Back button, where art thou?

[BJMRamage]

That's what I was hoping would happen. And I have gotten used to many of the flaws of the iphone. But the back button is still sorely missed after several weeks. The other problems of the iphone are of a different nature -- just stupid or annoying design choices, really -- but this is a fundamental and systemic problem.

Iphone folks who defend the lack of a back button (or notification light, for that matter) or don't even understand the need for one makes me think of someone born with a deformity: if you grow up with one leg shorter than the other or something, you learn to compensate for this deficiency and get used to life with that limitation, and maybe you can't even imagine walking with two even legs.

But those of us coming from Android are like someone born with two healthy legs who must now learn to walk with one leg shorter than the other, and it's really hard to learn a new way of doing something so basic as walking in a less efficient way.

this made me laugh a bit. I could say it another way...People on Android have taller legs. maybe that is a good thing but then picking out pants, driving, sitting on a chair at a desk or table...not as easy.

You use the Phone's "FLAWS" and classify that as a deformity. perhaps I could (and have after using it on an Android phone) as a flaw in design. but rather than saw it is a flaw, I say it is a difference. I understand those Android Users love it.

Like the LED Notification light. I understand it COULD be nice but I am used to not having it...and I REALLY love the notifications on the Lock Screen...how I can see who has emailed/called/left a voicemail. all which is nicer than the LED light in terms of notification of multiple items.

When you say FLAWS you classify this as not a good overall system. But as you see here, there is a split mind-set on it...if Apple implemented a "FIX" to this "FLAW" I, and others, may start to say Apple now has a FLAW. There are a multitude of ways to do something and operate. perhaps YOU need to look at it as an issue you have but try to look at it with open eyes and mind. a double-click on the home button/multi-tasking takes me back to another app. a multi-finger swipe on the iPad.


I have a Nikon. I am used to the controls there. I don't say Canon has FLAWs...just a different approach to their design and system.

now, you have been "trained" by Android to use a Back Button. you are used to it. On Apple devices we have been trained not to NEED a Back Button.

 

[iolinux333]

I don't understand how going back one screen takes 2-8 steps? There is either a button at the top left of the screen which won't say 'back' but it will take you back one screen, or you can swipe the screen to the right, or in Safari there will be a left arrow at the bottom of the screen (sure it takes one press to make this visible and another to implement it). In short, there is ALWAYS a way of going back one screen, and often more than one way. You're just used to the Android system and to be honest, if I went to Android I would REALLY miss the swipe feature.

I miss SWYPE keyboard. Swiping to go back is a little nicer than back button but doesn't always work. Seriously though, if I'm deep in an app, say something like songza or tunein, I can often be in a place where it's easier to just doubletap quit and restart to get back to where I want to be rather than go through multiple convoluted gesture and taps all over the screen - which in android would just be tap tap tap on the back button.

 

[abshole765]

Forward button, where art thou?

 

[regkilla]

New to iOS and using an iPhone 4? Get with the current.

 

[iolinux333]

Forward button, where art thou?

I've often wanted one, for all those times I've accidentally hit the back button.

 

[sunking101]

People who haven't used Android don't miss the back button. People who haven't used iOS don't miss swiping screens. When I pick up my partner's HTC One, the navigation feels old hat because I have to press on buttons to move around. When moving between different o/s there is always going to be something you miss and that works both ways.

 

[NT1440]

That's what I was hoping would happen. And I have gotten used to many of the flaws of the iphone. But the back button is still sorely missed after several weeks. The other problems of the iphone are of a different nature -- just stupid or annoying design choices, really -- but this is a fundamental and systemic problem.

Iphone folks who defend the lack of a back button (or notification light, for that matter) or don't even understand the need for one makes me think of someone born with a deformity: if you grow up with one leg shorter than the other or something, you learn to compensate for this deficiency and get used to life with that limitation, and maybe you can't even imagine walking with two even legs.

But those of us coming from Android are like someone born with two healthy legs who must now learn to walk with one leg shorter than the other, and it's really hard to learn a new way of doing something so basic as walking in a less efficient way.

Wow.

They are two different UI metaphors. You can dislike one more than the other, but they are merely different ways of doing the same thing.

 

[bigchrisfgb]

All apps where you can go back have an arrow in the top left hand corner, a lot of apps use swipe features.

 

[Grolubao]

Jailbreak and install SwipeNav, works great! Anyway, I get your pain, I still think the button on the top left corner is the worst decision from the User Experience perspective since it takes a stretch to actually reach it with one hand.

If they had the button in the bottom left corner this wouldn't apply.

 

[cynics]

Back is generally a swipe from left to right or a button in the upper left. Given enough time and you'll get used too it. I did. However I still miss the back button.

