Is dedicated camera/shutter key really that important??

[taylormah]

A number of sites are counting Galaxy S's lack of dedicated shutter key a bad, but what I can't understand is why is it that important? iPhone doesn't have such key but still works really well for taking pictures. Galaxy S can focus on a screen tap and can take pictures just fine using onscreen camera button, so what can a dedicated hardware shutter key do that onscreen soft-button can't do?

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

The Epic has a dedicated shutter button, it depends on which version.

 

[drizek]

yup. The Epic has everything, although I don't know why they gimped it with just 1GB of ROM.

 

[hanano17]

A number of sites are counting Galaxy S's lack of dedicated shutter key a bad, but what I can't understand is why is it that important? iPhone doesn't have such key but still works really well for taking pictures. Galaxy S can focus on a screen tap and can take pictures just fine using onscreen camera button, so what can a dedicated hardware shutter key do that onscreen soft-button can't do?

People like to have something to complain about that they think is important because society says it is or because its a "feature".

 

[taylormah]

People like to have something to complain about that they think is important because society says it is or because its a "feature".

I guess you are right. They need something to fill their "cons" section of the review. Although Epic brings that feature in it, I don't think other versions are lacking in any way in terms of camera key. Personally I like the soft-button to capture the shot, its easier using the thumb.

 

[TreyDaPrince]

I wouldn't call it important but I do prefer one. Not going to stop me from getting this phone though.

 

[ConceptVBS]

Well for one, it enables quick access to the camera in an instant. Plus, you can take candid shots easier that way.

 

[mvpilot172]

I miss the button from my Instinct (that's about all I miss though). Makes it easier to hold than trying to press the screen to take a pic.

 

[Argent]

there's a familiarity associated with a dedicated camera button - anyone who's taken photos with any type of camera will know where a camera button SHOULD be located

the whole touching the screen thing is foreign to a lot of people - people don't like change, they like familiarity

that being said - I have a Droid Incredible without a dedicated camera button and I miss having one because it's more convenient and comfortable in my opinion to take photos with one.

 

[drizek]

Yes, it is hard to see what you are taking a picture of if you have to hold the phone such that your thumb is on the screen.

 

[hampstenj]

yup. The Epic has everything, although I don't know why they gimped it with just 1GB of ROM.

no kidding on gimping on the 1GB of ROM, but with Froyo coming along the road I bet that Sprint thought, well you can put apps on the SD card, it's coming with a 16GB card, so well go low and be the first out with Froyo.... OK partial hoping on my part, but in all honesty I do feel like the Epic is being a tad bit shortchanged in the ROM dept,

 

[drizek]

It is plausible that they needed the space to put a 4G radio in and still be able to use the same motherboard as the other phones. I don't think that is what happened though, I think they had some sort of agreement with some carrier to make sure that the verizon/att versions had more memory than the sprint one.

 

[xmBill]

I had an HTC VZ-6700 with WM on it and I really liked the camera button. I could grab the phone in an instant and while not even looking at the phone, hit the button to start the process and by the time I got the phone up to where I can take a picture, the software would be loaded and I already had my finger ready to take the picture. Sure I miss it, but it was not a deal killer of any sort. I have the dInc now and wish I could reprogram the search button as a camera button, but unlike my WM phone, I could reprogram all of the buttons. That's a nice feature I wish I had on the dInc, but I can easily live with out all that because my dInc is the best phone I ever had.

 

[taylormah]

I had an HTC VZ-6700 with WM on it and I really liked the camera button. I could grab the phone in an instant and while not even looking at the phone, hit the button to start the process and by the time I got the phone up to where I can take a picture, the software would be loaded and I already had my finger ready to take the picture. Sure I miss it, but it was not a deal killer of any sort. I have the dInc now and wish I could reprogram the search button as a camera button, but unlike my WM phone, I could reprogram all of the buttons. That's a nice feature I wish I had on the dInc, but I can easily live with out all that because my dInc is the best phone I ever had.

Excuse my lack of knowledge, but what phone is dInc?

 

[Andrew Ruffolo]

droid incredible

 

[drizek]

I had an HTC VZ-6700 with WM on it and I really liked the camera button. I could grab the phone in an instant and while not even looking at the phone, hit the button to start the process and by the time I got the phone up to where I can take a picture, the software would be loaded and I already had my finger ready to take the picture. Sure I miss it, but it was not a deal killer of any sort. I have the dInc now and wish I could reprogram the search button as a camera button, but unlike my WM phone, I could reprogram all of the buttons. That's a nice feature I wish I had on the dInc, but I can easily live with out all that because my dInc is the best phone I ever had.

I don't understand why you can't reprogram the buttons. You can on webos, and you can iOS if you jailbreak. Isn't android supposed to be the most open?

 

[vicw926a4]

Yes, it is hard to see what you are taking a picture of if you have to hold the phone such that your thumb is on the screen.

I do agree. Also, trying to set up the shot, and contend with pressing a spot on the screen is very awkward, and I have to be really careful to avoid movement. I'm looking forward to having a real button on my next phone.

 

[coolqf]

yup. The Epic has everything, although I don't know why they gimped it with just 1GB of ROM.

Why would you want more? Isn't this the standard for an Android high end phone?
I guess my question is, which Android phone packs more memory?

 

[taylormah]

Why would you want more? Isn't this the standard for an Android high end phone?
I guess my question is, which Android phone packs more memory?

Every single Galaxy S phone has more memory than this. European Version/Captivate/Vibrant all have 16GB onboard, while Fascinate has 2GB. Epic 4G has the least memory onboard out of the whole Galaxy S family.

 

[Joeybear23]

The fewer moving parts the better... less to break.