iPhone 7 May Include Flush '3D Touch' Home Button

[Dave245]

I wonder with how many people, who have been mocking/saying the iPhone is falling behind and all the other doomsday nonsense, will be buying the iPhone 7 when it comes out. It amazes me that every year people say the same stuff, then the iPhone comes out and they go buy it! Apple break records and make a fortune

 

[Appleaker]

I wonder with how many people, who have been mocking/saying the iPhone is falling behind and all the other doomsday nonsense, will be buying the iPhone 7 when it comes out. It amazes me that every year people say the same stuff, then the iPhone comes out and they go buy it! Apple break records and make a fortune

Probably quite a lot to be honest. People are saying doomsday stuff about every Apple product at this point and they are almost always wrong. Sales is unpredictable, since the design hasn't changed much and if it is called the 6SE, sales may be around the sales of the 6S rather than the 6 as consumers don't see the difference between the 6S and 6SE/7

 

[jscooper22]

I just hope they move the reset button back to the top from the side. It's freakin' annoying to push where it is.

 

[Dave245]

Probably quite a lot to be honest. People are saying doomsday stuff about every Apple product at this point and they are almost always wrong. Sales is unpredictable, since the design hasn't changed much and if it is called the 6SE, sales may be around the sales of the 6S rather than the 6 as consumers don't see the difference between the 6S and 6SE/7

Don't get me wrong i'm not saying that people shouldn't have an opinion, it just seems to me that a few people are posting doomsday type of posts about the iPhone, and as you say most other Apple products, yet they then buy them when they are announced and released.
How many people moaned about the iPad Pro? and yet it has great sales, even beating Microsofts Surface. The same for the iPhone 6s last year, which then went on to break Apple's own sales record.

 

[SMIDG3T]

You will need to press it.

I know, I meant physically press it as it's not a "button".

 

[vsx-ax3]

How about if they do this, picture quality will suffer significantly ?

How about buying a real camera for taking real pictures?

 

[Nickerbocker]

How about making the camera lens flush, Apple?

This. I hate that I have to use a case with my iPhone 6S. I'd much prefer it be a little bigger such that the camera doesn't stick out. I use my iphone face up on my desk a lot and without a case, it wobbles.

Make the case a little bigger and they might even be able to fit a larger battery. Things people need.

 

[Savor]

That Space Black render I keep posting...

This news is sorta just getting regurgitated over and over. The rumors have been around for months now. Still, I love the capacitive home button. Something found on Android phones since 2009! What next, Apple? On-screen home button? Recent apps menu? Back action? Android was so far ahead already with the button layout because Steve Jobs insisted for iPhones to have a single home button.

This is how most people use an iPhone -
- Turn on screen by pressing the home button
- Slide to unlock and input some passcode if you turn it on
- Swipe left or right and open an app
- To close the app or go back to the homescreen, press home button or tap Assistive Touch (twice).
- Find another app to open or turn off the display with the power button.
- Wake it up again by pressing the home or power button.

Prior to double tap to wake that LG copied from the Nokia N9 (2011) for their G2 and the Active Display from the Moto X, most Android phones either had capacitive buttons or on-screen. Since Android phones lacked a physical home button, we had to press the power button at least 100x per day while iPhone users had two buttons to wake the screen. And getting a text didn't wake it up either. Then LG's KnockOn changed it for us and others like HTC and Sony applied it to their 2014 phones. But we always benefitted with the capacitive or onscreen back or home button to close an app and return to the homescreen.

Even with the Motorola Active Display copycat "raise to wake" on the 6s and SE to prevent presses to wake up the display, you still will press the physical home button several times per day just to go back to the homescreen and close apps. This is the biggest problem for not featuring a back button. Or you need to double tap the home button to open the recent apps/multi-task menu.

I wished iOS added gesture shortcuts like Android launchers do. I always have swipe up anywhere in the homescreen linked to the Screen Off & Lock app. Or double tap the homescreen to Greenify's Hibernation. Or double tap the status bar to silence the phone. Prevents me from pressing anymore physical buttons whether to wake it, sleep it, or silence it. Thank goodness for Nova Prime, Smart Launcher 3, and All In One Gestures for offering gesture swipes.

I do prefer if Apple calls it iPhone 7 but it will likely be called 6se since having the same design keeps the same number. The 2017 iPhone will be called iPhone 7. SE is now the term used at the end for the last model of this three-year cycle. Who cares, really? Just names. You are still not quite where many Android phones are yet, Apple. But you're getting there with this iPhone 6 "special edition."

iPhone 6
iPhone 6 speed
iPhone 6 special edition (and still expensive)

 

[Gix1k]

But what about the leaked pics/vids???? They have a button. Fakes?

 

[Appleaker]

That Space Black render I keep posting...

