tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post5949461310845458930..comments2024-03-09T17:42:04.882+00:00Comments on The Radioactive Yak: How to Display the Android Status Bar in Full Screen AppsReto Meierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04583545000534514486noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-85954607438866060832013-05-05T00:19:41.351+01:002013-05-05T00:19:41.351+01:00Following the advice of the author of this article...Following the advice of the author of this article I should uninstall it. Perhaps It's the only way they'll learn.<br /><br />Of course to be constructive, I am also leaving a comment that explains how much I dislike it when a usability expert presumes to be so important as to know more about users preferences than the users themselves.<br />:-p<br /><br />I personally prefer without doubt to see the app I am using filling the entire screen. And I like your approach to leave the option to your users. By the way, are your app using some analytics and do you have data about how many users hide or show the status bar? It could be interesting to know.Toni CaƱabatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05819012898668621348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-6461020260182148862010-08-25T19:08:25.627+01:002010-08-25T19:08:25.627+01:00Yeah, some google apps like the gallery don't ...Yeah, some google apps like the gallery don't meet these best practices and it's kinda annoying :/Manuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18189338998800933552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-55524857507207379152010-08-16T22:47:54.537+01:002010-08-16T22:47:54.537+01:00@Reto: Doesn't the 2.0 gallery app need to be ...@Reto: Doesn't the 2.0 gallery app need to be fixed? There's no real reason why the selector shouldn't display the status bar.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14383323589539225557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-34878793390082234222010-08-03T17:09:23.390+01:002010-08-03T17:09:23.390+01:00@Do not presume to know how I use my phone
True, ...@Do not presume to know how I use my phone<br /><br />True, <br />So how do I know that tou are using the status bar ?<br />So why will I let you this bar if I don't know that you are using it ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-6133046057133234662010-08-01T03:38:13.273+01:002010-08-01T03:38:13.273+01:00@Anonymous: why would I be arrogant? Just because ...@Anonymous: why would I be arrogant? Just because I give the choice but choose the default??? I'm just complaining about being told what is the "right" default, since in my opinion it depends on the app.<br /><br />@Reto: matter of fact, I am not a very good developer, I admit it. Still, I am a good observer, and I know there is a lot of competition in and around the kind of apps I make. And what changes, basically, is how many pixels are dedicated to the webview... Enlighten me on how to create a skinny progress bar and I will be a better dev with a few extra pixels to spare :-)<br /><br />Guys, don't get me wrong...I spend most of my time trying to create OPTIONS for people to choose: I like the idea not to modify the users' habits. Still, I have quite obviously played around with my app for quite a while, and for the BENEFIT of the average user I hid the bar. MENU and a couple of clicks and you have it back. Is it sooooo bad?Agargroovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06726280012731362603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-4546004662757008092010-07-29T19:13:47.486+01:002010-07-29T19:13:47.486+01:00As a dev and a user I completely agree with you.As a dev and a user I completely agree with you.Matthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14989472713576045590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-58431299767705200832010-07-29T18:11:53.352+01:002010-07-29T18:11:53.352+01:00The Engadget app was a fullscreen offender when it...The Engadget app was a fullscreen offender when it first hit the Market. That didn't last long. The status bar is the most unique and productive feature of Android, IMO.<br /><br />Shameless plug: If you love your status bar, check out "StatusNotes" in the market. Allows you to create custom notifications for quick reminders and notes, with unique icons.iPaul Prohttp://randomreuters.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-4916503775106254272010-07-29T15:44:30.881+01:002010-07-29T15:44:30.881+01:00Dianne Hackborn from Google has mentioned that the...Dianne Hackborn from Google has mentioned that there are plans to enable replacing of the lock screen. But it is low priority.<br /><br />http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers/msg/c0dbb900b0db9514<br /><br />I don't know about replacing the status bar though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-71635439280484259102010-07-29T15:24:22.373+01:002010-07-29T15:24:22.373+01:00No disagreement there (re: security).
