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iPhone 7 now needs new armbands and bike holders :(

dmk1974

dmk1974

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 16, 2008
2,472
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Well, discovered the first main weakness (for my use) with my iPhone 7. Without a physical home button, using an armband with a clear protector or a bike bag with a clear cover is no bueno. With my 6s I could at least depress the home button and then (sometimes with some struggles) enter my 4-digit unlock code through the flimsy clear film. But now, since the home button is capacitive, no dice.

Will they be coming out with new versions with cutout holes for the home button or bottom portion now? I guess not terrible if they had to since it's more waterproof. Or get out your scissors and hole punches everyone :)
 
Well, I found one workaround that kinda seems to work (at least with my armband and bike bag).

  1. Go to Settings>General>Accessibility>AssistiveTouch
  2. Toggle AssistiveTouch to On (green)
  3. Under Customize Top Level Menu, change from 6 icons to 1 icon
  4. Tap the 1 icon and select Home from the list

You can position the home button "icon" pretty much anywhere on your screen. However, it is present for not only the lock screen, but also every other screen. It will fade after a few seconds so it is not as annoying. Per the attached photo, I placed mine centered along the bottom edge.

Not a perfect fix, but if you have an armband, bike bag, or have it in a zip lock bag to keep it protected (I know, it's now supposed to be waterproof), you can press the side wake button and then more easily tap this virtual home button and then enter your pin to access your phone.

I'll probably leave this AssistiveTouch disabled except for when I have it in such an armband or bag.
 

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Has anyone discovered armbands without a protective film? I once had one without for me iPhone 5, but can't seem to find any now. This would alleviate the issue. No need for a protective film since the phone is waterproof.
 
this is seriously a major F*k up in Apple's design. How can they now allow someone to be able to enter the passcode using the screen? If you are going to remove a physical button, then they need to allow us to perhaps swipe right beyond the camera to get to the unlock screen. Once you swipe right from the lock screen and get to the camera, you are stuck there unless you have access to the touch ID button which, if covered, is not accessible.

How can we get Apple to fix this in an update?
 
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I do have an Apple Watch Series 2. But sometimes during a run you need to access your phone to control Spotify, etc.
 
If they hadn't got rid of the swipe to enter pin in iOS 10 we wouldn't have this problem! Hopefully they will bring it back via a setting. May toggle between how it is now and how it was so we can choose what's best.

Do apple have a feedback site for suggestions?
 
Yes, Apple should allow to choose to swipe right to get camera or passcode. Or even swipe left a second time to get to the passcode unlock screen.
 
dmk1974 said:
Well, discovered the first main weakness (for my use) with my iPhone 7. Without a physical home button, using an armband with a clear protector or a bike bag with a clear cover is no bueno. With my 6s I could at least depress the home button and then (sometimes with some struggles) enter my 4-digit unlock code through the flimsy clear film. But now, since the home button is capacitive, no dice.

Will they be coming out with new versions with cutout holes for the home button or bottom portion now? I guess not terrible if they had to since it's more waterproof. Or get out your scissors and hole punches everyone :)
Click to expand...

I've been playing around with getting the home button to activate when things are in the way (see my post below)

a 1mm wide hole in the plastic case over the home button should be all that is required to get it to activate




I have been playing around with a few things today to see what the home button works with and doesn't.......for me...I just want to be able to press the home button to open the phone and return to the main screen as I press the screen when running to switch music etc

Assistive touch is a work around and I don't want to have that dot on the screen all the time

So...my test results....

Finger/skin and it works....so which objects between a finger and the button allows it to work (obviously Touch ID won't work)?????
Paper over the button - Works! :)
Plastic Carrier Bag - Works! :)
T-Shirt - Doesn't Work! :mad:
North Face Phone Compatible Gloves - Works! :)
Anker Armband Case (for Running) - Doesn't Work! :mad:

So it seems that it doesn't actually need skin contact to work but just some electrical discarge but once the phone is open then ALL the items allow the touchscreen to work

I also was experimenting with the size of hole needed in something like the Armband Case Plastic to allow the Home Button to react and a 1mm wide hole on the plastic allows enough of a capacitive touch to activate the home button

So.....the phone will work in my Anker Case but just needs a 1mm hole over the home button area
 
^^^ thanks for these tests. I have this Tribe armband used for running which has that plastic film over it. I'll try to make a small hole tonight and revert back
 
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Steviejobz said:
Yes, Apple should allow to choose to swipe right to get camera or passcode. Or even swipe left a second time to get to the passcode unlock screen.
Click to expand...
You can swipe left and tap say calendar to get straight to the passcode screen
 
Point taken..

Ok for music you swipe up and tap the album art. Passcode is asked for.
 
Steviejobz said:
^^^ thanks for these tests. I have this Tribe armband used for running which has that plastic film over it. I'll try to make a small hole tonight and revert back
Click to expand...

The size of hole probably depends on the thickness of the film....I actually think a hole the size of a paper hole punch would be perfect!!
 
Tried both mine which have plastic over where the button is and neither work on the home button.

I don't think it would affect me as I keep the screen on while putting it in the holder. So my order goes something like this

Bluetooth headphones on
Go music app start music usually an hour music mix so don't worry about skipping tracks
Swap to running app
Slide in to arm band
Tap and rub screen to stop timing out
Put onto arm tap screen again to keep alive
Go out side and press go on screen to start run.

That way at no point do I need to press home button or swap app etc.
 
For now, I will cut a hole using a matte knife. I am hoping that some more rigid armbands that are screen less are developed to alleviate this.

As stated earlier, if Spotify would develop an app that allows you to store music on the phone that would completely eliminate the need for the phone! (Don't see that happening)

Additionally, if the running apps allowed for training plans sans phone, instead of stripped down apps it would really make the Series 2 a standalone fitness device.
 
get a quadlock case. They have their own armband and the home button will obviously be exposed. You can also clip into a car mount, tripod, selfie stick, whatever. It's pretty slim for what it is too.
 
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