Lack of Home Button: Should We be Worried?

[Skeptical.me]

I can just frown and face ID does not work but 99% of the time it works for me. I forget what it is doing sometimes.

Yeah, it can often be quite sensitive to facial movements I've found.

 

[darkarn]

I didn't really think it would be an issue, but I have been playing Kingdom Hearts Union χ and I keep bringing myself into the app switcher when trying to navigate in the game which is FRUSTRATING.

This was what I was worried about. Based on your responses and everyone's so far, it seems to be dependant on the app in question?

The array of sensors needed for Face ID are also parts that could fail and need to be replaced. I get what you're saying in that it's not a moving part the user physically interacts with, but then neither was it on the iPhone 7 or 8.

You got a point there; what do the iPhones 7 or 8 use though?

 

[Dave-Z]

You got a point there; what do the iPhones 7 or 8 use though?

They use the 3D Touch mechanism to sense pressure on the glass in that part. Similar to the 3D Touch elsewhere on the screen. It's weird but if you completely power off a 7 or 8 and press where the circular home button is it feels just like pushing on a solid surface (because it is).

 

[subjonas]

It’s astounding the blinders people wear on these forums. It took about 20 comments before anyone addressed the question.

I can’t speak from experience but I’d imagine it depends on the app. Developers would need to change any game gestures that conflict. But seeing as that swipe up gesture from has been used for awhile to bring up the dock/app switcher/control center in iOS, there shouldn’t be too many games that have that problem.

 

[Starfia]

This is just from memory – it's been a while since I checked – but I believe the iOS frameworks offer developers the option of "guarding" the edges of their screen for situations where gestures have app-specific functions, particularly immersive apps like games or media players.

When that functionality is active, that horizontal indicator dims, and an upward gesture from the lower edge will be passed to the app for processing rather than returning the user to the home screen. At this point, the indicator becomes opaque, indicating that a subsequent upward swipe will activate the home screen.

Or something like that. I'm pretty sure the thinking behind it is as long-lived as the thinking behind removing the home button.

 

[HarryWild]

No! It is ancient after using the swipe and face ID.

 

[darkarn]

They use the 3D Touch mechanism to sense pressure on the glass in that part. Similar to the 3D Touch elsewhere on the screen. It's weird but if you completely power off a 7 or 8 and press where the circular home button is it feels just like pushing on a solid surface (because it is).

Thanks, this also explains why the iPhones are not "clicky" sometimes

It’s astounding the blinders people wear on these forums. It took about 20 comments before anyone addressed the question.

I can’t speak from experience but I’d imagine it depends on the app. Developers would need to change any game gestures that conflict. But seeing as that swipe up gesture from has been used for awhile to bring up the dock/app switcher/control center in iOS, there shouldn’t be too many games that have that problem.

Some games do have a lot of swipe ups though but thankfully it seems to bring up the Control Center only when swiped at the very bottom edge

This is just from memory – it's been a while since I checked – but I believe the iOS frameworks offer developers the option of "guarding" the edges of their screen for situations where gestures have app-specific functions, particularly immersive apps like games or media players.

When that functionality is active, that horizontal indicator dims, and an upward gesture from the lower edge will be passed to the app for processing rather than returning the user to the home screen. At this point, the indicator becomes opaque, indicating that a subsequent upward swipe will activate the home screen.

Or something like that. I'm pretty sure the thinking behind it is as long-lived as the thinking behind removing the home button.

Thanks, that's something that can be looked into too

 

[Tapiture]

In iOS 12 they added the swipe-to-exit on all the iPads and I personally find it really annoying. I often accidentally exit apps when I’m trying to pull the dock up. I think they should ditch that and keep the five-fingered pinch to close for the iPad and not have a swipe-up exit.

 

[Jonathantuba]

My only concern would be how to clear memory with no home button? On current iPad I hold off button until off toggle comes up and hold home button to clear memory. I do use this facility as least once or twice a month when it starts getting slow - makes a big difference.
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In iOS 12 they added the swipe-to-exit on all the iPads and I personally find it really annoying. I often accidentally exit apps when I’m trying to pull the dock up. I think they should ditch that and keep the five-fingered pinch to close for the iPad and not have a swipe-up exit.

That is the one thing I don’t like about iOS 12

 

[Ralfi]

My only concern would be how to clear memory with no home button? On current iPad I hold off button until off toggle comes up and hold home button to clear memory. I do use this facility as least once or twice a month when it starts getting slow - makes a big difference.

You can still do it. I've never felt the need, but I just did it now, as per...
https://www.igeeksblog.com/how-to-clear-ram-on-iphone-x/

 

[Gsmaniac]

I have this issue on my iPad when playing injustice. All the swiping that is part of the game means I’m constantly bringing up the control centre/app switcher/home. It’s bloody annoying. Wish there was a like a game mode toggle that disables these actions. My iPad has a home button but the ios12 update to accomodate the new buttonless iPads is the cause of the issue.