software buttons (back/home/multitasking) to one side?

[djm7541]

But looking around via Google it appears that there's no way to move the software buttons (back/home/multitasking) to one side.

Maybe I am missing something, but this seems quite stupid. One could debate whether the side, in landscape mode, is the best place for them. That is to say, in the same place where the home button is on the iPad. This is close to people's thumbs, and horizontally, there's more space to be had for this sort of thing. More space than vertically, which is where they have put them.

But even if one doesn't agree with that, the fact that it isn't even a customizable option, that part just seems clearly stupid. I've only owned my Nexus 10 for 30 hours, and I am already starting to think I like my iPad 2 better, because of this detail.

It just seems poorly thought out, on Google's side.

 

[davrow]

iPad uses a hardware button in the center. Why isn't that stupid?

 

[anon(847090)]

you thumb is not closer when the ipad is vertical. that would be stupid.

atleast the software button can be manupulated

 

[djm7541]

iPad uses a hardware button in the center. Why isn't that stupid?

If you're holding the tablet horizontally (landscape mode), the middle seems pretty darn close to where to being exactly where one's thumb would be.

Maybe vertically, then this is an issue for Apple owners. But at least they have the choice, top or bottom. If you don't like it on the bottom, then just physically spin the iPad device around, and it will be on the top.

But Android 4.3 doesn't even give you that, the choice, top or bottom. It just decides for you, no choice at all: bottom. This I don't like, because I know when I am resting on my bed, I'd prefer it far away from my chest.

You and I could argue about our preferences, but why can't they just add a configuration choice to lock it in place? Instead of just saying to everybody: "bottom" ?

 

[djm7541]

you thumb is not closer when the ipad is vertical. that would be stupid.

atleast the software button can be manupulated

At least as far as an idea, yes, the software button can be manipulated. But look at what it does, the software, Android 4.3: bottom, always.

 

[anon(847090)]

At least as far as an idea, yes, the software button can be manipulated. But look at what it does, the software, Android 4.3: bottom, always.

try finding an app like this on ipad https://forums.androidcentral.com/e.../details?id=jun.ace.piecontrol&token=Gpv49-Kx

 

[Craig King]

The standard jelly bean launcher puts it on the bottom. Look at custom launchers and you likely find the option to move the software buttons. Also allot of non nexus tabs still have them on the side.

It should be noted that at least with android you have the option for a custom launcher as well. So these things can be adjusted if someone felt a need to create the option in a custom launcher.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[rumatt]

But looking around via Google it appears that there's no way to move the software buttons (back/home/multitasking) to one side.

Maybe I am missing something, but this seems quite stupid.

Agreed. It's awful.

16x10 devices are already long and narrow enough. Don't make it worse by blacking out a long narrow strip along the bottom just to give me 3 tiny buttons.

I can't believe they haven't fixed this yet.

 

[djm7541]

Agreed. It's awful.

16x10 devices are already long and narrow enough. Don't make it worse by blacking out a long narrow strip along the bottom just to give me 3 tiny buttons.

I can't believe they haven't fixed this yet.

Looking at my portable telephone, a Nexus S from 2011, the buttons are software, but they don't shift around if you shift around the device. So it appears to be something that was fine, in another era, 2 years ago.

I have found third party software that gets me around this issue, but it just seems odd to have to turn to a solution like that in order to have common sense functionality.

 

[rumatt]

I have found third party software that gets me around this issue, but it just seems odd to have to turn to a solution like that in order to have common sense functionality.

Which software?

 

[djm7541]

Which software?

There are many different applications that can help, and I tried them, but I finally settled on simply "MyHomeButton". This app resides in your notifications, and it is simply a home button. Always in the notifications, so always in the top left corner.

Actually, I found that all the apps that can help have one drawback or another, and the best solution would still be for Google to fix it in native Android.

 

[djm7541]

As it is, it's more of a complaint for Nexus 10 owners than anybody else. For the Nexus 7, even in landscape mode, your thumbs can almost reach the buttons on the bottom, without having to take your hands off the sides.

But with the Nexus 10, it's just too far. You have to let go with one hand, press the button you want, while you hold the tablet with the other hand.

 

[rumatt]

As it is, it's more of a complaint for Nexus 10 owners than anybody else. For the Nexus 7, even in landscape mode, your thumbs can almost reach the buttons on the bottom, without having to take your hands off the sides.

But with the Nexus 10, it's just too far. You have to let go with one hand, press the button you want, while you hold the tablet with the other hand.

Yep. But even on the nexus 7 it was pretty bad. The home button sits in the one and only spot that is not easily reachable by your thumbs. Anywhere else on the whole darn bar would have been better.

What I don't get is why they don't just allow them to be moved. Trivial change, everyone's happy. Isn't that one of they whole points of a soft button in the first place? You can move it with software.

 

[brodrick22]

Couldn't agree more. I'm not sure why the long menu strip still can't be moved to the side in landscape mode. Fyi, LG has corrected this issue on their LG G2 phone, so kudos to them. When it's in landscape mode, the menu strip is intelligently vertical, saving useful vertical real estate. It's not a setting though, just default. (Great phone, btw, and the extra vertical real estate really makes a big difference.)
LG didn't keep this functionality on their new G Pad tablet, oddly enough. It's such a simple, yet useful feature. I've been searching for a high-spec 8" tablet that addresses this issue. The Samsung Note 8 is on the short list, with its hardware-based strip, but that tablet isn't so high-end these days. (I'm not interested in the new iPad Mini, although its 4:3 aspect ratio and unobtrusive real estate are enticing.) Android is typically good at listening to its customers, so hopefully it will get resolved in an update soon. At least Android seems to be staying away from 16:9 aspect ratios.