Database Users

X1 Manual now online!

X1 manual is now online.
At first I was alarmed - no button for switching UI orientation between portrait and landscape! But then I looked a little more and I see you can assign a button to perform that function.
Otherwise reasonably obvious WinMo stuff...
The attached zip needs the file extension to .rar in order to extract it - its the manual for your viewing pleasure.

But then I looked a little more and I see you can assign a button to perform that function.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can u tell me where did you find that in the manual?
*edit*
I've found it.

NZtechfreak said:
At first I was alarmed - no button for switching UI orientation between portrait and landscape! But then I looked a little more and I see you can assign a button to perform that function.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh hooray... You can do the same thing on a Tilt. That's quite disappointing, that a phone of this caliber can't even set something up where you can rotate the screen out of the box, you need to remap one of the buttons to do it.

Black93300ZX said:
Oh hooray... You can do the same thing on a Tilt. That's quite disappointing, that a phone of this caliber can't even set something up where you can rotate the screen out of the box, you need to remap one of the buttons to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is called customization. lol...

samy.3660 said:
That is called customization. lol...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly, so screen rotation isn't standard, it needs to be customized on a phone that's almost into the triple digits of cost (USD). That's not called customization, that's called pathetic.

yep, pathetic

nap007 said:
yep, pathetic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why is this pathetic? They have given you a way to customise a button for this purpose. If you want it, its there, if you don't need it, it doesn't get in your way.
I think you just want to have that dedicated button to justify your purpose. Now THAT is pathetic.

^ so you joined here
now ask yourself, why did Samsung, HTC Apple and even Nokia give accelerometers to their device (which some people even found they're annoying)? why not just a customizable button like you said?
now ask yourself is there any reasonable reason why SE put away the button that was supposed to be screen orientation button?
and the damn on screen keyboard, gosh, I'm speechless...

What is the light sensor for?? Maybe it can act as a function to rotate the screen(like what it did for n82).... but this is not seen in the video demostration.

@nap007, I've been lurking here for some time already, but joined in just to reply to your comment.
Adding a feature as a marketing gimmick is one thing. The accelerometer is not really that useful in its current implementation. I do applaud SE's decision to make the screen rotation customisable to any softkey, as opposed to having a dedicated button of limited use.

nap007 said:
^ so you joined here
now ask yourself, why did Samsung, HTC Apple and even Nokia give accelerometers to their device (which some people even found they're annoying)? why not just a customizable button like you said?
now ask yourself is there any reasonable reason why SE put away the button that was supposed to be screen orientation button?
and the damn on screen keyboard, gosh, I'm speechless...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You ALSO been here ONLY for a couple of weeks. People here are inerested in the Xperia, and looking for info or help.
If you think is pathetic, what is your decision? Are you getting something else? I don't understand why you hang around here, instead to welcome new people and contribute, you discharge your personal frustrations.
.

gvino said:
What is the light sensor for?? Maybe it can act as a function to rotate the screen(like what it did for n82).... but this is not seen in the video demostration.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome gvino you are in right place.
Xperia has 4 lcd lights one in every corner. You can set each one to alert you for up to 12 different event.
That's cool. Very nice touch from SE.

Pinguino1 said:
You ALSO been here ONLY for a couple of weeks. People here are inerested in the Xperia, and looking for info or help.
If you think is pathetic, what is your decision? Are you getting something else? I don't understand why you hang around here, instead to welcome new people and contribute, you discharge your personal frustrations.
.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
funny how you didn't say anything to BLACK93300ZX, as I was only agreed with him

I didnt know it had a built in stylus...Excellent!

The problem as I see it is that the actual button is gone; which button are we supposed to assign our custom request to? Panels? Call end? There are no frigging buttons to assign anything to!
bloob said:
@nap007, I've been lurking here for some time already, but joined in just to reply to your comment.
Adding a feature as a marketing gimmick is one thing. The accelerometer is not really that useful in its current implementation. I do applaud SE's decision to make the screen rotation customisable to any softkey, as opposed to having a dedicated button of limited use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

mkent_barbados said:
The problem as I see it is that the actual button is gone; which button are we supposed to assign our custom request to? Panels? Call end? There are no frigging buttons to assign anything to!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly! There should be a specific key that one could program for this. Customization is good, but a specific button should be there.
In the latest prototype models there was usually a Funciton Key mentioned on the left side of the device. Maybe this manual does not mention that 'cos it was written before that decision or something? It does say "This is a DRAFT publication". Let's hope that this is the case.

