Scott Main, the lead tech writer at the official Android Developers blog, has called for developers to migrate away from utilising the physical Menu button in their apps.

Though the Menu button is present on pre-Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) devices, it shouldn't be relied on for Android 3.0 or Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) devices, whether tablets or phones.

Main proposes developers working on Android adopt the ActionBar system as a way to provide users with meu options.

Think about it

Main highlights that legacy apps running on 3.0 and beyond will find their menu options being re-fitted into the action-overflow menu. While he admits changing your apps to suit the new system might seem like a waste of time, he highlights its importance.

"This might seem like splitting hairs over terminology, but the name action overflow promotes a different way of thinking," he wrote.

"This is a compatibility behaviour for legacy apps designed to ensure that apps built to expect a Menu button remain functional. However, this button doesn't provide an ideal user experience.

"In fact, in apps that don't use an options menu anyway, this action overflow button does nothing and creates user confusion. So you should update your legacy apps to remove the action overflow from the navigation bar when running on Android 3.0+ and begin using the action bar if necessary."

Main highlights that legacy apps will remain "backward compatible with the devices your apps currently support."

For full advice on how to go about updating your apps with the relevant coding, check out Main's post over on the Android Developers blog.