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Phones Lg g2
- Thread starter Dave.UK
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LOL...i have never been a fan of soft keys but being able to customize thing helps. I am really impressed with this phone.....
And obtrusive
If I remember correctly, the Nexus 4 soft keys make a 4.7" screen only 4.45".
I would much prefer to keep that screen real estate all the time and have capacitive buttons where the huge bottom bezel is. Otherwise there is no need for such a large bezel.
And don't even pull the typical "pie controls" argument. Pie controls are crap and don't even constitute as a reliable alternative.
And obtrusive
If I remember correctly, the Nexus 4 soft keys make a 4.7" screen only 4.45".
I would much prefer to keep that screen real estate all the time and have capacitive buttons where the huge bottom bezel is. Otherwise there is no need for such a large bezel.
And don't even pull the typical "pie controls" argument. Pie controls are crap and don't even constitute as a reliable alternative.
As devices become more edge-to-edge, can't we just consider the soft keys as part of the bezel, so to speak? We're okay with capacitive buttons and physical buttons taking space in bezels, why can't we just consider the dedicated soft-key area the same way? Maybe the solution is what LG did with the G2; add a little extra screen space for the soft keys, allowing the "viewable" screen to still be a healthy 5" screen otherwise, while allowing the dynamics and benefits of soft keys.
What if, in your example, the Nexus 4 was a 4.45" screen with physical and/or capacitive buttons in the bezel? What's the difference?
That's great but bottom bezels are still quite large. You look at the G2 - if the screen had extended to that bottom chunk, it would match with your above thinking. However, there's still bezel where capacitive keys could go (think GS4) and usable screen salvaged. Instead, we have soft buttons well above the bottom of the phone, and taking away screen real estate.
More of that logic applies to the Z1 than any other phone I can think of.
Whipped this up just for you
It should explain it better. And yes I know I have bad handwriting.
Also with this ideal setup, landscape typing would be symmetrical as opposed to the current setup where your right thumb always has to extend out further than your left.
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Whipped this up just for you
It should explain it better. And yes I know I have bad handwriting.
Also with this ideal setup, landscape typing would be symmetrical as opposed to the current setup where your right thumb always has to extend out further than your left.
I get what both of you are saying. I guess I just don't see it as big of a deal since I prefer soft keys. I just take the screen space for what it is, and the soft key space for what they are: dedicated space for the soft keys. I mean, that's what it means to have "on-screen software" keys. It's not wasted space at all.
I also don't find typing in landscape that thrown off by mere centimeters of top-bottom bezel imbalance.
I greatly underestimated the LG G2.
The screen is phenomena. Bright, clear with vibrant colors.
The responsiveness is first rate. No hint of lag like my GS4 either.
Feels good in the hand too.
The screen is phenomena. Bright, clear with vibrant colors.
The responsiveness is first rate. No hint of lag like my GS4 either.
Feels good in the hand too.
As I've said before... of course the real solution is to go full gesture base.
But until then, I don't mind, and in fact, love soft keys. I'll take the beauty of a clean black front (like most Nexus devices) than any standout physical and/or capacitive keys anyday.
It's advantageous software wise, as the G2 demonstrates (customizable keys is great) and as Google Now demonstrates, and it's aesthetically sleeker.
The G2 even lets you customize what swiping up from the home button can do, if I'm not mistaken. You can swipe left for Google Now or swipe right for QuickNotes or something.
But until then, I don't mind, and in fact, love soft keys. I'll take the beauty of a clean black front (like most Nexus devices) than any standout physical and/or capacitive keys anyday.
It's advantageous software wise, as the G2 demonstrates (customizable keys is great) and as Google Now demonstrates, and it's aesthetically sleeker.
The G2 even lets you customize what swiping up from the home button can do, if I'm not mistaken. You can swipe left for Google Now or swipe right for QuickNotes or something.
So you'd prefer on screen buttons cutting into the screen as opposed to cutting into the bezel?
