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Hardware

Phone Manufacturers: Please Give Us the Power Button Back (theverge.com) 163

An anonymous reader shares a column: Every major phone manufacturer is guilty of a serious crime, and I won't be quiet about it any longer: they stole the power button from us. Apple, Google, Samsung: guilty, guilty, guilty. Long-pressing the power button used to bring up an option to turn your phone off, but then these companies decided to get cute and make this a shortcut to summon their digital assistant. This is bad and wrong, and I'm politely demanding that these companies return what they took from us.

Look, I get the logic. When phone screens got bigger, physical buttons like Apple's home button were axed, and existing buttons had to pick up the slack. In the iPhone X, Apple re-homed the Siri function to the power button. Since then, turning your iPhone off has required pressing a combination of buttons. If you make the fatal mistake of long-pressing the power button in hopes of turning your phone off, Siri will start listening to you as you curse about how the power button doesn't work how it should anymore. And woe to you if you don't hold down the right button combination long enough -- you'll take a screenshot that you didn't want and will have to delete later. It's just as bad on Samsung and Google phones.

Long-pressing the power button on the Pixel 7 Pro just now brought up the Google Assistant and a prompt to ask it how to say sorry in Spanish. No, Google. It is you who should be apologizing. And the Galaxy S22 phones I used this year all bid me to set up Bixby whenever I made the mistake of long-pressing the power button. Both Google and Samsung let you change it back to the power menu -- and Samsung has the decency to put a shortcut to side key options on its shutdown screen -- but enough is enough. Long-pressing the power button should, by default, just turn the phone off. The thing that really adds salt to the wound is that the button combination to turn your phone off isn't even the same on every phone. On an iPhone, you can press and hold the power button and either volume key to get to shutdown options. On a Pixel phone, it's a short press of the volume up key and power button. If you screw up and press the volume down key, you'll take a screenshot, which will make you feel stupid when you find it in your photo gallery later. Samsung makes you press and hold the volume down key and power button.

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Phone Manufacturers: Please Give Us the Power Button Back

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  • That was Samsung (Score:5, Informative)

    by ArchieBunker ( 132337 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:13AM (#63158556)

    Actually had to google how to reboot my Samsung work phone as the power button only brings up Bixby. The power button on my iPhone still does its intended function.

    • by waspleg ( 316038 )

      Yea, it's fucking trash. I've disabled as much of their spyware as I'm able but shit like this remains and is a chore to work around. Obviously this is for their benefit not yours, just like their shitty web browser, trash Taizen on TV, etc.

    • Re: That was Samsung (Score:2, Informative)

      by TFlan91 ( 2615727 )

      My iPhone does not turn off or prompt me to turn off with just the power button. I have to hit volume up and the power button to get the prompt.

      I view this as a feature, not a bug.

      The author of the article is just whining/crying about new tech.

      I prefer the two key combo to trigger the power. It prevents accidental power cycles and also provides a way to lock the phone out of biometrics (forcing a password to unlock).

      As a frequent traveler, this _feature_ is very helpful. Knowing if a cop/border guard in the

      • I meant power and volume down key combo. Not power and volume up (thatâ(TM)s a screenshot).

      • Or you could hit the power button to engage the lockdown mode
      • Re: That was Samsung (Score:5, Interesting)

        by quall ( 1441799 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @12:11PM (#63158728)

        Do you often accidentally hold the power button and then swipe the on-screen prompt to shutdown or reboot your phone? Not everyone needs TWO accidental power preventatives. Are you now constantly opening and clicking apps since they changed the functionality???

        It's not "new" tech. It's there to do some low-blow advertising and shill the manufacturer's apps. I never heard of your problem of accidentally turning off your phone by both holding a button and then swiping unknowingly afterwards, so you must definitely be in the minority. Surprised people need this kind of handicap.

