- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
The latest iOS 18 update strongly hints that Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 16 lineup might incorporate the highly anticipated solid-state buttons.
Unveiled at the recent WWDC, iOS 18 includes a much-discussed “hide and lock apps” feature that some worry could be misused for privacy concerns related to infidelity. Among its other noteworthy additions are many AI features and several notable improvements, including enhanced visual effects.
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No buttons is a really dumb idea, phones have recovery modes binded to physical buttons for a reason. But then again, why would a typical iPhone user try to recover his phone on his own or even yet know that that exists altogether.
I mean, this is about replacing “buttons” with “solid state buttons”. There’s no indication that a solid state button has a higher failure rate than normal buttons, and you already have cases where normal buttons break and the phone cannot be recovered.
This is like complaining that they moved to OLED because LED screens are used to convey information… it’s essentially doing the exact same thing.
That’s not exactly the concern: solid state buttons should be more reliable. The concern is that if something happens, like a bug or failed update, where the only hope of recovery is to reset it, you’re depending on buttons controlled by the same software that’s already broken.
In theory, mechanical buttons continue to work, regardless of the OS or drivers being locked up, so you can still recover
I read elsewhere that they had implementarion issues, anyway they are really hard to handle because of their feedback mechanism thus easy to accidentally press. It seems that the only benefit are looks and durability at the cost of repairability, ease of use and cost.
“physical buttons” are digital anyway, and solid state buttons don’t necessarily mean software controlled buttons.
I want more buttons not less
I would like at least 26 more buttons
The technology arguably exists for them to make solid states buttons that look and feel real. If they protrude, and have pressure sensitivity and haptics like the Magic TrackPad, then they’re going to fool the vast majority of people.
And by doing this, they could leverage some of extra features and configurations options that their other solid state buttons have had. Gestures, pressure sensitivity, increased accessibility customization, etc.
iOS 19 will introduce something that deliberately cuts that battery life in half. I speak from experience.
People seem to hate on this for one reason or another, but I think it’s great if done well. It’s not actually “buttonless”, it will still have a frame with shapes for something looking like a button, it just won’t physically move when pressed. If they make it work as good as their trackpads (which are the best trackpads out there no contest imo) or similar to the solid state home button the iPhone 7, 8, SE2 and SE3 have, I’d say it’s better than actual physically moving buttons: the button will feel consistent between devices of the same model (you can get slightly different feeling physical buttons between the same iPhone model or also another manufacturer’s phone model because of tolerances), it could be configurable (sensitivity and feedback, like you were able to configure the home button starting with the iPhone 7), it makes the frame more rigid, solid state buttons basically never break, they could have different actions at different pressure levels (with feedback to match) etc.
Apple’s solid state trackpads are downright eerie. It feels so damn weird when they’re turned off. It feels like they should physically move, but they don’t.
I just like the sensory feedback of feeling buttons clicking downwards. I’ve used solid state buttons before and while they’re far better than pure touch control “buttons,” they still don’t feel like real buttons to me. Haptics help the illusion, for sure, but it can’t match the analog feeling perfectly.
And like the other comment said, how do they get around frozen software and being able to use the buttons to force power cycle a device? Unless the buttons have a completely separate controller outside of the OS?
Ugh annoying headline. “Buttonless” implies the buttons are disappearing, like the home button. The articles says they might be using “solid state buttons” which, I think, are a bit like the Macbook trackpads, there’s no real button but it still acts and responds just like a trackpad button.
The lock and volume buttons likely will still be there, just won’t physically move, and use haptic feedback instead.
The haptic feedback on the AirBudz Pro is amazing. I legit thought I was pressing real butan at first.
I like that I can currently adjust the volume or silence a call on my phone in my pocket by feeling the physical buttons. I miss being able to deliberately unlock my phone with touch id as I’m picking it up without having to look at it square on.
Hell, I even miss the chin and bezel. I liked having neutral space to grab the phone without it registering a tap or swipe.
Maybe I’m getting old, but smartphone design largely peaked several years ago, and they insist on making changes to parts of the phone that are perfectly fine.
I miss being able to bend over without my phone jabbing into me while in my pocket. However I think the desire for both smaller phones and more buttons is off trend unfortunately.
One of the biggest reasons I got a flip style foldable phone. The best of all worlds in my opinion.
