Next iPhone and iPad to be buttonless?

If one very unconfirmed rumour is to be believed, the next iPhone and the next iPad, which are expected to be released a few months from now, may lose one of their trademarks - the home button.

Citing inside sources, the report states that the new iOS 4.3 beta we told you about a few hours ago, has a multi-touch gesture support, which will allow you to "use four or five fingers to pinch to the Home Screen; swipe up to reveal the multitasking bar; and swipe left or right between apps."

It's said that the buttonless iPad and iPhone are already being tested in Apple's campus, and it's possible that we will see this new design and multi-touch based UI in practice as soon as the release of the next-gen iPhone and iPad.

As we pointed at the beginning of the article, there is no proof in this rumour whatsoever, and it may very well be an instance where someone thinks that two plus two equals five. Regardless of that, would you welcome a buttonless iPhone and iPad, or would you rather stick with the iconic home button? As you most probably know, the Motorola XOOM has no buttons (on the front), so are these innovations pointing to the future?

source: BGR