        • I have a Samsung A51 and a Samsung Note9.
          The A51 is the work phone, I keep it in my front left jeans pocket, the personal phone is in the right front jeans pocket.
          Whenever I crouch, the A51 power button gets long pressed for whatever reason, prompting for shutdown/restart/etc. In about half of those cases, the Restart option is chosen and the phone restarts.
          So, yeah, I'd love a key combo to restart/shutdown.

      • by MeNeXT ( 200840 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @02:09PM (#63159074)

        So someone complaining that a power button doesn't turn on/off a device is a whiner? How self centered can you be?

        How about allowing the owner of the device set their preferences. This is the volume discussion all over again. For some of us notifications and ringtones are not the same and we would like to control them separately. How stupid is it that you have to install a different OS just so you can separate the 2.

        I prefer the user decides.

        • You can I assume, My P7P has never actewd that way but I trasfered all for my old pixel.

          Can't say anything for apple devices since they are not popular here outside idiots and I will not until theu run the play store.

          Samsung? Well nah. Thankfully bixby will die but it will not be enough. I have one for work I just downloaded the google versions from rhe store as I so not want to double did. Still have to agree to samsung bullshit though. Give it up no onewants your apps. The phones are enough save yourself

      • by EvilSS ( 557649 )

        My iPhone does not turn off or prompt me to turn off with just the power button. I have to hit volume up and the power button to get the prompt.

        You can also just press the button five times in a row.

        • by porges ( 58715 )

          "Just"

          • by skegg ( 666571 )

            I disagree, I think 5 times is too low.

            I've had my phone switch off a few times because I've been beaten on the street: kicked 5 times and then dragged along the road.

            I think Apple should change the number of presses to 20. Surely I wouldn't be alive after that many kicks?

      • Always on, always listening. No off button at all.

        And woe behold you if you let the battery run flat...

      • The irony is that my brother-in-law recently "butt-dialed" the lock screen on his iPhone, and the phone locked him out his account for 10 minutes as a security precaution. That probably wouldn't happen if you could actually shut the damn thing off.

        I'd have no problem if I accidentally shut off my phone by sitting on it. Locking me out of my account because the phone thinks a butt is hacking into it is pretty stupid.

    • by quall ( 1441799 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:57AM (#63158694)

      Same. The default for Samsung is to press the power AND the volume-down buttons. What's worse, is that this always reduces the volume before showing the power menu. So then you have to set the volume back after rebooting. Was designed by a moron for sure.

      So I changed it back to standard power menu in the settings which thankfully exists. Absolutely stupid. They'll do anything for a buck I suppose.

    • by Z00L00K ( 682162 )

      If I get an assistant instead of turning off the phone on a long press I'm very tempted to trash the phone and the manufacturer as well.

  • by quetwo ( 1203948 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:15AM (#63158564) Homepage

    In the settings menu on the Google Pixel, you can easily change the function of the 'power' button to get you the old power menu. In fact, I think it gives you the option if you go through their whole setup routine. If you skip the full setup routine, it does default to summoning the Google Assistant -- but it's about three or four clicks to change it back.

    • I was just about to post that the power button on my Pixel 6 does exactly what I expect it to on a long press - show me a menu for power control and emergency dialing.

      I must have set that up long ago and forgotten, which means the setting persists across OS upgrades.

      • I was just about to post that the power button on my Pixel 6 does exactly what I expect it to on a long press - show me a menu for power control and emergency dialing.

        I must have set that up long ago and forgotten, which means the setting persists across OS upgrades.

        I'm absolutely certain I did not change my settings on my Pixel 6 for the power button and I get the standard prompt that you do for power off or emergency dialing. What's being described by users of other phones sounds like a pain in the ass but is not my experience with at least my own Google phone.

        • I'm absolutely certain I did not change my settings on my Pixel 6 for the power button and I get the standard prompt that you do for power off or emergency dialing. What's being described by users of other phones sounds like a pain in the ass but is not my experience with at least my own Google phone.

          I seem to recall a setting on the Pixel to make the long-press power button bring up the assistant. I can't imagine why you would want that, and didn't set it. It was probably during the initial setup of the phone, which would have been a previous version, so it must have carried over.

