Database Users

[Q] Back and Search keys unresponsive

Is anyone else having issues with the back & search keys at the bottom being unresponsive? We have 2x epics and both appear to have this issue.

back button working good here. havent used the search button more than 3 times since i got the phone.

This appears to be a fairly common issue. A lot of people are saying they have issues with different buttons. My home button is the least responsive.

I have to mash the "button" area considerably to get a response - perhaps it waits for a certain amount of capacitive load/change before activating. That would help reduce unwanted taps when swiping across the screen - the Evo was wonderfully sensitive, but an overzealous scroll often had the unintentional side-effect of bringing you back home or backing you out. Also, the Evo, for me, constantly brought up the search dialog if the edge of my hand came too close. So, I suppose it's a tradeoff.

APOLAUF said:
I have to mash the "button" area considerably to get a response - perhaps it waits for a certain amount of capacitive load/change before activating. That would help reduce unwanted taps when swiping across the screen - the Evo was wonderfully sensitive, but an overzealous scroll often had the unintentional side-effect of bringing you back home or backing you out. Also, the Evo, for me, constantly brought up the search dialog if the edge of my hand came too close. So, I suppose it's a tradeoff.
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This isn't true. My Epic capacitive buttons respond to a very light tap and also a full on *press*.
sounds like non-functioning buttons to me.

You might have a bad sensor on your buttons.
I did have to get used to them. The Evo's were very sensitive, in fact in landscape I'd often accidentally brush one and it was a little annoying.
The epic does seem to need just a half second or so longer for the tap to be recognized.

Aridon said:
You might have a bad sensor on your buttons.
I did have to get used to them. The Evo's were very sensitive, in fact in landscape I'd often accidentally brush one and it was a little annoying.
The epic does seem to need just a half second or so longer for the tap to be recognized.
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thats more annoying. It makes the phone feel laggy, atleast to me it does. All the my buttons require 2-5 touches before they register

bobdude5 said:
thats more annoying. It makes the phone feel laggy, atleast to me it does. All the my buttons require 2-5 touches before they register
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I'm not getting that at all. You might want to bring it back and swap it. It takes slightly longer than the evo to register but it feels "about right" to me. When I want to hit it, I have no problem hitting it.

I went to the Sprint store yesterday. The guy told me the early phones had this issue. I asked to try out the one he was giving me. He said, he'll be back and need to take it to the tech for setup and "an update"?...huh, already?
Anyways, he came back and I tried out ALL the buttons. A VERY lite tap and it responds...all of them...

I had a poll going before, and it looked like the issue was relatively wide spread... Apparently though, some phones do not have this problem. If you get this, swap out your phone, it is likely defective.
BTW, the poll is at
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=772063

I think part of the issue is that the buttons' sensitivity region is slightly below the button icons. If you tap above the buttons, they dont respond. Tap slightly below them, however, and they should respond every time... Unfortunately, this makes most cases for the epic 4g pretty terrible since you cant really press below the menu and search keys... Of course I could be wrong.

A question for Omnia 7 owners about the capacative buttons

I was curious whether the buttons are easy to trigger by accident.
On my Nexus S and the Focus, there is a subtle upward curve at the bottom of the phone. This small lip seems to prevent a lot of accidental presses of the capacitive buttons.
In my experiences with a completely flat face phone (the HD7), accidentally pressing the capqcitive buttons was extremely common and annoying. I like the looks of the Omnia 7 more than the Focus, but if it leads to similar problems as the HD7 (always pressing the buttons by accident) then I'd rather go with the focus.

For me that's one of the most annoying things about the phone. I hit the search button all the time.. But some say there will be a firmware update to fix that.

singularity0821 said:
For me that's one of the most annoying things about the phone. I hit the search button all the time.. But some say there will be a firmware update to fix that.
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That's exactly what used to happen to me with my HD7. When I held the phone part of my thumb would be on the bezel and it would hit the search button. Also, when I held the phone in landscape my finger would also hit it.
With the Nexus S I don't run into this problem because the bottom is curved a bit. I've also played with the Focus a bit and it seems to have this slight curve at the bottom as well.

yup same thing here, this is when I spend time try to browse through apps and use my phone when it was still new. now i got the hang of it, and i dont really fiddle it as much as before now, just a basic need. and i got what a really wanted, fast and responsive phone.

Little one handed trick

Hey Everyone,
I do this every now and then, wondering if everyone else does.
Let's say I'm using the phone one handed, web browsing or something and I need to reach a button on the opposite bottom corner.
Rather than stretch across the screen, I just rotate the phone 90 degrees for a second. The screen rotates, and the button is now directly under my thumb. I click it, rotate back and move on.
Yes, the Note still sucks sometimes as a one handed phone, but this does help out every now and then.
- Frank

oh thanks nice idea

another way is to curl your finger around the back of the phone...I did try this, and looks really funny if you're watching from afar

I guess I just have big hands. The way I hold the phone, I can touch everything to the right of the blue line.