As shown in the manual, there are 2 softkeys, labelled as Selection Keys, immediately below the screen, one on the left and other on the right. As far as I can see, these softkeys are not specifically assigned to any particular functions.
One could say that these softkeys could correspond to options show on screen immediately above, but you could just press the options on the screen anyway, so quite redundant in this premise.
Thus, these 2 softkeys can be permanently assigned to function as the screen rotation button, if you so desire. SE may well even default one of these softkeys to be the screen rotation button for production units.
The manual we have now is not yet complete, and we'll have to see the production one to see for sure.
I really don't see what's the problem and fuss here.

nap007 said:
funny how you didn't say anything to BLACK93300ZX, as I was only agreed with him
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok nap007, is your opinion and you have the right to it. But don't tell me to go after everyone on this site. Friends?
I got news about the FCC TEST REPORT.
the USA version was approved and the 3G bands is 1900.
AT&T people should be happy.
https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/oet/forms/blobs/retrieve.cgi?attachment_id=1011331&native_or_pdf=pdf

bloob said:
As shown in the manual, there are 2 softkeys, labelled as Selection Keys, immediately below the screen, one on the left and other on the right. As far as I can see, these softkeys are not specifically assigned to any particular functions.
One could say that these softkeys could correspond to options show on screen immediately above, but you could just press the options on the screen anyway, so quite redundant in this premise.
Thus, these 2 softkeys can be permanently assigned to function as the screen rotation button, if you so desire. SE may well even default one of these softkeys to be the screen rotation button for production units.
The manual we have now is not yet complete, and we'll have to see the production one to see for sure.
I really don't see what's the problem and fuss here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YEAH, I am sure I saw a youtube video where the person very clearly puts the finger at the bottom to rotate the screen. At the time I thought if was a touch on the screen, now I believe it was the left soft key.

Yes, that video is of Magnus himself doing a demo for journalists. He did press the left-side softkey to rotate the screen, because someone asked him whether you could rotate the screen without opening the keyboard. Well, there you have it.

X1 vrs Diamond: real-world issues

It´s been a month since I "upgraded" from Diamond to the X1
Overall I am very pleased with the X1, BUT:
1.- I miss the smooth (flat) screen edges!! Corners are difficult to reach with my thumbs in the X1 because the screen is depressed from the chassis. The diamond's screen was flat with the chassis, thus making it very easy to press/touch icons in the corners
2.- The VOLUME keys should be located at the left, not the right (IMHO)
3.- I miss the circular touch control from the diamond: it let me zoom/pan very fast in excel and opera (circular finger movement around the central button). At least a "jog dial (p800-esque?) would have been nice...
4.- It's easy to press the "panel" button (wrongly) to answer a phone call !!
5.- Having a hardware "back" button was a plus in the diamond
6.- The "power" button is too hidden.
7.- The mini-USB connector is located at the natural left finger position. It should be ergonomically positioned down the phone ??
8.- Regarding the HW keyboard, I miss a couple of extra keys from the TyTN (dedicated CTRL key, windows context menu key, those two "softkeys" up there... etc) and I find the first row of keys too close to the phone body, making it difficult to type in the upper row
9.- Sony's standard panel is cool but dull, TouchFlo 3D was VERY USEFUL and practical... I got so used to doing everything with my THUMBS instead of the stylus...
Anybody else has noticed/missed these hardware/design issues ??
I know this is Sony's FIRST WM PDA phone
Hope any Sony engineer is reading this post