It's basically a choice between big bezels and smaller screen or smaller bezels and bigger screen. Personally, I'll take smaller bezels and bigger screen.
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Videos are the only thing they auto hide for. Other apps can take advantage of them being hidden like Web browsing, gaming, and many others based on personal preference.
Not to mention having the buttons hide has to be implemented on a per app basis. Not every video watching app has that functionality. Hardly a good argument.
How can on screen buttons cut into the bezel? A second screen?
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Also, I don't think auto-hiding is a solution, either.
I explain here:
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I just don't see it as a big deal. We're talking about millimeters of a difference. In exchange for the benefits of dynamic soft keys that can change, have different action-able presses and/or gestures, have different information even. Who knows what else they could come up with -- it's software after all and that's programmable. Versus physical or capacitive buttons that are there for one thing only.
As I said, as screens get more edge to edge, this really becomes less and less a problem. Look at the G2 and the Moto X.
It's not like you lose that much for soft keys. You're still talking about very healthy size usable/viewable screen. In the case of the G2, it's the same 5" as the S4, and larger than the HTC One. Plus, you get all the aforementioned dynamics of soft keys. What is the problem? Why obsess over the .2 inches you wouldn't have gotten anyway if it weren't for the soft keys?
EDIT: To be exact, 5.08 millimeters of screen "wasted" dedicated to soft keys:
I can live with those numbers.
EDIT 2: If anything, it's precisely physical buttons and capacitive buttons that create [more] bezel. Imagine in the future when devices can go to its maximum edge to edge, with just a little room for sensors, front camera, etc. When that time comes, physical/capacitive buttons will be the things causing extra and unnecessary bezel.
Soft keys are the future (and then after that, gestures, even further down).
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In the videos I've seen on the G2 one thing I've really liked about the soft keys is the transparent background that can be set as a theme for the keys. That looks really nice. I don't mind soft keys since that's what my nexus 7 has.
So does anyone have any piece of definitive info about the white LG 2 on ATT?
The website does not have it and no stores know of it, however it shows available to order on Best Buy's website right now. I really really want a white one, but I feel like best buy messed up or something.... maybe not though.
The website does not have it and no stores know of it, however it shows available to order on Best Buy's website right now. I really really want a white one, but I feel like best buy messed up or something.... maybe not though.
I
In my experience with the GNex, the soft buttons were auto hidden in all video apps and all games i tried. I never felt they were obtrusive in any way.
That said, as devices go more edge-to-edge, the concept of having buttons at the bottom, hard or soft, needs to be relooked. I have an S4, and even at that form factor, reaching for the buttons with the thumb while holding one handed is a chore. And I have accidently hit the back button a number of times while playing games, because of the smaller bezel.
I think LG has the right idea here with the buttons on the back side. Hopefully they can extend it to the nav buttons as well. The other alternative is the Cyanogenmod style Pie controls, which are great for people who want to do away with the soft buttons.
In my experience with the GNex, the soft buttons were auto hidden in all video apps and all games i tried. I never felt they were obtrusive in any way.
That said, as devices go more edge-to-edge, the concept of having buttons at the bottom, hard or soft, needs to be relooked. I have an S4, and even at that form factor, reaching for the buttons with the thumb while holding one handed is a chore. And I have accidently hit the back button a number of times while playing games, because of the smaller bezel.
I think LG has the right idea here with the buttons on the back side. Hopefully they can extend it to the nav buttons as well. The other alternative is the Cyanogenmod style Pie controls, which are great for people who want to do away with the soft buttons.
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Wow, are you being serious? Did you completely miss my picture earlier?
Ok, you really didn't get it. Let me explain it again.
Current designs (most of them anyways) take a phone, and put a screen directly in the geometric center of the device. The bezels on the top and bottom are the same and the bezels on the left and right are the same. The Nexus 4 is a prime example of this, as is the GS4.
