With Apple testing the new developer build of iOS 4.3 to new multi-touch gestures as the home screen and switching between applications, speculation fast arose that Apple iOS 4.3 might be considering doing away with home button on the iPad as a means for shrinking the device.
Apple iOS 4.3 features
Apple is in fact contemplating doing for just that, with both the iPad and Apple iPhone being considered for home button removing.
We have exclusively been told that the reason Apple have been added multi-touch gestures for the iPad in the latest iOS 4.3 beta is because the iPad will be losing the home button. Yes, we are been told that Apple, at some point in a time, will remove the home button from the iPad’s designs. Instead of button taps, you will use new multitouch gestures to navigate to the home screen and also to launch the app switcher.
That’s not all, however. In addition to the home button disappearing from the iPad, we’re told that this change will make its way over to the iPhone as well. Our source said Apple employees are already testing iPads and iPhones with no home buttons on the Apple campus, and it’s possible we will see this new change materialize with the next-generation iPad and iPhone devices set to launch this year.BGR‘s source also indicates that the 2nd generation iPad may gain Photo Booth functionality and more iPad-specific versions of iLife applications.
The potential removal of the home button is certain to be controversial, as Daring Fireball‘s John Gruber argues that the single physical feature on the front of the device serves as a reference for new users, allowing them to intuitively know how to use the device the first time they pick it up.
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