ad 1. We discussed this topic before. A few users are with you opinion and a few users (including me) like the recessed screen because it protects the screen from scratches and I haven't got any problems with pressing anything until now.
ad 2. I never had a phone with the volume keys on the left. I think they are okay where they are. Good to reach, either you hold the phone in the left or the right hand.
ad 3. I don't know the circular touch, but it sounds interesting.
ad 4. What thumbs do you have?
ad 5. The touch button is okay for me. If not, you have the two buttons below the screens to configurate.
ad 6. The power button is perfect, because it wakes up the phone and therefore it has to be hidden. It shall not be pressed unintentional while the phone is in my pocket.
ad 7. Then the phone could not be charged while it is in a carholder. Most carholders are closed on the bottom so I'm very happy with the layout while navigating with the X1.
ad 8. A bigger keyboard would make the writing easier but the phone bigger. It's a good compromise in my opinion. I got used to the keyboard and now writing's very fast.
ad 9. That's a matter of taste, really! Let me quote myself:
The panels are great. With the SE-Panel you have everything you need in one panel -calender, messaging, weather, shortcuts aso...
You don't need to change pages like with the touchflothing. TouchFlo is one of the reasons for me not to buy a HTC phone.
I now have the SE Desktop Panel with everything I need, additionally a fullscreen weather panel if I want to know more about forecast, windspeeds and whatelse, one panel for everything that's multimedia and one panel is for the navigation software TomTom which works great with with the internal GPS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anybody else has noticed/missed these hardware/design issues ??
I know this is Sony's FIRST WM PDA phone
Hope any Sony engineer is reading this post
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to say that, but I like these "issues" and, as you can see, I have my reasons. But each user has its own pros and cons so the "perfect" phone is not going to happen

I too moved from a diamond to an x1 nearly a month ago, overall I think i prefer the X1.
my previous windows mobiles all had some kind of hardware keyboard, be that a full qwerty or dialpad,
(SPV c500, C550, C600, HTC wizard, HTC TYTN)
I really struggled at first without the keyboard,
I then got really annoyed with how dirty the diamond touch screen got from typing,
it also got VERY scratched because of the flat touchscreen, which i never experienced with previous phones,
yes the X1 has its little quirks, but I got to say its either equal to or better than any HTC device i know of, even htc never get it 100% right...
cheers
Steve

gtrab said:
1.- I miss the smooth (flat) screen edges!! Corners are difficult to reach with my thumbs in the X1 because the screen is depressed from the chassis. The diamond's screen was flat with the chassis, thus making it very easy to press/touch icons in the corners
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've also got no problems with the recesed screen, actually I prefer it like that, gives a "little" more protection.
gtrab said:
2.- The VOLUME keys should be located at the left, not the right (IMHO)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a matter of taste, anyways, they must be where the camera is, as they allo to zoom (on lower mpix. resolutions)
gtrab said:
3.- I miss the circular touch control from the diamond: it let me zoom/pan very fast in excel and opera (circular finger movement around the central button). At least a "jog dial (p800-esque?) would have been nice...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually I don't like those "touch" controls that the newer htc's got...
gtrab said:
4.- It's easy to press the "panel" button (wrongly) to answer a phone call !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never pressed the panel button when answering...
gtrab said:
5.- Having a hardware "back" button was a plus in the diamond
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
useless...
gtrab said:
6.- The "power" button is too hidden.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
better... sucks turning on accidentally your phone...
gtrab said:
7.- The mini-USB connector is located at the natural left finger position. It should be ergonomically positioned down the phone ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's actually better for me...
gtrab said:
8.- Regarding the HW keyboard, I miss a couple of extra keys from the TyTN (dedicated CTRL key, windows context menu key, those two "softkeys" up there... etc) and I find the first row of keys too close to the phone body, making it difficult to type in the upper row
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup, ctrl key would be great, but the other ones I don't need them, actually the upper part is in a nice position so is easy to combine keyb+screen
gtrab said:
9.- Sony's standard panel is cool but dull, TouchFlo 3D was VERY USEFUL and practical... I got so used to doing everything with my THUMBS instead of the stylus...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Panels sux (actually) just like touchflo.
I've used touchflo in other devices and always end disabling it.
anyways, at least with panels we have a nice facebook one... let's hope more come soon.

10: I always cover the loudspeaker with my fingers while holding the X1. Would have been better position on the back- or downside of the device. But maybe i could just drill a hole....
Ah and
11: First touch resonse works on the Diamond, the X1 just brigthens the screenlight and you have to click again.

1. The screen design on the X1 is better, its too exposed on the Diamond.
2. Not true.
3. I like the joystic on the X1 better than the "wheel"
4. I have mapped my program launcher to the panel button + I dont have fat fingers
5. Not in my opinion, I found it rather useless. HW softkeys are much more usefull
6. No way, its better than in Diamond
7. USB connector is located in little bit weird place, but use your phone on landscape while connected, how does it sit now?
8. What you mean TyTN had CTRL, you mean you had Touch Pro not Diamond or TyTN? CTRL missing from the keyboard is disadvantage. Coming from TP I found the upper row to be close to screen at first, but now I do not experience this problem anymore, probably got used to it
9. I dont even have panels installed, or even TF3D
As you see most of these are just opinions...
One thing you did not mention is the magnetic stylus holder in the Diamond and Touch Pro... But you also did not write any of the pro's that X1 has over those devices...
I had Diamond and Touch Pro and I do prefer X1 over them... Only big thing we are missing is a stable and tweaked rom... Dutty's comingggggggggggggggggggg.....

