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Barclays: All 2019 iPhones May Lack 3D Touch, New AirPods and Lower-Priced HomePod to Launch Next Year
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Seems like 3D touch was one of those features where they "innovated for the sake of being innovative." It didn't really seem to solve any problems and is just one more thing that people need to learn how to use. And can't it just be replicated with a long press?
My mind has just been blown. I had no idea the spacebar could be used in this fashion. Amazing game changing tip.
There is some precedent for this, including removing the extension cord from the chargers on MacBooks and the rumored lack of Lightning-to-3.5” adapter in this year’s phones.
You don’t get to a trillion dollars by decreasing your margins.
Egon: Let's see what happens when we take away the puppy...
WTF?
3D touch on the phone is great. That and FaceID combined make for a totally awesome work flow experience that‘s not available on Android.
FaceID checks for my authenticity without having to ask me to put my finger on some sensor and 3D touch in combination with normal touch points allows for “real“ buttons across the whole screen estate. No „sliders“ to protect from incidental actions. Very cool.
They should integrate it into the button interaction even more. Or upgrade to real tactile displays.
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True. What side of the counter you think those savings might end on?
WTF?
3D touch on the phone is great. That and FaceID combined make for a totally awesome work flow experience that‘s not available on Android.
FaceID checks for my authenticity without having to ask me to put my finger on some sensor and 3D touch in combination with normal touch points allows for “real“ buttons across the whole screen estate. No „sliders“ to protect from incidental actions. Very cool.
They should integrate it into the button interaction even more. Or upgrade to real tactile displays.
[doublepost=1535388938][/doublepost]
True. What side of the counter you think those savings might end on?
I personally can’t see Apple removing 3D Touch myself but am happy to be corrected if these analysts are ‘on the money’ in 2019.
If Apple killed the feature you know they’d be called for copying Android as you can long press on there without a display capable of the equivalent of 3D Touch.
Would be great if Apple let the user customise their own sub-menu....
If Apple killed the feature you know they’d be called for copying Android as you can long press on there without a display capable of the equivalent of 3D Touch.
Would be great if Apple let the user customise their own sub-menu....
Close, but nope. 3D touch allows you to go a step further and highlight text, which is by far the most efficient way to select type on the iPhone.
came here to say the same thing. as i currently understand it, 3D is a combo of both the screen hardware and OS software. seeing that on ios12, the keyboard/spacebar function has been enabled on non 3D touch devices, maybe that function is moving to be strictly software based.
which is why these "analysts" who are checking out the supply chain think it's going to be removed...because is is, from the hardware stack.
Sure hope not, I use it all the time. For cursor placement, to look up terms, peek at forum messages, and overall as the closest thing to a right click a phone can get. I won’t forget the excitement of using it on the 6S for he first time and was hoping to see it make its way on the iPad too.
This, after they let star products like the Cinema Display and AirPort die on the vine, feels like Apple has become so totally complacent they’re incompetent to even leverage their own innovations.
This, after they let star products like the Cinema Display and AirPort die on the vine, feels like Apple has become so totally complacent they’re incompetent to even leverage their own innovations.
I would take this with the smallest grain of salt possible. Considering iOS12 beta has 3D Touch support everywhere (including new notifications), the amount of work to either completely remove that support or move back to long presses (which then would require an overhaul of 3D Touch/long press coexistence) would be significant.
Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis and his associates traveled across Asia last week to meet with companies within Apple's supply chain. Today, they shared new predictions based on the information they gathered.
Highlights from their research note to investors, obtained by MacRumors:
Barclays says it's "widely understood" that 3D Touch will be removed from iPhones with OLED displays in 2019--aka the third-generation iPhone X and second-generation "iPhone X Plus." However, they caution that the plans aren't finalized yet, so they could change.
Earlier this year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said 3D Touch won't be a feature on the rumored 6.1-inch iPhone with an LCD, part of the upcoming 2018 lineup. So, by the sound of it, 3D Touch won't be a feature on any 2019 iPhones, assuming Apple sticks with the same three models expected in 2018.
While the lack of 3D Touch on the 6.1-inch iPhone would make sense, given expectations that it will essentially be a budget iPhone X, it's not entirely clear why it may be removed from the more expensive OLED models next year. As a somewhat hidden feature, perhaps Apple no longer finds it essential.
"AirPod 2" will launch in the fourth quarter of 2019. Meanwhile, an optional wireless charging case for the original AirPods, and Apple's new AirPower charging mat, will be available this September.
This prediction is rather confusing, as back in February, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple will release new AirPods with a new wireless chip and "Hey Siri" support as early as this year. Gurman also said a subsequent pair of AirPods with water resistance would be released as early as next year.
One possibility is that Apple will add "Hey Siri" support to the existing AirPods this fall by way of a software update, without a new wireless chip, but it's unclear if the current W1 chip can support the feature. In that case, Apple might elect to continue referring to them as first-generation AirPods.
In that scenario, the "AirPods 2" that Barclays is referring to could be the water-resistant pair that Gurman also believes could launch in 2019. However, this is admittedly a bit of a stretch, so it remains to be seen.
Barclays expects the launch of a "cheaper HomePod in 2019," with "broader appeal." The analysts say HomePod sales continue to "underwhelm," with less than five million sold since it launched in January.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, along with some Chinese publications, have also claimed that Apple has considered a lower-priced HomePod. One rumor suggested that it could be a Siri-enabled Beats speaker priced around $149 to $199.
Barclays says it "does see the potential for the new iPhones to support pen input," without naming the Apple Pencil specifically.
Taiwanese research firm TrendForce predicted that the higher-end 2018 iPhones will be compatible with the Apple Pencil.
Article Link: Barclays: All 2019 iPhones May Lack 3D Touch, New AirPods and Lower-Priced HomePod to Launch Next Year
We can only hope Apple will continue to cut useless "features."
and next: all 2019 MBPs will lack TouchBar!
"However, they caution that the plans aren't finalized yet, so they could change."
--This line could be added to every MacRumors article...
--This line could be added to every MacRumors article...
I’ve heard about the lack of pencil support, but no 3D Touch on all models is news to me. I suppose the iOS 12 changes make more sense now and the lack of scalability in addition to the issues it causes with under display Touch ID and cameras/other sensors means it is not very surprising.
In addition to that, it’s relatively unknown and/or unused but it would be a shame as for those that do use it, it provides useful and unique functionality.
It can be replicated to a certain degree through software but I’m doubtful Apple would take this approach.
In addition to that, it’s relatively unknown and/or unused but it would be a shame as for those that do use it, it provides useful and unique functionality.
It can be replicated to a certain degree through software but I’m doubtful Apple would take this approach.
If they got rid of 3D Touch, they'd presumably get rid of the Taptic engine as well, which takes up quite a large space in the device. Maybe they're finally going to increase battery capacities?? 
3D Touch was a gimmicky feature that increased the cost of phones that could easily be replaced with a long touch. I'd rather long touch than trying to apply the correct amount of pressure to the screen.
The only useful feature I can see for 3D Touch is if you wanted to play a virtual drum kit, or keyboard and want to play softly or loudly.
The only useful feature I can see for 3D Touch is if you wanted to play a virtual drum kit, or keyboard and want to play softly or loudly.
These rumors are about the 2019 iPhone. The iPhone being announced next month is the 2018 iPhone.
They aren't getting rid of 3D touch. They may very well be doing it using some new technology, however. In one way or another, the UI will respond to pressure.
Yeah? Try bringing up a home screen quick action on a non-3D Touch iPhone. This is my primary 3D Touch use case and there's no analog (that I'm aware of) without it.
