Featured Image Credit: Justin Sullivan / Staff / Getty
Topics: Apple, Technology, iPhone
Ella Scott
iPhone users are just discovering the line at the bottom of their smartphone screen actually serves a genius purpose.
Besides the 2022 iPhone SE, anyone who possesses an Apple mobile manufactured after the iPhone X will not have a home button to press on their smartphone.
That’s because, in 2017, Apple made the devise decision to wave goodbye to the home button and swapped out Touch ID for advanced recognition instead.
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At the time of the home button’s departure, tech fans mourned the loss and now a new report claims the California-based company is gearing up to abandon traditional buttons altogether with its forthcoming model.
Prior to its eradication, the home button was a multi-functioning tool used to unlock your smartphone and close down apps.
However, Apple executives decided to do away with it as they wanted to iPhone X to enable consumers to experience ‘new fluid user experiences’.
At the time of the smartphone’s release, Philip Schiller, Apple’s former senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said: “From unlocking your iPhone with Face ID to playing immersive AR games, to sharing Animoji in Messages - it is the beginning of the next ten years for iPhone.”
Following the home button exit, Apple introduced the ‘home bar’ or ‘home indicator’ to the iPhone X.
This line, which resides at the bottom of your iPhone, is used to switch between and close open apps by swiping left, right or directly on the line.
Despite the home bar being introduced seven years ago, some smartphone users are incredulously just learning about its functions now.
One Instagram user recently wrote: “How did I not know this?"
"I'm new to iPhone thanks for this," replied another regarding the hack.
“My jaw is on the floor,” said one TikTok account holder, while someone else typed: “I'm THIS old and just learned this??”
Remember though, if you’re still using an iPhone with a home button then you won’t be able to use the home bar.
Earlier this month, Apple announced iOS 18 would be available to publicly download on iPhones later this year.
The latest software update - thought to be coming in the fall - was announced at the 2024 Apple Worldwide Developers Conference on June 10.
Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of Software Engineering, said in a statement: "We are thrilled to introduce iOS 18.
"It is a huge release with incredible features, including new levels of customisation and capability, a redesigned Photos app, and powerful ways to stay connected with Messages."
At the tech summit in Apple Park, it was revealed that ChatGPT would be integrated as part of the update at no additional cost to users.
Following the announcement, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said: "We’re excited to partner with Apple to bring ChatGPT to their users in a new way.
"Apple shares our commitment to safety and innovation, and this partnership aligns with OpenAI’s mission to make advanced AI accessible to everyone."
According to Mashable, some features that ChatGPT could bring to iOS include invoking recipe ideas from Siri and using Compose to write bedtime stories for your kids.
There are a handful of iPhone models you will be able to update to iOS 18 when it drops later this year.
Unfortunately, Apple has confirmed that anyone who is still using an iPhone X or earlier will not be able to download iOS 18.