Poor design with no menu button

**samid** · 05-27-2012, 09:37 AM

They put all of the buttons as physical buttons except the menu button. so now in all of the non ICS apps, i lose part of the screen. How does this make sense? Anyone have an idea why they didnt just put the menu button as a physical button so that we could benefit from this large screen? Or why they didnt just make all the buttons software buttons and a smaller device? I guess these are design level questions, but to me it seems like poor planning.

**midmofan** · 05-27-2012, 09:40 AM

its not HTC, and that was Google

**bryanw504** · 05-27-2012, 09:48 AM

Don't blame Google or HTC the blame needs to be placed on the developers who aren't updating there apps. ICS has been out long enough for them to have updated.

Sent from my PC36100 using Android Central Forums

**TonyLibations** · 05-27-2012, 09:53 AM

I heard Apple patented the physical menu button and that's why they were delayed.

**Hurleygm** · 05-27-2012, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by bryanw504

Don't blame Google or HTC the blame needs to be placed on the developers who aren't updating there apps. ICS has been out long enough for them to have updated.

Sent from my PC36100 using Android Central Forums

+1

Sent from my HTC EVO 4G LTE using Tapatalk.

**ImNoPrince** · 05-27-2012, 10:07 AM

yea seems like Menu could have even been 3rd button and Double tap of Home could be Recent apps . I don't get it but am getting use to it.

**samid** · 05-27-2012, 02:11 PM

Making all the buttons on screen weighs have solved this for me.

Sent from my EVO using Android Central Forums

**Paladin** · 05-27-2012, 02:28 PM

I am getting used to it and it is not bad I guess but my question is why go to this model in ICS in the first place?

Is it simply to save the cost of having one additional button? I also liked the menu button. Are they trying to get down to one button or none? I hear Apple wants to remove all of them so is Android trying to get to that point but slowly? Will we loose a button each OS rev until they are all gone?

What is the reasoning behind changing it? I do not find it more efficient.

**cgardnervt** · 05-27-2012, 02:39 PM

Give it a little while and you will be used to it!

**solo1** · 05-27-2012, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Paladin

I am getting used to it and it is not bad I guess but my question is why go to this model in ICS in the first place?

Is it simply to save the cost of having one additional button? I also liked the menu button. Are they trying to get down to one button or none? I hear Apple wants to remove all of them so is Android trying to get to that point but slowly? Will we loose a button each OS rev until they are all gone?

What is the reasoning behind changing it? I do not find it more efficient.

I agree ... As long as your going to utilize that bottom area for one , you might as well use the whole area ... I can't believe they felt a dedicated "recent apps" button was more useful than a dedicated menu button. I really wish at times these designers would let us in to their design process so that we can understand what the hell they were thinking.

**PookiePrancer** · 05-27-2012, 02:57 PM

What I didn't like is that, on top of the almost useless implementation of the multitasking button on this phone (I have to swipe through preview screens a la Windows Aero), the preview screens don't even rotate when you turn the phone to landscape! Ta-cky!

**Synycalwon** · 05-27-2012, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by bryanw504

Don't blame Google or HTC the blame needs to be placed on the developers who aren't updating there apps. ICS has been out long enough for them to have updated.

Sent from my PC36100 using Android Central Forums

Google IS to blame. They want to get rid of the menu button, thus made the design change with ICS that is subsequently causing everyone else down the food chain to adapt. Personally, I hate the change and find it counter intuitive and counter productive. It's one major reason I will be holding on to my current four button capacitive phone longer.

**jerrod6** · 05-27-2012, 04:04 PM

I have a Galaxy Nexus - no buttons and personally I like it that way.

I wish developers would think outside of the box and use the on screen button area to their advantage. With on screen buttons, apps can assign a button area ANY operation they want to. For all we know there may be room for 4 or 5 button areas on a screen depending on the button size.

We need to be forward thinking not looking back at the way it always was. Not only that, the menu button is a design borrowed from Apple. The less taken from Apple the better.

When I see new Android phones being released with physical buttons I am less likely to consider purchasing them. I think the fact that some phones have a mixture of onscreen and physical/capacitive buttons is a design problem, but it is one that the manufacturer has created buy being inconsistent with the functions offered by the new operating system.

**roflwaffleton** · 05-27-2012, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by INP713

yea seems like Menu could have even been 3rd button and Double tap of Home could be Recent apps . I don't get it but am getting use to it.

I had grown accustomed to long pressing the home button to bring up the recent apps. A dedicated recent app button seems unnecessary to me. I would have much preferred a dedicated menu button. But overall I'm loving the phone.

**midmofan** · 05-27-2012, 04:42 PM

I think I recall the excuse given was so that ics would work the same on phones and tablets since tablets didn't have all the hard buttons. I pretty lame honestly, just code it better to work on what device it is on.

**kinster02** · 05-27-2012, 05:30 PM

I think the GS3 design would have been a better way, where you still retain the menu, home and back button and then you long press the home button for recent apps...it still doesn't solve the search button issue which I rarely use. You really can't blame the dev's on not updating their apps since only less than 4% of Android devises have ICS.