What people seem to be forgetting is that you couldn't make a phone with a flush screen and a metal housing.

The Diamond / TP does a little vibrate when someone picks up your call, am i right? (I'm not a Diamond user)
That is a VERY handy feature in my opinion. Would've been great if that would be possible on the X1.

I have a Polaris/Touch Cruise/Orbit 02, and also got an X1 a couple of weeks ago. I really miss the scroll wheel from the Polaris as well as the Cube/touchflo. Navigation for me was much simpler. Maybe it's just the usual case of configuring Window Mobile to personal preferences. I've installed HTC Home flike I had on the Polaris and this has made things easier.
I Also find the non-flush keyboard a problem, especially when typing on the screen keyboard. On full qwerty keyboard I find it difficult hitting the keys on the left or right edge of the screen.
I remember when I got the Polaris (after having a Hermes) I had to change settings/software until I was happy with it's operation/navigation. Hopefully, it'll be the same with the X1.

SomeoneSimple said:
The Diamond / TP does a little vibrate when someone picks up your call, am i right? (I'm not a Diamond user)
That is a VERY handy feature in my opinion. Would've been great if that would be possible on the X1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a software feature that I would imagine wouldnt be that hard to transfer to X1...

Yes, its a software feature with the Phone application. Should work on any custom ROM with the Blackstonephone - like on mine ...

nurps said:
10: I always cover the loudspeaker with my fingers while holding the X1. Would have been better position on the back- or downside of the device. But maybe i could just drill a hole....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPS I forgot that one !!
That's so true: hold the phone with your left hand and sound mutes (because the speaker hole gets covered)

skycamefalling said:
...ad 9. That's a matter of taste, really! Let me quote myself: "additionally a fullscreen weather panel"...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A dedicated weather panel ?? Sounds great. I'm searching for it right now
And yes you're right: matter of taste (and use).
Don't get me wrong: I am writing my oppinions to make this phone EVEN better. As I stated before: I am overall please with the phone, I've have them all ("near" all ) and the Xperia is my best phone ever.
Matter of choices and tastes of course, but I wanted to know if somebody shared my thoughts about that minor "issues".
Regarding panels, I think it is a fresh new idea with great potential.
1.- A "camera" panel would be OK (how about a panel that turns your phone into a full Sony Cybershot digicam?? )
2.- A GPS panel would be OK too
3.- More customization options for the strandard Sony panels would be even better !!

I would have preferred the screen flat too, it doesn't need more protection as I keep it in a soft pouch. Besides I find overall its LESS protected as the dirt that gets stuck in the recessed screen is more likely to get wiped across the surface repeatedly before you actually get it removed. It also makes the grease buildup extremely hard to clean off.
My other gripe is the keyboard. I had wished the whole phone had been a little bit wider so that they keyboard was more like my Wizard. Sure you get used to the screen being so close to the top row but it does slow you down. When I go back to my Wizard I can ALWAYS type easier and quicker because the keyboard is more spaced out.
The rest listed are none issues for me. I may even like the panels in the end as I am going to play with the SDK.

haha the funny thing is that the x1 is made by HTC

What's so funny about that?
There has always been a difference between one HTC device and another. In all other respects the Wizard was rather underpowered compared to other HTC devices at the time and it was/is rather chunky. Also technically I own a T-Mobile MDA Vario, its just from visiting these forums I learnt about updating the ROM to WM6 and that its a HTC Wizard (WIZA200 actually) in a T-Mobile branded shell.

backslash225 said:
haha the funny thing is that the x1 is made by HTC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The X1 has been designed by sony ericsson, build in cooperation with htc and produce by htc.
so it's not a made by htc . Sony got an idea and ask one of the most experienced winmo company to make it. And they are not so pleased with htc they have stopped their partnership with them. Seems they reproach htc to have underpowered x1 software and got a lot of production problem with them.

Why android is not fully touch???

