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iOS 10 Beta shows that there will probably be some news to the home button, as seen with the new lockscreen (to unlock) gehsture - it's quite foreseeable, that there's some major changes regarding this topic. Hopefully some surprises as well!

Perhaps the will be drastic changes to the home button, evidenced by the lift to wake functionality of iOS 10. Wouldn't need a home button to see the screen...
 
It's quite smart to update the home button in this way. Force touch to unlock, creating a gesture essentially, and when the home button is gone and touch id is integrated into the display, we'll all be using force touch every single time we unlock our devices (it will be familiar), and will likely develop on the native platform and through developers as more than a gimmick. It just sucks that apple leaves us breadcrumbs for every single feature as this was probably the intention all along
 
I like the home button. Especially the Touch ID that powered Apple Pay and is debated from a security standpoint. If they can replicate it withou a physical button in terms of function, speed and reliability, the I am all in as this gives us the potential for more screen in the same form factor. But I said if. I am concerned that without a physical home button things like hard reset may be an issue.
 
Would be something else if they can manage to make the entire bottom of the phone the home "button", similar to the trackpad on the Mac. No matter where your thumb sits, esp. with the Plus models, you can still access it.

And it would be a good logical step in moving users over to the future where Touch ID is embedded in the display and to give Apple the time and opportunity to work out the kinks to transition to a full display front face

Can't innovate anymore my ass!

honestly a terrible idea
 
Of all the parts that break on iPhones, home button has to be at the top. Makes a lot of sense to reduce moving parts. Also likely saves a decent amount of space inside the phone.
 
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I wish Apple could do something about that... seems wasteful.
 
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I'd be fine with this as long as:
1. Accidental taps are ignored - I've used a Samsung GS5, and if your hand grazes the back/multitasking button you are immediately removed from whatever you are doing. Terrible UX. Apple can do this by requiring a certain amount of force and providing real time feedback.

2. They add home button swipe gestures - something like swipe up to go into multitasking, swipe left/right to switch between the last apps.

1: Not sure if you read the article at all, but it'll use 3D Touch/Force Touch technology. Not the same as capacitive touch buttons.

2: Those gestures already exist with the 6s/6s+. 3D Touch the left edge and swipe in. Stopping around the middle in the swipe brings up the App Switcher. Full swipe to right edge moves you to the last app.
 
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Home button is not a major feature. 2.0 of home isn't either. I'm not sure how many people will buy the phone for Touch ID. Even the camera lens looked cheesy.
 
Given the unreliability of each of the home button rumors, the information should be viewed with some skepticism until confirmed by a more reliable source, but when viewed alongside rumors of improved waterproofing and the removal of the headphone jack, a flush home button is not a rumor that seems entirely out of the question.

MacRumors, you need to do one very simple thing: tell us your honest opinion about the feasibility of rumours.

Do a round-up, and score the feasibility of rumours for you.

If not, we better read slowpoke and amateurish publications like the WSJ.
 
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Apple seems to be doing a good job creating misdirection this time around. I remember with the 5s and 6 we practically knew for sure every new change that would be coming around this period before the launch.
 
Can't help thinking the concave nature of the home button served an actual usability function. Haven't Apple's designers learned anything from Can'ttellwhichwayupmyAppleTVremoteis-gate?

That's a stupid complaint:

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If the long button (volume rocker) is in your right, then it's the right way up!
 
To me, the most obvious indication that this is true, is right within the iOS 10 betas redesigned lock screen. Apple has changed the unlock wording to "Press Home to Unlock."

And as we've seen in Apples more recent software, everywhere 3D Touch is possible, they've settled on wording the action with "press..."
 
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