iOS 11 Dock and Gesture Controls to Replace 'iPhone 8' Home Button Entirely

[TrueBlou]

I wanted to reply to this with a meme of The Hound asking Gendry "what are you whinging about?", but it doesn't look like anyone has made that meme yet. So let's just pretend, unless someone wants to be awesome and make that...

I’m sure I can imagine that
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Haha, too true! I'm looking on the bright side of this even if the iPhone 8 is something I can't bring myself to purchase. Even if it sucks, a lot of good R&D is being done by Apple and this will affect their future devices positively. And we'll have more tried-and-true 7s/7s+ designs to choose from for the time being, if we so choose (though I don't personally suspect there'll be anything enough in those to motivate me away from my 7+...).

It’s a good point. To some degree the iPhone 8 will be like a gen 1 device, wiping the slate clean and starting again in a lot of ways.

Even if the 8 disappoints in some ways, which I’m sure it most certainly will to some people. The improvements going forward should be great.

On the whole I’m looking forward to it and even based on the loose rumours we have I still think it’s on my buying list.
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Well, we being relatively intelligent people, who can say with 90% certainty that this is how the phone will operate, can say this.

And those who don't, are also the ones likely to say "But where is the home button? Apple would never do something like this!"

We being relatively intelligent people should also know to never underestimate Apple. Or to hold rumours in too high esteem, no matter how credible they seem. How many times have they been wildly wrong in the past. Probably about as many times as they’ve been right.

 

[Crow KC]

Samer for children who currently use the iPad just fine. If they get trapped they just go to the home button. Now, confusion. I just hope its false.

As a father of 2-year-old who regularly uses an iPad Pro 10.9, iPhone SE, and Apple Watch - I think this is a false concern. The child doesn't instinctively know to press the home button - the learn it by you showing them. Likewise they'll learn any new gesture, if needed, without much effort. The problem will be the old codgers like us who are more resistant to change. Maybe the iPhone 8 will be a millennial-only device.

 

[TrueBlou]

My guess is that the side button is going to play a new role. It's been made more prominent for a reason.

Gestures could become the main method to get around iOS but a dumb proof physical button may be necessary. The new, elongated side button could have two pressing levels — like a camera shutter. Press to go home, press deeper to lock.

The side button could even be a place to put Touch ID for those who wear masks/helmets/face protection for work or leisure and can't use Face ID.

I’m also curious about the role of the side button. I don’t really buy into the, it’s bigger so it’s easier to press, line of thinking. It may well be true but have any of us ever had much difficulty performing that task since it moved to the side? I’d wager that there’s a lot less people having difficulty with it than those who have no problem.

Not to mention that it’s been fine for what, 3 generations now? I’m inclined to think that if that side button is bigger, it’s bigger for a more important role than being easier to press. Especially considering the device is smaller than the Plus sized iPhones.

 

[Crow KC]

We being relatively intelligent people should also know to never underestimate Apple. Or to hold rumours in too high esteem, no matter how credible they seem. How many times have they been wildly wrong in the past. Probably about as many times as they’ve been right.

I am reasonably certain that some of these "rumors" are started by Apple to test reception to new ideas as well as lead the competition into doing stupid things to try to keep ahead that ends up just hurting them, haha.

 

[AlliFlowers]

With iPhone 7's raise to wake I never ever touch the power button. I'm so glad theyre finally removing the home button!

So, um, once you raise to wake, you don't need to use the phone? I still need to touch the power button before I can use it. Do you just look at the screen and put it away again?

 

[TrueBlou]

As a father of 2-year-old who regularly uses an iPad Pro 10.9, iPhone SE, and Apple Watch - I think this is a false concern. The child doesn't instinctively know to press the home button - the learn it by you showing them. Likewise they'll learn any new gesture, if needed, without much effort. The problem will be the old codgers like us who are more resistant to change. Maybe the iPhone 8 will be a millennial-only device.

Definitely the old codgers, though I’m bordering on being one. Actually I probably am one. Actually to you young’uns I definitely will be one I have no problem with change. But the thought of my dad buying an iPhone 8 makes me shudder, he’s bad enough as it is with the 6s. He likes gadgets, but teaching him to use them, aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh

 

[Crow KC]

So, um, once you raise to wake, you don't need to use the phone? I still need to touch the power button before I can use it. Do you just look at the screen and put it away again?