Ha.. same here. I've got big hands too. One overseas colleague once asked me if that is a S2 I'm holding.
If I'm holding the phone, you can only see 1/4 of it from the back. And only 1 cm separates my thumb to the closest finger when I hold it.

This is particularly useful if you're reading in landscape.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium HD app

another trick for zooming during browsing with the stock samsung browser is to simulate 2 fingers. usually you can zoom in and out by putting them on the screen and overturn the phone.
so instead of using to fingers, just put your thumb on the left side of the screen, so that a small part of your palm touches the screen on the right, which simulates an input^^
i hope u understood what i mean

I never hold my phone 1 handed. I'm too afraid of dropping it. But I'll try your advice if I ever need to

How are you reacting to the back keys?

I personally have no issues using the back buttons, But I hear alot of people do, how's your experience?
Sent from my awesome VZ LG G2

I have no issues with them being on the back, I do have issues with how they are placed though. I hit volume instead of power all the time.

mbh87 said:
I have no issues with them being on the back, I do have issues with how they are placed though. I hit volume instead of power all the time.
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Which version do you have? The verizon version has slightly smaller keys that I grant you are harder to find. My solution was to get a case, it makes it a world easier to find. Currently Im using a Incipio DualPro, havent had any mispresses since.

polaric said:
Which version do you have? The verizon version has slightly smaller keys that I grant you are harder to find. My solution was to get a case, it makes it a world easier to find. Currently Im using a Incipio DualPro, havent had any mispresses since.
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+1 (Verizon version) Any problems I had were solved with a case. Its really a non issue IMO. When the side bezel is cut in half again next year more manufactures may be forced to do the same. Who knows, we'll have to wait and see!

Have no issue them. Only time I use the back buttons is when I turn my phone on/off. I like that people can see the light on when your talking on the phone.
Sent from my LG-D801 using xda app-developers app

So far I'm really digging the back buttons on my Sprint version. My finger naturally finds the power button as I am taking it out of my pocket.
Only complaint I have is it's hard to adjust the volume when it's in a car dock.

lil_jimmy_norton said:
So far I'm really digging the back buttons on my Sprint version. My finger naturally finds the power button as I am taking it out of my pocket.
Only complaint I have is it's hard to adjust the volume when it's in a car dock.
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My solution for that was a volume widget on the lockscreen when its charging.

lil_jimmy_norton said:
So far I'm really digging the back buttons on my Sprint version. My finger naturally finds the power button as I am taking it out of my pocket.
Only complaint I have is it's hard to adjust the volume when it's in a car dock.
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tl;dr : back buttons are easy to get used to and the benefits far outweigh any negatives.
Wall of text incoming for the bored.
There are times when you can't access the back. There is no perfect way to interact with the phone in every circumstance with any phone but the back buttons in my opinion are a great idea, and what you gain far outweighs the benefits of buttons in the traditional locations. I hope LG sticks to their guns and keeps trying to improve the power and control button locations.
People can and should easily adapt, so if LG can come up with a better system they should go for that. I don't care if dimwits can't learn to push a button in a location that they are new to. LG gambled that people wouldn't be too put off by the change and I'm sure they have lost a number of sales due to that roll of the dice but if the placement of the buttons are what keep you from buying this phone, you don't deserve a phone this good.
Not saying this phone is perfect by any stretch but this is one off the best phones available at this time and has unique features you can't get on any other phone. Knock on, for example, is a killer app, in my opinion. When you go to other devices and start tapping on them expecting them to turn on you know you've discovered something special. Your mind tells you, "this phone is defective", when two taps doesn't turn it on when actually is just a Samsung S4!

xyltha said:
Not saying this phone is perfect by any stretch but this is one off the best phones available at this time and has unique features you can't get on any other phone. Knock on, for example, is a killer app, in my opinion. When you go to other devices and start tapping on them expecting them to turn on you know you've discovered something special. Your mind tells you, "this phone is defective", when two taps doesn't turn it on when actually is just a Samsung S4!
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My sentiments exactly. I find myself constantly tapping devices now, I even felt the compulsion to program doubletap to turn on with my Linux Netbook(Touchscreen).

I have switched to LMT and removed the buttons.
It's nice to have the added screen real estate and the pie buttons are much more conveniently placed
Sent from my LG-D802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

FWIW, I'm kind of digging the buttons on the back.

I'm liking them, it means you can hold the phone more firmly and on any edge without risk of pressing a button. When I first got it i was having issues feeling the difference between the camera/volume ridge and the power button but now it's pretty easy.

I love them. Lets me easily change volume on music and such while its in my pocket. Sure, you can do it with side buttons too, but still.
I also find it easier to reach these buttons than the traditional sidebuttons.

Only beef I have with them is from leaning against a fender when working on a car. It keeps turning the camera on and taking pocket pictures. Took exactly 100 pocket pictures today. I usually don't have my phone with me when I'm working in the garage but I basically can't now. Just a little annoying.