          • by ufgrat ( 6245202 )

            There are a number of configurable shortcuts in Android. If Samsung disabled them, that's more reason not to ever use anything but an AOSP phone.

    • Same in most of custom ROMs.

    • by xwin ( 848234 )
      Same on Samsung. It is called "Side Key" and you can configure it to bring up power menu or launch an app or assistant. On my Samsung phones, you can also pull down notification panel twice to open it completely and the power symbol is right there on the top. Works the same as power button. Similar on my kid's pixel, except power button is at the bottom of the screen instead of the top.
      This is some click bait article written by some ignorant "tech journalist" that can't bother to even look at the phone.
      W
    • Right. But then the downside (if you see it that way) is that there is no way to use the assistant that I can figure out. I've toggled that setting, because I do use the shutdown/reboot options more than I use the assistant, but every now and then I would like to actually make use of the assistant, but I can't. Why can't there be an assistant button on the power screen? Maybe if I turned on "Hey google" it might, but I've disable that because I don't like accidental triggers when it mishears me.

  • by DrXym ( 126579 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:18AM (#63158570)
    I can sympathize but you can disable this in the Gestures settings and make a long press offer to show the power menu on the phone like usual. You can also switch the gesture based actions for back, apps etc. to just buttons for back, desktop & apps and it works way better IMO.
  • Galaxy S9 (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Daemonik ( 171801 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:21AM (#63158580) Homepage
    I have a Galaxy S9 work phone that has a dedicated button for Bixby that you can not disable or repurpose. It's the most annoying damn thing ever and probably the most aggravating "feature" I've ever seen on a phone.
    • Re:Galaxy S9 (Score:5, Informative)

      by crow ( 16139 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:33AM (#63158616) Homepage Journal

      Same on the S8, but you can disable it entirely if you're determined enough. You have to connect it to a computer with a USB cable, enable USB debugging in the developer options, then using ADB from the computer, you can disable the Bixby apps. Well, not really, but you can disable them for a particular user, and there's only one user, so that does the job. You also use the same trick to disable any other uninstallable junk you don't want.

      This doesn't let you reassign the button, but at least accidentally hitting it doesn't do harm.

      • by aitikin ( 909209 )

        This doesn't let you reassign the button, but at least accidentally hitting it doesn't do harm.

        bxActions does though, although it's been rather hit or miss for me over the years.

    • Seriously now, and you're on Slashdot and with a relatively low id as well! Not only it's possible to remap the button with bxActions but it is INCREDIBLY useful and I miss it on literally any other phone! There might be other ways to achieve these but bxActions doesn't need root and can re-map everything you can think of (press, double-press, long press, double-press+hold) and can have different actions on standard screen and lock screen. And this has been available ever since S9 was available (I think it

      • Seriously now, and you're on Slashdot and with a relatively low id as well!

        What's that supposed to mean? Are all Slashdotters with low UID supposed to accept unfriendly UI designs that force them to jump through pointless hoops?

        • No, it means they shouldn't accept "can not" as a given just because there isn't an obvious choice smacking them in the face. I mean in 2018-2012 someone who's been on Slashdot since very early 2000s would try at least to use Google to figure out an annoying issue, wouldn't you think?

      • As you reach a certain age the amount of hoops required to get something to behave in a manner that you wish is less interesting than just ignoring the thing to begin with. I mean, if I really wanted to invest the time I could desolder the button and permanently remove it, but I choose to just glare at it angrily. It's less time consuming and somewhat more satisfying.
    • by quall ( 1441799 )

      Are you sure? My Galaxy has this:

      Settings -> Advanced Features -> Side key

      Defaulted to Bixby but lets you choose the Power menu instead.

      • Mine helpfully calls it the Bixby key, and kindly tells you to sign up to the Bixby service to change either single or double press actions but if you change single press to say launch another app then double tap still launches Bixby and vice versa. They really want to get you using the damnable thing.
    • I case phones on purchase and snipped the nub on my hard case solving the Bixby problem.

