Just held the HTC one in the store

[warpdrive]

So you're saying that the spec from google does not state that menu buttons are verboten?

It states that all hardware buttons are verboten. Menu included, but not the only one. Like in a nexus device.

Let me say it like this...
HTC could have made a phone with all of It's buttons done on screen like a nexus.
They didn't.

They could have done all hardware buttons like in the past.
They didn't.

What HTC did do is go from a 3 hardware button layout to a two button layout, with the menu button done by software and on screen.
In other words, they did their own thing that nobody else does...thus having this unique issue (black box) that no other phone has besides a nexus.

sent with my 2 year old HTC evo3d

 

[HOLLYWOODANT215]

The S4 is plastic. It feels like a toy. I cant stand dudes like this. So pea-brained.

Have u ever even seen or held the s4 on person??? If the s4 feels like a toy I'm sure once I nice case goes on it the feel will change just like it did on my s3...I'm not hating on the htc one, the way its hyped up online from ppl made me want it, saw it in person and it didn't give me that excitement that the first Evo gave me years ago...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[HOLLYWOODANT215]

I held one when I went into the shop last week. I also thought the same. The phone felt just ok. Build quality seemed good but I didn't get all excited about it. I wouldnt say it's as nice as an iphone 5 to hold.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Android Central Forums

Exactly the way I felt... Has nothing to do with loving Samsung brand, but the hype around it to me is overblown...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

 

[Silly Putty]

DOA. No Verizon will cripple their sales. HTC is done.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[adriandb]

It states that all hardware buttons are verboten. Menu included, but not the only one. Like in a nexus device.

But does the nexus have a menu button?

What HTC did do is go from a 3 hardware button layout to a two button layout, with the menu button done by software and on screen.
In other words, they did their own thing that nobody else does...thus having this unique issue (black box) that no other phone has besides a nexus.

This is where I think you're wrong. Beyond any requirement to do away with hard buttons, I believe the spec also stats that the menu button has to go away, which is what HTC did. Now because many developers haven't updated their apps to fit the new spec HTC had to add menu functionality, but this is only used when developers are not following the google spec.

Can anyone else confirm whether or not googles spec states that the menu button is done?

 

[madlaw1071]

Who cares who is technically correct on this point? 2 things are beyond dispute:

1. Other manufacturers still use a menu button, including the S4 & S4 and those phones DO NOT have the dreaded black bar issue.

2. HTC made a decision NOT to include a menu button(instead putting a giant logo on instead) and threw caution to the wind as to whether enough developers would update their apps so that the problem would be negligible. In reality it probably is a negligible issue to anyone not hanging on these boards. I doubt people will compare the S4 and One side by side and say "Gee that One blows chunks b/c of this black menu bar at the bottom of the screen."

 

[swazedahustla]

Exactly the way I felt... Has nothing to do with loving Samsung brand, but the hype around it to me is overblown...

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Android Central Forums

And they hype for the S4 is what??? WTF

 

[adriandb]

Who cares who is technically correct on this point? 2 things are beyond dispute:

1. Other manufacturers still use a menu button, including the S4 & S4 and those phones DO NOT have the dreaded black bar issue.

The S4 has a menu button and is therefore out of spec according to google. This will only serve to limit Android advancements as seen by google, especially because the S4 will be the best selling android device this year.

And also, "the dreaded black bar issue?" Really? Might you be sensationalizing this a bit? Is it really that big a deal? It's just a work around until software devs get their apps in spec.

2. HTC made a decision NOT to include a menu button(instead putting a giant logo on instead) and threw caution to the wind as to whether enough developers would update their apps so that the problem would be negligible.

Threw caution to the wind? They followed Google's spec for Android.

 

[ksavaiano]

HTC has less than a 2 week window to sell a sh_tload of One's. One the S4 hits the shelves and Samsung and the carriers start pimping the S4 as we all know they will, it's hard to see the One competing in any serious fashion for consumer oxygen and actual sales. Will it help HTC survive? Almost definitely but each uber-successful release Samsung gets closer and closer to complete domination, for better or for worse.

IMHO the S4 isnt going to sell as well as the S3! I have talked to MANY S3 owners over the few weeks and asked them if they would upgrade to the S4 and they all said the same thing. "Its basically the same phone why would i need to upgrade" and then i told them how most of the new software features would be ported to the S3 anyways (provided it has the sensors needed for whatever it needs to do). Sure it may catch a few new people but now the HTC One will catch the iPhone owners looking for an android. Personally if i had the S3 i wouldnt move to the S4 but this is all just IMO

 

[BigDinCA]

What causes this is HTC not being compliant in having only hardware buttons. In fact, it has nothing to do with developers.
Of course if HTC went with all on screen buttons, then you will also have such a black bar, but now it would be normal to have all on screen buttons and that black bar.

On the s4, this won't happen.

sent with my 2 year old HTC evo3d

Totally bogus! What causes the black bar is app developers not being up to the standards that Google put out last January. Period. That is the end of that discussion.

HTC doesn't use on-screen buttons and that is not what Google wants, either. The presence of physical buttons has nothing to do with the black bar, but if they had used on-screen buttons I imagine you would see TWO black bars in out-of-date apps: one for the buttons and one for the menu function. I personally never had a problem with the menu button, nor do I care that now the One only has two buttons.

