Despite Apple rocking the mobile universe with the iPhone and iPad (both which are now on Verizon), both the iPhone and the iPad have always had one distinct feature: the physical button near the bottom.

However the upcoming iPhone and iPad (iPad 2.0 and iPhone 5) will reportedly drop the physical home button in order to bring a near complete touchscreen experience.

We just got some pretty wild information from one of our Apple sources and while it’s hard to believe at first, it does make sense. 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.

That’s not all, however. In addition to the home button disappearing from the iPad, we’re told that this change will make its way over to the iPhone as well. (via BGR)

Despite being a huge fan of touch screens in general (in fact I’m still waiting for Apple to develop a Macbook Air with a touch screen keyboard), ditching the physical home button could convince users switching from other devices (like the Blackberry) that the iPhone is not the device for them.

If the iPhone ever freezes or becomes unresponsive to touch, users (especially new comers) will end up panicking and may conclude that the device is not for them.

While the physical home button is as useless as Google’s “I’m feeling lucky” button, it does however reassure users that if all else fails they can hit the home button (along with the switch near the top) and do a hard reset.

Although I would still buy the iPhone 5 and iPad 2.0 button free, I’m sure that many of my friends will end up choosing Android as they have yet to place their entire faith in touch screens like yours truly.

Originally posted on January 13, 2011 @ 3:57 pm