      Major phone makers are indifferent to techy users and only care about monetizing idiots. When Linux phones become decent (I have PCs for PC stuff) I'll jump ship and not return.

    • a dedicated button for Bixby that you can not disable or repurpose

      My old trackball had a button right near the scroll wheel that would change the resolution of the device. Super annoying since I hit it all the time and never once wanted to.
      Anyway, I did disable it. With super glue. Never pressed it again after that.

    • I have a Galaxy S9 work phone that has a dedicated button for Bixby that you can not disable or repurpose.

      I have a Galaxy S10 and I disabled that button with a razor blade. I always put my phones in a case. On the S10 I used a razor blade to slice off the plastic part of the case that presses down on the phone button. It is now impossible to press that button accidentally or intentionally without removing the case.

  • Hey, Siri, power down.

  • by ickleberry ( 864871 ) <web@pineapple.vg> on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:38AM (#63158634) Homepage
    All non-touchscreen input methods are expensive, inconvenient and most importantly: un-future

    Soon there will be a groundbreaking new smartphone that's entire surface area is screen including the edges and the back. It will charge only wireless and levitate in the air so you and your significant other can watch different shows on the same phone at the same time facing it from different directions.
    • by skam240 ( 789197 )

      All non-touchscreen input methods are expensive, inconvenient and most importantly: un-future

      Soon there will be a groundbreaking new smartphone that's entire surface area is screen including the edges and the back. It will charge only wireless and levitate in the air so you and your significant other can watch different shows on the same phone at the same time facing it from different directions.

      A bleak look at our dystopian future...

  • by hdyoung ( 5182939 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:40AM (#63158638)
    Look, I get it. I’m getting old enough to have switched operating systems over half a dozen times. It’s always annoying, but as I get older it becomes harder and somehow even MORE annoying. And, yes, just like you, I still long-press to power off and then curse for a minute before making the two-button action.

    Too bad for us. We should commit to being flexible, and plan for triple the time required to unlearn the old muscle-memory actions and re-train for the new actions. And it won’t get any easier as we age more. The world doesn’t freeze in place just because we’re getting older and less flexible.
    • Accepting stupid change? No, fight it, pour your money into real things. The constant hassle and inane failure modes have largely turned me into a luddite. Wasting time getting crap that should just work to do so has exhausted me. Money I used to pour into computer upgrades and widgets now mostly goes into other hobbies with much better ROI. Bikes I can fix, and they don’t brick themselves overnight (well, unless you are as bad of a bike mechanic as I am). Tents open to real vistas, rather than

    • Human ergonomics don't fucking change absent body mods, accidents or war injuries.

    • by skam240 ( 789197 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @01:44PM (#63158978)

      There's such a thing as bad change. It shouldnt be strange to anyone that repurposing the power button (a commonly used feature) so the manufacturer can peddle their shitty and useless apps at you is something many people will find annoying. There's absolutely no reason their crappy new features couldnt be consigned to power+volume button while leaving us the power button as we are used to other than the manufacturer wanting to shovel their shitty apps down their customers throats.

    • by ZeroPly ( 881915 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @02:19PM (#63159126)

      I've been in IT 30+ years, and this is very much the wrong perspective. Technology should revolve around the user's needs, rather than mega-corporations telling users what they should and shouldn't be doing. I don't use voice commands, but regularly use the power button. So instead of buying some overengineered crap from Apple or Samsung, I bought an Asus Zenfone.

      And yes, I still use the 3.5mm jack. I don't have time to go looking for a dongle if I need to connect my phone as a music source into an AV system. The 3.5mm jack is the most compatible audio interface out there, and getting rid of it is a fashion decision. I like to buy tech from engineering companies, not fashionistas like Apple.

      If more people said "go piss up a rope" every time Apple's marketing department tried to sell their grandiose view of the future, we wouldn't have to put up with this crap. While on that subject, I'd like to swap batteries again someday, since I don't do a lot of scuba diving while browsing the web.

