is an ergonomic problem.. i think having a back button in the app it is a better solution, the waste of space on the screen also sucks, and i doubt that some pepole could be confused by a button with a back-arrow icon on it
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Click to collapse
You sound a bit like the commercial for the iphone5 with all that trollin arround here :laugh:
The 4" the sane size for a phone!!! -like speech etc.
If you don't like it you don't buy it. What is all that wining???
chaki- said:
You sound a bit like the commercial for the iphone5 with all that trollin arround here :laugh:
The 4" the sane size for a phone!!! -like speech etc.
If you don't like it you don't buy it. What is all that wining???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is not an iphone vs android discussion.. i do not say the back button is not useful the thing is that the location of the button is very uncomfortable in devices with a big screen if you dont have huge hands.
i like 4,3" and 4,7" screens thats why i have a 4,3 screen.. but with the back button down there, atleast for my hand size, it is very annoying to use.
really nobody else noticed this issue?? i mean your finger is most of the time at the middle of the screen and from there you move it like a compass to the upper and lowwer part of the screen, now take a phone with a 4,3 (or bigger) display and try to do that, you have to use your other hand or you have to somehow move the phone so the bottom (where the back button is located) is reachable for your finger and in that process you can drop the phone or end up with tendinitis after a long time of use.
Mitch_Faiz_555 said:
If you use your left hand to hold the phone, why can't u use your little finger of your left hand to press the back button (it's convenient to me)
If u use the right hand, u can use the thumb of the right hand to press back.
Just my advice, no offence
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry but what you say does not make any sense, your "little finger" might be ridiculously large and flexible to do that.
chaki- said:
You sound a bit like the commercial for the iphone5 with all that trollin arround here :laugh:
The 4" the sane size for a phone!!! -like speech etc.
If you don't like it you don't buy it. What is all that wining???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you know what is constructive criticism?? i like android, i like my phone i just wish they can improve the back button thing.. is that too much for you?
Personal preference. I like the dedicated back and menu buttons.
Never had a problem with them, makes switching or going through apps much faster than having to locate the back button on each app (which is not always obvious where they put it)
I'm asian. My fingers are relatively smaller than you guys but for me the buttons are very convenient to use. Mine is the S2.
Navigation bar is not a waste of the screen. Why? Because it's not just back key. There are recent apps and home too. For a futuristic full touch phone without any buttons, what do you expect for the alternatives of those 2 other keys? Gestures? That will be hard to be used.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
problem solved in ICS/JB
rodmc123 said:
sorry but what you say does not make any sense, your "little finger" might be ridiculously large and flexible to do that.
do you know what is constructive criticism?? i like android, i like my phone i just wish they can improve the back button thing.. is that too much for you?
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Click to collapse
It's really is a personal choice.
I personally love the back button, have no problems using it with one hand, nor do with GF with her small hands and Optimus 4X HD, which is a larger phone than my Galaxy S2. Both of us cite the back button as a large factor contributing to the usability of Android.
If you don't like the back button, you can always switch to the iPhone. This is such a rare complain that I must say that you, OP, are in the sheer minority.
To add on, the fact that Windows Phone implements a back button as well shows that this is a feature that is beneficial rather than detrimental as you believe.
Logi_Ca1 said:
It's really is a personal choice.
I personally love the back button, have no problems using it with one hand, nor do with GF with her small hands and Optimus 4X HD, which is a larger phone than my Galaxy S2. Both of us cite the back button as a large factor contributing to the usability of Android.
If you don't like the back button, you can always switch to the iPhone. This is such a rare complain that I must say that you, OP, are in the sheer minority.
To add on, the fact that Windows Phone implements a back button as well shows that this is a feature that is beneficial rather than detrimental as you believe.
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Click to collapse
i repeat, im not saying the back button is not useful!! all im saying is that the button is not well placed it is just an ergonomic problem.
for example, it would be a lot more easy to reach if they move to button to the side of the phone (contrary to the volume buttons), i know it sounds like weird place to put it, but if you take your phone you will notice that is a place where you always could easy reach the button without using your other hand or move the phone.
