Buttons. They are now obsolete

[Bateluer]

http://www.dailytech.com/New+Featur...ome+Button+on+iPads++iPhones/article20646.htm

* Personal hotspot capabilities for GSM devices
* AirPlay support for third-party native apps and third-party Web apps
* Redesigned FaceTime icon
* Multi-touch gesture support for iPad — “This beta release contains a preview of new Multi-Touch gestures for iPad. You can use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen; swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar; and swipe left or right between apps. We are providing this preview before releasing them to the public to understand how these gestures work with your apps.”
* Configurable slide switch for iPad
* iAd full screen banners on the iPad

No buttons? Hmm, seems like fandaggling with 4 buttons on a 3-4in screen may be rather difficult? Wonder if some future generation Macbook will replace the keyboard with some kind of touch screen/virtual keyboard? Whats that you're saying? Ergonomics? Your wrist bones will grow to adapt.

 

[Pliablemoose]

I remember that there were rumors of an unusual method of interacting with the ipad before it was released, they must have gone with the more traditional method with Gen1 of the iPad and took some time to polish up the multipoint touch interface they appear to be releasing with Gen 2.

 

[zerocool84]

Not surprising but cool nonetheless.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

It's just beta to see how it works out. I don't see them removing the home button for the next 2 iterations of both the iPad and iPhone at least.

 

[boomhower]

I can see it in the iPad but not the iPhone. You have to be able to use a phone one handed, it would be find of hard without any buttons at all.

 

[Spicedaddy]

I can see it in the iPad but not the iPhone. You have to be able to use a phone one handed, it would be find of hard without any buttons at all.

Exactly what I was thinking. No home button might work on the ipad, but I use my phone with one hand most of the time. And 4 fingers on a 3.5" screen? Makes no sense.

Something like a circular motion with the thumb would be better. Clockwise for single click, counter-clockwise for double-click (app switcher).

 

[her209]

“This beta release contains a preview of new Multi-Touch gestures for iPad. You can use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen; swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar; and swipe left or right between apps. We are providing this preview before releasing them to the public to understand how these gestures work with your apps.”

With the exception the pinch to Home Screen gesture, it sounds exactly like the HP (formerly Palm) webOS. But it doesn't surprise me that Apple is trying to claim it as original.

 

[notposting]

http://www.dailytech.com/New+Featur...ome+Button+on+iPads++iPhones/article20646.htm

Wonder if some future generation Macbook will replace the keyboard with some kind of touch screen/virtual keyboard?

Macbook Wheel