Where's 'Menu'?

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Looking at the softkeys, where is the Menu key? I see Home, Back, and the new Multitasking key, but no Menu. How can this be? The iOS method of integrating all menu options into the application UI is terrible, and what about apps made before ICS? Lack of a Menu key would make them unusable. I must be missing something here, but I can't see what it might be.

A virtual menu button appears in the form of 3 dots. It can be seen in this photo.

Originally Posted by Tung_meister

A virtual menu button appears in the form of 3 dots. It can be seen in this photo.

Nice catch. Was wondering about that.

Menu items are represented by the 3 vertical dots at the top right corner of apps.

The indication is that new apps should no longer hide their menus, but rather make them intuitive to access in the app's UI.

For legacy apps, we'll probably see a menu button of some type appear along with the 3 softkeys at the bottom.

On my Honeycomb tablet either a button is in the top right corner or another is added to the bottom when menu is needed... I'm guessing HC is a good example of what we'll be getting, and if so I look forward to it

Thanks so much for a useful thread. I was actually wondering about that myself. Glad to know its non-obtrusive and clean

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You have lost the search button though. Not all apps will handle this well... I had to tweak an app I was writing because of this (luckily found fairly early during testing on Honeycomb).

Of course for most apps search isn't useful - probably why they removed the dedicated key.

Originally Posted by TonyHoyle

You have lost the search button though. Not all apps will handle this well... I had to tweak an app I was writing because of this (luckily found fairly early during testing on Honeycomb).

Of course for most apps search isn't useful - probably why they removed the dedicated key.

The idea is if the app needs search in order to function properly, you just put the search button up in the menu bar, just like they're doing with settings buttons.

Otherwise, the google search button is at the top of every homescreen now.

Originally Posted by martonikaj

The idea is if the app needs search in order to function properly, you just put the search button up in the menu bar, just like they're doing with settings buttons.

Otherwise, the google search button is at the top of every homescreen now.

The menu button happens automatically (technically, since 2.3 android has called onCreateOptionsMenu at activity startup so it knows you need it already).

There simply is no search button in Honeycomb/ICS - you have to stick it on the options menu, the action bar*.. somewhere the user can reach it. That needs code (not much.. respond to 'search' in the options menu by calling onSearchRequested()).. existing apps will simply lose that function if they run on ICS assuming a button exists.

We're not talking about a lot of apps here.. Not much point in a search function in 'Angry Birds' for example. Just something to bear in mind when developing a new app or trying to work out if your favourite app will work without issue on ICS.

Home screen search is totally different.. that searches the global search (emails, contacts, etc.). Different class of app entirely.

* The honeycomb search widgets are really flexible, but of course not available unless you break compatibility with <3.0.

Originally Posted by TonyHoyle

You have lost the search button though. Not all apps will handle this well... I had to tweak an app I was writing because of this (luckily found fairly early during testing on Honeycomb).

Of course for most apps search isn't useful - probably why they removed the dedicated key.

There are already quite a few phones out there without a search button. My almost 2 years old X10 doesn't have a dedicated search button and i never missed it. The search function is bound to long-press menu at the x10. Given the fact that ICS has a dedicated task switcher button, they could bind the search to long-press home for example. Just an idea though

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