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Samsung Galaxy S IV to keep the home button, touchless gesture navigation mentioned again

posted by Daniel P. / Feb 13, 2013, 6:34 AM

Samsung Galaxy S IV to keep the home button, touchless gesture navigation mentioned again

A bit more light was thrown today on Samsung's eventual design decisions with the Galaxy S IV. It seems that a physical home button, which is the signature of the Galaxy series, will be kept for this year's edition as well. There were reports last year that Samsung had an internal battle whether to ditch or keep the physical button, and the key's lobby within the company prevailed with the argument that people like it better.

The S Pen-laden Galaxy S IV rumor, however, won't be materializing, say the Korean publication's sources, which makes sense, considering there's the Note family with larger screen sizes to take care of the stylus functionality, and an eventual S IV with an S Pen would take away from their target market.

The insiders mentioned that the speculated touchless gesture functionality will indeed be coming with Samsung's flagship in April, and that's what might have gotten folks assuming that an alternative input method means S Pen stylus, rather than the sensitive screen tech rumored to allow UI navigation without touching the display that is expected.

All the rest in the source reiterates what we've heard so far, like a 4.99" AMOLED Full HD screen, and there might be different chipsets for different versions, judging from some leaked benchmarks.

source: Ddaily.co.kr

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44 Comments

1. nnaatthhaannx2

Posts: 820; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

Touchless gestures seem too gimicky. That "slide to take a screenshot" thing just looked silly. I'd perfer off-screen capasitive buttons beacue onscreen wastes space and physical buttons require too much force and slow things down.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:36 AM 4

7. Wiki_jaan

Posts: 704; Member since: Jun 24, 2012

physical button reduce accidental press and also help to wake up screen.................i prefer physical button

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:57 AM 28

38. nnaatthhaannx2

Posts: 820; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

Interesting. Never thought about it like that.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:50 PM 0

43. minteke

Posts: 30; Member since: Jul 27, 2012

I'd say the second one is more important. And saves the screen real estate.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 11:22 PM 0

9. s.mrabet

Posts: 147; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

''physical buttons require too much force'' It's just a button.. If it takes you too much force to press it then some is wrong with you

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 7:09 AM 23

28. donfem

Posts: 708; Member since: Mar 30, 2011

His fingers might need help.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 9:54 AM 7

40. nnaatthhaannx2

Posts: 820; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

They do :(

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:51 PM 0

39. nnaatthhaannx2

Posts: 820; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

Yeah, I do agree with you, that was it was a little silly of me to say something like that.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:51 PM 0

12. MrJerry

Posts: 403; Member since: Oct 05, 2012

"physical buttons require too much force" You made my day lol

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 7:21 AM 11

41. nnaatthhaannx2

Posts: 820; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

You're welcome. :D

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:51 PM 0

14. JunBringer

Posts: 138; Member since: Oct 01, 2012

The slide to take a screenshot function is actually pretty handy from my experience.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 7:28 AM 10

18. kclgphilsbsa

Posts: 765; Member since: Jan 21, 2013

thats right :D i prefer such thing rather than the traditional ways

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 7:54 AM 6

22. neutralguy

Posts: 1152; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

I didn't have problem with samsung's physical buttons because it doesn't get destroyed easily unlike apple's. I think, they should still put the physical button to save more space. I think.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 8:21 AM 3

33. Nathan_ingx

Posts: 4769; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

Well, aren't we all suckers for small things that make the 'gadget'. Even the tiny home screen button is making us debate like it's the world for us, lol. What a great family we have in this community! :D

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 11:07 AM 1

2. Tux_Alan

Posts: 74; Member since: Jan 30, 2013

Been restisting the note 2 since it came out for this... Wish sammy would develop a technology to speed up time! ;-)

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:39 AM 7

23. GALAXY-STORM

Posts: 328; Member since: Oct 13, 2012

Why? Because apple can patent that?