**Jackson Galaxy** · 05-27-2012, 06:35 PM

I've had 4G and 3D, now the LTE and I don't even remember what the menu button did anymore

**cubspike** · 06-26-2012, 08:29 AM

This post will probably offend the hardcore fans....BUT; This is another example of how Android is continuing to fail the AVERAGE user (not the tech geeks like us).

As a user, I always knew that if a menu or settings exited in an app, all I had to do was hit the "menu" button. While not every app used it or well, it was one of the things you could count on...if it exists, the menu button will bring it up. The move towards a software menu button will only complicate things for average user.
1. Developers won't use it consistently and if they do use it, it will end up all over the device. Google has never been good about holding apps accountable to design specs.
2. The small icon and inconsistent placement mean that it is hard to locate, unlike the simple button at the bottom of the phone...which was easy.
4. The new action bar takes up screen space...even if it "disappears".
3. The "official" placement is NOT convenient for tablet users, or people that are used to working with one hand. Take the time to watch how 7-10 inch tablet users hold their devices...landscape with BOTH hands. Having the buttons (any buttons) in the center, or at the top of the screen means you have to readjust.
My question is (and I haven't gotten a good answer yet)...was this decision really based on improving the user experience (I don't think so), or based on phone costs and making things easier for themselves and developers? Ignore the user experience at your peril!!
Consumers (again, average users, not technophiles)keep saying over and over (through surveys, forums, etc) that they NEED consistency they can count on (between all apps and functions) for it to be SIMPLE, and for it to work and be functional right out of the box. #1 stated reasons people abandon Android for iPhones. "easier to use", " I don't have to manage my phone", everything works the same way, I can find what I need". Don't kid yourselves...the only reason Android is as popular as it is, and sells well is because manufacturers have flooded the market with it. But if you take a realistic look at the numbers, you see that sales are flattening and large numbers abandon the platform within a year.

Interesting to note...Hardcore Android fans are quick to dismiss Microsoft and Windows 7 or 8, but user ergonomics (how you hold a device, what is easiest and most comfortable, what is the most consistent) is precisely what they have studied and are developing W8 for.

To my mind...Google and Android are constantly handicapping themselves, working in a "piecemeal" fashion. As a friend described it..."Like a bunch of teenagers with Attention Deficit Disorder". I was a fan at one time, but after spending so much time struggling with issues ....sorry to say they are losing me.

Thanks for reading. I'm sure many disagree but that's what makes life interesting. Peace and health to all.

**midmofan** · 06-26-2012, 08:59 AM

Yup agree with you on this one. Same goes for the Search Button for me. Where I really miss the search button is in Dolphin HD, before, I could just hit the search from wherever I was and it would bring up the the URL/search bar where i could type in a new address. Now I have to scroll back to the top of the page, hit the URL bar and then type. Not the largest thing in the world but indicative of not being aware of how the device is used by normal people on a dat-to-day basis.

Originally Posted by cubspike

This post will probably offend the hardcore fans....BUT; This is another example of how Android is continuing to fail the AVERAGE user (not the tech geeks like us).

As a user, I always knew that if a menu or settings exited in an app, all I had to do was hit the "menu" button. While not every app used it or well, it was one of the things you could count on...if it exists, the menu button will bring it up. The move towards a software menu button will only complicate things for average user.
1. Developers won't use it consistently and if they do use it, it will end up all over the device. Google has never been good about holding apps accountable to design specs.
2. The small icon and inconsistent placement mean that it is hard to locate, unlike the simple button at the bottom of the phone...which was easy.
4. The new action bar takes up screen space...even if it "disappears".
3. The "official" placement is NOT convenient for tablet users, or people that are used to working with one hand. Take the time to watch how 7-10 inch tablet users hold their devices...landscape with BOTH hands. Having the buttons (any buttons) in the center, or at the top of the screen means you have to readjust.
My question is (and I haven't gotten a good answer yet)...was this decision really based on improving the user experience (I don't think so), or based on phone costs and making things easier for themselves and developers? Ignore the user experience at your peril!!
Consumers (again, average users, not technophiles)keep saying over and over (through surveys, forums, etc) that they NEED consistency they can count on (between all apps and functions) for it to be SIMPLE, and for it to work and be functional right out of the box. #1 stated reasons people abandon Android for iPhones. "easier to use", " I don't have to manage my phone", everything works the same way, I can find what I need". Don't kid yourselves...the only reason Android is as popular as it is, and sells well is because manufacturers have flooded the market with it. But if you take a realistic look at the numbers, you see that sales are flattening and large numbers abandon the platform within a year.

Interesting to note...Hardcore Android fans are quick to dismiss Microsoft and Windows 7 or 8, but user ergonomics (how you hold a device, what is easiest and most comfortable, what is the most consistent) is precisely what they have studied and are developing W8 for.

To my mind...Google and Android are constantly handicapping themselves, working in a "piecemeal" fashion. As a friend described it..."Like a bunch of teenagers with Attention Deficit Disorder". I was a fan at one time, but after spending so much time struggling with issues ....sorry to say they are losing me.

