Apple iPad 2 and iPhone 5 could lose their home buttons, rumors say

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Apple’s next iPad and iPhone may ditch the home button in favor of multi-touch gestures, according to rumors reported by various news websites and blogs.

Speculation and rumor over what may or may not be included in Apple’s next-generation devices, particularly its iPads and iPhones, seems to never let up. One of the biggest Apple rumors, the Verizon iPhone, became fact on Tuesday after years of speculation that the carrier would get the hugely popular smart phone.

The Boy Genius Report seems to be among the leaders in spreading the no-home-button rumor.

The blog said that the home button would be removed and that multi-touch gestures would be used to return to the home screen and also to launch an app switcher.

If you think this latest rumor sounds a bit crazy, you’re not alone. The Boy Genius Report admits in its report that ‘it’s hard to believe at first.’ The report makes no mention of the rumor applying to Apple’s iPod Touch.

If Apple holds to past release dates for the iPhone and iPad, then a new iPhone should hit stores in about June or July and a new iPad should arrive in about April, with unveilings a bit before.

Apple, as usual, doesn’t comment on rumors.

The Motorola Xoom tablet, unveiled last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, has no buttons. So, a button-free tablet is on its way from at least one manufacturer.

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-- Nathan Olivarez-Giles