Help The home button

[pkoutoul]

I just upgraded from a S2 to the S4 and I love it. My only complaint is the hard home button. It takes a lot more effort to hit and really takes some getting used to. I wonder if anyone knows that Samsung's thinking was in making this change? Do you consider it an improvement? So far, I don't. But maybe there's a great reason for it that I haven't figure out yet.

 

[shmn]

I didn't like at first due to the same reason you state. But after a couple of days I saw the benefit of it. It allows you turn the screen on without using the on/off button. It's easier to press and access than the on/off button and saves the wear and tear on it. If you have a case like the Otter Defender, the on/off button is very difficult to press.

I also use a "Screen Off" widget so I can turn the screen off by pressing the widget so, again, I don't have to use the on/off button. The only time I press the on/off button is to turn the phone on if it has been shut off. I reboot/turn phone off with QuickBoot (must be rooted).

I see it as a nice feature now and can see the benefits of the home button. Of course, everyone has a different idea on what is good/bad on a phone.

 

[breadnatty08]

I'm actually coming from a Galaxy Nexus to an S3. On screen buttons to physical ones.
I agree, it sometimes is a pain to hit the "hard" home button.
But, I'm able to remap the other buttons to offer different activities. For example, if I long press my back button, it simulates a "home" press.
This way required root, but there are other ways to do it without. Check out this article:
Customize Android's Home button shortcut | How To - CNET

 

[WalkaboutDavid]

I'm actually coming from a Galaxy Nexus to an S3. On screen buttons to physical ones.
I agree, it sometimes is a pain to hit the "hard" home button.
But, I'm able to remap the other buttons to offer different activities. For example, if I long press my back button, it simulates a "home" press.
This way required root, but there are other ways to do it without. Check out this article:
Customize Android's Home button shortcut | How To - CNET

Some remaping capabilties (albeit limited) are available in third party launchers, like Nova.

I was absolutely dreading the switch to hard buttons. I use my Nexus 7 every day and come to feel that the on screen buttons were optimal. After a few months with the S4, I've changed my mind. I've come to really like the home button. Takes a little while to get used to, but then it works well. Now I miss it when I go back to my N7.

 

[RazorvoirHOGS]

I didn't like at first due to the same reason you state. But after a couple of days I saw the benefit of it. It allows you turn the screen on without using the on/off button. It's easier to press and access than the on/off button and saves the wear and tear on it. If you have a case like the Otter Defender, the on/off button is very difficult to press.

I also use a "Screen Off" widget so I can turn the screen off by pressing the widget so, again, I don't have to use the on/off button. The only time I press the on/off button is to turn the phone on if it has been shut off. I reboot/turn phone off with QuickBoot (must be rooted).

I see it as a nice feature now and can see the benefits of the home button. Of course, everyone has a different idea on what is good/bad on a phone.

I agree with this. I have the Otterbox Defender as well and using the power button is a pain. In fact, I had to send the first one back because you had to literally smash down the rubberized power button for it to work.

So I've gotten used to the home key. I really like it now, including the feel of clicking the button. It's a good fit in my opinion.

 

[lotus49]

I just upgraded from a S2 to the S4 and I love it. My only complaint is the hard home button. It takes a lot more effort to hit and really takes some getting used to.

Are you sure there isn't something wrong with yours?

I also upgraded from an S2 to an S4 and, until I read your post, it had never occurred to me that there was any real difference between the two of them. The button is extremely easy to press. If it were any softer it would be bordering on floppy.

 

[Goodspike]

Are you sure there isn't something wrong with yours?

I also upgraded from an S2 to an S4 and, until I read your post, it had never occurred to me that there was any real difference between the two of them. The button is extremely easy to press. If it were any softer it would be bordering on floppy.

I was wondering the same thing, and going to joke that the country needs to really work on physical fitness if pressing the home button is a problem.

But I do wonder if maybe it's different on different carrier models, or even just different on different devices.

 

[lotus49]

There were a few threads here about faulty buttons shortly after the phone was released but they seem to have died down.

In every case where someone complained that the buttons felt a bit funny they turned out to be faulty. Eithrr the OP needs to do some thumb exercises or there is a hardware fault with his phone.

 

[GalaxyS2Kent]

I didn't like at first due to the same reason you state. But after a couple of days I saw the benefit of it. It allows you turn the screen on without using the on/off button. ....I also use a "Screen Off" widget so I can turn the screen off by pressing the widget ....

Am I missing something? My phone screen immediately goes blank if I just cover it, either by closing the cover on my flip case or by turning the phone face down. Much less hassle than a screen-blank app or widget, and it wakes back up immediately when I uncover the screen.

 

[Crashumbc]

I HATE the hard button. It sucks, too hard to press, and another thing to break....

 

[Goodspike]

Am I missing something? My phone screen immediately goes blank if I just cover it, either by closing the cover on my flip case or by turning the phone face down. Much less hassle than a screen-blank app or widget, and it wakes back up immediately when I uncover the screen.

Not everyone likes the flip cover, or using the various sensor functions. I have most the sensor functions turned off.

 

[pkoutoul]

I didn't like at first due to the same reason you state. But after a couple of days I saw the benefit of it. It allows you turn the screen on without using the on/off button. It's easier to press and access than the on/off button and saves the wear and tear on it.

I didn't even notice that you could turn off the screen with it. That is helpful. I agree it's easier to access than the power button on the side. I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually.

 

[pkoutoul]

I was wondering the same thing, and going to joke that the country needs to really work on physical fitness if pressing the home button is a problem.

Funny. It's not hard to press, just harder to press than soft on-screen buttons.

By the way, I love the look of the two soft buttons. When they're lit up, they look metallic, like they are a physical part of the case. And when they go dim, they almost completely disappear. The first time I picked up the phone and watched the soft buttons go dim, I thought I had just seen a magic trick.