Apple sent out invites to the unveiling of the iPad 3 saying, “We have something you really have to see. And touch.” The image shows a device without the usual physical home button. Could Apple have left out the home button on the iPad 3?
Apple is known for dropping hints in its invites. When it sent out invites for the unveiling of the iPhone 4S, the invite read, “Let’s Talk iPhone”. This hinted on the voice-controlled personal assistant Siri. Could the image on their invite suggest the next generation iPad without a home button?
Before the iPad 2 was unveiled there were rumours flying around that Apple would ditch the home button. Now, there are rumours circulating once more claiming the same for the iPad 3. Furthermore, demoed to developers, Apple showed multi-touch gestures that bring you to the homescreen by simply making a pinching gesture on the screen with your entire hand.
Since this gesture takes you to the homescreen, there wouldn’t be any need to include a physical home button on the next generation iPad. This, however, wouldn’t be the case with the next iPhone, since it is designed to be used with one hand.
It’s possible that Apple took a shot of the iPad 3 in landscape mode, which means that the home button wouldn’t be seen in the shot. However, it wouldn’t make sense why they would choose to snap a picture of the tablet in that angle.
Do you think the iPad 3 would no longer sport a physical home button, or do you think Apple took a shot of the tablet in landscape mode? Give us your thoughts.