I like the back button too. As I don't need to rely on app developer to setup a back button
rodmc123 said:
i repeat, im not saying the back button is not useful!! all im saying is that the button is not well placed it is just an ergonomic problem.
for example, it would be a lot more easy to reach if they move to button to the side of the phone (contrary to the volume buttons), i know it sounds like weird place to put it, but if you take your phone you will notice that is a place where you always could easy reach the button without using your other hand or move the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could use this app (requires root though) :
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.smart.swkey
It provides on screen functionality for navigation keys, which could be placed anywhere on the screen of your choice.
rodmc123, may I aks what device you are using? I believe it's also a manner of the ergonomics of the device itself. Many flagship devices have large screens and while design is nice, ergonomics may lose. I use the HTC One S momentarily (planning to rid it when new Nexus phones appeal), which is 2.56 by 5.15 inch, with a (screen) diagonal of 4.3 inch. That's too large for me to handle with one hand. Even though I'm not having much trouble using both hands most of the time, I do find it inconvinient I have to.
And indeed, there's the software button vs hardware button discussion. I believe it is simply mostly due to the ergonomics of the device itself, and depending on the OEM, software overlays creating additional bugs. Again, I'm a HTC user, got quite a bit of these stupid design flaws myself.
I can see the OP's point here, I started of with an HTC Hero which had quite a unique design with it's angled "chin" It was just the right size for one-handed operation. I upgraded to an HTC Sensation, being left handed, I run into trouble reaching the home button with my thumb. In fact using all the Hardware buttons at the bottom of the device does require shifting upwards in my palm.
It's got me wondering, would the hardware buttons be better off at the top? This being Android of course we don't need to wonder, we can try it out! Cyanogenmod for example allows full 360 rotation, although I might have to hack the Launcher a little bit to move the static app bar, I'm sure there was a setting for that pre-cm9, No matter it's just a case of editing the source or the layout xml. I'll just have to get used the upside down symbols.
Senzune said:
rodmc123, may I aks what device you are using? I believe it's also a manner of the ergonomics of the device itself. Many flagship devices have large screens and while design is nice, ergonomics may lose. I use the HTC One S momentarily (planning to rid it when new Nexus phones appeal), which is 2.56 by 5.15 inch, with a (screen) diagonal of 4.3 inch. That's too large for me to handle with one hand. Even though I'm not having much trouble using both hands most of the time, I do find it inconvinient I have to.
And indeed, there's the software button vs hardware button discussion. I believe it is simply mostly due to the ergonomics of the device itself, and depending on the OEM, software overlays creating additional bugs. Again, I'm a HTC user, got quite a bit of these stupid design flaws myself.
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Click to collapse
i have a motorola atrix 2.. anyway i dont think its the ergonomics of this particular device, i think any phone with a big screen would have the same issue with the back button placed at the bottom.
like i said, at the opposite side of the volume buttons would be the best place if you think of the position of your hand and your fingers when you are holding the phone.
I used to have an SII, and then jumped on the large screen bandwagon (after using it in a store) thinking it wouldn't affect me much. Fast forward one year after my Note II's purchase, if there is one thing I want in my next phone, it is to be able to use it with one hand easily.
One handed usage - Reach all points on a phone, including all the navigational buttons without shuffling or moving the phone in your hands.
Now I have already tried the S4, and I couldn't use it with one hand (Mind you, I have average sized hands, it's just not easy to do it).
My questions are for those of you who have used these devices:
1. How does one handed usage compare between the Nexus 5 and S4? Is it a huge difference?
2. How does one handed usage compare between the Nexus 5 and HTC One? Is it a huge difference?
3. How does one handed usage compare between the Nexus 5 and G2? Is it a huge difference?
P.S. I will try the Nexus 5 in stores, though it's going to be some time before it comes in stores here.
UPDATE: I tried out the HTC One and it is possible for me to use it. But even a bit bigger would be impossible. I am more concerned about how the sharp edges of the Nexus 5 make it harder to use.
darkgoon3r96 said:
I used to have an SII, and then jumped on the large screen bandwagon (after using it in a store) thinking it wouldn't affect me much. Fast forward one year after my Note II's purchase, if there is one thing I want in my next phone, it is to be able to use it with one hand easily.
