Thinking of Getting HTC One but have reservations - advice?

[suncoralboy]

Hi,

I own an iPhone 4 and I am ready to jump ship to Android.
I am thinking of the HTC One - checked it out at a store today for about an hr and a couple of things concern me...your advice would be much appreciated!

1) I am used to having a home button, where I can push it to turn the phone on when the phone is locked. The only way to unlock the HTC one is by pushing the power button. I am not sure, coming from an iPhone whether this will be annoying in the long run. Any thoughts? Is there a workaround on this?
I noticed on Google play that there are some apps to fix this...where using WidgetLock you can alter the volume button to lock the screen, or even tap the proximety sensor to lock/unlock the phone - have you guys used this?

2) Is there a way where the HTC can read outloud your emails or texts? I can't seem to find this anywhere reading the manual.

3) I read that the HTC email application does not have push capability. and if you want it assuming you have Gmail account, you should use the Gmail app. However, I also have a university account that uses microsoft exchange. Does this mean, that to check my emails, I will need two apps to check them? (ie. Gmail app = Gmail account for push purposes, and HTC email for my unversity email?)

Thanks!

 

[czrman99]

As far as the power thing, there has ti be a work around, maybe rooted. And as far as the exchange I too use Microsoft Exchange and I have the option for Push notifications.

Sent from my HTCONE using Android Central Forums

 

[sw001]

I recently picked up an HTC One, moving from ATT to TMobile, and have had iPhones from the beginning, most recently having an iPhone 4S. I have to say, I really, really miss the home button. I miss it so much that I went to play with a Galaxy S4 today at Best Buy, and am considering moving to it. It is really difficult to reach to turn on the HTC one, then reach to hit the home button, with one hand. I am getting better at it, and maybe in a week it won't be an issue, but right now, I miss the home button a lot.

As far as Android goes, I really like it. The rest of the HTC One is great. The screen, the performance, the camera, and the build quality are all top notch. I probably will stay w/ an Android phone, but its 50/50 right now if its the HTC One or the Galaxy S4. The Galaxy S4 felt pretty cheap when playing with it, for what's that worth. The plastic just isn't in the same league as the HTC One, and the Samsung UI didn't seem as nice.

 

[pistos]

I think maybe you iPhone guys are focusing too much on the home button. I get to where I want to go on my phone in lots of ways other than hitting the home button all of the time. I swipe left and right. I pull the notification shade down. I hit the shortcut buttons along the bottom. The home button is not hit that often in comparison to an iPhone. Android is not iOS. You can customize your home screens the way you like much more and basically avoid hitting the home button a large portion of the time.

And in regards to the UI of the One and the S4, be careful. The One's UI is beautiful, unified, smooth. The S4 is pretty messy in comparison. I personally think the S4 UI is ugly and clumsy. If you are coming from an iPhone and you are fussy about design, then I don't think you are going to be nearly as happy with the S4 as you will be with the One.

 

[sw001]

I hit the shortcut buttons along the bottom

Don't you need to be on the home screen to hit these? I definitely need to learn more short cuts. However, as far as I know, there is only one way to actually turn the HTC One on, and that is the power button on the top. My primary use of the 'home' button on the iPhone was to turn the device on. It was very convenient for thumb use.

Is there a nice short cut wiki page out there that would help?

I am trying really hard to love the HTC One, but the lack of a home button, and the fact that soo many apps seem to not follow guidelines and waste some screen space drawing the additional button is frustrating. (Select button?)

 

[LindtChocolate]

Don't you need to be on the home screen to hit these? I definitely need to learn more short cuts. However, as far as I know, there is only one way to actually turn the HTC One on, and that is the power button on the top. My primary use of the 'home' button on the iPhone was to turn the device on. It was very convenient for thumb use.

Is there a nice short cut wiki page out there that would help?

I am trying really hard to love the HTC One, but the lack of a home button, and the fact that soo many apps seem to not follow guidelines and waste some screen space drawing the additional button is frustrating. (Select button?)

