There's got to be a better place to put this.
Posted Mar 28, 2011, 12:05 AM UTC
235113
I have a hold button? Damn.
22
Original Droid running Android 2.2.2 on Verizon, no hold button.
14
I upvoted you for proving my sanity, this is the first I've seen of a hold button, I was terrified I simply ignored it.
Secretly hoped it was there though, it would explain the random inability to hear.
7
I was under the impression that Verizon's network doesn't support Hold.
2
ditto. :(
1
That's kind of what I was wondering. Not to sound like a moron or anything, but on a mobile phone what's the hold button do? I mean, when I'm at work I have a multi-line desk phone, in which a "hold" button makes sense. I can put a call on hold, go to the other line, answer a call, make a call, whatever.
On a mobile phone, the very idea of a hold button makes no sense to me. The "mute" button is right there, and it does everything you want.
2
Cell phones are multi-line as well.
6
You've never had a call boop in while you're talking on a mobile phone?
1
Not the same thing. My point was that I can't think of any reason to, unprompted, put a call on hold when using a mobile phone. If I get another call I need to answer (call waiting) then there's a button I press to answer that call. If I want to conference someone else into my existing call, I press a button for that. If I want to mute the call, I press a button for that.
A standalone "hold" button makes no sense to me in light of those options.
1
Do cellphones play any sound when someone is on hold, as opposed to being muted?
The only time I know that I've been on hold are with businesses who have recordings and music playing the entire time I am on hold. If cell phones make some sort of sound it would serve to know the other party just hasn't hung up on you.
1
I was thinking the same thing yesterday. Almost ruined a phone interview for me.
14
And it seems like it takes 3 to 4 attempts just to resume the call.
10
what version of android is that?
1
It's 2.3. I'm running CyanogenMod 7.
2
Ah. im running 2.2.1 cyanogen mod 6. I think the hold button is much more convenient on it. After pressing menu hold is immediately above it on the screen (htc magic)
1
So you're complaining about a release candidate?
-5
I have the same issue with the mute button. There has to be a way to disable these things. Just to answer a call you have to slide a finger, why not the same with these functions?
10
Yeah I pressed the mute button with my face the other day. Then I thought I was losing cell reception when I could hear the other person clearly. I went to go hang up and saw the mute button lit right as I ended the call...
2
That would be an excellent solution.
1
Don't really have that problem myself. I'm running 2.2 on a Samsung galaxy (not the 4g model) no mods. The hold button is lower, just above the add call. Though occasionally I have put people on hold if I am holding the phone to my ear with my shoulder, it really doesn't seem to be that big of a problem. I do however have the same difficulties with switching between calls.
5
Same phone, terrible 'underwater' voice clarity, been told this is an android thing?
1
just to let you know, there is an /r/android reddit.
5
I'm ashamed to admit, I thought I submitted this there. I was reading some comments on a submission(from my frontpage) that I thought was from that subreddit and hit the submit button from there. Luckily this one is somewhat related.
3
I've had a similar problem with the iPhone. I've put someone on hold with my face.
3
I know this is going to turn into a "my rom is better" fest but you should see if MIUI is available for your phone. I'm a rom whore and finally ended up with this one.
3
I've tried it and I do like it a lot, but I'm on the HTC Inspire so MIUI isn't too stable yet. I'm keeping my eye on it though.
1
AGREED!! i am CONSTANTLY putting people on hold w/my ear on accident
3
Every. Friggin. Time.
3
the call screen on the non-rooted androids is just terrible. I am always haveing trouble switching to another call or even getting the damn thing to come up. I have had three androids and all the same. Which is surprising given that all the rest of it works pretty well and is decently layed out.
2
What phone do you have?
1
Dude I am right there with you. Every call it seems I have to take the phone away when there is a second of silence to make sure the other person wasn't put on hold.
2
oh man do I have issues with the Cyanogen dialer. Everything else about CM7 is absolutely fantastic, but I still haven't found a way to
a. not have loud-as-hell touchtones alert everyone in the room that I am dialing a phone number
b. type in a persons name on the number touchpad and bring up their number.
why Cyanogenmod? Why? Why must you have the most awesome ROM in every respect except the one that, I don't know, actually lets me use it as a phone?