I was using a HTC tornado, after long used hardware keys start giving problems. I thought a fully touch phone with no depending on hardkey is my future solution and Android is more or like iPhone or more better. So, I choose this Tattoo small and beauty Android phone.
But why it is so much depending on this 'back' and 'menu' hardkeys for its operation???? Why the android developing team did not include some other alternative?? like some gestures or small icons??
I hope they consider this case in future releases.

thacen said:
I was using a HTC tornado, after long used hardware keys start giving problems. I thought a fully touch phone with no depending on hardkey is my future solution and Android is more or like iPhone or more better. So, I choose this Tattoo small and beauty Android phone.
But why it is so much depending on this 'back' and 'menu' hardkeys for its operation???? Why the android developing team did not include some other alternative?? like some gestures or small icons??
I hope they consider this case in future releases.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because, how would you press a home icon when the appilication has frozen, and also, why not have buttons to accept/reject calls instead of pressing buttons on the screen (like the iPhone)?
I'm sure you can figure it out...

Ill have to agree with thacen on this one. I hade an artemis which in the long run had hard buttons problems. Only thing that made it still useable was that winmo doesnt depend on hard buttons. I think the android people should think about that. Im not saying the buttons should be eliminated, as coburn said they are useful. But we should have an alternative with not using the hard buttons, even if this means soft reset the device when an app freeze if the home hard button does not work anymore.

Actually, I think Android has a feature like the iPhone built-in. If someone is calling you and you get "Incoming Call", try tapping the grey box that has the android in it. It may work.

Euh I have onscreen answer/reject buttons dont you? ... we were mostly refering to closing apps etc. There is basically no onscreen close buttons.

Thoughts about HTC One hardware keys

I've just read/watched the Engadget review.
I'm sold on the device. My concern is around the hardware keys. I much prefer hardware keys to software keys because the SW keys eat up so much of the on-screen real estate, and they also push the keyboard higher and make it harder to reach.
That being said, it seems by dropping the menu key, HTC has taken a step backwards after they mapped the legacy menu key to the HW menu key in recent versions of the One X / X+ build in Sense 4+. From what I've read, the legacy menu is back.
This is *bad* and has me thinking about another direction (although there doesn't seem to be a great device like the One - don't think the S4 will be anything interesting unless they've been setting up a smokescreen!).
I run an alternative launcher because I dislike Sense (other than the Camera!), but it won't solve the missing HW key / legacy menu.
Thoughts?

The two button layout doesn't bother me too much. I removed the soft keys on my Nexus 4 and use PIE so if I can function without any buttons, I'm sure I'll live with two. As for the legacy menu thing, that's an odd on HTC's part. Granted, apps should be updated to have proper menu button support, but it's something I can live with.

The removal of long press back remapping was/is probably a bug, I'm sure it will be back

idk about everyone else but i will root and flash my device just like every other phone ive had. with that we will be able to do almost what we want personalization wise. how long will we have to wait is the question.

eg1122 said:
The removal of long press back remapping was/is probably a bug, I'm sure it will be back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I heard about this early on but it's not being mentioned in reviews. If nothing else HTC will cave to peer pressure like in the HOX. Long press on back is a passable solution - particularly if we can also get the in-app menu button too.
Otherwise the other idea being thrown about (by non technical people) is if the kernel can be modded to recognise the HTC logo as a button - given that the touch panel should extend over that as well. No idea how possible this is and I presume it couldn't be done until kernel source is out.
M.

Only two buttons doesn't bother me either, i only have one on my iphone!

I'm actually cool with just 2 button too. I rarely use my menu button on my mt4g. I do everything with just the home button and back button. Also rather have capacitive buttons instead of hard buttons.
Sent from my HTC myTouch 4g using xda premium

I use the multitasking and menu options quite a bit, thus my concern

I also use the menu button quite a bit.
I am sure once we get used to it, it will be like anything else and heck, we might even like it more. Who knows till we get to play withem...
Sent from a galaxy far away!

Is it possible to activate soft buttons by editing build.prop on HTC Sense roms ?