      • CORRECT. Software is supposed to serve the user's needs, not the developers' needs nor the vendors'. Tech people get this so fucked up ass backwards. You may understand what they are trying to do, but devs are not subject matter experts in business processes that people worked a decade or more in. The issue with those folks is they know so much about their business, that they don't know how much they know about compared to others. And then they leave the little things out that they take for granted. Long t

    • I can't believe anyone with an ID in the 5 million range can actually say, "old enough" with a straight face.

      • I’m late to slashdot. And, to all these people calling out how they should fight all these “bad design decisions” - it’s mostly you just not wanting to adapt to change. The human brain is amazing at rationalizing why it shouldnt change.

        All this talk about how the headphone jack is the ultimate audio interface. And how computer makers dropped the cd. Then the dvd. Remember when 640k memory was more than anyone would ever need? The list goes on and on. If computers are backtracking
        • Glass-backed phones? What about those of us who just walk in cities a lot and are prone to drop the things out of our pockets onto the sidewalks? I'm not an aesthete, so I don't care that the plastic back will get scratched over time - but I don't want a device that's as easily broken. Also ... STFU.
  • by BrendaEM ( 871664 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:44AM (#63158650) Homepage
    Some people go outdoors with their cellphones, you idiots! People wear gloves. There should be a hardware Menu button, Home Button, and Back Button.
    • Huh? Why doesn't your phone work with gloves on? I have no problem using mine in winter, it even has an option to increase the touchscreen sensitivity for when used with gloves.

    • Some people go outdoors with their cellphones, you idiots! People wear gloves. There should be a hardware Menu button, Home Button, and Back Button.

      This seems kind of pointless to me. Ok, so you have a couple of buttons. That's still not going to help you do much of anything with the phone other than clicking extremely basic controls.
      Would you also like a full size keyboard so you can text with your gloves on? A large knob to control the volume with your gloves on?

  • Soon, on phone stores! /s
  • by itzdandy ( 183397 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:58AM (#63158696) Homepage

    I have a power button on my iPhone to turn the screen off. Power off is a 2 button hold that helps prevent accidental power offs.

    This is now front-page worth on slashdot? Next you'll have an article about how to rotate your screen in windows (I'm looking at you Tom's Hardware).

    The state of 'tech' journalism and editorialism is embarrasing.

    • by skam240 ( 789197 )

      So because you have an old phone that doesnt have the features being complained about people shouldnt be bothered by anti-consumer changes?

      • iPhone 14 Pro Max. Not seeing anything remotely 'anti-consumer' in my iphone, it's pure consumerism.

        • by skam240 ( 789197 )

          Switching out the function on a commonly used button to hock shitty apps is not pro consumer. If they wanted to add a feature to show off their apps they could have very easily tied it to power+volume instead of changing how the power button works. They did this because they know that people will still habitually try to power down their phone the old way and every time they do the manufacturer gets to have another stab at cramming their apps down our throats.

          • so don't buy the product. why is everyone so entitled? product doesn't fit your wants, buy a different one. Or buy one and go into settings and change the behavior, which is an option on Android and Apple. Instead of crying about how something isn't in a default configuration that you like you complain or you support people complaining.

            Instead this is the front page of a tech site.

            • by skam240 ( 789197 )

              Heaven forbid someone voices that something bothers them that doesn't bother you. And you know what, if you don't like the Slashdot article then just don't fucking read it. We don't need your whining.

              As for not buying the product, I won't. The problem that still exists though is that if the big two are doing it it is quite possible it will become standard across the board much as how headphone jacks are becoming increasingly rare on phones.

    • by ceoyoyo ( 59147 )

      It's the new journalism. Some author writes an over-the-top rant about something nobody cares about, points out that he's wrong, there actually is a power button, and then says "oh yeah, but if you screw it up you'll feel stupid because you accidentally took a screen shot."

      An interesting question though, is ChatGPT any good at writing these whine pieces?

