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Dedicated OnScreen Button for Recent Apps?? Why??

M

mcbtrain929

Android Expert
So of the 3 onscreen soft touch keys on the ICS?Galaxy Nexus screen, the last is the "recept apps" button. First off, I'm pretty disappointed and can't believe there's no dedicated menu button. But I watched a few hands on videos yesterday, and was disappointed at what that last button is really for.

At first glance, it looks like it opens recent/running apps, and swiping them to the side closes them or kills them off. But both hands on videos said that swiping them aside/removing them from the list does NOT kill the app, it just removes it from the list. Google specifically told them that they feel they know how to manage apps running in the background, so killing them isn't necessary.

So, we need a dedicated onscreen button just to see our more recent apps? And swiping them to the side just takes them off the list? Uhhhh.......alright......cool...........???

I've probably only long-pressed the home key to see my most recent apps about 4 times in <2 years with my EVO4G. If swiping them to the side killed the app, it'd be a great idea. But just removing them from a list I won't look at hardly at all, and taking up space on my screen?? Seems pretty..............well...........dumb.

Did anyone else catch this? Does anyone else think that's silly?
 
The recent apps button IS the menu button. It just functions as a recent apps button if you press it while on the home screen.
 
Huh. This suggests that I might be wrong, though it's not explicit:

http://thisismynext.com/2011/10/18/exclusive-matias-duarte-ice-cream-sandwich-galaxy-nexus/

Looks like there is conflicting information out there (I had read somewhere else that it was a menu button). Sorry for the potential misinformation - I guess we'll see! There has to be a menu button for backwards compatibility in apps, though, so I am speculating that it still functions as a menu button inside apps.
 
Russellmaniakw said:
This is straight out of honeycomb. In HC, if an app has a menu available, a menu button will appear. I'm assuming the same will be true for ICS.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the insight, I haven't used HC enough.

And... hey, I gave you your first "thanks." I feel like we've got a special bond now. Like we just shared a little moment together. I THINK I LOVE YOU, MAN.
 
I have a HC tablet and really like the recent apps button. I use it all the time. If you use Windows PCs and ALT-TAB then this will be a familiar concept.
 
mooshu47 said:
I have a HC tablet and really like the recent apps button. I use it all the time. If you use Windows PCs and ALT-TAB then this will be a familiar concept.
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I like the recent apps function I use it all the time and thanks for the Windows lesson also I did not know about alt-tab lol
 
I'm hoping that swiping the apps does more than just take them off the list. I'd hope that it would also make them the lowest priority so that the OS kills them before the apps that are still on the list.

Also, I use the recent apps capability all the time.
 
I agree, I have an HC tab too and find it very useful. I do the long menu tap on my D2 all the time and it's rather annoying, and some apps dont even open back up right either. I think once it's there you'll use it, then wonder how you ever lived without it :-)
 
binary visions said:
The recent apps button IS the menu button. It just functions as a recent apps button if you press it while on the home screen.
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The recent apps button is still recent apps whether I am on my home screen or not. The menu button was moved to an onscreen bar at the bottom or a taskbar button at the top of most apps with a 3dot symbol to know its there.

I have to agree that this is ROYALLY Stupid- I don't need a dedicated recent apps button... Long pressing the home screen worked perfectly for that use. I do however need a dedicated search button - I am badly missing that simple convenience while I am switching between different apps.

And why would they create this button and move the menu to the screen... so now its just taking up more of my screen face.

The ONLY 2 things I am not happy with in the new device & UI are this useless button taking the place of my Search button... And - the downloading of attachments from the stock mail app has been removed. So Now I need a new email app as well.
 
Install a custom launcher and it gives you a menu key on the navigation bar. Or, install a custom rom that lets you customize the navigation buttons and you can have what ever buttons you want on the navigation bar without a custom launcher. Either way, you have options available to you and you can customize to your hearts content. ;)
 
Petrah said:
Install a custom launcher and it gives you a menu key on the navigation bar. Or, install a custom rom that lets you customize the navigation buttons and you can have what ever buttons you want on the navigation bar without a custom launcher. Either way, you have options available to you and you can customize to your hearts content. ;)
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This statement is pointless and does not apply to the statements that have already been made . By these words you haven't even used ics yet. I can already customize the task bar, adding a search button our menu key without needless launchers or custom roms... A menu key is already embedded as a button in most of these apps, as previously stated... The question was why a recent apps button took the place of other necessary conveniences like a dedicated search or menu button when the home key opened recent apps in previous versions already. Suggesting people use additional app launchers or custom roms is not helpful.
 
Almost a 1 year old necro, nice. Also, when you get your hands on JB, long press of the home button brings up a Google search option.
 
garettpony said:
Suggesting people use additional app launchers or custom roms is not helpful.
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Neither is berating those who have suggestions they share on a public forum. It's perfectly within the forum rules for people to offer up suggestions that they feel will help those who think they do not have an option.
 
garettpony said:
This statement is pointless and does not apply to the statements that have already been made
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Not at all. It's the only way for you to get what you want. That's the point!

garettpony said:
The question was why a recent apps button took the place of other necessary conveniences like a dedicated search or menu button when the home key opened recent apps in previous versions already. Suggesting people use additional app launchers or custom roms is not helpful.
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The reason for this is to encourage a workflow that doesn't always involve going back to the homescreen to get between apps. You can jump from app to app, and being able to swipe away unwanted ones means that only your most useful apps stay up in the menu.

If this doesn't match up with how you use your phone then install a custom rom. I have a search softkey, and a long press on the back key will kill an app (useful shortcut for apps that have stopped responding).

However you choose to work, you can do it, so if you want to hide the Recents key and have a long press on the Home button bring up that screen then just head into the Settings. That's the joy of Android, and it's probably the main reason for getting a Nexus phone in the first place: to have he ability to have everything EXACTLY how you want it with no hassle.
 
I use my multitasking button all the time but since installing JB I miss not having the search button.
Just think of all the options you're allowed with soft keys vs capacitive ones on other Samsung and HTC phones.
 
dreadnatty08 said:
I use my multitasking button all the time but since installing JB I miss not having the search button.
Just think of all the options you're allowed with soft keys vs capacitive ones on other Samsung and HTC phones.
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To be honest, personally I never really used the search button on my Eris. Not many apps that I used made use of it, and the ones that did...well, I will just say I didn't use them much.

Also, I do not miss physical capacitive buttons period. The on screen ones function exactly the same with zero loss of functionality while adding some like being fully customizable on some ROMs and disappearing in videos.
 
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