Taking e....No disagreement there (re: security). <br /><br />Taking e.g. openmoko as an example - their openness started right at the very, very start of the UI and ended right at the very end. I think it's not unlike the c++/java conversation that arises - power, or ease of use. Then again, a mostly-open (android) seems to be considerably more successful than openmoko, so perhaps that is a Bad Example. <br /><br />I do accept the reality that e.g. my requirement is hardly the day-to-day problem trying to be solved by most all android applications. Just the idea that replacing e.g. statusbars == Bad is the bit where I say "yes, but whatabout us guys that have a legitimate reason".<br /><br />So, I'd say further work around surfacing e.g. statusbar UI as a service, lockscreen as a service, anything else really as-a-service could do with some thinking + discussion in androidland.<br /><br />Who knows? perhaps a separate developer key to enable really scary here-be-dragons capabilities of the device. <br /><br />Another way of putting it - is functionality X written using java? make it replaceable. Is it something in the linux userland or below? = don't. <br /><br />It is frustrating looking at the statusbar code in the source repo and not really being able to quickly play with it on-device. I suspect future releases could go some way by making it e.g. translucent/skinnable, but that's not really what some of us want.simonskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645376711542569952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-71929702908452011102010-07-29T14:20:05.477+01:002010-07-29T14:20:05.477+01:00@simonski: It's an interesting argument and on...@simonski: It's an interesting argument and one worth considering. I'd say the biggest concern would be around security. To begin with, to create your own status bar, your app would need to be able to have access to all notifications. That's pretty risky!Reto Meierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04583545000534514486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-767552337731955232010-07-29T13:26:54.769+01:002010-07-29T13:26:54.769+01:00- the side effect of my proposal would be a slew o...- the side effect of my proposal would be a slew of Bad Apps breaking phones with erroneous Lockscreens and nonexistant or buggy status bars appears in wonky areas, of course. So I can see why currently UI replacement involves some serious hoop-jumping.<br /><br />But I still counter (myself) with "that's what permissions and user-reading-the-install-screen is there for".<br /><br />Clearly my motivation here is affected by the requirement I have to provide fullscreen UI replacements for Android devices and the desire to do that as a standalone .apk if possible :)simonskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645376711542569952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-2680976247602382012010-07-29T13:21:36.321+01:002010-07-29T13:21:36.321+01:00What about looking at the issue another way - open...What about looking at the issue another way - open up the SDK an eeny weeny bit more and provide (via permissions of course), the ability to replace the statusbar and the lock screen. <br /><br />This way, the responsibility can be on the developer if for whatever reason they really want to replace/remove the status bar as-is, *and* the consumer can make an informed decision, too.<br /><br />The issue for me is that, yes, maybe Android does currently equal "with android status bar, with android lock screen" currently. But this is not strictly true when we start getting android book readers, or TVs, or Fridges etc. <br /><br />This is also an issue when you get into custom UIs, like HTC-land with SenseUI. What if I want to (as I do) do a full UI replacement app? - regardless of the quality, isn't this one of the gains Android should give us? (I believe it should be). <br /><br />At the moment this (replacement of 'core' bits) isn't possible from a pure App dev point of view unless I root my device and rebuild from my modified android source.<br /><br />While I agree that for the most part whipping out the status bar is a Bad Thing, that statement can't be true all of the time, and Android doesn't (easily) allow us to replace these currently mandatory parts very easily, so it gets bodged in by developers as fullscreen apps. <br /><br />If we have it (the ability to go fullscreen) in the API, at some point we're going to call it. So if we have the capability to do fullscreen, then you'd going to see fullscreen apps, good ones and bad. I say open up more, free the statusbar and the lock screen responsibilities and we'd likely see a higher value returned from the developers.simonskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03645376711542569952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-50483978905696386042010-07-29T12:42:19.625+01:002010-07-29T12:42:19.625+01:00How do we uninstall the Gallery app? Surely seeing...How do we uninstall the Gallery app? Surely seeing a list of videos and pictures doesn't meet your exceptions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-26630161226360091372010-07-29T10:25:47.121+01:002010-07-29T10:25:47.121+01:00@Webreaper: Indeed. SatNav is a great example wher...