I think you're confusing the home button with the power button...

 

[Delgibbons]

This is a great idea! I hope you are secretly an Apple employee letting us in on a secret.

Pretty much my biggest reason to not buy an iPhone 8 is the loss of Touch ID. If it's moved to the lock button, that would remove that inhibition for me. And two levels of pressure sensitivity is consistent with force touch so it makes intuitive sense for the device. I'm a little skeptical that such a thin button could be an accurate fingerprint reader, but I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for this one!

Sony Xperia phones have fingerprint reader on the power button. Pretty cool feature.

 

[AlliFlowers]

I think you're confusing the home button with the power button...

No. The home button. The big round button that may be removed. In order to use my phone, I have to press that. The power button won't unlock the screen.

 

[TrueBlou]

Sony Xperia phones have fingerprint reader on the power button. Pretty cool feature.

I’m quite fond of the Xperia design. When they finally slap a big ass borderless screen on there, ooohhh, nice.

It’s fun to debate all of these what ifs and how’s and why nots. But really at the end of the day, do any of us actually believe that Apple of all companies hasn’t considered all of the options.

That they haven’t covered all of the bases makes me chuckle a little. This is Apple, Apple for Christ’s sake, the people who obsess over the tiniest of details. I’m pretty confident that whatever they have planned for the 8, it will be a good device over all.

Some adjustments may be needed in getting used to a new way of a device working. But we’ve managed that before surely? I had to adjust to a different operating system and an entirely new layout of phones for a couple of decades before iPhone came along. Then again when the iPhone did come along, I’m pretty sure I’ll cope. But that’s just me.

 

[Crow KC]

No. The home button. The big round button that may be removed. In order to use my phone, I have to press that. The power button won't unlock the screen.

Sorry, you'd typed "I still need to touch the power button before I can use it", so that's what I was responding to, since you don't need to touch the power button, but only the home button...

The pressing of the home button to unlock the phone is what will be replaced with either a gesture, a press of the power button instead, or perhaps either depending on configuration.

 

[Itsedstech]

So tap and hold the bar for Siri?

 

[djlythium]

To have to use two different swipe-up "speeds" to trigger Control Center vs. Multitasking/Home? You will forgive me if I am not optimistic about how well/consistently this would work... and it is certainly not as convenient as a dedicated Home button!

Well, it's a continuous swipe, not at different speeds, though.

 

[john123]

Exactly this!

The same people complaining that Apple is changing too much and making the iPhone 8 unintuitive would be complaining the loudest if they'd only release a 7S.

Change is not always bad and Apple has a really good track record for nailing OS interfaces and navigation so just wait until the 12th.

Change is also not always good. And we have seen some acrimonious changes lately on the hardware side. When you start coming up with solutions in search of problems while also making things less intuitive, you're on a slippery slope to bad product design.

 

[4jasontv]

Well, they don't on any iPhone I've used.

Also, from my understanding you will never need to be near the edge of the display to go home. You swipe up the bar at the bottom of the device according to Bloomberg report.

Oh. That makes more sense. The bottom of the device is no where near the edge of the device. Edges are only on the sides.

 

[blancoBronco]

Well, it's a continuous swipe, not at different speeds, though.

the problem is many people are already used to just swiping up however they please to get to the control center. if you change how they have to do it, they will have to be more deliberate about stopping or continuing, which will slow them down

 

[AlliFlowers]

Sorry, you'd typed "I still need to touch the power button before I can use it", so that's what I was responding to, since you don't need to touch the power button, but only the home button...

The pressing of the home button to unlock the phone is what will be replaced with either a gesture, a press of the power button instead, or perhaps either depending on configuration.

That was me, not the person who got attributed the quote. (Not sure how that happens.)

So let me comment again - you use raise to wake and then never use your phone because that's good enough and you never need to touch a button to open it? Cause that was what started this.

 

[Appleaker]

I wouldn't be so sure https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/9to5mac.com/2017/08/24/apple-pencil-iphone/amp/

It may not support it this's year but it's possible in the future, Tim Cook has even dropped a hint about it.

As for multitasking, yea that may be but personally I'd like to see 2 apps open similar to the iPad.

