Apple iPhone 7 has just launched less than a month ago. One of its major difference with the previous phone is its home button. What is new to it is that it can no longer be pressed like a real button; instead, it gives haptic feedback when clicked. But what if it fails to work?
One of the most abused features on a mobile device is the home button. Apple's home buttons, in particular, have proven to be one of the fragile ones. Now it seems that Apple is addressing this constant concern by possibly ruling it out completely.
According to Forbes, the controversies around the new home button continue as well as following a discovery by Myke Hurley, founder of RelayFM, who spotted the button only responds to capacitive touch, not pressure.
The publication goes on to claim that Apple is ditching the physical home button and replacing it with a Force Touch home button that is flush with the rest of the iPhone 7's face. This could be Apple's way to ease in the public and test the waters for a phone completely lacking a home button, which is how next year's iPhone is expected to look. To be more specific, Apple aims to make the device look like a "single sheet of glass."
This means the button will not react should you be wearing standard gloves since there is no response anymore to physical movement. As he points out, if you want to test this for yourself then put some material (such as your shirt/t-shirt) over the button and try pressing.
The publication goes on to claim that Apple is leaving the physical home button and substituting it with a Force Touch home button that is rich with the rest of the iPhone 7's face. This could be Apple's way to help the public and test the waters for a phone completely lacking a home button, which is how next year's iPhone is expected to look. To be more specific, Apple aims to make the device look like a "single sheet of glass."
The Force Touch will be built into the home button, according to Mac Rumors. When pressed, the flat home button will provide haptic feedback, acting much like the current force touch trackpad on newer MacBooks. The haptic feedback will give the sensation of pressing a button, without the physical touch.