CreepyDroid said:
Is it possible to activate soft buttons by editing build.prop on HTC Sense roms ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess. It's possible on TouchWiz, so I guess you can add a line in the build.prop in Sense too.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

My main goal would be to deactivate the hardware buttons and go completely nexus wise.
| Back - Home - Recent (small menu button when needed) |
Are stock on screen buttons smart enough to activate the additional menu button when needed?
Also... can long press software home button activate google now?

mickliq said:
I use the multitasking and menu options quite a bit, thus my concern
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So do I but a long press of the button to bring up the multi tasking menu is hardly a dealbreaker for me. Could prove to be annoying though. Time will tell I guess!
Sent from my XT925 using xda premium

^ I don't mind long-press for multi-tasking (it's what I am using today); the issue is that you can't have home, multi-tasking, Google Now and Legacy menu all on one key! I've been seeing some comments about long-press back used but the legacy menu really needs to be a single-press.

Dun recall where i read it, but the home key on double tap brings up multi tasker and on long press can b configured for google now or menu key. Thats acceptable to me.
I do prefer the 3 keys on my hox, but i realize that htc had to make a compromise to accomodate the logo. The logo could not have been placed elsewhere on the front without adding to the height of the phone.
In the end, its not a big issie and we will get used to it. Moving from 4 keys on dhd to 3 on the hox wasnt pleasing to me in the beginning, but adapted soon.
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

i think its great, i never used the other two buttons anyway.

[WHINE] – Why a hardkey instead of softkey for “home” button

I don't like the hardkey. It feels different to press than a softkey. It takes longer to press and takes me out of my rythm. Therefore I tend not to use it as much (have built some alternate shortcut gestures into my launcher and my Notification Toggle setup).
Also from what I have seen softkeys last longer than hardkeys... the softkeys have no mechanical parts to wear out.
The whole thing bugs me, but I think I'd feel better if I understood WHY this design decision was made...
So can anyone explain the ADVANTAGES of having a hardkey home button?

electricpete1 said:
I don't like the hardkey. It feels different to press than a softkey. It takes longer to press and takes me out of my rythm. Therefore I tend not to use it as much (have built some alternate shortcut gestures into my launcher and my Notification Toggle setup).
Also from what I have seen softkeys last longer than hardkeys... the softkeys have no mechanical parts to wear out.
The whole thing bugs me, but I think I'd feel better if I understood WHY this design decision was made...
So can anyone explain the ADVANTAGES of having a hardkey home button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer a hard key for the exact opposite of what you said.
BTW, why do you own a S4 ???
The day I cant buy an Android phone with a real home button will be the day Ill switch to something else.

Switching from the straight talk galaxy S2 to the S4 took me a bit to get use to as the S2 didn't have a hard key.... but I like the hard key better.... I think its more of a personal preference than anything
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

I miss the HTC Amaze.. Power, camera, and volume were the only buttons on the phone.
I miss the smooth glass home button at the bottom of the screen between the menu and back buttons
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

Softkey takes screen real estate, but, will relocate landscape to portrait. When a major crash occurs softkey will not work. Softkey is more suscptable to accidental presses.
Hardkey has a completely different tactile feel.
This is one of many reasons why I prefer Samsung to Nexus. Each to their own.
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Premium HD app

I love being able to wake the screen with the menu button. This is much easier when using a case.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

First of all, welcome to the late party.
Second, I hated the hard key also.
Now though, I love the fact that I can "feel" the key without looking for it.
Guess I'd rather have a capacitive key still, but it would need to be a raised button that I can "feel".
Didn't we do this thread like nine months ago?
About fourteen times, back to back threads?

I like the hard key as well. I can turn on the phone using it
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

bennyboy78 said:
I like the hard key as well. I can turn on the phone using it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's amazing how there is no one feature that can please everyone.
I actually have that option disabled on my phone.
Drives me nuts because everytime I pick up my phone, I'd accidentally press that button and the phone would turn on. Or when I wipe down my screen, I'd hit that button and with the next wipe, I'd unlock my phone and inadvertently open an app or something. hahah

CZ Eddie said:
Didn't we do this thread like nine months ago?
About fourteen times, back to back threads?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, that's about 90% of the threads in this particular forum now.

My bad. I'm new to S4. I didn't search but got the whim to express some frustration in what I thought would be a light-hearted conversational thread. Not the best decision in retrospect. Next time I'll do that on the Off-topic Cafe thread when I get that urge.

I think a big plus of using both a hard key and the touch sensitive keys (I really dislike the soft keys taking screen real estate, if they disappeared for full screen applications, I'd be more supportive – but I digress) is just being able to feel where the touch sensitive keys are without having to look at the phone. Long live the hard key