Pixel 3 will only have gesture-based navigation, no traditional software buttons

06 August 2018
This has emerged through an interview with EK Chung, Google's UX manager for Android handheld and Pixel.

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For the longest Android was unable to introduce Essential features on the Android OS because Steve Jobs was on the board of Google. After the Camera2 API was finally introduced, things haven't still been going at the pace things should be.

Now Google's smartphone division decides to start copying Apple shamelessly without any genuine innovation of its own. It's sad to say the least. And shameful if one were still kind.

I hope there is an an end go Google's Pixel line-up soon. Oh God I also hope we find an Alternative to the Android Platform that absorbs all the major Android Smartphones, and that it is NOT Owned or made by Google.

    • A
    • Alien
    • 3RM
    • 07 Aug 2018

    PeterThePanda, 07 Aug 2018As long as it keeps "developer options" and other core opti... moreDude, android is made by Google. So if they change it, every brand out there using it will change it too, because they'll be afraid their products won't sell.
    The main reason I'm into Android is because I hate Apple restricted os.
    What's the point of having a 500HP Mercedes if it's limited to 50Km/h?
    You'll use 10HP while the other 490 will be munching grass on a field lol.
    That's exactly what using a crapple product feels to me.

      Anonymous, 07 Aug 2018Every single Samsung I bought that got updated and I buy th... morePlus, they did plenty of dumb things in iOS 11 like that Horrible font header style that looks like it was made by a high school student, not some professional web designer, and don't forget that dumb "turning off WiFi and bluetooth in Control Center doesn't actually keep it off, just turns it off temporary".

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • PGq
        • 07 Aug 2018

        The creator of Android, Andy Rubin will be pi**ed off if he sees gestures ONLY in stock android interface. If Andy Rubin was still the CEO, he would only put gestures within the UI so long as it does not destroy software buttons.

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • PGq
          • 07 Aug 2018

          "The company chose to retire the multitasking button because user diagnostics showed that very few people actually used it on a regular basis. Throughout user testing performed on the new gesture system with "normal" consumers, Google found that their most-loved feature was the ability to quickly jump between apps by sliding the pill to the right."

          "Normal" customers?? I bet Google is saying the new gesture system is tested by iPhone X users who are ALREADY used to the gestures. Google, what's wrong with TRADITIONAL software BUTTONS?? These buttons are MORE PRACTICAL than gestures (though having gestures is good so long as Google DOES NOT implement that in the stock android interface) Many Android users can agree with me that software BUTTONS are EASIER to use than gestures. Is Google trying to target iPhone X users who are used to gestures??

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            • Anonymous
            • T6s
            • 07 Aug 2018

            PeterThePanda, 07 Aug 2018Go ahead, and enjoy your mediocre screen-on-time, excessive... moreEvery single Samsung I bought that got updated and I buy the phones yearly all the Galaxy S series before the S6 gets crappy performance after you update to the bext version of Android . They probably stop doing that after peopel started complaining a out apple.
            And the battrey performance just degrades 3 to 6months of usage.

            But yes probably the only thing I hate in iOS and that is preventing me from switching is having control of the file system. The File app is just not the same.

              Aslipundit, 07 Aug 2018Google is getting there in terms of restrictions on the OS,... moreAs long as it keeps "developer options" and other core options like easy file transfer like plugging into your computer without need for additional software, I won't care or mind what restrictions they put in.

              The beauty of Android is that if you don't like one manufacturer, you can choose another, or you can flash a custom ROM if you don't like the OEM Launcher on your phone.

                • A
                • Alien
                • 3RM
                • 07 Aug 2018

                I'm not really sure I like that they're ditching the recents button.
                Just because "regular" users don't use it that often doesn't mean other people don't.

                  PeterThePanda, 07 Aug 2018Go ahead, and enjoy your mediocre screen-on-time, excessive... moreGoogle is getting there in terms of restrictions on the OS, becoming more "Apple-fied" with every iteration. Going by how things are progressing, Android will be as closed and restrictive as apple in a couple of years. The aspects that made Android distinct from IOS are slowly disappearing.

                    Anonymous, 07 Aug 2018Bye and good luck with that. I'll move to iPhone and never ... moreGo ahead, and enjoy your mediocre screen-on-time, excessive restrictions, intentional battery and performance throttling, overpriced repairs and phone issues that comes bundled with your overpriced iPhones.

                      Let's see what the final product will be like. If it's good enough, I might consider that over getting the 2018 iPhone X or the P30 next year.

                        Got it about an year or more...?

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • UNy
                          • 07 Aug 2018

                          Bye and good luck with that. I'll move to iPhone and never come back unless the big G end the b******t fragmentation.

                            Google is trying to make their devices successful by going the Apple route, ie, by limiting the features.
                            Don't know in which fairy land Google execs live, where they think that this will make their devices a success. We all know how many Pixels & Pixel 2's were sold (I mean we know that they didn't sell well). Still they continue with their tradition of limiting features the next year (after mocking Apple for limiting the same features the previous year). They believe Apple is successful because they limit features, so we should do the same.
                            Apple could do this, because they had been using hardware button since the beginning, and the first time they ditched it. But Android had ditched hardware buttons such a long time back, software buttons had no problem at all. Now this is a CLEAR CASE of COPYING APPLE, when you ditch what you mastered in 5 years, and do what a brand did last year.
                            And obviously, also not giving users a choice. That's so Apple.

                              BiyoBiyo JunJun, 07 Aug 2018it just the hint what google gonna do next .....lol

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                                • Anonymous
                                • vGu
                                • 07 Aug 2018

                                Please, let Android be Android.

                                  • s
                                  • stobs
                                  • vQ}
                                  • 07 Aug 2018

                                  and when webos tried this, there was sooo much sarcasm

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • yAK
                                    • 07 Aug 2018

                                    Brandstifter, 07 Aug 2018I don't know if the gesture navigation is good or bad, I'll... moreI like software buttons, changing orientation makes more sense. Also, it helps to have smaller bezel and smaller physical device with more screen. It's a little inconvenience to sacrifice which can eventually be overcome.

                                      matt00112233, 06 Aug 2018Google always make commercial to make fun of Apple and the ... moreit just the hint what google gonna do next .....

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • yAK
                                        • 07 Aug 2018

                                        Aslipundit, 07 Aug 2018Hate gestures, horrible decision. Will make it harder for o... moreIf Google doesn't shove things down people's throat, how many versions of each thing do you want them to have moving forward? It's Android, get the phone from the brand that suits you. Imagine 100m people and each wanting their own thing.