HTC One = Total Fail?

[So Cold]

I understand your frustration with the black bar in apps but you have to remember that just means the app developer has not kept up to date with Google design. Faulting a phone because some app developers are lazy is hardly logical. I've sent emails to all the developers of apps I use regularly asking them to consider updating to follow Google. All in all I'm very happy with the One and I'm not one to be easily impressed. When I told some friends on vent that I was impressed they all had to check out the One because I'm almost always pretty critical of products. Just my thoughts.

People don't care who's fault it is or what google's policies are, they just don't want to see the black bar. Samsung knew that would be an issue for many people so they still include the menu button and I can't say I fault them for it.

Sent from my Note 2

 

[mrbootcrm]

Yes, I understand the every man argument but I can't support it. I was trying to think of an example using Apple changing their design philosophy but they only make one phone. As such I just have to reiterate that Google wants to get rid of the menu button and Imo it only stifles app development when manufacturers do not follow.

Edit for clarity : let's pretend Samsung (and all other top end phones) also declined to put a menu button this year. Do you think anyone would complain about "all the phones this year have black bars!?"

 

[So Cold]

Yes, I understand the every man argument but I can't support it. I was trying to think of an example using Apple changing their design philosophy but they only make one phone. As such I just have to reiterate that Google wants to get rid of the menu button and Imo it only stifles app development when manufacturers do not follow.

Edit for clarity : let's pretend Samsung (and all other top end phones) also declined to put a menu button this year. Do you think anyone would complain about "all the phones this year have black bars!?"

This is a chicken and egg situation.

Software developers are not going to bother updating their app if most devices still have a hardware menu key.
Phone makers will keep making hardware menu keys because a lot of apps have not been updated to use the action bar.

Just like any other transition in technology, there is going to be a period of pain. It is the nature of the beast.

In a few years time, most people will forget there ever was a black bar issue and we will all be complaining about something else.

And frankly, I find this issue to be so minor compared to all the other transitions consumers have had to put up with and will continue to have to put up with in the future.

Think floppy disks, ZIP disks, MiniDisc, VHS, DVD, HD DVD, Blue-ray... Consumers have spent so much money on different media types and media players only for them to be obsolete in a few years time.

Think software applications and games that no longer run anymore on newer versions of an OS because the fundamental system API has been changed.

Think of all the various connector types that keep changing every few years requiring us to buy adapters.

I agree with what you are both saying. And yes if htc and Samsung both ditch the menu button then I think it's very likely you see a lot of apps getting updated. I'm not defending the developers who fail to update their apps, but unless google starts cracking down on the developers there's not much incentive for manufacturers not to include a menu button.

If you were making a phone today, and you know htc is not including a menu button and that people really don't like that, and you know that developers are in no hurry to update with google's latest design standards then why not include the button and get a leg up on your customer in consumers minds.

Google really needs to be the ones pushing this if they want anything to change, not htc

Sent from my Note 2

 

[Newtoandroid99]

What's really frustrating is that the HTC logo is actually a button, I have seen a post that there is a hack\rom that allows it to function as a menu button of sorts. The fact that this functionality actually exist but HTC has it off for whatever reason is really frustrating. It's things like this that make me worry about updates from HTC and the future of the phone. I shouldn't have to worry about hacking a phone to use all its features.

http://phandroid.com/2013/04/23/htc-one-logo-button/

 

[EverNap]

I'm not defending the developers who fail to update their apps, but unless google starts cracking down on the developers there's not much incentive for manufacturers not to include a menu button.

I agree. Google might not want to remove apps from the AppStore if they're not compatible with the new layout, because they'd wanna show that they have xxx,xxx number of apps in the Marketplace, and that's why it's better than iOS/BB/WP8/other OS.
Maybe if they started out by showing a Notice in the Marketplace for each app which isn't compatible (kinda like what Cydia does), at least consumers would know that the app might not work as expected, and might pressure the devs without actually reducing the available apps. This is kinda like what Apple did when they introduced multi-tasking for iOS. They showed a small symbol noting that an app does multi-tasking.

