“We have exclusively been told that the reason Apple just added multitouch gestures for the iPad in the latest iOS 4.3 beta is because the iPad will be losing the home button,” Jonathan S. Geller reports for BGR.
“In addition to the home button disappearing from the iPad, we’re told that this change will make its way over to the iPhone as well,” Geller reports.
“Additionally, we’re told Apple’s popular photo-taking application, Photo Booth, will be appearing on the next iPad,” Geller reports. “It’s also very possible that we’ll see iLife apps for iOS unveiled around the iPad 2 release as well.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: If true, and Apple is doing away with the home button, then expect the next-gen iPod touch to be buttonless, too.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “GerMeOnTop” for the heads up.]
I could live without it.
You’d probably need to blow it to go home.
Sounds like something I overheard once at the Drive-In.
Well, BGR got their MacBook Pro predictions wrong… their track record is actually pretty abysmal with respect to information on unreleased products. So, I’m taking this one with a grain of salt.
YAWN………..Old news. This ‘rumor’ is from Jan. 11th for gawd sakes. And, we might recall, that BGR’s recent rumors about the new MacBook Pro’s ‘boot’ SSD and larger trackpads DID NOT come true.
sake. As in God’s sake. No sakes. It’s a common mistake due to the two instances of the letter s running into each other. Lol.
thank you! i’m glad someone has a grasp on the actual meaning of stupid sayings.
sake. As in God’s sake. Not sakes. It’s a common mistake due to the two instances of the letter s running into each other. Lol.
I find a round of sakés go quite well with sushi.
Make mine a Junmai Ginjo-shu, please.
The home button is the one thing that lets new people just pick up an iOS device and start using it. I do not think apple should do away with it.
I agree with that. It’s intuitive that a notice user would just press it to get started, and press it when they don’t know what to do in a confusing app. A single visible button is easier than learning “gestures.” Apple needs to have that border (bezel) area as the iPad’s “handles,” so there might as well be a recessed Home Button there.
I tend to use the Home Button on my iPhone quite a lot. There are alternative ways to do the same thing, but it’s a habit.
Is there an alternate way to return to the Home screen with a single click? I don’t think so. Personally, I find the Home button one of the iPhone’s most useful features. Ditto for the iPad.
I agree, and would like to think Apple wouldn’t mess with something so fundamentally good about the iPad. The recent scroll lock fiasco does have me wondering, however…
The scroll lock button is back though or it will be next week or when ever the next iOS patch is released!!! 😉
they will be pure screen, edge to edge
There needs to be a border (bezel), because that’s the iPad’s “handle.” Otherwise, you’d be touching/blocking the screen area while holding the iPad. The iPhone does the same at the top and bottom; those are its handles when the iPhone is oriented horizontally, not needed when holding the iPhone vertically with one hand (by its edges). Apple understands usability, unlike some competitors.
not if they create a virtual boarder which can appear and disappear….something which they have a patent for by the way.
a problem I have with the iPad is that I constantly hit the wrong part of the screen with other parts of my hand. If there is no bezel or a virtual bezel, how will this not make the situation worse.
I would like the real estate, but not the problem.
There will be multitouch gesture capabilities on Steve’s casket…
Not funny.
Go f yourself
Sick dude, sick.
Having said that it would be the ultimate Apple device.
Apple is about (apparent) simplicity in design and function. We all know that takes great complexity under the hood. It’ll be interesting to see what tap-dance combo they choose to trigger the “Phone Home” action.
Triple tap?
photo booth will be 9.99
@john
Photo booth will be integrated with FaceTime hence the new FaceTime symbol that will come with ios 4.3. It will cost nothing. I’m not so sure about iLife tho.
What? Does this mean if I buy a new iPad, I can never go home again?
No. it means wherever you go, you are home. Like a snail.
I hope not. I use my iPhone one handed a lot, and I think a lot of the gestures would require two hands!
Another good point, regarding usability of having that Home Button there.
Agree. No home button on iPad makes sense since it’s too big to use one-handed anyway. On iPhone, they would have to come up with something pretty nifty to preserve one-handed usability. I’m not seeing it at least not for some time.