Save yourself the buyers remorse and get yourself the S4 or the iphone5

 

[AceRockolla]

I know what you mean. I had the same reaction. But with most things in android there is a switch or app that can help. For this issue I downloaded the Wake up Screen app. It's great. I set the sensitivity to high and now the screen turns on automatically when I just pick up the phone. So I just pick it up and I'm ready to go. I wish my old iPhone had this. No more finger gymnastics to turn it on and then unlock screen. It's much faster now. Seriously don't let this keep you from enjoying this amazing phone. With this new feature I don't know if I'll ever be able to go back to having to push a button to turn on my phone. One less step now and it's even better than before.

 

[mcpricex]

My last phone was a Galaxy S2 where you could hit the power button on the side or the physical home button below the screen to wake the phone, but with the One's capacitive home button you are left with just the power button at the top to do the job. To be perfectly honest I did miss it terribly, but not for very long, you get used to it without even realising, it's like driving a new car where the window switch is in a different place.

Not sure about email but a free app called Skyvi is at least the equivalent of Siri, it will definitely read sms messages and allow you to dictate replies.

 

[Nreeldeep]

I think maybe you iPhone guys are focusing too much on the home button. I get to where I want to go on my phone in lots of ways other than hitting the home button all of the time. I swipe left and right. I pull the notification shade down. I hit the shortcut buttons along the bottom. The home button is not hit that often in comparison to an iPhone. Android is not iOS. You can customize your home screens the way you like much more and basically avoid hitting the home button a large portion of the time.

And in regards to the UI of the One and the S4, be careful. The One's UI is beautiful, unified, smooth. The S4 is pretty messy in comparison. I personally think the S4 UI is ugly and clumsy. If you are coming from an iPhone and you are fussy about design, then I don't think you are going to be nearly as happy with the S4 as you will be with the One.

The OP was specifically referring to waking up the phone. And it's a potential issue for those with current Samsung models, not just iphone users. I ended up returning my HTC One because I had come from the Samsung S3 and was just too used to the convenience of the side mounted power button and the physical home button below the screen. I gave the One 2 weeks but I couldn't get used to having to shimmy my hands up and reach for the flush power button on the top left of the One. I used my Samsung almost exclusively one handed and found that I turn on the One's screen much easier using my other hand. But I didn't want to lose that one handed ease of use. I ended up returning the phone but purchased it again as my son decided he wanted it. I bought the S4 because ergonomically it met my needs better. Comfort is vastly more important to me than build materials, where the speakers are located, or if I can swipe my hand over the phone to get it to react.
To the OP, go check out the S4 in the store. Do your own research. Handle the device and play with it. The home button is obviously important to you. The S4 checks that box. Though you might end up preferring the look and feel of the HTC One and set out to deal with the incovenience of no bottom unlock button. Basically the HTC One feels more like your iphone 5 due to build materials. The Samsung S4 will most likely remind you of your iphone 5 due to one handed ease of use (home button placement).
Happy shopping!! Hope you find the device that suits your needs. Both are fantastic.

 

[fz1jmp]

I also came from the IPhone world and could not be happier with my One. Every time I pick it up I want to keep using it! I had the same thought about the old home button, but I just slightly shifted my grip and instead of pressing the home button with my thumb, press the top button with my index finger. Same one handed move, just slight shift in form.
When the S4 came out, I played with it at a BB mobile and it was a great phone. I really like a lot of the features, but the One won me over based on a few features and the seamless flow of screens. I looked forward to Blinkfeed, that was a feature I thought would be useful and it turned out to be.
You can't go wrong with any of the top tier phones, its like choosing between a Lamborghini and a Ferrari, I don't know about you, but I will take either!!!

 

[Wizzy]

S4 or iphone, you still have to reach for the power button to turn off the phone. I had iphones, S2 and S3 and the One is the best phone I've ever had. The other benefits outweigh reaching for the home button to turn it on any day.

