Alternate UI ie., all right-handed controls? - Galaxy Tab 2 General

In general I like my Tab2 10.1 but it seems like Google expected people to hold the tablet in their left hand and yet have their left thumb available to hit the BACK button; I can't do that. Instead I hold the tablet in my left hand and constantly reach across with my right-hand to press BACK. Is there an alternative UI with all the controls on the right-side? Would that be a launcher?

bsmith1051 said:
In general I like my Tab2 10.1 but it seems like Google expected people to hold the tablet in their left hand and yet have their left thumb available to hit the BACK button; I can't do that. Instead I hold the tablet in my left hand and constantly reach across with my right-hand to press BACK. Is there an alternative UI with all the controls on the right-side? Would that be a launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Aokp allows you to make your own navigation bar buttons. Check the development forums here.

In general I like my Tab2 10.1 but it seems like Google expected people to hold the tablet in their left hand and yet have their left thumb available to hit the BACK button; I can't do that. Instead I hold the tablet in my left hand and constantly reach across with my right-hand to press BACK. Is there an alternative UI with all the controls on the right-side? Would that be a launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm Glad I'm Not The Only One Thinking That, I Bet The Designer Was Left Handed

Related

Dock problem - touchpad

Is it normal for the left touchpad button to act as a back button. I can not left click because it always backs me out of a program, really annoying especialy when using splashtop
Yes that is the way it was programmed. There is no left click in android.
Sent from my Darky's i9000m
i think the 'right click' should be the 'long press left button' action... maybe asus just need to implement that one into the future updates..
you got it backwards, there is no right click in android, the right pad button acts as back, if your left one is doing that then something is wrong

[Q] Anyone Else Prefer Physical Home Button Versus Virtual?