This news is sorta just getting regurgitated over and over. The rumors have been around for months now. Still, I love the capacitive home button. Something found on Android phones since 2009! What next, Apple? On-screen home button? Recent apps menu? Back action? Android was so far ahead already with the button layout because Steve Jobs insisted for iPhones to have a single home button.

This is how most people use an iPhone -
- Turn on screen by pressing the home button
- Slide to unlock and input some passcode if you turn it on
- Swipe left or right and open an app
- To close the app or go back to the homescreen, press home button or tap Assistive Touch (twice).
- Find another app to open or turn off the display with the power button.
- Wake it up again by pressing the home or power button.

Prior to double tap to wake that LG copied from the Nokia N9 (2011) for their G2 and the Active Display from the Moto X, most Android phones either had capacitive buttons or on-screen. Since Android phones lacked a physical home button, we had to press the power button at least 100x per day while iPhone users had two buttons to wake the screen. And getting a text didn't wake it up either. Then LG's KnockOn changed it for us and others like HTC and Sony applied it to their 2014 phones. But we always benefitted with the capacitive or onscreen back or home button to close an app and return to the homescreen.

Even with the Motorola Active Display copycat "raise to wake" on the 6s and SE to prevent presses to wake up the display, you still will press the physical home button several times per day just to go back to the homescreen and close apps. This is the biggest problem for not featuring a back button. Or you need to double tap the home button to open the recent apps/multi-task menu.

I wished iOS added gesture shortcuts like Android launchers do. I always have swipe up anywhere in the homescreen linked to the Screen Off & Lock app. Or double tap the homescreen to Greenify's Hibernation. Or double tap the status bar to silence the phone. Prevents me from pressing anymore physical buttons whether to wake it, sleep it, or silence it. Thank goodness for Nova Prime, Smart Launcher 3, and All In One Gestures for offering gesture swipes.

I do prefer if Apple calls it iPhone 7 but it will likely be called 6se since having the same design keeps the same number. The 2017 iPhone will be called iPhone 7. SE is now the term used at the end for the last model of this three-year cycle. Who cares, really? Just names. You are still not quite where many Android phones are yet, Apple. But you're getting there with this iPhone 6 "special edition."

iPhone 6
iPhone 6 speed
iPhone 6 special edition (and still expensive)

It's not technically capacitive as it responds to pressure rather than touch, therefore it's nothing like Android phones. A lot of buyers may not even be aware of the feature because it will feel like you are pressing it.
Why add buttons for each function when it can be done with one? They are actually less likely to add other buttons because they now can add functions for different amounts of pressure. And they're less likey to move to software because the home button won't wear out like previous ones have done. It also takes up screen space but who knows, they could come up with a solution for the 2017 model.
[doublepost=1469643062][/doublepost]

But what about the leaked pics/vids???? They have a button. Fakes?

It will still have the button, and not all leaks have a genuine front panel, it's usually the metal casing that leaks. If you're talking about a flush home button, then it probably won't be flush - it wouldn't really make sense and the source article didn't mention it, MacRumors added it.
[doublepost=1469643450][/doublepost]

I know, I meant physically press it as it's not a "button".

Well the user will be pressing it as they are putting pressure on it, and they will feel like it moves but yeah, it won't physically move. I will still be refered to as pressing just as clicking is still referred to as clicking on MacBooks.

But your point was that if it doesn't move, why have it? Did you mean to integrate it into the bottom bezel or get rid of it and implement a software button?
The are noticeable disadvantages with either not to mention the issues with Touch ID.

 

[kmanmx]

How about buying a real camera for taking real pictures?

That's one of the dumbest thing's i've read on here in a while. The entire point in the advancement of smartphone cameras is so that you need to carry an actual camera less and less. They're supposed to be getting better so they can replace your camera. No one in their right mind wants to carry both a camera and smartphone, so that's why so very little people do it.

If you want a camera that doesn't protrude, you have to get a smaller sensor module. The picture quality will be signficiantly worse, and we'll go back several years in terms of smartphone camera picture quality. And for what ? what problem does having a protruding lens actually cause ? you're going to have a very hard time damaging or scratching it seeing as it's made from crystal or sapphire, and i've never seen somone try and type with their smartphone actaully on the table. They just pick it up. Not to mention the significant amount of people who just put a case on anyway. I truly don't get it.

 

[SMIDG3T]

Well the user will be pressing it as they are putting pressure on it, and they will feel like it moves but yeah, it won't physically move. I will still be refered to as pressing just as clicking is still referred to as clicking on MacBooks.

But your point was that if it doesn't move, why have it? Did you mean to integrate it into the bottom bezel or get rid of it and implement a software button?
The are noticeable disadvantages with either not to mention the issues with Touch ID.

