Apple is reportedly developing a single-chip solution for handling both the touchscreen and display drivers for future iPhones, according to a new report coming out of Taiwan.
Interestingly the report suggests that the integrated design is designed to fit into an ultra-thin and ultra-narrow display — while also allowing Apple to completely eliminate the need for a physical iPhone “home” button by integrating fingerprint sensors into the main display.
If correct, the report is interesting for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, the elimination of a “home” button in favor of a virtual one would let Apple to free up more space for a display, without having to increase the physical size of the iPhone form factor to do so.
It also suggests that Apple is bringing more of its chip design in-house. From advertising to designing the CPUs for its products, Apple has brought more and more previously third-party business areas under its roof in recent times, since this enhances the amount of control (and secrecy) Apple is able to have.
As today’s report notes, however, the expansion of Apple’s in-house design business could have a “significant impact on the global semiconductor industry landscape.”
This would be felt particularly hard at a time when the worldwide semiconductor industry is already experiencing numerous shake-ups in the form of various mergers and acquisitions have been announced — such as Avago’s planned acquisition of major Apple supplier, Broadcom.
Source: Digitimes
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
11 responses to “Apple designing touchscreen chips for ‘ultra-thin’ iPhone with no Home button”
Could this not be for a new watch concept more along the lines of the Nike Fuel band?
I think once they decided to bring Force Touch to the iPhone, that was a clear sign that the home button’s days were numbered.
I thought Apple required a material as hard as sapphire for the Touch ID sensor to prevent wear. Apple would then be forced to go to a sapphire display.
Move the “home button” to the side of the phone under the sleep button’s current location. It’s where your thumb already rests when holding the phone. Allows for the existence of a physical home button with elimination of bezel, minimization of form factor (height/width/depth) and maintenance of screen size. Touch ID would then indeed become force touch activated with a digital interface.The phone would in essence be its most efficient with respect to physical size an ergonomic function.
full touch display and one power button wow that amazing…..
Aww, but I like the physical home button, what about touch ID…
Use your imagination
Fab! Finally! Let’s get rid of the home button.
Hopefully the camera suppliers can deliver a thinner module to eliminate the protrusion
I sure hope not… I love the physical home button and will be PISSED if they get rid of it. I turn Siri on in my car without looking down because I can feel the home button. I do it while she’s in my pocket even. Plus, if you get rid of a physical home button, you have to take up screen with a virtual home button anyway, it’s pointless.
My guess is there will still be a “button” under the screen with the same function as iPhones today, but it will be a virtual button that uses the force touch technology to simulate a “click” when pressed hard enough. I do wonder if the screen will retain tactile indicator of the button location so it can be found without looking for quick finger print reading.