I prefer waking my phone by pressing the physical home button rather than using the side power button. Since the note has a larger foot print it's easier to reach the home button.
Also given Amoled's flaws, static images such as the notification bar and virtual on screen buttons would prematurely cause screen burn out which leads to ghosting. I've had the notification/status bar destroy my galaxy S screen.
Am I the only one that likes physical home button?
inurb said:
I prefer waking my phone by pressing the physical home button rather than using the side power button. Since the note has a larger foot print it's easier to reach the home button.
Also given Amoled's flaws, static images such as the notification bar and virtual on screen buttons would prematurely cause screen burn out which leads to ghosting. I've had the notification/status bar destroy my galaxy S screen.
Am I the only one that likes physical home button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nopes You are not...I too like waking it up via the Home button....
I also prefer the physical home button compared to the capacitive touch buttons. This device is my first international phone that I have used and I like it a lot better than any carrier's version I've ever used.
I'd rater it was capacitive like menu and back buttons. Would make the design look so much better.
Can't say that i like software keys though - i always turn them off.
Given I'm the only one who voted Virtual so far; I better post my rationale to see if I am sensible or really need to get my head checked.
First; why I like the physical button; no accidental press and good demarcation of where the back and menu buttons are (and the home of course ) I tend to wake the phone using the side lock button, because my thumb is on the side already, when I pull the phone out of my pocket (right handed) but I grant that when my phone is on the table, its much easier with the home button.
On the other hand I would prefer it if the home button was the capacitive icon like the menu and back buttons. Advantages of this to me would be that it would distance Samsung from the iPhone-like single button front but mainly because I like the modern feel when I used a Galaxy Nexus. There is something to be said for the 'light touch' approach to using phones. I Swype the screen with a light touch, tap icons and links lightly, back-button lightly. Then *crunch* the home button goes. I know its a really weird niggle to make but it is just personal preference.
edit: Reading some of the posts which were made while I was composing this short essay, I think I may have misunderstood 'virtual button'.
Yep same here prefer sometimes it saves me when screen is stuck
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Physical for me as well. And I use Screen Off and Lock in the notification bar to, well, switch the screen off and lock the phone. Using the power button is soooo 2010.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
I never use the home button to wake the phone (well maybe that's because I only discovered that it can be used instead of the power button after having the note for like a month lol)
I've not had a virtual unit to compare against, but I could see some problems having a virtual home key.
So, I voted physical.
My opinion goes like this:
99/100 - Xperia X10 buttons (slim, long, elegant, easy to press. Proper positioning of Back, Home, Menu buttons).
80/100 - NOTE's physical buttons (though the Back and Menu buttons should trade places. Accidental capacitive presses occur when passing the phone to others).
60/100 - On-Screen buttons (ICS/JB).
What I would like for NOTE-2:
On-screen buttons:
-Then device can be smaller.
-Device looks better/styling.
-S PEN will work with it.
-We can customize it with different functions, colours, glows, animations, gestures, app shortcuts.
Kangal said:
My opinion goes like this:
99/100 - Xperia X10 buttons (slim, long, elegant, easy to press. Proper positioning of Back, Home, Menu buttons).
80/100 - NOTE's physical buttons (though the Back and Menu buttons should trade places. Accidental capacitive presses occur when passing the phone to others).
60/100 - On-Screen buttons (ICS/JB).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 totally agree!
PS. The X10 buttons were great, too bad the phone sucked.
PPS. I really hope phone manufacturers keep disregarding the ics/jb onscreen buttons. It just looks fancy but is way less functional.
On-screen or capacitive. Tactile feedback reminds me of wear anf tear. On the Note, I unlock exclusively using the home key
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
I prefer physical Home button of Note / GS2. It is easier to wake up the phone. But compared to other Android which have capactivie Home, I tend to press physical Home less frequently, but instead press capaitive Back couple of times to come back to home. When I must press Home for task switching or when I have browsed several pages in browser, I press Home. So my take is - I like physical Home to wake up but would have preferred capacitive Home to go to home screen.
Kangal said:
What I would like for NOTE-2:
On-screen buttons:
-Then device can be smaller.
-Device looks better/styling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh? Device can be smaller?! You know that the result would be a smaller screen, right? In fact, if you want the same (usable) screen size, the device has to have the exact same size, even with CB.
I´m really enjoying my hardware buttons and I really hope that samsung will never ever abandon them.
- Wakeup with home key
- NO IN-BURNS!!!
- brighter lightning, even when screen is in energy saving mode
- partwise usable for other functions (see hyperX camera mod)
It is as simple as this....
YOU PREFER YOUR GIRLFRIEND/WIFE TO BE "PHYSICAL" OR "VIRTUAL" ????
The answer to this is as easy as the answer to that
Rulinglionadi said:
It is as simple as this....
YOU PREFER YOUR GIRLFRIEND/WIFE TO BE "PHYSICAL" OR "VIRTUAL" ????
The answer to this is as easy as the answer to that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:-D great analogy
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium HD app
brooon said:
Huh? Device can be smaller?! You know that the result would be a smaller screen, right? In fact, if you want the same (usable) screen size, the device has to have the exact same size, even with CB.
I´m really enjoying my hardware buttons and I really hope that samsung will never ever abandon them.
- Wakeup with home key
- NO IN-BURNS!!!
- brighter lightning, even when screen is in energy saving mode
- partwise usable for other functions (see hyperX camera mod)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's my reasons why NOTE 2 should get On-Screen buttons:
1) Position the Power button on top. Make it large. Make it clicky.
There you go, its easy to Wake phone again : )
2) The Burn-In is associated with the screen tech, not the buttons themselves.
This point is quite redundant/pointless. In fact the issue affected a tiny portion of Gnex users and the in-burn was associated with the entire screen NOT exclusive to the navigation buttons.
3) You do have a point. But changing the buttons to a white silhouette will make it bright and stand out. You then have the option of making it Grey so its easier on the eyes in the dark. Or red to save power. You can also set a "screen on time" for the Navigation buttons for how illuminated they are for what duration. And more options when in power mode. The possibility of tons of options makes this a positive thing, not a negative thing.
4) hyperX MOD is for the Volume Rocker not the Home/Back/Menu keys. Its still possible to have hyperX and On-screen buttons. What you will miss out on though is BLED: flashing of capacitive buttons when Notification arrives.
Solution: Notification light! (a la Gnex)
I'd like to make another suggestion: Curved Glass.
That way it molds around your face and bum cheeks. Feels a little more balanced in the hand. What do you think?