  • Many crimes (Score:5, Interesting)

    by markdavis ( 642305 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @12:00PM (#63158708)

    >"Every major phone manufacturer is guilty of a serious crime"

    No, they are guilty of several. Phones should have at least:
    * A headset jack
    * A physical power button
    * Physical volume controls
    * An SD card

    Bonus points for:
    * On-front fingerprint sensor (behind the screen is fine), not on the back or side.
    * Replaceable battery (maybe not externally at this point, but at least make it somehow replaceable without destroying the phone).

    My Samsung A52 G5 seems to fit the bill very well, although I am not sure about what it takes to replace the battery (yet).

    • My phone has all of those. It is a Motorola. Cost me $120. Works like a phone is supposed to.

      Maybe quit buying phones for a status symbol and buy one that is actually useful.

      • >"My phone has all of those. It is a Motorola. Cost me $120. Works like a phone is supposed to."

        So does mine, as I posted (Samsung A52 5G). I believe it was the only model left had what I wanted (including an LED screen). At the time, I believe the Motorolas (of which was my previous brand) was missing something. Can't remember at this point.

        >"Maybe quit buying phones for a status symbol and buy one that is actually useful."

        Are you directing that to me? Because if so, you missed your mark complete

        • It was a general statement after the fact about the phone and folks' irrational decisions. I never miss the mark.

          You see, the word 'phones' indicates more than one, referring to the general population. I wrongly assume sometimes that folks can understand American English. My bad.

    • No. Phones should have a range of optional features to suit the use cases that users may request for it.

      I get it, you want / need a headphone jack. Many people don't (myself included). You want / need an SD card, many people don't (I do though). You want ... etc etc.

      The point is there is no serious crime not catering to just you with every product on the market. Buy a phone to suit your needs. You said it yourself you found one.

      Incidentally I have a Galaxy A72, and I was surprised to see the A52 had a headp

      • >"No. Phones should have a range of optional features to suit the use cases that users may request for it."

        While that is fine, the issue is that companies aren't going to make every single combination. Eventually, we end up with no choices left. Companies will suddenly say "we believe that nobody needs a headphone jack" and then, poof, none of their models have it. Or maybe one does, but then lacks the other features, or has a crappy screen, or is too large, or has a puny CPU or RAM, etc. Then compan

  • by Dan East ( 318230 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @12:08PM (#63158724) Journal

    The fact of the matter is the vast majority of phone users never turn their phones off. As in totally powering down. I do not - the only time I turn my phone off is to reboot it. Same with the other 9 phones of my family members that I'm privy to. It is good design practice to study how people use the hardware and design the functions and interfaces to match, and that is exactly what has been done in this case.

    It can also be argued that inadvertently turning off a phone is a fairly high risk situation with potentially negative consequences, outweighing the importance of making it very easy to turn the phone off (again, especially if few people ever do intentionally turn their phones off). Requiring a dual-button press for such a seldom used function is also a good idea, when shutting down results in a total inability for other people to communicate with you, or for you to use the phone quickly in emergency situations.

    • by gweihir ( 88907 )

      I take it then you have never been to a confidential meeting?

    • by skam240 ( 789197 )

      The fact of the matter is the vast majority of phone users never turn their phones off. As in totally powering down.

      Do you actually have any real reason to believe that or are you claiming that just because you don't do something very often that must mean everyone else doesnt?

      • Do you have a counter example? I think even most slashdotters here will chime in and say the same thing.

        I work at a major hazard facility where we can't take powered on devices out into the plant, and even I never power off my phone. In situations where the phone needs to be off, it is not with me ... on somewhere. That also goes for a few highly confidential meetings I've been to, no need to bring the damn thing, put it on silent and leave it in my desk drawer. The only time my phone is off is if it is out

        • by skam240 ( 789197 )

          Do you have a counter example

          Sure, I use my phone's power button several times a week and I would imagine many of those posting about being upset by this change do as well. Why else would they be upset by the change?

