[Keith Wallace]

Yea, seriously, they tried that with android. First 4 buttons, then 3 buttons, then some OEM's like HTC started putting 2 buttons. All it leads to is fragmentation and confusion. The 3 button system is fine. Just make them part of the screen like android.

I abhor such an idea. If you did this, you'd lose the ability to open Search from the lockscreen, which would suck. I like my pseudo-physical buttons.

[mjrtoo]

I abhor such an idea. If you did this, you'd lose the ability to open Search from the lockscreen, which would suck. I like my pseudo-physical buttons.

this!

[squire777]

I think people are getting too worked up over a rumor. Paul Thurrot made some outrageous claims in the past and they never came true so i wouldn't put too much faith into what he says for now.

[Huime]

I do agreed it is confusing. Until now there are still people complaining the back button no longer works as "back" just because they jump out the browser and went back directly tabbing the IE tiles instead going back through the multitask menu.

[ohgood]

I think people are getting too worked up over a rumor. Paul Thurrot made some outrageous claims in the past and they never came true so i wouldn't put too much faith into what he says for now.

Yeppers.

That and people should try new things. Some times the new way of doing this is better.

[SwimSwim]

Yeppers.

That and people should try new things. Some times the new way of doing this is better.

Again, I want to see what Microsoft has in mind first. It could be better, but I'm very happy with the current three button system. Microsoft ought to let us see what they're cooking up first, so we can get a sense on whether or not it's better.

[unstoppablekem]

Again, I want to see what Microsoft has in mind first. It could be better, but I'm very happy with the current three button system. Microsoft ought to let us see what they're cooking up first, so we can get a sense on whether or not it's better.

This!! I'm happy with the current layout, but if Microsoft is removing it, what they do to replace it should be good. And they shouldn't disable the button for the phones that still have back buttons.

[Meagey]

I wouldn't mind just the start button at the bottom in fact I think it would make the phone look sleeker

[SwimSwim]

I wouldn't mind just the start button at the bottom in fact I think it would make the phone look sleeker

True, but again, I just want to see what Microsoft has in mind first. They managed to only have one button on Windows 8 devices because gestures pick up the slack for a lack of buttons,but gestures might not work as well on phone, seeing as they're smaller and more optimized for one handed operation.

[chezm]

I think they should still keep it, even if it does look slightly slicker. How about making the back and search buttons smaller?

[Twitter@Firas_MD]

+1
Can't imagine using my phone with one key or in a gesture based UI.

[Meagey]

they can also add on screen back buttons where needed it doesn't have to be strictly gesture based

[SwimSwim]

they can also add on screen back buttons where needed it doesn't have to be strictly gesture based

As I've mentioned earlier, I'm not not biggest fan of virtual buttons. They can easily move and end up in different places. Having a single back button in one place causes a lot less headaches. I'm open to what Microsoft has to offer up, but at present, anything I can think of just sounds worse than what we've got now. But who knows, maybe Microsoft came up with something revolutionary, something painfully obvious that no one saw before, but now that's it's here, it's apparent how much sense it makes.

Guess we'll have to wait and find out.

[jmerrey]

I'm guessing this all got started from the rumors of MS merging RT and WP together.

[Meagey]

As I've mentioned earlier, I'm not not biggest fan of virtual buttons. They can easily move and end up in different places. Having a single back button in one place causes a lot less headaches. I'm open to what Microsoft has to offer up, but at present, anything I can think of just sounds worse than what we've got now. But who knows, maybe Microsoft came up with something revolutionary, something painfully obvious that no one saw before, but now that's it's here, it's apparent how much sense it makes.

Guess we'll have to wait and find out.

Good point!

[poddie]

I think people are getting too worked up over a rumor. Paul Thurrot made some outrageous claims in the past and they never came true so i wouldn't put too much faith into what he says for now.

Please refresh my memory? Which "outrageous claims"?

And let's be fair... Thurrot is not claiming this is true, he's saying a single source that got several other things that only an insider would know correct (which Paul has NOT revealed) is saying that these things are true. Big difference.

I often disagree with him, particularly over the last year or so, but I do find that he is pretty careful about what he publishes and does not publish hyperbole just to get page views.

[nohra]

I wouldn't mind just the start button at the bottom in fact I think it would make the phone look sleeker

There's some other kind of smartphone like that, isn't there? Can't quite remember the name... But I know I prefer WP over it by a long shot!

[mjrtoo]

Good point!

It's the exact reason iPhones suck to use, damn buttons everywhere in different locations, like freaking pin the tail on the back button.

[tungha]

[Dev Jaykrishnan]

Why the f*** do you care if it's just a rumor? If you really did think it's just a rumor, why do you invest so much time in commenting across multiple platforms ?

[Rolandh]

I tend to forget to press the Back Button & just press the Windows Button, as coming from Android I'm used to the Back Button just backing up in an app then minimizing it and then having to use the Multi Tasking Button to close. So just tend to us the Back Button as a Back Button in apps & as the Multi Tasking Button, don't see the point of Closing 6tag to write an SMS then having to open 6tag agin when I can just press the Windows Button to get back to the Start Screen then open 6tag & then Multi task between the 2, GDR3 has done away with the need for the Back Button as you can just Close apps from the Multi task Window.

I'd put the Back Button in the App menus & make the current Back Button a Multi Tasking Button to bring up the open app list since GDR3 has introduced the Close Button on open app tiles to match IE tabs Window. I'd even take single press of Windows Button to go to Start Screen, keep long press as it is now, add double tap of Windows Button for task list & make the Search button a fixed bar at the top of the Start Screen with a press of the Search Icon to open a window that allows the selection of QR Code Reader, Local & Sound Search while pressing on the Search Bar brings up the keyboard and allows you to search directly instead of opening Bing to then Search.

Roland

[alv3st3r]

Microsoft is not killing the Windows Phone back button