[Q] Move Back, Home and Multitask buttons

Coming to the Nexus 10 from a modded Xoom I'm having a little trouble with the new button placement. I like having the app tray button bottom center, but the Navigation buttons in the middle is confusing. I liked them over on the bottom left hand side, easier to reach with my thumb. I'm rooted and was wondering if anyone had any ideas. Thanks.
This ROM gives you that feature.http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2010280. Running it now and it seems very stable. :good:

Was the N4 bottom nav designed by a lefty?

Just got the N4 yesterday and love it but for one really irksome thing -- that the back button, which I use a lot, is on the left while the "running apps" button, which I don't, is on the right. It's a big phone so having stuff as near as possible to the bottom right-hand corner is key to one-handed operation (for righties, of course). So when I'm using Google Reader, the back button is at bottom left, and the "Up to category list" button is at top left. Really slows things down.
Am I the only one annoyed by this? Is there a fix short of a new ROM?
A rom may allow you to swap the buttons around. It doesnt bother me I hold my phone in my left hand a lot.
That was a big reason why I decided to root and go to an AOKP rom. Back button on the right side now and I'm so much happier.
It bothered me at first when moving from a Galaxy S (back on right side) to the Galaxy Nexus (back on left side). Got used to it after about a month though.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Never noticed! But I prefer to get rid of them for the screen real estate.
It's more of a design choice rather than a pragmatic decision. Back on the left makes more sense. Some apps move the screen to the right when they go back, so tapping back on the left side and having the screen goes left makes sense thematically. I came from a Galaxy S which also had a right-side back button, and I have accustomed myself to the left-side back button with little effort. It fits the flow of apps better.
However, I'm strongly against the removal of the Search button that started in 3.x. I used Search for many apps, and it was an amazing shortcut. Fullscreen browser? Press search and you got access to the URL bar. Looking for a contact? Search button. Want to do a search in a file explorer? There's a familiar button for that. Recents should have stayed as a long press of the Home button.
Hung0702 said:
It's more of a design choice rather than a pragmatic decision. Back on the left makes more sense. Some apps move the screen to the right when they go back, so tapping back on the left side and having the screen goes left makes sense thematically. I came from a Galaxy S which also had a right-side back button, and I have accustomed myself to the left-side back button with little effort. It fits the flow of apps better.
However, I'm strongly against the removal of the Search button that started in 3.x. I used Search for many apps, and it was an amazing shortcut. Fullscreen browser? Press search and you got access to the URL bar. Looking for a contact? Search button. Want to do a search in a file explorer? There's a familiar button for that. Recents should have stayed as a long press of the Home button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree with long press on home as recents. Many android noobs didn't even know there was a a "alt tab" in Android until they've heard it from someone or was told by someone.
It's more intuitive when theres a recents button. As far as search, it's supposed to be on the top right of an app same with the legacy menu. On contacts, its on the bottom left.
IMO they should go back to the 4 capacitive buttons. Menu, Home, Back, Search. There was NOTHING wrong with this setup. Search was arguably the weakest one but with Google now, I'd say it's just as important as the rest of them. I get the fact that not all apps will have Menu, but Home and Back are just about universal, and Menu is used quite a bit too. The capacitive buttons free up screen real-estate too. I don't like styling things just for style's sake.
se1000 said:
IMO they should go back to the 4 capacitive buttons. Menu, Home, Back, Search. There was NOTHING wrong with this setup. Search was arguably the weakest one but with Google now, I'd say it's just as important as the rest of them. I get the fact that not all apps will have Menu, but Home and Back are just about universal, and Menu is used quite a bit too. The capacitive buttons free up screen real-estate too. I don't like styling things just for style's sake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the app's fault for not implementing the menu button on their app, regardless you have the legacy menu button the bottom right.
If you don't like it then install a custom ROM and change the navigation bar to your liking. It's simple as that, no reason to debate about this and how it should be on stock android.
zephiK said:
That's the app's fault for not implementing the menu button on their app, regardless you have the legacy menu button the bottom right.
If you don't like it then install a custom ROM and change the navigation bar to your liking. It's simple as that, no reason to debate about this and how it should be on stock android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have, and I like my current setup (Menu, Home, Back). I'm just saying that I'd rather have the 4 capacitive buttons back.
zephiK said:
I disagree with long press on home as recents. Many android noobs didn't even know there was a a "alt tab" in Android until they've heard it from someone or was told by someone.
It's more intuitive when theres a recents button. As far as search, it's supposed to be on the top right of an app same with the legacy menu. On contacts, its on the bottom left.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If only recents was actually comparable to Windows' Alt+tab. As it is, recents is no more useful to me than it was in Gingerbread
The best button choice for me would have been, in the order, BACK, HOME, MENU. You need to go to settings? Just press the "menu" button. Need to open recent apps? Just press and hold the "home" button. Simple as that.
It was all so much more consistent when the menu button was integrated in the system. Now you have to go and look for it in a place that differs from app to app... jeez, I feel like I'm holding an iPhone.
No menu and a dedicated, invasive multitasking app is a double step backwards for me.
SkippyFlipjack said:
Just got the N4 yesterday and love it but for one really irksome thing -- that the back button, which I use a lot, is on the left while the "running apps" button, which I don't, is on the right. It's a big phone so having stuff as near as possible to the bottom right-hand corner is key to one-handed operation (for righties, of course). So when I'm using Google Reader, the back button is at bottom left, and the "Up to category list" button is at top left. Really slows things down.
Am I the only one annoyed by this? Is there a fix short of a new ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's how us lefty's feel living in a right handed world
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Hung0702 said:
It's more of a design choice rather than a pragmatic decision. Back on the left makes more sense. Some apps move the screen to the right when they go back, so tapping back on the left side and having the screen goes left makes sense thematically. I came from a Galaxy S which also had a right-side back button, and I have accustomed myself to the left-side back button with little effort. It fits the flow of apps better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that design-wise it makes sense; the aesthete in me would take issue with a left-facing arrow button sitting on the right side, which sort of looks like it's telling you to press the button in the middle. I just think that these larger phones should design where possible for one-handed operation (and have a lefty mode too!)
note: by 'one-handed operation' no, I don't mean I'm watching porn

