An Apple patent spotted by Patently Apple shows a spring-loaded pop-up iPhone home button that acts as gaming joystick when in the raised position. Or, in patent language:
An electronic device includes a surface and a multi-function input device. The multi-function input device is operable in at least a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, an input portion of the multi-function input device is flush with the surface or recessed in the surface and is operable to receive z axis press input data. In the second mode, the input portion is positioned proud of the surface (i.e., project from the surface) and is operable to receive x axis input data and/or y axis input data. The input portion may also be operable to receive z axis input data in the second mode. In one example, the multi-function input device may have a button mode and a joystick mode.
It’s a fun idea, for sure, but personally I think Apple is more likely to head in the opposite direction over time: to find ways of losing a physical home button and turning it into either a touch-only device, perhaps eventually embedding it into the screen in order to lose the extended bezel at the bottom of the device. Bluetooth gaming controllers, especially with improvements, may better serve serious gamers, regardless.
Are you a gamer who’d love to see this? Or would you rather see Apple working to lose the bezel? As ever, let us know in comments.
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“to find ways of losing a physical home button and turning it into either a touch-only device, perhaps eventually embedding it into the screen in order to lose the extended bezel at the bottom of the device”
What is the obsession with this? What benefit is achieved by removing the Home Button? There are great advantages to having something real and tactile.
Those POS Android devices that have the little software house icon that you have to hunt for and press 50 times before it does anything….yeah, they are REAL advanced. Just another example of doing something just because….not thinking about it or testing it or trailing it to see if it works. Just throwing it out the door and in the hands of people who don’t know any better.
The Home Button is a great thing. There is no reason to get rid of it. At all.
Uhmmm …. to make the device smaller? I love my 6+ but damn its huge. It’d be nice to minimize it to make it “smaller”. And the Apple can sell millions more by selling this new “new iPhone”. Did you think the same thing about the optical disc drive in Macs. Well they are gone forever. Things change. Technology advances.
Make your 6+ smaller?!!!!
Did you just say that!!!!?
That’s bout the dumbest comment I’ve seen today, smdh
The home button is great? Sounds like the people who thought virtual keyboards were a bad idea too. Less bottoms are always better. Moving parts fail and take up space, not to mention the design limitations from keeping these things.
less buttons*
*fewer buttons
Its one button, and is incredibly important. You make no case for a virtual replacement…because such a thing would suck. Other operating systems and phones have tried it, and it does indeed suck.
I think it would be better if devices were smaller. I’d like a 4″ iPhone that was as short as the 4s.
Why did apple remove separated buttons from all trackpads? To make more room for gestures. They didn’t toss that physical click altogether but overall I think the new trackpads are better. If they could do something where pressing on the bottom of the screen could trigger a click… or perhaps use the new haptic feedback they developed for the watch. I think it could be interesting. The only issue with shrinking the home button size is that touch ID is such an integral part of it now. I can’t see any devices coming out without it. Maybe they can just improve that tech to work differently or with less of a footprint.
For when you’re iPhone is happy to see you.
I’d like to see the power button function with a short click act as a home bottom, and a long click act as a power button and have touch ID under an edge to edge display somehow. But thats for Apple engineers to figure out.
We are thought up hundred years ago, now by Apple petented it, http://www.cyberstyle.ru/newsline/1049-.html
From the patent looks like ther are preparing the phone to be used like a game controller on TV. Also is similar to the strap holder on iPod touch. Won’t be surprised if they get rid of all buttons or based on learnings from watch add the digital crown to the phone.