2
You can replace the dialer app. Get Dialer One, it's awesome and has smart dialing.
2
Go into your sound settings and uncheck "audible touch tones".
0
Or rather than perform a 'just disable it' apple fix, they could do something to fix the problem and have touch-tones at a reasonable volume.
2
If you're running CM7:
Menu > Settings > Call Settings > Check "Left Hand Mode" > Reboot.
Problem solved.
2
Gah, I'm glad I'm not the only one! But mine isn't in the same place and I still have a problem.
2
Non-android user: why is it badly placed there?
1
Well, sometimes the screen doesn't always shut off properly when on a call(especially on experimental ROMs) or if it's angled the wrong way, so your ear pushes the hold button.
3
Ah, I see, thank you!
2
Dunno bout other phones but mine has a camera sensor to know when it's against my face and turns itself off. If I don't hold it right, or if I have it on my shoulder it won't screen right and I hit random buttons. But it also sounds like I'm talking through socks if I do that so I don't normally care.
2
Are you left-handed?
1
I'm right handed but I keep my phone in my left pocket, so maybe I tend to use my left hand more.
1
The only reason why my phone is always in my left is because my keys are always readily in my right.
2
Phone always in my left pocket, keys always in my right...except for when I fuck up and then freak out because I think I lost something.
3
Even with my phones proximity sensor, this is a problem. It was even worse on my G1 which had no such sensor.
1
I routinely hit the end call button on #1BF!'s HTC G2 with my face. One of the few things my iPhone has over it.
1
What's the difference between hold and mute?
1
With mute, the phone stops broadcasting your voice but you can still hear the other person. With hold, the call is put on hold and neither party can hear the other.
Phones will also transmit to the provider that the call has been put on hold and the information will get relayed to the other phone. Some phones will tell you if you have been put on hold. I do not believe Android displays that information, but my parent's old LG Shine does show it.
I assume if your provider is nice they wouldn't charge you for minutes while a call is on hold, but I believe AT&T and T-Mobile continue billing.
1
I don't have a smartphone, I'm guessing the issue is when you put it to your ear, your ear hits the hold button?
sorry, since you don't own one, the secrets of the smartphone can not be revealed to you.
The first rule of owning a smartphone is you do not talk about smartphones!
FTFY
I was going to submit this comment from my iPhone 4 but it looks like you beat me to it!
My Android phone has a proximity sensor which disables the screen touch should you hold it to your ear so this is not an issue. There is an excellent app named Elixir that will show you all the various sensors. My phone has accelerometer, magnetometer, orientation and light in addition to GPS.
The sensor can be spotty though. There have been times where I've been talking to someone on my phone that I will accidentally hit the mute microphone button and not realize it.
WHat phone do you have out of curiosity? I have the exact same problem on my Desire HD, mostly because it's a massive handset, and the sensor doesn't always match up with my ear.
I have the Inspire, so basically the same phone.
The Original Motorola Droid. It would seem to happen when I would hold the phone at an angel away from my ear a bit.
This happens on my Acer Liquid-E as well. Good, I'm not the only one :(
I hit mute on mine all the time. It's especially fun when you're talking to a client of some sort. Also have an original Droid. I find it happening less when my hair is shorter and doesn't get in the way, but that might just be coincidence.
My boss's Droid is spotty like that.
My Droid X is not. Never had any undesired behavior with the proximity sensor.
The Tricorder application presents the same information in a really awesome Star Trek theme.
I have Tricoder too, usually with the sound effects on (is there any other way). However it only shows a subset of the sensors Elixir does and some stuff like sunspot activity is just downloaded.
thanks for letting me know about Elixir, its super awesome!
My phone has this too, but it deactivates if say, I tip my head to the side and hold the phone with my shoulder. I have a toddler and have to do this quite often, and it is annoying to constantly mute, hang up, or merge calls on accident.