 

[maflynn]

I've used iPhones for quite a while and have gotten used to the lack of a back button. Once you work with the phone for a while, you find what works most efficiently. I'm on a windows phone now and it does have a back button and the software takes advantage of it. When I go to use my iPad or my wife's iPhone I stumble over the lack of a the back button because I'm so used to it.

tl;dr: You get used to what you use and the lack of the back button isn't bad.

 

[regkilla]

There is no physical back button on iPhones if you don't like it go back to Android.

 

[AppleRobert]

I have used both android smartphones and iphones. The back button is so low of a priority, so many other things to consider flipping between the two OSes and devices.

 

[T5BRICK]

I switch back and forth between iOS and Android devices and I have to say, the back button on Android is great when it is consistently implemented.

But personally, I don't mind double clicking home and selecting the app that I'd like to resume using.

 

[heycal]

Like the LED Notification light. I understand it COULD be nice but I am used to not having it...

Like a cripple is used to life in a wheelchair. I know.

Forward button, where art thou?

That wouldn't be bad either, but not as important.

There is no physical back button on iPhones if you don't like it go back to Android.

I may.

I switch back and forth between iOS and Android devices and I have to say, the back button on Android is great when it is consistently implemented.

Of course it's great. I don't understand why iphone folks can't admit when Android does things better. In comparison, the iphone system of navigation -- if it even qualifies as a "system" since it seems inconsistent and all over the place -- is far inferior.

I'm much more objective about all this: I can see which phones do which things better, and my ego or pride or whatever it is doesn't keep me from from fairly evaluating things. Iphone is superior in many areas, Android is superior in many other areas.

I can't imagine defending some flaw on Android just because I've purchased one or always used them, but I see that a lot here with iphone...

 

[Tubamajuba]

I'm new to iphone after years with Android, and currently using an iphone 4. I like certain things about it very much, other things drive me bananas… I won't get into all my pros and cons here, but will just focus on one issue:

How do you iphone folks deal with the lack of a back button? I thought I'd get used to this after a few weeks and learn to navigate the "iphone way", but it's as troublesome and confusing as ever to me. I'm constantly wanting to go back one step, or two steps, or even three, and so often there is no real way to do so like there is on Android, or on my Mac Air, both of which offer handy back buttons which get a lot of use from me. If Apple has any real system in place for such things, I haven't figure it out yet. Sometimes its obvious how to back out of something, yes, but very often it is not. All too frequently I just have to hit the home button and start from scratch.

Is there something basic I'm missing? If not, doesn't this bother you guys?

No surprise. I've experienced this often in pointing out the flaws of the iphone… Bad enough dealing with poor design issues, but it's all made worse by people defending those poor designs...

Such a shame that a phone that's so wonderful in so many ways may never truly be all it could be because of the stubborness of the company that makes it and the blind allegiance of so many of its followers. If your customers won't question your poor design and buy the product anyway, why bother to improve it?

You come here to ask iPhone owners how they deal with the lack of a back button and when they proceed to tell you that they don't find it an issue, you belittle them. Might I ask why you made this thread? Did you just want people to agree with you?

You feel that Android's back button system is better. And that's fine, because it suits your needs. But I don't have an issue with the way iOS handles it, because it suits my needs. Fair?

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

There is no physical back button on ANY widely used mobile platform in it's pure state. Android itself ditched the physical back button as part of its requirements awhile ago. Most Android devices today don't have physical back buttons. Some still have physical back buttons. There is however a soft back button in the latest version of Android. So anyone claiming Android has physical back buttons need to check reality. Google ditched that requirement a long time ago and is actively encouraging everyone to NOT use physical back buttons and to generally ditch physical buttons like home, back, etc. altogether on the front face of the phone (volume, power still should be there but those usually aren't on the front face...)

On iOS, going back to a previous page in Safari is just a swipe right. In apps, usually there is a left arrow button or some button in the corner to go back. Other apps have adopted the swipe right gesture to go back. On Mac OS X, there is no physical or software back button. It's the same scenario as iOS, there are buttons and/or gestures to go back. No universal physical and/or software back button that works system-wide for the sole purpose of going back.

 

[mib1800]

^^^I think op meant a system wide permanent back button.

Even those android without physical hard buttons still have to have these permanent soft buttons.

 

[Technarchy]

I love how people defend Apple and come up with excuses why there should not be a back button.

Literally, the WHOLE point of the iPhone design was to get away from items like the back button.

Have you never watched the first iPhone reveal ever?

Also, I have an S5. It replaced my 5S. I like it. It's awesome, but iOS's swiping back in apps to navigate rapes the back button. It makes the very notion seem primitive and poorly thought out in comparison.

 

[maflynn]

[MOD NOTE]
It think this horse has been beaten to death.