@Webreaper: Indeed. SatNav is a great example where losing the status bar is a Good Thing.Reto Meierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04583545000534514486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-91164800884746754452010-07-29T10:24:44.476+01:002010-07-29T10:24:44.476+01:00@Vico -- It's your app, so it's your call ...@Vico -- It's your app, so it's your call to make. Keep in mind that your comments reads (to my eyes) as: "Personally, I'm not good enough at design to make my app work with 20 fewer pixels" ;)Reto Meierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04583545000534514486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-38215041008274454272010-07-29T10:19:53.994+01:002010-07-29T10:19:53.994+01:00@vico
Well if that's how arrogant you are, yo...@vico<br /><br />Well if that's how arrogant you are, you can be sure I'll never install your app.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-85847427637774117902010-07-29T09:48:57.363+01:002010-07-29T09:48:57.363+01:00I developed the AG newspapers series and I persona...I developed the AG newspapers series and I personally need every pixel. So status bar is hidden by default. After a few complaints, though, I gave the option to restore it in the settings. I believe it is much better now, since I do not force anyone to use my app the way I think it's best (w/o). Still, default is to hide it, and I really do not see why on earth I SHOULD change that. :-pAgargroovehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06726280012731362603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-68147757340194974092010-07-29T06:27:18.191+01:002010-07-29T06:27:18.191+01:00I've not come across too many apps that do thi...I've not come across too many apps that do this, but they do deserve hostility. Even CoPilot doesn't go full-screen, although you could argue it's sensible for a SatNav app to prevent driver distractions.Webreaperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10269808566418928789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-56374133871845963782010-07-28T21:53:58.668+01:002010-07-28T21:53:58.668+01:00Because the white status bar is way too UGLY for a...Because the white status bar is way too UGLY for apps with dark background. <br /><br />I know, many people don't care about such "minor things".<br /><br />That's where Apple is winning; they have taste, and they offer three different styles of status bar.Bohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00659210856240706008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-14875352242646946702010-07-28T20:30:38.858+01:002010-07-28T20:30:38.858+01:00Its very easy to implement a checkbox in the apps ...Its very easy to implement a checkbox in the apps preference activity so show or hide status bar. But most of the time the default should be to show it.<br /><br />PS Does Google prefer calling it the Status Bar or the Notification Bar? What should be label be for such a checkbox?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-27993153369163676522010-07-28T20:08:21.778+01:002010-07-28T20:08:21.778+01:00Great advice. I think for borderline cases the dec...Great advice. I think for borderline cases the decision should always be to leave the bar visibile. If you want to go the extra mile you could implement a setting that hides the status bar. <br /><br />I would like that feature on e.g. video player apps...Manfred Moserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01750987313137998879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-50215868975686130382010-07-28T20:04:28.240+01:002010-07-28T20:04:28.240+01:00One of the many reasons I hate HTC Sense is that t...One of the many reasons I hate HTC Sense is that their browser is full screen, so annoying! Maybe Google can have some influence with them?Miguelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-46672881170483067592010-07-28T19:07:02.863+01:002010-07-28T19:07:02.863+01:00What about GPS apps? What's your take on those...What about GPS apps? What's your take on those?Ricardo Amaralhttp://blog.ricardoamaral.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-990045327173388502010-07-28T18:55:57.373+01:002010-07-28T18:55:57.373+01:00I would like to add another, albeit rare, exceptio...I would like to add another, albeit rare, exception.<br />If it app is designed to be used by someone that is not the primary user of the phone.<br />I have an app designed to add parental controls to your phone so that a child can play with your phone.<br />In that case I want to severely limit use of the phone outside my app. Full Screen makes sense in that case.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10735231.post-63885136663372596312010-07-28T18:49:35.386+01:002010-07-28T18:49:35.386+01:00Rightly said. Cant agree more on this.
Have seen ...Rightly said. Cant agree more on this.<br /><br />Have seen way too many apps jumping to full screen giving absolutely no chance to the user. Wish every developer takes note of all the best practices.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com