 

[Topgonzo]

Totally bogus! What causes the black bar is app developers not being up to the standards that Google put out last January. Period. That is the end of that discussion.

HTC doesn't use on-screen buttons and that is not what Google wants, either. The presence of physical buttons has nothing to do with the black bar, but if they had used on-screen buttons I imagine you would see TWO black bars in out-of-date apps: one for the buttons and one for the menu function. I personally never had a problem with the menu button, nor do I care that now the One only has two buttons.

Yes you are absolutely correct. This shouldn't matter in the future as apps are updated.

 

[Michmeister]

So you would rather have the inferior plastic crap s4 good for you if you dont prefer quality and superiorbuild of htc one.

And I'm not overly impressed, I hyped my girlfriend up to see it also who has a iPhone we both thought it was overall Ok...these forums drooling over the build quality the feel of the device but it didn't blow me away or enough to make me stray away from the s4 even tho I never seen s4 in person ...im not trolling or being bias towards HTC, zoey features are impressive and camera quality, screen is best I've seem so far.. I didn't test the speakers,phone had zero lag snapdragon is no joke, overall great phone but the hype of build using metal was a let down..
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Android Central Forums

 

[madlaw1071]

IMHO the S4 isnt going to sell as well as the S3! I have talked to MANY S3 owners over the few weeks and asked them if they would upgrade to the S4 and they all said the same thing. "Its basically the same phone why would i need to upgrade" and then i told them how most of the new software features would be ported to the S3 anyways (provided it has the sensors needed for whatever it needs to do). Sure it may catch a few new people but now the HTC One will catch the iPhone owners looking for an android. Personally if i had the S3 i wouldnt move to the S4 but this is all just IMO

Don't be clueless. Most S3 owners are still under contract! The S4 will attract interest from S2 owners, iPhone and BB owners and others.

 

[BigDinCA]

Don't be clueless. Most S3 owners are still under contract! The S4 will attract interest from S2 owners, iPhone and BB owners and others.

Clueless? Because people under contract never upgrade their phones early, right? Ok, I'll have two pipes of whatever this guy is smoking please, thank you.

 

[ksavaiano]

Don't be clueless. Most S3 owners are still under contract! The S4 will attract interest from S2 owners, iPhone and BB owners and others.

I do agree with that but if you look at the whole "shabang" right now if you walk into the store and see the S3 and S4 sitting right next to eachother, and the S3 is at a $99 price point and the S4 is at $199 most normal consumers are just going to pick up the S3 because its cheaper and looks the same. And to your other comment i know PLENTY of people who buy off contract like me and they all said they have upgrades available and would not upgrade to the S4. And to everybody out there i was out to dinner with someone who beta tests for samsung and he had the S4 in his office and had pictures for proof and he said he didnt care for it much, especially the battery life. Granted, he was using the octa-core model which was supposed to increase battery life

And really.. who still owns an S2?

 

[madlaw1071]

Clueless? Because people under contract never upgrade their phones early, right? Ok, I'll have two pipes of whatever this guy is smoking please, thank you.

Uh sure they do. Peeps like us but by and large, the masses do not. Heck most people dont even update their OS and apps on a regular basis.

 

[BigDinCA]

And really.. who still owns an S2?

My son. Because I took his upgrade last year for my EVO. And I gave him his Mom's old S2 when I upgraded her to the S3 last year. He's had some behavioral issues lately so the S2 is a punishment of sorts. It is an enormous pile of junk.

 

[madlaw1071]

I do agree with that but if you look at the whole "shabang" right now if you walk into the store and see the S3 and S4 sitting right next to eachother, and the S3 is at a $99 price point and the S4 is at $199 most normal consumers are just going to pick up the S3 because its cheaper and looks the same. And to your other comment i know PLENTY of people who buy off contract like me and they all said they have upgrades available and would not upgrade to the S4. And to everybody out there i was out to dinner with someone who beta tests for samsung and he had the S4 in his office and had pictures for proof and he said he didnt care for it much, especially the battery life. Granted, he was using the octa-core model which was supposed to increase battery life

And really.. who still owns an S2?

oh well that settles it for me, someone you allegedly had dinner with says the S4 will flop. We may as well shut down the S4 forums.

 

[ksavaiano]

Uh sure they do. Peeps like us but by and large, the masses do not. Heck most people dont even update their OS and apps on a regular basis.

Even my father who could care less about smartphones upgrades every 6 months to a year!

- - - Updated - - -

My son. Because I took his upgrade last year for my EVO. And I gave him his Mom's old S2 when I upgraded her to the S3 last year. He's had some behavioral issues lately so the S2 is a punishment of sorts. It is an enormous pile of junk.

Poor child..

 

[ksavaiano]

oh well the settles it for me, someone yuo allegedly had dinner with says the S4 will flop. We may as well shut down the S4 forums.

He never said it would flop, he just have his personal opinion, which backs up my personal opinion. Everyone knows the S4 will sell theres no debating that, but im just saying it will not sell as well as the S3