They’ve made patents about it in the past, it doesn’t mean they’ll do it. And basically all of my point was based on the premise that the iPhone would support the standard Pencil. Even with a smaller Pencil, I don’t see it happening. Tim Cooks ‘hint’ was just that he misspoke, or maybe he did let it slip because there’s no doubt that they’ve tested it on smaller displays.

As for 2 apps at once, I kind of agree but still think it wouldn’t be a good experience due to size. But it would be useful.

 

[Zxxv]

No, and of course, they never thought of this; they just slapped on a button without doing any thinking or testing. That's what the most successful company in the world does with its flagship product.

Yea they did the same with the six design and we all know what happens when taking pictures on that design. *roll eyes*
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Well, the article said images not photos. Although photos of CAD models have shown the change and it will happen. Having 2 pressure points could indicate it being more than elongated for comfort, which doesn't really make sense, but it could be either.

You're thinking too much. I meant taking photos with the phone.

 

[Dave245]

They’ve made patents about it in the past, it doesn’t mean they’ll do it. And basically all of my point was based on the premise that the iPhone would support the standard Pencil. Even with a smaller Pencil, I don’t see it happening. Tim Cooks ‘hint’ was just that he misspoke, or maybe he did let it slip because there’s no doubt that they’ve tested it on smaller displays.

As for 2 apps at once, I kind of agree but still think it wouldn’t be a good experience due to size. But it would be useful.

While at I agree that patents are not a confirmation of a product or a feature that Apple will announce, the fact that they have looked at it in the past and then again in more recent time does at least show they are looking at it.

I don't believe that Tim Cook simply misspoke if you ever watch an interview with Cook he takes pauses (often looking down) before answering questions or speaking and what Cook actually said was

“If you’ve ever seen what can be created with that pencil on an iPad or iPhone, it’s really unbelievable,” he said.

Now if that was just misspoken words he would of corrected himself pretty quickly. I also think it's in the realm of possibility because by doing so it could be serious competition for Samsung's Note line which is pretty popular and if Apple have seen that they may want to take some of the pie for themselves.

I think the apps thing would be useful on a bigger display, maybe the 5.8" iPhone 8 or the rumoured 6.3" for next year.

 

[MH01]

Hands up who can remember when Apple championed ergonomics and ease of use over their unnecessarily complicated competition? Let's hope this isn't true. Or it could be one step backwards too far this time. Not everybody is a geek ... people who bought the iphone were anything but. Apple used to pride themselves in being different to their rivals. Now the vision is dissipating and complexity is being introduced to distract from innovation. Or rather... the lack of it.

So so true. It's what happens when you stop leading and start following the pack, you get a better implementation of the S8 instead of a better iPhone

 

[kstotlani]

Yep.

I was in a apple store and a woman was getting her mac mini worked at at the genius bar. She got a text on her phone with two-factor alert. She kept trying to press the alert to open it...

Noooooo, you're supposed to SLIIIIIIDE it. It was then and there when I realized that iOS is not designed for simplicity anymore.

I agree with your post. "Let's kill the home button to make it more complicated for everyone." - un-challenged software engineers. You need a visionary to lead, and a person willing to challenge ideas.

Someone should make the "simple" phone again.

And at that keynote, the CEO should get up there and say, "all that confusing interface, and sliding, and you never know WHAT to do with it! YUCK!"

And when you try to slide a notification the widget page will appear. This happens to me every time. I have to literally concentrate on the precise location of the notification.

 

[Royal Gala]

The problem you had lies in your first sentence: Samsung. TouchWiz is a horrible example of Android.

Android is a horrible example of Android.

 

[canadianreader]

I’m really going to struggle with this. For nine years I’ve used the home button to wake my phone, my power button is very rarely used. It’s going to be a hard habit to break.

Indeed but it looks like Apple will be changing a lot of core habits and future iPhones will do without the home button.

 

[ksnell]

I’m really going to struggle with this. For nine years I’ve used the home button to wake my phone, my power button is very rarely used. It’s going to be a hard habit to break.

You can already raise to wake it without a home button.

Perhaps now if it is senses it is out on a table (with proximity sensors, light sensors, etc.) then you just have to look at it (FaceID) and tap the dark display.