It has finally happened, folks. The Menu button is officially dead. The Android team at Google just announced that Android no longer requires a dedicated Menu button. Of course, that doesn’t mean that some OEMs won’t try to stick it on their devices. But for all Google cares, the dedicated Menu button is a thing of the past. And in just a few months, all Google-approved Android devices will launch without it.
As some of you know, this plan to kill the Menu button was set in motion more than a year ago. It all started with the release of Honeycomb, which got rid of the Menu button on tablets — and most hardware buttons for that matter. However, it was unclear at the time if the same design would carry over to phones. Then the first Nexus 3 rumors started to arrive, and one thing in particular kept popping up: “No hardware buttons.”
After the release of Ice Cream Sandwich and the Galaxy Nexus, it was quite clear that Google was trying its best to simplify the
Android user experience. At the same time, Google introduced a new UI element called the Action Bar, which the company calls the “the most important structural element of an Android app.” The Action Bar — and its overflow button — replace the Menu button while providing a consistent look and experience across all Android apps. That is, if developers start using it.
That’s where today’s announcement comes is. Google is urging app developers to stop using the Menu button and adopt the Action Bar instead. The company provided some clear instructions on how to do this easily, and even reminded them about the existence of its Android Design website. There’s absolutely no doubt that Google wants all Android apps to adopt this new UI design — and fast.
Of course, there are some of you who won’t be happy about the Menu button passing away. Sadly, there’s nothing I can say to ease your pain. Google has made a crucial decision to simplify and unify the Android UI, and that means that the Menu button has to go — and take the Search button with it. As for developers, better get started on that Action Bar, pronto.
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Now apple will add this menu button to their iphone and it will “REVOLUTIONARY” for iphone fans…
I am not sure if this trend is the best way, ok, maybe we wont miss menu button, but there are several situations where I miss hardware volume buttons – you start game at an airport and trailer starts playing with full volume and you are waiting until SW buttons will be available… Blanket will be one of the must accessories – to cover tablet or yourself
Except sometimes it’s still on the bottom (if you have a the non-physical navigation, for instance in the Market app it’s at the top, in the Kindle app it’s at the bottom).
It’s not a big deal because at least it’s always visible when it’s available, so overall it’s an improvement and I’m all for that, but it does feel a little bit inconsistent.
But this doesn’t have to turn out the iPhone way. They’re standardizing the location of the overflow button through their design guidelines. Any app that doesn’t follow the design guidelines on this probably gives you lots of frustration in other ways due to being a poorly designed app. Perhaps on rare ocassion there would be an app that would intentionally break from the guidelines for a good, renegade design, in which case, you should not have any problems finding their overflow button as a result of the well thought out design.
The screen real estate isn’t a problem when you have more screen in the same package, because the space for buttons is adaptable to your task at hand.
Exactly, with the Gnex the screen with the buttons visible is functionally 4.3 inches, but I get the whole 4.65 when I’m watching a video or playing a game. You can’t say that about my wife’s Bionic, which has about the same footprint as the Gnex.
Android is an amazing platform because without saying it Google and the Android team admit that they need to evolve and refine the OS so it can be a choice for all and fit many needs and not just a few needs. The other reason why Android is an amazing platform is that Google and the Android team have also recognized that they don’t have all the answers for all users so it must refine the way its used so the user thinks beyond the basics of having a dedicated button with one use. Much like Super Mario in the early levels jumps on platforms to get from A to B but by the end of the game jumping from platforms that fall after the first touch or flying adversaries elevates the player to ninja level proportions because their way of thinking evolves and the speed at which things are achieved increases ten fold. All of a sudden your phone isn’t just a phone, its a lifestyle synthesizer with limitless options and applications. This is what the iPhone has managed to capture and as much as I hate to say it Android as a platform should aim to better what Apple has achieved or perish when windows phone beats Android to it. Lets not forget these phones we love so much are called “Smart Phones” not remote controls. I vote for progress and ninja skills x2.
I used Gingerbread on a HD2 until a week ago, I had no dedicated menu button, but a Windows button. Let’s not attach ourselves to a button, it’s a good thing Google has chosen to let go of it. There will still phones with hardware or touch buttons. We got used to having it, now we have to get used to not having it. I can’t wait to taste IceaCream Sandwich on my Evo 3D.
Why can’t we comment if we have never used ICS just cause I haven’t used it other then playing a bit at the store with it doesn’t mean I won’t still miss the menu button. It was one of the reasons when I played with ICS that I didn’t like it. It makes it easier to navigate the apps with out a bar at the bottom just sitting there when using the app. I like the menu being hidden unless I need it. Just because you don’t need or want it doesn’t mean other people might. I am not sure why everyone is so damn ego centric that they think because they like it or not then everyone else should as well.
^agreed. At first I missed it but a few days in I was used to no menu button. ICS FTW!