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Home Button on Left or Right?

Which side do you prefer your Home Button on?

  • Right

    Votes: 52 82.5%

  • Left

    Votes: 11 17.5%
  • Total voters
    63
ArtOfWarfare

ArtOfWarfare

macrumors G3
Original poster
Nov 26, 2007
9,694
6,269
Do you prefer the Home Button being orientated on the Left or on the Right when using your iPhone / iPod Touch in Landscape?

I'm asking because I was reading the Apple's iPhone HIG (Human Interface Guidelines) and I noticed it said:

[A]pplications that launch in landscape orientation should launch so that the Home button is on the right[.]
Click to expand...

while I vastly prefer using my iPhone with the Home Button on the Left when using it in Landscape.

Why?

Well, I frequently play games on my iPhone with the headphones plugged in. If I have it orientated with the Home Button on the Right, as Apple suggests, the headphones are wedged into an uncomfortable space between my left pointer and thumb. If I have it orientated on the Left, as I prefer, the headphone jack is near the top of the device giving my thumb and pointer plenty of comfortable flexing space.

And on a barely related note,

do people appreciate it when they're able to use an application in an upside down orientation? I understand why Apple doesn't encourage this one, but I personally like applications that can be used regardless of whether it's Landscape Left or Right or Portrait Up or Down.
 
I prefer to the left as I don't like the headphone socket on the left as you have mentioned. And it does bug me that iTunes defaults so the home button is on the right.
 
i was about to say who cares

but for video games, I tend to keep the home button on the right side when i use headphones ( much less annoying on the left side for some reason)

so i chose right
 
I've always held it so that the home button is on the right. On my iPod touch the headphone jack is slightly abouvh where i hold the iPod, so its comfortable, and i can rest the headphone jack ontop of my thumb if needs be.

:apple:Mike
 
Shenaniganz08 said:
i was about to say who cares

but for video games, I tend to keep the home button on the right side when i use headphones ( much less annoying on the left side for some reason)

so i chose right
Click to expand...

On some games I hate the home button on the right. Has nothing to do with the home button, it's just sometimes I hit the volume button by mistake with my left thumb when playing games like HR battle. And also it's so easy for your right hand to cover the speaker when playing games or watching vids. So I favor the home button on the left so I can hold the iPhone comfortable without pressing or blocking anything.
 
I would have voted but 'I don't give a ****' wasn't an option.
 
home button on right

Good and thoughtful question :rolleyes:. May be because of the fact that I use a L-Shaped earphhone plugging in to my phone I am not so distracted by it and confortable with home button on the right.
 
Home button on left, for what you said plus the volume buttons left = lower and right = higher which makes sense unlike the other way around
 
I just found this other quote from the Apple iPhone HIG (Human Interface Guide) which clarifies an application should only start with the home button on the right in cases where the device is in a portrait orientation.

A landscape-only application should support both landscape orientations—that is, with the Home button on the right or on the left. If the device is already physically in a landscape orientation, a landscape-only application should launch in that orientation. Otherwise, a landscape-only application should launch in the orientation with the Home button on the right by default.
Click to expand...

Something I neglected to consider when I set up the poll was what device people are using. Some factors that might change...

- The iPod Touch has the headphone jack at the bottom rather than the top, which would likely change my preference to have the home button be at the right.
- Newer devices have volume controlls added on the left.
 
ArtOfWarfare said:
do people appreciate it when they're able to use an application in an upside down orientation?
Click to expand...

No.

The ONLY thing that does is allow you to accidentally enter that mode and then you try and hit the home button and realize you're just pushing on the speaker.

In other words, it's a feature that adds an annoyance but gives zero benefit.

It should be killed and any apps that offer it should be rejected by Apple until they fix it.
 
I'm right handed and I prefer having it on the right. I'm not sure exactly why, but for some reason it annoys me when games have it on the left.

It may have something to do with the fact that I feel more comfortable with my right thumb being in control by being by the home button. Also, if I'm holding the phone with my right hand and then I start a game it's more natural to keep the control of the phone in my right hand and just grab the top with my left hand.

Just my two cents.
 
LIVEFRMNYC said:
On some games I hate the home button on the right. Has nothing to do with the home button, it's just sometimes I hit the volume button by mistake with my left thumb when playing games like HR battle. And also it's so easy for your right hand to cover the speaker when playing games or watching vids. So I favor the home button on the left so I can hold the iPhone comfortable without pressing or blocking anything.
Click to expand...

your comment just proved a few things

a) very user dependent
b) very application dependent


SO OP, if you are asking this for curiosity there is your answer
and OP if you are asking this because its for an application

GIVE THE USER THE OPTION TO CHOOSE
 
Radom threads, what would a forum be without them?

But I really don't pay attention to which side my home button is on it really doesn't make a difference. I usually don't use landscape mode though because holding it normal feels more comfortable to me.
 
with the home button on the right if I am watching a video I feel like the volume buttons are wrong, as you push towards the right for up but on the screen it shows the increments going to the left for up.
 
When I have headphones in, I prefer them on the top away from my hands. Otherwise, I keep in the default orientation. I think apple thinking a majority of the users are right handed
 
LIVEFRMNYC said:
Not sure what you mean, explain please.
Click to expand...

It's pretty self explanatory but if you want



basically the "nitpicks" you have with the speaker and volume buttons are user and game dependant

for me I find that the games that have the home button on the left, I tend to accidentally press the volume buttons/cover the speaker

for some games I find that i hold the iPhone in a certain way, but for other games its a completely different way

/end thread
 
Small White Car said:
No.

The ONLY thing that does is allow you to accidentally enter that mode and then you try and hit the home button and realize you're just pushing on the speaker.

In other words, it's a feature that adds an annoyance but gives zero benefit.

It should be killed and any apps that offer it should be rejected by Apple until they fix it.
Click to expand...

I think you are forgetting about the magic!

"There isn't even a single orientation; there's no up, there's no down, there's no right way of holding it"

"If you want to share with a friend, you can just... flip over the iPhone, and the iPhone automatically flips the photo to the correct orientation"
 
Shenaniganz08 said:
It's pretty self explanatory but if you want



basically the "nitpicks" you have with the speaker and volume buttons are user and game dependent

for me I find that the games that have the home button on the left, I tend to accidentally press the volume buttons/cover the speaker

for some games I find that i hold the iPhone in a certain way, but for other games its a completely different way

/end thread
Click to expand...


True, but user and game dependent applies to every device.
 
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