Rumor claims Apple ordering Synaptics LCD parts amid delays in ditching iPhone's home button
For its 2016 iPhone models, Apple is reportedly placing LCD driver orders with Synpatics because of delays with in-house work on merging touch and display components.
Development on single-chip touch and display driver integration (TDDI) has "fallen behind schedule," DigiTimes said on Thursday, citing industry sources. The people didn't suggest a cause for the setback.
DigiTimes has a mixed track record with covering Apple products beyond its narrow supply chain focus. The latest rumor is consistent, however, with information from an AppleInsider source in June, which indicated that Apple is working towards removing the home button from iPhones, but won't have the technology ready until at least 2017.
TDDI is a fundamental ingredient for such technology, and past rumors have hinted that the company is trying to build Touch ID sensors into iPhone displays. This would allow users to unlock a phone simply by touching the screen, and give Apple the option of further trimming down bezels and weight. A multi-touch gesture would likely be needed to jump back to the homescreen, unless an onscreen button is used instead.
Some time ago Apple hired senior engineers from Renesas SP Drivers -- now a part of Synaptics -- to work on TDDI, DigiTimes added. Apple attempted to buy a controlling interest in Renesas in 2014, but the latter company is believed to have turned to Synpatics after making no progress in talks.
Development on single-chip touch and display driver integration (TDDI) has "fallen behind schedule," DigiTimes said on Thursday, citing industry sources. The people didn't suggest a cause for the setback.
DigiTimes has a mixed track record with covering Apple products beyond its narrow supply chain focus. The latest rumor is consistent, however, with information from an AppleInsider source in June, which indicated that Apple is working towards removing the home button from iPhones, but won't have the technology ready until at least 2017.
TDDI is a fundamental ingredient for such technology, and past rumors have hinted that the company is trying to build Touch ID sensors into iPhone displays. This would allow users to unlock a phone simply by touching the screen, and give Apple the option of further trimming down bezels and weight. A multi-touch gesture would likely be needed to jump back to the homescreen, unless an onscreen button is used instead.
Some time ago Apple hired senior engineers from Renesas SP Drivers -- now a part of Synaptics -- to work on TDDI, DigiTimes added. Apple attempted to buy a controlling interest in Renesas in 2014, but the latter company is believed to have turned to Synpatics after making no progress in talks.
Comments
Other rumors are called "reports"
How does AI decide?
Wonder how Apple can replace the functions of the home button.
1. Unlock/TouchID - simply press down on the screen
2. Ask Siri - ?
3. Go to home page - ?
4. App selector - ?
They could put a little triangle, a circle, and a square on the bottom when needed, and they could hide when not needed...
I've posted this idea before. With apps that part of the screen won't be force-touch-programmable.
The only problem I see with this idea is people getting confused which side of the phone the home button is on.
I'm not sure if this tech is ready within a year since they'd have to hide the earpiece,camera and sensors behind the screen also. A transparent screen would work but again, very futuristic.*
*a transparent capable display would allow an e-ink mode which I've been waiting for since 2010.
Looks like smartphones are approaching a technological plateau. At this point they have reached a level where we really don't need a new one unless the one we have breaks down. Until the next major breakthrough, something like teleportation or mental telepathy /joking/, they are going to be like the the history of the automobile industry - only minor incremental improvements for decades waiting for flying cars. The form and function of smartphones are pretty much defined at this point.
Give us Touch ID built into the Watch glass (please). It would be easier to authenticate than typing passcodes on the small screen.
I disagree.
Two big jumps are still needed - zero bezel display and foldable screens.
Those two alone will take a decade to come true. There is no such thing as a technological plateau as far as computing devices are concerned. Once the phone is maxed out we will move on to wearables.
Foldable screens would be a big jump. Zero bezel may be a technical challenge, but the benefit to the user is barely incremental.
The media wouldn't know how to report a upgrade like this on an s cycle (e.g. Loss of physical home button).
iPhone roadmap
2016/2017 - near zero bezel phone
2018/2019 - zero bezel phone
2020/2021 - foldable phone
2022/2023 - foldable phone - thinner, smaller bezel
I like your thinking.
Looks like smartphones are approaching a technological plateau. At this point they have reached a level where we really don't need a new one unless the one we have breaks down. Until the next major breakthrough, something like teleportation or mental telepathy /joking/, they are going to be like the the history of the automobile industry - only minor incremental improvements for decades waiting for flying cars. The form and function of smartphones are pretty much defined at this point.
We never knew we would need a camera, GPS, web browser, music player, Apple Pay, heart rate monitor, finger print ID, or whatever new thing. ...It.s too soon to call plateau.
I am still on the 5s, I would not have jumped to it if it were not for the fingerprint sensor. It's a godsend for me because I hated pass-codes.
Who knows what other new thing I never knew I needed was available on the next phone. Certainly nothing on the 6 series is tempting for me, but a smaller 7 with Apple Pay will do the trick.
For whatever reason, fandroids consider it cool, like wrapping thin rubber bands around 24" chrome dubs and putting that on your car so you look like the OG. Never mind that it would be impractical on potholed roads. It's all about stylin'.
anyone who want...
To have a 4.7" screen in a form factor of iPhone 4?
To have a 5.5" screen in a form factor of iPhone 6?
To have a 6.5" screen in a form factor of iPhone 6+?
The home button is not going away any time soon. It may not remain a physical mechanical button at some point, but it is just too nice of a feature to go away.
Yes. The only way to remove the home button would be if they come up with a method that is equally convenient, reliable and elegant. If a phone sans home button requires additional finger movements or gestures to achieve the same result, then it is a failure.
- Force-touch screen anywhere to unlock.
- To get to home screen, Siri, etc., STILL have a home button%u2014but just a thin part of the lower bezel. No fingerprint reader means it doesn't have to be finger-sized. (It could be a physical clicker, or it could be simulated like the magic trackpads.)
Second best:
- Use the Sleep button as the Home button. Extra-long-press it to sleep/lock, or use a gesture, or it will auto-lock in 5 seconds when put in a pocket, or face-down, or (optionally) face-up non-moving. This way, it's no additional buttons%u2014one less than today in fact. And that's already a button nobody fails to know exists.
iPhone roadmap
2016/2017 - near zero bezel phone
2018/2019 - zero bezel phone
2020/2021 - foldable phone
2022/2023 - foldable phone - thinner, smaller bezel
Looks like you got it all figured out.