Apple is said to have a replacement for the classic iPhone mute switch in the works, thought of as an “Action Button” as it mirrors the new re-programmable analog from the Watch Ultra. Now, code outlining how it will work as part of a smartphone has allegedly emerged.
Rumors of an iPhone 15 series with major changes in terms of physical controls have faded as of late. However, next-gen buttons – and button types – may or may not be drip-fed to the flagships or their successors over time, in true Apple fashion.
Then again, the iPhone 14 line’s software supports them already – or its latest betas do, rather, according to a new MacRumors report. It asserts that iOS 17’s latest preview version (Beta 4) contains code with a list of the possibilities for the combination of its UI and an Action Button.
According to the code, the Button can be remapped to 9 different functions thus far, including access to the iOS Accessibility menu, Focus modes, Magnifier, Translate and Voice Memo features, as well as more obvious destinations such as activating the camera, flashlight and silent mode.
The code also calls for an Action Button-enabled iPhone’s own version of the Watch Ultra’s Shortcuts app.
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Deirdre O Donnell – Senior Tech Writer – 6545 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
I became a professional writer and editor shortly after graduation. My degrees are in biomedical sciences; however, they led to some experience in the biotech area, which convinced me of its potential to revolutionize our health, environment and lives in general. This developed into an all-consuming interest in more aspects of tech over time: I can never write enough on the latest electronics, gadgets and innovations. My other interests include imaging, astronomy, and streaming all the things. Oh, and coffee.
Deirdre O’Donnell, 2023-07-27 (Update: 2023-07-27)