One handed usage - Reach all points on a phone, including all the navigational buttons without shuffling or moving the phone in your hands.
Now I have already tried the S4, and I couldn't use it with one hand (Mind you, I have average sized hands, it's just not easy to do it).
My questions are for those of you who have used these devices:
1. How does one handed usage compare between the Nexus 5 and S4? Is it a huge difference?
2. How does one handed usage compare between the Nexus 5 and G2? Is it a huge difference?
P.S. I will try the Nexus 5 in stores, though it's going to be some time before it comes in stores here.
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I know you didn't list it, but I previously used an HTC One (similarly sized to the S4), and I have large hands. I can use the N5/One with one hand, but I wouldn't call it "comfortable," in fact I'd call it precarious, as in order for me to reach the notification drawer with my thumb, I have to rest the phone on the remaining four fingers and reach upward with my thumb. I never use the phone one handed when not sitting down or stable.
aznxk3vi17 said:
I know you didn't list it, but I previously used an HTC One (similarly sized to the S4), and I have large hands. I can use the N5/One with one hand, but I wouldn't call it "comfortable," in fact I'd call it precarious, as in order for me to reach the notification drawer with my thumb, I have to rest the phone on the remaining four fingers and reach upward with my thumb. I never use the phone one handed when not sitting down or stable.
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Click to collapse
The main one for me is to be able to use it with one hand in bed while looking at the ceiling. I think that is possible with the HTC One if I install navigational buttons (I don't care for real estate, one handed use is much more important to me).
I think the Nexus 5 is great to use one handed, the bottom bezel actually provides a nice area to hold, and the phone is easy to balance.
The HTC One has a slightly smaller screen than the S4, I think. Both are comfortable to reach the whole screen, but the One is more comfortable to hold in general due to its curved shape and tapered edges.
The G2/N5 are built on very smilar specs. I would guess they use the exact same screen panel. A 5 inch screen is a bit too big for my tastes. I could use them with my hands- average size but with longer versatle fingers that are good for manipulating devices- but it wouldn't be preferable. Plus, fitting such a large phone in my pocked would be a pain.
Of the choices you list, I would suggest the S4. I own the One, and recommend that above the S4. HTC really picked up their game since the old EVO days...
cbburtraw said:
I would suggest the S4. I own the One, and recommend that above the S4.
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Wait, what?!
I can tell you this - much harder to do than my N4, about the same as a Galaxy S3.
It is however manageable, and the curved back helps.
Once I stick it in my Spigen Slim Armor, it becomes a challenge for me, no way I can reach all points on screen one handed.
I do use my N5 with one hand on my way home from work. It is possible. But I need to move the phone in my hands in order to reach the top (e.g. address bar of browser) and the bottom (navigation keys) of the screen. This is dangerous because you can drop the phone if your are not very careful.
The width of the phone is not a problem for me.
I do not want to miss the large screen of the N5. But I am now 100% certain that I do not want an even larger phone.
-Tiz- said:
I do use my N5 with one hand on my way home from work. It is possible. But I need to move the phone in my hands in order to reach the top (e.g. address bar of browser) and the bottom (navigation keys) of the screen. This is dangerous because you can drop the phone if your are not very careful.
The width of the phone is not a problem for me.
I do not want to miss the large screen of the N5. But I am now 100% certain that I do not want an even larger phone.
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Click to collapse
Can you compare it to Nexus 4, S4, S3, or G2?
Getting to the top isn't easy even with big hands. Which is why I HAVE NO IDEA why so many devs put their bars AT THE TOP OF APPS.
Anyway, might go back and try out Nova launcher so i can swipe down for notficiation bar as Google refuses to implement gestures.
prawnguevara said:
Getting to the top isn't easy even with big hands. Which is why I HAVE NO IDEA why so many devs put their bars AT THE TOP OF APPS.
