The latest Apple iOS 4.3 beta has led to much speculation about the home button being removed in future devices. BGR reports
We have exclusively been told that the reason Apple just added multitouch gestures for the iPad in the latest iOS 4.3 beta is because the iPad will be losing the home button. Yes, we are told that Apple, at some point in time, will remove the home button from the iPad’s design. Instead of button taps, you will use new multitouch gestures to navigate to the home screen and also to launch the app switcher.
There has been much said about why it will stay.
I think it will stay (for now) but will eventually be completely removed from future iPad devices once people learn the gestures. I think the home button is a permanent fixture on the iPhone because it is a one hand usable device. The iPad however is a device you primarily hold in one hand and interact with using the other. Eliminating the home button is easier on such a device.
Apple is known for introducing changes slowly, training people and then making the switch when it is very well known. For now the idea is they want feedback. If the gestures break a lot of apps, they will find another gesture to get home. This is why it is either four or five finger pinch. Otherwise, they could put an option in the settings app for those in the know to turn it on, put it in more TV spots and in the near future make it permanent with those intelligent bezels.
Functional replacements
A lot of the other complaints about the home button can be easily fixed, albeit not as easy on the iPhone.
Screen capture: press and hold the sleep button with a new gesture swipe for screen capture instead of pressing the home button.
Right side up: the sleep button can still be used to determine which way is up on the iPad.
Force quit: Press and hold the sleep button and options will appear for things like restart device or quit current app along with the standard slide to power off and cancel.
Theres a running joke that Steve Jobs hates buttons. Well maybe he is just trying to remove one more button on future devices just not in the iPad 2.