Android Developers are being reminded by Google to shift their attention away from the Menu button and focus instead on the Action Bar.

The Menu button function is commonplace in pre-3.0 versions of Google’s Android operating system. It allows users to view options for a particular application by pressing the Menu button on their device.

With the introduction of Honeycomb (version 3.0) and now Ice Cream Sandwich (version 4.0) the function has become redundant as these operating systems remove the need for physical buttons.

All change please

This year we expect to see a new wave of devices running Ice Cream Sandwich, so developers need to make sure they update their apps to use the Action Bar.

Developers need to follow the new Android user experience as many Android devices are expected in 2012 to feature button free designs.

Apps will continue to work on the new software, with Google building an action overflow button which acts as the menu button.

The action overflow button will display on all applications which have not been updated to Android 3.0+, even if they do not require it.

Are you all for button free devices, or will you be pining for your menu, home and back buttons?

A stray email purporting to be from Samsung suggests that the company may be putting an end to its production of netbooks next year.

The email specifically namechecks 10.1-inch devices, saying that the range will be replaced by ultraportables and ‘Ultrabooks’, the PC equivalent to the MacBook Air.

The email, sent to the company’s trade partner, reads: “Following the introduction of our new strategy in Q1 2012, we stop the product range in 10.1″ (Netbook) in Q1 2012 for the benefit of Ultraportables products (11.6 and 12-inches) and ultrabooks to be launched in 2012.”

Bookless nets

It’s been a tough time for netbooks; first tablets came along and usurped them, then Acer thought about ditching them (although it claims it is not) and now this.

But it’s no surprise that the Intel-inspired Ultrabook segment could be the nail in the netbook’s coffin; intended to be sleek where the netbook is chunky and powerful where the netbook is basic and affordable – well okay, we’ll concede that Ultrabooks aren’t quite as affordable as netbooks.

We could argue that a low-cost ultraportable basically is a netbook but, if legit, Samsung’s email does seem to spell the end of the 10.1-inch netbook.