 

[James E1]

I keep seeing people talk about the power button being in a bad spot on the ONE. My question is How do guys hold the HTC ONE? When I am holding it my index finger is right there at the power button and thumb is right there at the volume button and can be moved to the home and back buttons with no problem. Just don't understand how this could be a problem. Maybe for left handed person it would but not a right handed person

 

[mrbootcrm]

I keep seeing people talk about the power button being in a bad spot on the ONE. My question is How do guys hold the HTC ONE? When I am holding it my index finger is right there at the power button and thumb is right there at the volume button and can be moved to the home and back buttons with no problem. Just don't understand how this could be a problem. Maybe for left handed person it would but not a right handed person

The funny thing to me is I use the One easily in both hands single handedly. Now I may just be used to it due to owning phones with top mounted power buttons for a long time but I don't think I'd complain if my next phone had a different location for the button. I actually prefer the out of the way location so I don't turn off the screen while using the device. I'll try to help though here. There are apps that can wake your phone by doing things like tapping a proximity sensor or simply moving the phone (one would think this would drain battery badly) so there are solutions. I'd suggest however forgetting your previous experience and retrain your brain. It might make you smarter.

 

[joshwithachance]

I too miss having a front facing home button to wake the phone, but that's just a minor complaint that doesn't really take away from the phone. I've gotten pretty used to the unlocking with the power button. A cool app in the Play Store called "Screen Off and Lock" allows you to just tap an icon on the screen to turn off your phone, so you only have to use the power button to turn it on. It's extremely useful.

 

[Cattails_r_Edible]

I like the way the power button is! I haven't accidentally turned my screen on yet! I would think a big home button on the front would be easily pressed while in a pocket!

Posted via Android Central App

 

[madlaw1071]

The OP was specifically referring to waking up the phone. And it's a potential issue for those with current Samsung models, not just iphone users. I ended up returning my HTC One because I had come from the Samsung S3 and was just too used to the convenience of the side mounted power button and the physical home button below the screen. I gave the One 2 weeks but I couldn't get used to having to shimmy my hands up and reach for the flush power button on the top left of the One. I used my Samsung almost exclusively one handed and found that I turn on the One's screen much easier using my other hand. But I didn't want to lose that one handed ease of use. I ended up returning the phone but purchased it again as my son decided he wanted it. I bought the S4 because ergonomically it met my needs better. Comfort is vastly more important to me than build materials, where the speakers are located, or if I can swipe my hand over the phone to get it to react.
To the OP, go check out the S4 in the store. Do your own research. Handle the device and play with it. The home button is obviously important to you. The S4 checks that box. Though you might end up preferring the look and feel of the HTC One and set out to deal with the incovenience of no bottom unlock button. Basically the HTC One feels more like your iphone 5 due to build materials. The Samsung S4 will most likely remind you of your iphone 5 due to one handed ease of use (home button placement).
Happy shopping!! Hope you find the device that suits your needs. Both are fantastic.

+1

 

[Gathomblipoob]

I keep seeing people talk about the power button being in a bad spot on the ONE. My question is How do guys hold the HTC ONE? When I am holding it my index finger is right there at the power button and thumb is right there at the volume button and can be moved to the home and back buttons with no problem. Just don't understand how this could be a problem. Maybe for left handed person it would but not a right handed person

I use the One in my left hand. It's a bit easier and more ergonomic for folks who hold it in their right hand, I think.

 

[mihesq]

I have not had a phone with a physical home button in over two years. It's something I do not miss at all. You may have enjoyed it and found it useful on your iphone, but think of it like this. The iphone was a smaller phone and the home button was very easy to reach. On the S4 you're holding a giant phone where you have to contort your thumb just to hit the home button below the 5 inch screen. For me it's uncomfortable unless I were to only press the home button while the phone was laying on a table.

 

[zkSharks]

Just a thought: has anyone considered the possibility of enabling wake on volume key press? While it's certainly possible via custom ROM/kernel, I can't say whether other means (third-party app) would work on the One or not. Not sure if it's feasible, but it's at least something to consider.

Welcome to Android. Don't like your power button? Turn the volume keys into one.

 

[asac12]

Remapping the volume rocker to wake the phone would be the best solution IMO, but it requires a custom ROM as far as I know. I personnally use Auto Screen On with the double tap option enabled. It works most of the time for me as I'm still trying to figure out the magic touch.