You stated earlier that you want to consider the soft buttons as part of the bezel. The problem then becomes you effectively have a huge bezel on the bottom (first Nexus 4 in image below). Instead of the navigation buttons cutting into the screen like they currently do on the Nexus 5, the navigation buttons should cut into the actual bezels (third Nexus 4 in image below. And if you consider navigation buttons as part of the bezel, it will look like the fourth Nexus 4 in the image below).
To simplify it for you, manufacturers should make the screen go down further vertically to compensate for on screen buttons. This way, you still have a geometrically centered active area and landscape typing will not be skewed. So overall, larger screen, symmetrical typing, and still have customizable soft buttons. I don't see a downside there. Although stock Android should allow you to customize the soft buttons. But hey, its Google. Touting a customizable OS where you can't customize something like that is just something they would do.
And I will add the same picture to this post just so you won't have to scroll up and look at the other one
So you are saying the buttons auto hide in all games you've played then say you accidentally hit a button?
Please list a single game where soft buttons are hidden.
Since you missed it
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So you are saying the buttons auto hide in all games you've played then say you accidentally hit a button?
Please list a single game where soft buttons are hidden.
Since you missed it
1.Please read my post again. There is reference to a GNex and and an S4.
2. All games that need landscape mode will hide the soft buttons. I'm sure you can find those games on the Play Store.
3. You're opinion on the Pie controls doesn't make them "crap". I used to use that a lot on my GNex and liked them.
Aren't devices that are going more edge to edge doing precisely what you're asking for? Making more room for the soft keys? Isn't the g2 ding exactly that? Adding extra screen to the bottom to accommodate the soft keys?
Regarding your obsession for a centered landscape typing I can understand wanting this. I perosnally don't find it that off putting when it's marginally off centered. That's just me. We're once again talking about millimeters of a difference.
It doesn't sound like you're against soft keys per se but rather them take more bezel to do it. I'm in agreement then. And I think that's precisely what's happening as devices become more edge to edge.
In the mean time,as I detailed in the rest of my post you didn't quote, I don't mind what they're doing nor consider .2 inches of space (a mere 5.08 millimeters!) for soft keys wasted.
These are all numbers I can live with.
Regarding your obsession for a centered landscape typing I can understand wanting this. I perosnally don't find it that off putting when it's marginally off centered. That's just me. We're once again talking about millimeters of a difference.
It doesn't sound like you're against soft keys per se but rather them take more bezel to do it. I'm in agreement then. And I think that's precisely what's happening as devices become more edge to edge.
In the mean time,as I detailed in the rest of my post you didn't quote, I don't mind what they're doing nor consider .2 inches of space (a mere 5.08 millimeters!) for soft keys wasted.
These are all numbers I can live with.
great device with just two flaws:
1) plastic body
2) on-screen buttons
other than that this is a great device.
1) plastic body
2) on-screen buttons
other than that this is a great device.
Name a single game.
Pie controls are not an alternative. I have yet to meet a single person who uses pie controls as a 100% all the time alternative to on screen buttons. There is a reason for that.
The G2 has bigger bezels on the bottom than it does on the top. This is the exact opposite of what should be happening.
Trying to put the issue into numbers doesn't tell the whole story. Its like getting a new keyboard for you desktop. You have been using a specific one for so long, even the slightest change can cause many more typos. And in this sense with on screen buttons, having an asymmetrical keyboard can be even worse.
Would it matter if I was?
Nobody has done it yet.
Considering a majority of it is black space and screen area you won't get back to have larger keys for typing or a larger screen for playing games, yeah, its wasted.
I don't consider those to be flaws either.
LG has done an outstanding job with the UI on the G2. It is very fast and seamless with no lag at all. The battery life is very impressive!
It has been off the charger for 33 hours and still has 55% battery life left!
I am impressed!
I don't consider those to be flaws either.
LG has done an outstanding job with the UI on the G2. It is very fast and seamless with no lag at all. The battery life is very impressive!
It has been off the charger for 33 hours and still has 55% battery life left!
I am impressed!
Image
Looks good. Very tempting product.