Is there any way to put Nav Controls on the Second Screen?

I have my V20 navigation controls hidden for almost all apps because I like the full 5.7" screen always displayed, but it's a pain sometime to swipe up to get access to them. Is there any way to get a 3rd party app that you can put into the Second Screen as an app shortcut, and when you click the app shortcut icon it will navigate DIRECTLY with the one press on the second screen (i.e. go to home screen and back button, mainly)? I don't think it could be a widget because you can't load widgets as a app shortcut on the 2nd screen. Note that I am NOT rooted.
Probably not but I just thought I'd ask.
This actually works in the nav bar as a return to home button, although will not appear on recent apps when used. Now looking for a back button
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.devjackey.homebutton
If you have any sort of experience with Tasker I'm sure you can create a simple task that goes back, and just assign it to a button that you throw on the 2nd screen though I just checked and some widgets don't actually work in the 2nd screen. Greenify works fine but my mobile payment app doesnt't.
Seems like it can't be a widget or floating button. Can't find a back button that works by clicking the app shortcut icon like the home button does above (i.e. no app options - click and executes the one function directly). Oh well at least I have half what i need.
A pain to swipe up but easier to reach all the to the top of the screen? Smh. Doesn't make sense.
@rbiter said:
A pain to swipe up but easier to reach all the to the top of the screen? Smh. Doesn't make sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm often at the top of my screen switching apps and want to get to the home screen. Plus ONE press on a button instead of a swipe up and press and have it hide again. My thumb is on average in the middle of the screen so up and down or the same. Plus if holding the phone in my left hand it's easier to get at the top with my right hand index finger. Just tried the home button above and definitely faster and less annoying then the hidden nav bar. Doesn't seem like there is a similar back button anywhere that i can find.
Tony
All I have to say is software nav FTW!

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