Anyway, might go back and try out Nova launcher so i can swipe down for notficiation bar as Google refuses to implement gestures.
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Click to collapse
That's how I am using my Note II right now.
darkgoon3r96 said:
I used to have an SII, and then jumped on the large screen bandwagon (after using it in a store) thinking it wouldn't affect me much. Fast forward one year after my Note II's purchase, if there is one thing I want in my next phone, it is to be able to use it with one hand easily.
One handed usage - Reach all points on a phone, including all the navigational buttons without shuffling or moving the phone in your hands.
Now I have already tried the S4, and I couldn't use it with one hand (Mind you, I have average sized hands, it's just not easy to do it).
My questions are for those of you who have used these devices:
1. How does one handed usage compare between the Nexus 5 and S4? Is it a huge difference?
2. How does one handed usage compare between the Nexus 5 and G2? Is it a huge difference?
P.S. I will try the Nexus 5 in stores, though it's going to be some time before it comes in stores here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the swiftkey keyboard just got an update that includes a 'compact keyboard' that pushes it to one side or the other. at first I laughed at such a feature, i mean it looks out of place. but i think it's a very good feature for people who like the large screens but want to only use one hand to type
Enddo said:
the swiftkey keyboard just got an update that includes a 'compact keyboard' that pushes it to one side or the other. at first I laughed at such a feature, i mean it looks out of place. but i think it's a very good feature for people who like the large screens but want to only use one hand to type
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Click to collapse
I don't have problems with the width. I have problems with the height.
I tell you its much easier to wield one handed then my previous Note 2. I was getting tired of hearing "what is that?" "it's so big" and it's even worse hearing people remark about my phone. So I wanted to downsize my handset and its a great size. I can one hand it for the most part but a little stretch for the top and bottom areas...
Itchiee said:
I tell you its much easier to wield one handed then my previous Note 2. I was getting tired of hearing "what is that?" "it's so big" and it's even worse hearing people remark about my phone. So I wanted to downsize my handset and its a great size. I can one hand it for the most part but a little stretch for the top and bottom areas...
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Click to collapse
So you can reach all the areas without shuffling the phone in your hand?
darkgoon3r96 said:
So you can reach all the areas without shuffling the phone in your hand?
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Click to collapse
Almost, the top and bottom are a slight stretch but my thumb can reach the other side again. So i can use swype one handed which was an issue with my note 2.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I jumped directly from S2 two nexus 5..most of the time I can reach all parts of the screen with one hand(thumb).. perfect size, not too big like note 3 or too small like iPhone 5s..
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
allyrocky said:
I jumped directly from S2 two nexus 5..most of the time I can reach all parts of the screen with one hand(thumb).. perfect size, not too big like note 3 or too small like iPhone 5s..
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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At what times are you not able to reach all parts of the screen?
Say I'm using left hand and trying to reach setting in notification bar.. I won't be able to do that.. But don't find it an issue since I'm right handed
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allyrocky said:
Say I'm using left hand and trying to reach setting in notification bar.. I won't be able to do that.. But don't find it an issue since I'm right handed
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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Setting is actually a big button on stock android.. When using right handed, can you reach the new tab button on chrome at the top left? Can you also reach the profile picture in the notification tray (the button next to brightness)?
I heard that they removed the Swipe down on the fingerprint scanner to bring down the notification shade. This is nearly a deal breaker for me since the phone is so tall. Does anyone know if it's permenantly gone or if it will come back in the next update?
I don't see it in gesture settings may come back in Android P haven't tried beta yet so can't say for sure I'm pleasantly surprised how smaller the actual phone is from seeing on YouTube looked massive for a 6'2" it's actually not bad I can just about reach notification drop down one handed but I have fairly large hands so possibly not so good if have small hands lol
Sent from my ONEPLUS A6003 using Tapatalk
There are plenty of Launchers that support pull down for notifications. The only downside is they have to be on the home screen, but with a phone like this, it's fast enough to do 2 inputs rather than fumbling with 1 hand or reaching with your other. Plus, if it's possible with hardware, I'm sure there will be a custom Rom with that capability.