Just get rid of it. It's not "if", it's "when" they implement the Home button into the screen itself. Might be next year or the year after.

 

[Appleaker]

Just get rid of it. It's not "if", it's "when" they implement the Home button into the screen itself. Might be next year or the year after.

What is the advantage?
All it does is sacrifices ease of use for a 'cleaner front'.

 

[KamaloPSU]

I don't know how I feel about this... I mean I know Apple would make it right but I'm scared they might make it wrong.

On my Nexus 6P it works and feels great. I think Apple will nail it considering the user experience is big deal at Apple AND their hardware is pretty fantastic.

 

[Savor]

Before buying a Nexus One, my phobia with pressing physical buttons repeatedly began when reading about its power button issue and when my iPhone 4's home button started to build up gunk inside and became less than 50% responsive after 18 months until cleaning it off with 70% rubbing alcohol. From 2008-2012 unless you used a Samsung which features a physical home button, most Androids had capacitive buttons. To wake it was the power button.

Then onscreen buttons became standard by Ice Cream Sandwich. Had to remedy Nexus One's shoddy power button by using this app called No Lock. Eliminated a lockscreen but you can wake it using the volume buttons. No Lock didn't lose its ability until Jelly Bean when Google decided not to have volume buttons wake up the screen. So by the time I got HTC One M7, I can gesture to turn off screen but still was forced to use power button to wake it.

SMS Wakeup and DynamicNotifications helped when messages arrived. All In One Gestures helped too. But I wanted double tap to wake but didn't want to root. It wasn't until Wakeup Touch Nexus app became the savior to my M7's power button. It can be a little sensitive acting similar to raise to wake with subtle movement, but I can turn on my screen just by hovering my hand like a Jedi over the sensors or pressing the phone against my chest for a second. Then HTC just had to tick me off when double tap to wake/sleep was featured on the M8.

Once I got the Xiaomi, I could use volume buttons to wake it but ended up still using Wakeup Touch Nexus since the volume buttons started to become less responsive after a year. WTN doesn't always work for certain phones or software updates. I like how Oppo features drawing a certain letter to open certain apps when the screen is off. I still prefer double tap to wake/sleep over anything including raise to wake. Once your screen goes off with raise to wake, you have to set the phone back down to wake it which leads me to press power to save time.

Double tap is still much easier and faster. Nokia nailed it back then. LG just copied it and offered it to the Android world as Knock Knock or KnockOn. Nokia had it long ago before putting it on WP...

Xiaomi: capacitive buttons
wake up display: WTN, volume
turn off display: double tap (Greenify), swipe up (Screen Off & Lock)
exit an app: home, back

LG: onscreen buttons
wake up display: double tap, KnockCode
turn off display: double tap (Greenify), swipe up (Screen Off & Lock)
exit an app: home, back

Motorola: onscreen buttons
wake up display: Moto Display turned on by default (similar to raise to wake)
turn off display: double tap (Greenify), swipe up (Screen Off & Lock)
exit an app: home, back

Microsoft/Nokia: onscreen buttons
wake up display: double tap
turn off display: double tap nav bar
exit an app: home, back

I also prefer using virtual volume controls on all of them including video player apps that can control volume or brightness just by scrolling up or down with your finger. Why is it so difficult for Apple to finally implement a back button? I can press the back button on my other phones and exit the app I opened. Exiting an app will still demand physical home button presses or AssistiveTouch for older iPhones.

Exiting an app wouldn't be as bad on 6se thanks to the capacitive home button or whatever the hell Apple wants to call it. The only issue with the 6se I see is no gesture to sleep unless I click the AssistiveTouch three times (open, Device, Lock Screen). So either that annoying AT still needs to be on or some added wear and tear to that power button.

Much faster for me....

Think of physical buttons like a battery. The more full charge cycles on a battery, the faster it wears out. The more presses on any physical button, the faster it wears out. At least 6se will have one less physical button to worry about. Just the power switch to sleep it. Gotten so used to my swipe up or double tap gesture to Screen Off or Greenify's Hibernate.

 

[Loco Emperor]

Favorite new feature (or omission) next to iOS10's "Raise to Wake" which copied Motorola's Active Display.

Actually its a essentially an enhanced version of Windows phone glance feature.

Edit: my bad. I see you followed up later on.

 

[Nahaz]

The only hurdle I see is how would we reset our phones. I guess you'd just apply pressure to the Home button while holding the Sleep/wake button.

Yes, but what happens if the Home Button subroutine crashes and locks the phone?
At the moment Apple relies on a physical switch to do this. A bit like resetting a CMOS Bios

 

[OneMike]

How about making the camera lens flush, Apple?