As “dav viets” says, this is an OLD rumor. It was triggered by the advent of new, multi finger swipe actions in a developer release of the next iOS. This rumor was debunked by virtually everyone “in the know” almost immediately after it hit the street.
Personally, I’m very scheptical that Apple would drop an integral — and very, very commonly used — piece of the user interface. If they do drop the home button, what they replace it with will have to be absolutely brain dead simple or it will be a major step backward for the interface.
i disagree with MDN’s Sherlockian observation.
I believe the iPod touch will always retain the home button. And possibly add another.
Then you clearly haven’t been paying attention…. I don’t think Apple is going to remove the Home Button, but they sure as hell aren’t about to add one.
dude . . .
Oh I see, you were trying to be sarcastic. Funny thing about sarcasm… one of the key tells is tone of voice… another is body language or facial expression, neither of which can be gleaned from your post.
It is possible to have sarcasm in a purely written form, but it takes more writing prowess than you seem to posses. So, lacking that, perhaps you need some sort of sign… like a mock tag [/sarcasm].
Just saying… I mean there are plenty of people here who would make an assertion like that and be 100% serious about it…
dude…
I have always used the home button to quit apps any time I’ve played with an iPad at an Apple Store. That seems intuitive to me.
I’ve never asked about it, but I figure there must be some other way to quit out of apps. However, I’d say it’s not intuitive as nothing I’ve ever tried (touch gesture-wise) appears to work.
Noob get an iPad before u respond.
Actually leodavinci1 has a good point I have both phone and pad, the thing that sold it to me was the no brain ease of use. I have recently checked other devices in the store and was unable to figure out how they worked. That means that how easy it is in the store, relates to how easy it is to sell. To be honest, the fact that the i’s have a button – but only one button – is simplicity in itself.
Sure he makes a good point but u see this all the time. MDN says it all the time. U have to actually use a product. Not for like 15 minutes at an apple store but actually try it out at home before u can no and that’s y so many people just get pcs or android and then r really dissapointed so I don’t like people judging things who dont know crap about them.
I think that you are missing the point. That is that these devices do not take a genius to use them, therefore are more likely to sell to those who do not purport to be geniuses and do not want to spend a year learning how to use them.
By the way I hav had the iPad since the beginning and never had a learning curve. But then I must admit that I have been into computers for nearly 30 years, and no longer wish to be a geek.
i used the phrase “Sherlockian” to imply a “no shit” kind of response.
Plus I don’t do tags.
It’s more fun to contemplate those that would consider 2 home buttons.
Somewhat omphaloskepsian of you…
No need for it if you just wake the phone with the power button and gesture to bring things back to home.
I can see this happening. Very sci-fi. Very Apple.
I think Apple should remove the volume buttons too. The Ipad should instinctively react to us when we yell “Turn that shht down!”
@Bunsen
I agree-no tags. I think it shows a total lack of confidence and maturity
when people label sarcasm. Sometimes others will get it and sometimes they won’t.
@Bunsen
I agree-no tags. I think it shows a total lack of confidence and maturity
when people label sarcasm. Sometimes others will get it and sometimes they won’t.
C’est la vie!
Yes!
An iPad with out a home button will be like a lover without a bellybutton….where will I put my finger when I want to take it home?
Phone held to forehead” Turn on”, BOOM.
Press the bezel. And you are home.
No matter how you hold it or where you press, the screen is automatically oriented.
Another feature that can’t get gummed up. Lessens mechanical failures.
I don’t like that idea. Apple would need to have some gesture or reserve spot on the screen for going home. I suppose the function could just be moved to the power button, and you would have to hold for a couple of seconds to turn it off.
Just make the iPod/iPhone/iPod touch built into Maui Jim sunglasses and controlled by eye movements. Problem solved, especially greasy finger prints.
Apple will not get rid of the home button, they’d probably get too much negative stuff. Instead, what’d be more likely is that they make the home button a touch sensitive surface, eliminating a lot of bezel.
Nope… Look for this in iPad 4