I think you can change your settings for smemo and camera to off, you could also turn the camera the opposite way in your pants so the buttons are facing the flesh of your leg. I doubt your flesh is hard enough to allow for a button to be pushed very often, if at all. A case would also help with this problem you're having.
---------- Post added at 07:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:52 PM ----------
Gnarfsan said:
I have switched to LMT and removed the buttons.
It's nice to have the added screen real estate and the pie buttons are much more conveniently placed
Sent from my LG-D802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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The buttons on the back of the phone, not the "back" soft key my friend....
Did you just troll me?

No issues. Hardly ever press them since knock knock feature was introduce.
-LG G2

I liked the idea of the back buttons, even before I purchased or knew much about the phone. it gives the phone symmetry, physically and visually. I understood the logic behind the design, and even if you can't get used to them, it's definitely NOT A DEAL-BREAKER that so many reviewers emphasize...which is sad.

xyltha said:
I think you can change your settings for smemo and camera to off, you could also turn the camera the opposite way in your pants so the buttons are facing the flesh of your leg. I doubt your flesh is hard enough to allow for a button to be pushed very often, if at all. A case would also help with this problem you're having.
---------- Post added at 07:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:52 PM ----------
The buttons on the back of the phone, not the "back" soft key my friend....
Did you just troll me?
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Nah, I just shouldn't be posting at 3 am in the morning But I actually did have problems reaching the soft keys
I like that the keys are back there. But what I like even more about this phone is that I rarely have to use them. The quirky tap on/off works well enough to be useful, and the buttons on the back are perfect.
Sent from my LG-D802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I didn't think the back keys were bad when I bought the phone, but they have slowly become very annoying and I would rather have not had them. When in my pocket the phone goes on all the time, when I sit it seems to apply a little pressure on the phone because it's a larger phone, and that presses the power button. Also when I have it in my pocket any light pressure on the volume keys will activate them, it's annoying while at the gym listening to music. Many times when I simply pick it up I'll lightly touch the power button and it turns on, the knock on feature also is kind of easy to accidentally activate just picking the phone up and handling it. It's also impossible to use the keys while the phone is in its car cradle.
Don't get me wrong, I love this phone. I have Cyanogenmod 10.2 on it and overall it's a beast, I definitely love it. But I think the rear buttons were a mistake and it would have crossed over from 99% to 100% if it had regular buttons IMO.

I love them. They feel natural and other phones no longer do.
I even use the power button instead of knock knock sometimes.
LG G2

Fingerprint TIP!

Instead of holding thumb up and down on the scanner, use it sideways.
Hold in right hand and put thumb across horizontally.
Works flawlessly for me everytime.
Good luck!

Brava27 said:
Instead of holding thumb up and down on the scanner, use it sideways.
Hold in right hand and put thumb across horizontally.
Works flawlessly for me everytime.
Good luck!
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I noticed this as well, you can use your finger in almost any direction and it works. I find sideways has higher accuracy than up and down as it were.

I have about 3 different prints saved for each thumb in different directions. Helps a lot.

My phone seems to have a limit of 4 fingerprints. Is that not universal?

flu13 said:
My phone seems to have a limit of 4 fingerprints. Is that not universal?
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Corrected. I do have 2 for each thumb. Lol.

I actually have my 2 Thumbs and my 2 Index Fingers (very useful when the phone is laying on a flat surface and you don't want to pick it up.)

Yup very useful tip. Another small tip for unlocking your S6 with the screen off, is to press and hold the Home Key to turn on the screen and unlock in one motion instead of reaching for the power button then home button

th3b055 said:
Yup very useful tip. Another small tip for unlocking your S6 with the screen off, is to press and hold the Home Key to turn on the screen and unlock in one motion instead of reaching for the power button then home button
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I actually had several of my bluetooth things (including my watch) set as trusted devices so that I would hit the home button, then swipe the screen. I decided that this press & wait approach was easier and turned off the trusted devices settings.

When I did mine, I left mine flat on the table and had it read almost the side of my thumb for a couple of times so it can be read while flat as well

kevinjt said:
I actually have my 2 Thumbs and my 2 Index Fingers (very useful when the phone is laying on a flat surface and you don't want to pick it up.)
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Same here

datdirtyscrew said:
I have about 3 different prints saved for each thumb in different directions. Helps a lot.
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Busted

No matter what I do just can't get it to work consistently.

I find that the sensor often doesn't get a match if I'm putting any amount of pressure on the home button. If I just very lightly touch the finger/thumb on the home button, it works the first time, every time.

Still no luck. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. Hate to be an iPhone fan boy. Because I have used way more android than iPhone, but I never had any problems with the iPhone 6 scanner. I think Samsung just hates me.

bricky23 said:
Still no luck. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. Hate to be an iPhone fan boy. Because I have used way more android than iPhone, but I never had any problems with the iPhone 6 scanner. I think Samsung just hates me.
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Maybe you have a faulty unit?

Or maybe you've got constantly-mutating fingerprints and you can now become a master thief.

Japultra said:
Maybe you have a faulty unit?
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Wow so weird. I tried it on an s6 edge and it works every time.