Does it really matter? I mean really. Average person puts their phone in a giant case making it a moot point. If you sit the phone on a table without a case it doesn't wobble. Personally I don't care about flush camera. I want a better camera whatever it requires to get it.

 

[maxsix]

How about making the camera lens flush, Apple?

While I firmly believe Apple's capable of making the camera lens flush, they'd likely increase the price of the phone by the least $250...

 

[supermariofan25]

Not sure why they need this to make it waterproof. Samsung does it while having a physical home button.

Having a physical button creates a movable part which will wear down the water resistant seal more quickly, better to require no seal at all then to have one that will become less effective over time.

 

[deany]

Woo Hoo! Now we can shower with our phones! Hasn't been an issue since 2007. Its practically waterproof now, other than to go swimming with it I can't really see why this is a hallmark feature.

I lost my iPhone in a wood near to where I live on a late night walk last week- I found it with "find iphone" and apple watch - fortunately it didn't rain that night.....otherwise.....
[doublepost=1469678100][/doublepost]

I think these waterproof phone comments are troll ones.

Who are these jabronis that need to submerge their phones in water? Did they see some goof at a party do it with a Sony Xperia in a water filled glass a few years ago?

please see my last post

 

[supermariofan25]

The problem I have with this is that in iOS10 the "rest/press to open" can be very frustrating if it doesn't read your fingerprint. You HAVE to fail the scan 3 times to get to the passcode screen. They need to bring back swipe to unlock so that you can go straight to the passcode if you want to.

Rest to unlock was always an option when swipe to unlock was the main feature

From my understanding, as well as from using iOS10, pressing the home button brings up the passcode screen straight away if a registered fingerprint is not detected.

 

[deany]

it would be good if apple watch unlocked iPhone like macOS

 

[lordofthereef]

Don't get me wrong i'm not saying that people shouldn't have an opinion, it just seems to me that a few people are posting doomsday type of posts about the iPhone, and as you say most other Apple products, yet they then buy them when they are announced and released.
How many people moaned about the iPad Pro? and yet it has great sales, even beating Microsofts Surface. The same for the iPhone 6s last year, which then went on to break Apple's own sales record.

How do you know it's the same people? I certainly have no way to know.

I ask because I'm one of the folks that isn't intrigued this year, a first for me. I wouldn't call anything I've posted as "dooms day", but it's also not something in interested in.

There are roughly 7 billion people in this earth. It's very difficult to pinpoint who says what and then goes on purchasing a specific product.

Fwiw I don't think I have heard this much negativity towards an iPhone, well, ever. People see what they're losing and not what they're gaining. Hopefully there is a lot to gain, and I truly mean that. There just isn't anything in the leaks we've seen to suggest it.
[doublepost=1469682458][/doublepost]

Having a physical button creates a movable part which will wear down the water resistant seal more quickly, better to require no seal at all then to have one that will become less effective over time.

While I can respect this opinion, what of the other hardware buttons and switches? It can probably be argued that the home button is the most frequently pressed, but in sure the sleep wake button is a darn close second.

Not saying your assessment is wrong. I just don't see water proofing as being the main goal here. I honestly just see a none moving part being optimal for numerous thing. Wear (not just waterproof wear but actual tactile button wear) is greatly reduced. In theory we also have more space being said button since it needs not be depressed. Lastly, it can be a stepping stone move for getting rid of the actual home button altogether (years from now). Many have suggested that the actual design of the Lightning port was made with the mindset that the 3.5mm jack will eventually be removed; my thinking is this could be a similar situation.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

That's one of the dumbest thing's i've read on here in a while. The entire point in the advancement of smartphone cameras is so that you need to carry an actual camera less and less. They're supposed to be getting better so they can replace your camera. No one in their right mind wants to carry both a camera and smartphone, so that's why so very little people do it.

If you want a camera that doesn't protrude, you have to get a smaller sensor module. The picture quality will be signficiantly worse, and we'll go back several years in terms of smartphone camera picture quality. And for what ? what problem does having a protruding lens actually cause ? you're going to have a very hard time damaging or scratching it seeing as it's made from crystal or sapphire, and i've never seen somone try and type with their smartphone actaully on the table. They just pick it up. Not to mention the significant amount of people who just put a case on anyway. I truly don't get it.

I don't think it's dumb at all.

For all the advances in the iPhone camera, a dedicated camera is still superior in many important ways. It is heavier and larger, which makes it more stable and more likely to focus. It is easier to hold, and easier to snap photos with a steady hand; the iPhone is far from ideal in this respect. It has optical zoom; the iPhone has none. It has more powerful flash when needed. And it likely has a superior lens and a more durable build. Unless an SLR, it will fit in a pocket. I find it no great hardship to carry my camera when I want good pictures.

For video, the iPhone is all I need. For photos, a dedicated camera still trumps it easily.