  • We see it all the time; everyone gets excited about brand new cellphone rumors, people work to mock it it--and when it comes out, it's just a another stupid candy bar phone, that's all the same as the others. There's no innovation, and they wonder why the cellphone market is dying. LOL!

    For form-factor, the folding LC Lotus, was great as a daily-carry. It had an excellent texting keyboard. It was light enough and strong enough to drop. You could text with gloves one! https://directmobileaccessorie... [directmobi...sories.com]

    Wh
  • My Fairphone 4 has a power button and so has my reserve Moto E6. (Both also have replaceable batteries.)

    Maybe if people did not buy shiny crap without checking what it can and cannot do first, this would not be a problem at all. It takes a bit to find a decently designed phone these days, but they are available and very likely will continue to be available. Some buyers still know that when spending a lot of money, you better know what you are getting.

  • Is why I went with a Motorola 5g stylus this time, 3mm jack: check. Power button: check. Stylus: check. Bixgy: negative.
  • "off" do these idiot OEMs not understand? They expect you to be on, 24x7x365.25, like they expect of their employees?

  • Problem solved then. The reason you want a power button is if you get into a hard crash state that requires power to be completely removed from the device. I can live without the power button if I can just yank the battery. As an added benefit I can replace the battery instead of the whole phone.
  • I turn my phone off so rarely that I see the rational. Buttons add to the overall weight budget of the phone, because they also require water proofing. What I would maybe wish for is a pinhole type button for a hard reboot/reset by physically cutting power from the battery instead of a soft reboot/reset.
    • I have yet to have a waterproof phone, or even need one because I use common sense when handling it. And you don't need a button if the battery could be removed...
  • by oneiros27 ( 46144 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @01:37PM (#63158948) Homepage

    I was an election judge. On Halloween, I was assigned as the greeter (because I was the only one who showed up in costume), and my primary duty seemed to be telling people to turn off their phones as âcommunication devicesâ(TM) are illegal inside polling places.

    There were quite a few people who had no idea how to turn off their phones, and a couple that went through complex menus trying to do it. (If it took them longer than a minute or so, Iâ(TM)d have them put it in airplane mode)

    And then there were other times when people were sitting waiting for the electronic ballot marking devices⦠and using their phones. One of those times, I told the guy âthey should have told you to turn off you phone when you got hereâ(TM) and he replied âoh, they didâ(TM). Sigh.

  • Grammar, that title doesn't read like you think it reads.
  • I couldn't count the times I'd be talking to someone on the phone and accidentally holding my thumb against the power button and turning off the phone. Move that thing back to the top of the phone so it's harder to reach
    • talking to someone on the phone and accidentally holding my thumb against the power button and turning off the phone

      Do you only have one working hand or ear? Just use the other one.

  • by thegarbz ( 1787294 ) on Monday December 26, 2022 @02:19PM (#63159128)

    What a worthless rant. "Phone Manufacturers: Please give me back something which in my summary you have already given me".

    Honestly I thought the complaint was quite legit right until I read down far enough to see it has already been addressed. Seriously it's 2022. We have war, inflation, and supply chain disruption, there's no shortage of shit to complain about. Pick something relevant.

  • I just take the phone's battery out.

  • This is optional behavior. Maybe you should ask the assistant how to re-enable the power button.

    Or just do some basic exploring of your phone.

  • Another great Sloshdat headline
  • I remember a time when UX wasn't an excuse to cut costs or employ a bunch of art school drop-outs with no marketable skills.

  • And while you're at it, give us back our rotary dials!

  • Expensive phones are luxury articles, not functional pieces of hardware. they're marketed toward people that are just not well versed into computers and don't need the device to work as well as it looks.
    Going cheap you get all sorts of fun features such as replaceable batteries, headphone jacks, power button, multiple sim card support, SD card slots..
    You do lose CPU and GPU performance, but running "high end" games on a phone is a joke anyway, as the touchscreen is a quite terrble input device for anything

Business is a good game -- lots of competition and minimum of rules. You keep score with money. -- Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari

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