Thanks for reading. I'm sure many disagree but that's what makes life interesting. Peace and health to all.

**RyDawgBoston** · 06-26-2012, 10:02 AM

HTC really took a step back when removing the menu button and search button. Even the gs3 has the menu button.

They should have kept a lot of the options from the og evo and improved on that.

**Mercury81** · 06-26-2012, 10:12 AM

It's only a personal preference for the menu button, most people could care less. I personally love the phone without one and the newer design of the phone is totally functional by design. I think a lot of
well made decisions went into this phone. as anyone who spends lot of hours on it would definitely figure out. When you compare this phone with any of the most recent it stands far above them in all areas.Thanks HTC for a truly remarkable phone with the Evo4GLTE .....

:thumbup:

from Evo4GLTE on Android Central

**Shadnic** · 06-26-2012, 11:12 AM

I've said this in another thread so I'm just going to repeat it here since it's relevant to discussion.

I think android "had" to move away from having a menu button, because an always present physical menu button means that visual menus are not always present until called upon, and this limits usability for users who are not tech-savvy. I think of the physical menu button as being similar to a right click on a computer, and I can't tell you how many people I know never think to right click things when they need more options.

This move was to make android more usable, force apps to be redesigned more for visual cohesion and ease of use, and make the phone appear more user-friendly. Having back, home, and multitask are easily recognizable and not overwhelming. And while multitasking on "this" phone is somewhat broken, I find using multitasking to be waaaaaay more intuitive, fast, and pleasant when it's a simple press away, as opposed to a few second hold and then responding to an on-screen menu (something that I'm sure is also not commonly utilized by the non-tech savvy user). This change helps streamline things for androids future, and helps make it more open to new users and those accustomed to the intuitive nature of iOS. It just will take time to get all developers on board with new apps, but it's for the best once they do. Samsung including the legacy menu button is really not helping things though. The popularity of the GS3 could really push this whole movement back, which is really discouraging.

I think people dislike change, and with any change, there'll be a period of anger and resentment...and then it will feel normal and everyone will bond to the new way of things. Just give it a little time.

**Tre Lawrence** · 06-26-2012, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by Shadnic

I've said this in another thread so I'm just going to repeat it here since it's relevant to discussion.

I think android "had" to move away from having a menu button, because an always present physical menu button means that visual menus are not always present until called upon, and this limits usability for users who are not tech-savvy. I think of the physical menu button as being similar to a right click on a computer, and I can't tell you how many people I know never think to right click things when they need more options.

This move was to make android more usable, force apps to be redesigned more for visual cohesion and ease of use, and make the phone appear more user-friendly. Having back, home, and multitask are easily recognizable and not overwhelming. And while multitasking on "this" phone is somewhat broken, I find using multitasking to be waaaaaay more intuitive, fast, and pleasant when it's a simple press away, as opposed to a few second hold and then responding to an on-screen menu (something that I'm sure is also not commonly utilized by the non-tech savvy user). This change helps streamline things for androids future, and helps make it more open to new users and those accustomed to the intuitive nature of iOS. It just will take time to get all developers on board with new apps, but it's for the best once they do. Samsung including the legacy menu button is really not helping things though. The popularity of the GS3 could really push this whole movement back, which is really discouraging.

I think people dislike change, and with any change, there'll be a period of anger and resentment...and then it will feel normal and everyone will bond to the new way of things. Just give it a little time.

Good stuff.

**cloak.n.dagger** · 06-26-2012, 11:50 AM

I think many of the people who are effected by changes like this only use android on their phone. The thing to keep in mind here is that the tech industry is going through a mobile revolution, where people want their device to be all things (phone, tablet, pc, media player, etc...). Because it's not ideal/practical to have a single device for all uses, manufacturers make different mobile devices to suite the different needs (phones, tablets, PCs, set top boxes, TVs, etc...). In an attempt to unify the user experience across all these device types, there has to be a merge between the software and the hardware. It's not an easy thing to find the right balance between all the different devices and how people choose to use them, but the manufacturers and the software developers are pushing for a unified experience across all device types. So, when you go from a phone to a tablet, it feels and looks the same and there is little to no learning curve. I understand that change doesn't always suite everyone, but if you step back and look at the bigger picture, these kinds of changes help make using Android on multiple device types a better experience. The great thing about Android is that it's highly customizable when you root the phone. There are lots of mods that developers have created that restore the menu button functionality by re-assigning the multitasking option to the home long press (like on all the previous EVOs) and then re-assigning the menu button action to the multitasking button. This is what makes Android superior to all others.

Sent from my EVO 4G LTE smarter than your phone!

**crxssi** · 08-02-2012, 06:15 PM

If you have not seen the AC article, it looks like HTC has finally heard the complaints and done something about the missing menu button!! (Which not only means an option for a menu BUTTON, but also getting rid of that horrible black MENU BAR on non-ICS compliant apps).

On the recent One X update they have added an option to use the "recently used" button as a menu button with long-press on it acting as the "recently used" function. This is GREAT NEWS. Now we just have to wait for this update to come to the Evo LTE!!