Why are android devs against physical buttons?

It depends on the phone really. If there's a really small bottom bezel then I don't mind having onscreen buttons, but for the phones that do *coughHTClogocough* then it feels more right to have capacitive buttons.

And then there's Samsung's button layout that bugs me... why is the back and recent button the wrong way round :p?
 
Richie said:
Its not out of reach for me and the keyboard is also fine for me... Perhaps get a smaller phone for smaller hands?
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They are not out of reach per sé, they have far worse typing comfort. And screen space is always a problem, so smaller phone is not an option, there is always to little screen space ( for example for Waze or other apps) but also browsing.
 
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It's probably a mistake on Google's part but you know how it goes with boardroom decisions.

You only need look to a good universal remote for evidence why physical buttons are useful.
 
More cost, more to wear out and less configurable. Each handset manufacturer used to put buttons in their own order / some didn't include all the buttons. Allowing the OS to define the buttons helps make it more unified.
 
DeathStorm said:
It's probably a mistake on Google's part but you know how it goes with boardroom decisions.

You only need look to a good universal remote for evidence why physical buttons are useful.
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Isn't the new flagship Logitech Harmony a touchscreen, because of the freedom and customisability it offers?

Google have changed the menu buttons at least once, not having hardware buttons allows unlimited customization too.

Maybe having programmable hardware buttons would keep people happy?
 
Skeeter said:
Isn't the new flagship Logitech Harmony a touchscreen, because of the freedom and customisability it offers?
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They've removed some of the buttons but it still features 20+ physical buttons or so, I'm actually of the opinion there's a nice halfway house when it comes to remotes but the biggest criticism of the new Harmony remote was the reduction of physical buttons...

Skeeter said:
Google have changed the menu buttons at least once, not having hardware buttons allows unlimited customization too.
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That doesn't really sound like a problem given the frequency of new handsets, especially so as it's a rare occurrence. Customisation seems to be the most common argument but it feels like a weak one, changing the button order is a headache in the long run and do unique buttons matter that much to many?

I'm fairly confident if Google were the sole hardware manufacturer they never would have moved away from hardware buttons.

Skeeter said:
Maybe having programmable hardware buttons would keep people happy?
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It would but they won't do this due to cost and who really wants to lose more battery power for some buttons?
 
Actually, on the subject of soft buttons, is there any way to move them? I'd like them to be one side on my tablet as my thumbs can't reach the middle in landscape.
 
Being someone who reads comics and magazines on my tablet a lot, I find it immensely irritating when I accidentally finger one of the physical buttons at the side of my tablet in portrait mode. Soft buttons for me.
 
Physical buttons are one of the main reasons I mainly stick to Samsung phones. Soft buttons are horrible to look at and to use.
 
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