 

[thebizz]

I could care less about the black bar if a dev decides they don't want to follow Google's app guidelines I just uninstall the app and find another that has been updated. And their is a reason the HTC logo Isnt a button because it's a hack their only able to do this because the top portion of the logo falls into a touch target. While I agree the two button set-up isn't ideal it was a valid compromise on their part for the speaker set-up and I'm more than willing to deal with it. If you can't deal with it use another phone that's the beauty of android choice if one phone doesn't fit you theirs always another.

 

[OhAlfie]

I couldn't care less about the black bar if a dev decides they don't want to follow Google's app guidelines I just uninstall the app and find another that has been updated. And there is a reason the HTC logo Isnt a button because it's a hack they're only able to do this because the top portion of the logo falls into a touch target. While I agree the two button set-up isn't ideal it was a valid compromise on their part for the speaker set-up and I'm more than willing to deal with it. If you can't deal with it use another phone that's the beauty of android choice if one phone doesn't fit you theirs always another.

FYP

 

[SCjRqrQCnBQ19QoYCtdl]

I could care less about the black bar if a dev decides they don't want to follow Google's app guidelines I just uninstall the app and find another that has been updated. And their is a reason the HTC logo Isnt a button because it's a hack their only able to do this because the top portion of the logo falls into a touch target. While I agree the two button set-up isn't ideal it was a valid compromise on their part for the speaker set-up and I'm more than willing to deal with it. If you can't deal with it use another phone that's the beauty of android choice if one phone doesn't fit you theirs always another.

There are google apps that still have the black bar. Even google themselves aren't following the guidelines. It seems a bit much to expect all the developers to go out of their way for the few phones that comply with the standards when even google hasn't fixed all their apps. I don't know what the answer is, I know it is the developer's fault, but the only ones dealing with the issue are people without the menu button.

Having said that, it doesn't bother me in the least that the black bar is there though. I am not going go out looking for alternative apps for apps I like just becuase of the black bar. I certainly am not going to base my phone ownership on it either.

 

[dazjb]

If you are not entirely blown away by either phone then you should just save your money and wait.

This ^^^^^

The S3 is still a really good modern phone so keep it for a little while longer if you can't find a phone for you that's out at the mo. The One and the S4 are better but the S3 is still a very capable device.

 

[Johnly]

Huh? What is your point again?

Clearly I was having fun at being a polarized Sammy fan. No worries though, I like the ONE. HTC did a good job. Sometimes I don't want to be understood, but I will strip the fun out of what I said and give it a new wording because I like your avatar.

HTC is small compared to some other mobile giants in several other industries. I have heard the HTC one forever now, and thought maybe HTC could break away from that name for something fresh. I can mock the note 2 battery all day with apps, gps, videos, and whatever else and keep on throwing use at it 20 hours later. Zoe is cool, but it is only cool on a HTC one. They need to get it formatted to at least be viewed on all other devices without degradation. Just loosing screen size is a downgrade for me.

But I was never really trying to make a point, and just having some semantic fun. Carry on.

 

[walt27]

I have a galaxy nexus and I'll tell u that there isn't much difference in 4.2 and 4.1.2. The difference is the pull down menu that has WiFi and toggles that completely suck. The WiFi button takes u to the WiFi menu were u can switch it on. Any custom ROM had a better feature for this. BTW both sense and touchwiz overlap android so u want miss anything.

I ordered my HTC one today.

Megapixel is a myth. A 6 mp camera is enough to make a billboard sign. Why the hell would I need 13. U need a better lens and sensor not mp. Just FYI for original poster.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

 

[Neal Veen]

If you read through the threads here you'll find that many people are opting to go caseless and just get insurance.

I just want to try a bumper case at most. I love the feel of this phone.

Sent from my HTC One using Android Central Forums