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 8:40 AM 0

3. pokharkarsaga

Posts: 557; Member since: Feb 23, 2012

home screen now looks outdated.better sammy puts onscreen buttons with full screen view for games & videos.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:41 AM 1

25. cncrim

Posts: 1590; Member since: Aug 15, 2011

Since you said that the wheel on car outdated more than 100 years, I think you should crawl to work since walked is outdated too. LOL.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 9:31 AM 3

31. donfem

Posts: 708; Member since: Mar 30, 2011

Crawling is outdated too..

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 9:58 AM 0

4. feres13

Posts: 307; Member since: Dec 23, 2011

Good move samsung, capacitive buttons or onscreen buttons are a bit too easy to press on, especially in gaming. But please, get rid of s voice and make double-tapping the home button launch google now, hiding it in the multitasking UI is stupid.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:48 AM 3

10. darac

Posts: 2156; Member since: Oct 17, 2011

Hey, you obviously aren't up to date here. The latest 4.1.2 firmware launches Google now with a long press of the left capacitive button!

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 7:09 AM 5

30. feres13

Posts: 307; Member since: Dec 23, 2011

I know that, but it's google now, it's a BIG feature of android, far more important than s voice, so it should be launched in a "special" way. Do you think that siri would work better if you had to use it with the volume button or something. Launching google now with a long press on the menu button while (s**tty) s voice is launched with a double tap on the home button ( the one on the middle that gets all the attention) means google now is inferior to s voice, and when you launch it it goes to search instead of showing the cards.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 9:55 AM 1

35. darac

Posts: 2156; Member since: Oct 17, 2011

Well, I actually played around with the S voice a bit, after reading your comment. And to my surprise, it held up pretty well. With a very classy British accent, she can be quite amusing - What's up? - the sky - how old are you? - I am more younger than old - do you love me? - there's no denying it - what's the best phone in the world? - if you're looking for the next big thing, look up Samsung (opens up the Samsung galaxy s 3' page ) ..plus it can open apps, send messages and write status updates and memo, ets It's not bad really

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 4:16 PM 3

5. Diego!

Posts: 880; Member since: Jun 15, 2009

Nice! I actually like the home button. It's good to read that they will keep it in the upcoming Galaxy S device :D

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:49 AM 7

6. emadshiny

Posts: 1144; Member since: Dec 05, 2012

i wish the home button doesn't look like S3's because it looks cheap. S2's home button is more stylish.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 6:56 AM 5

8. darac

Posts: 2156; Member since: Oct 17, 2011

If they don't at least add the support for s - pen, it would be a big mistake imo. It would be a great, useful feature to set it apart from the competition.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 7:06 AM 0

24. bparkerson unregistered

The whole point not to implement the S-Pen on the SIV is to differentiate it from the Note 2 , whereas the S-Pen is one of its main selling points. I like the function of the S-pen so much in fact I'm looking to purchase the Note 8 for the added screen real estate to better utilize the s-Pen functionality. IMO, Samsung would be wise to leave the S-Pen with the Note Series but create an exclusive SIV feature specifically for the SIV.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 8:58 AM 1

11. oister85 unregistered

I wanna see the s4 already. I hope is made of glass

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 7:21 AM 0

13. emadshiny

Posts: 1144; Member since: Dec 05, 2012

they wont make it with glass. it will become very heavy. and then people would say they've copied Xperia Z.

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 7:28 AM 5

17. kclgphilsbsa

Posts: 765; Member since: Jan 21, 2013

:D i thought ur a super Sony fan, im glad ur not one of those who bash plastics hehe.. i want sammy to stay with plastic but more on the likes of htc w/c actually looks good.. glass back are more prone to destruction :D and if im not mistaken, will move away battery replaceable :D i think xcover2 has removable back cover? so if sammy can make water&dust resistant phone but still with removable back cover and battery but not to the extent of making d phone looked really a rugged one, that myt be great :D

posted on Feb 13, 2013, 7:53 AM 1

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