Editorial: Did Apple give up on Force Touch?

22 March, 2016
As you've probably noticed Apple didn't mention anything regarding its pressure sensitive feature - neither the iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7 have it, nor do iOS 9.3 and watchOS 2.2 updates fix anything about it.

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AnonD-9000, 25 Mar 2016well there are ppl complaining that the second gen touch id... moreI love how fast and accurate it is. The complaining users should just do what I did, whenever I only want to check my notifications, I use a finger that simply isn't registered on Touch ID... "Problem" solved

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    • AnonD-9000
    • ITE
    • 25 Mar 2016

    sa11oum, 23 Mar 2016There's a bummer. I was under the impression the SE had the... morewell there are ppl complaining that the second gen touch id was too fast that they users cant even read the notification while the screen is still in a locked state because the sec gen touch id was way too fast..its hard to please everyone demands

      AnonD-9000, 23 Mar 2016lol stupid article, its like saying apple giving up on OIS ... moreThere's a bummer. I was under the impression the SE had the 2nd-gen touch ID. They could easily have put that in. Oh well, it's only gonna be my backup.

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        • AnonD-9000
        • ITE
        • 23 Mar 2016

        lol stupid article, its like saying apple giving up on OIS as in smaller device this feature isnt available, apple giving up on thin devices, as the iphone SE is thicker than the 6, apple giving up on 7000 series aluminium as the iphone SE doesnt use 7000 series aluminium, apple giving up touch id second gen as the iphone SE uses the first gen of touch id.. lol what a stupid article

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          • AnonD-513766
          • 6}M
          • 23 Mar 2016

          AnonD-509761, 23 Mar 2016Your 2 cents comments is more useless than the 3D touch. At... moreYour reply also useless as your life. U'r welcome dude

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            • AnonD-506458
            • uC8
            • 23 Mar 2016

            They better give up!!!! It's boring.

              Anonymous, 23 Mar 2016You'll make a bad CEO. So if a mid-range Windows laptop isn... moreIs 3D Touch integral to iOS like right-clicking is on Windows? Regardless of my performance as a CEO your comment makes zero sense brother

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                • Anonymous
                • Jb$
                • 23 Mar 2016

                What about Apple leaving it out from the SE to separate the "cheaper" model from the top ones... and for bigger profit LOL

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                  • Anonymous
                  • v0q
                  • 23 Mar 2016

                  sa11oum, 22 Mar 2016I get that the SE doesn't get 3D Touch, it's sort of a 'mid... moreYou'll make a bad CEO. So if a mid-range Windows laptop isn't capable of right-clicking, how would you feel? Would you think of buying a high-end Windows laptop just to get that feature? Lame!!!

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                    • AnonD-367917
                    • i24
                    • 23 Mar 2016

                    Anonymous, 22 Mar 2016LOL @ people sayin 3d touch adds weight and thickness.It does.

                    The issue, according to Apple when discussing the omission from the 12.9" Pro, was that it was that or the digitiser.
                    The digitiser made logical sense (A Wacom Cintiq level of awesomeness) that would bolster sales to a specific market. (Anyone who has used the Pencil knows that this is a first for the industry at a mainstream level).

                    The screen quality is important. A little extra 'gap' in the screen layers adds 'parallax error', and a sense that the screen is 'away' from us. Also would have hampered their efforts at reducing reflectance, something which is a real benefit to everyone.

                    I am glad the direction they have taken in the short term.
                    They have build a new product line, the 'Pro', and are keeping it focused on Pencil support.
                    3D Touch will no doubt return (the patent issue sounds like a legitimate reason on why Apple might be downplaying it presently), but more likely we are just awaiting a new iOS and the September/later in year announcements.

                    When iOS takes into consideration the Pros (for example my 12.9" tablet has the same number of icons as an iPhone... With stupid amounts of spacing in between) and the present level of tech, (3D touch), we will see it become more of a focus.

                    Most people who use the phones with 3D Touch say it is a game changer, so I can only take this as evidence that it will be developed. It often takes a few variants of iOS to catch up with the hardware releases. (Basic functionality on launch, with real usefulness added 'down the track')

                    I understand it may seem laughable that 3D Touch adds weight/space given its inclusion in phones previously, but the truth is it is a complex design indeed to include the digitiser as well, combined with the Pro screen having an added metal layer behind them that allows the 'holding of pixels' and a much lower refresh rate on static screens.
                    Apple had the option to just make the battery bigger (which would have allowed longer usage), but opted for the more expensive screen technology that allowed for power savings.

                    If Apple haters actually knew where the money went, they would start to see the value that Apple brings. Sure in a worst case scenario, they sell an item with no special tech or research and development process at the same markup as the rest of their items,.. But for every other release?
                    There is a reason why SOME people are hardcore zealots for Apple, and it has a lot more to do with the direction of the company and the trust they have for their parts to perform.

                    Consistency is key! I am having a hard time spotting others being as stable and 'rock' like as Apple.

                    Androids market has moved to cheaper and cheaper units (which is saying something given the number of sub $100 ($60US) phones I have purchased, even many years ago... In the Android space).
                    The more than high end unit sales are canabalised by cheaper parts stealing the sale, the more $$$ the tech companies will lose on the higher end parts.
                    If things continue this way,,.. Apple may become a upper mid tier brand, where a few units by competitors are grossly priced but feature some real 'bragging rights' parts. That never get optimised for, software written for as the user base would be too small a market share for developers to care about.

                    Sorry, got caught up in a rant, and, not being a fan'person' I feel I have to qualify my statements very carefully. I prefer Android for the platform flexibility ( I do infield tech work, and an Apple phone counldn't do a lot of what I require, nor can a Windows phone for that matter). However, if the question was put to me "should every house have a secure platform for getting on the net?", the natural answer is 'yes!' (Every techie would agree, I hope).

                    Sure we can get people on Linux, but that is a barrier.
                    Windows, sure but the techie costs, and software costs to do so, will cover the gap in price to Apple technology in the first place....
                    Grandma can use an iPad. No techie needed.
                    BigBrotherness of Apple, was always what I considered their weakness. Something the present political environment is suggesting isn't true.

                    Caveat Emptor (let the buyer beware)

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                      • jordo
                      • 9DU
                      • 23 Mar 2016

                      now im using it it would be hard to go back

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                        • AnonD-126854
                        • TXn
                        • 23 Mar 2016

                        Of course the pending patent infringement case against Apple, for stealing the technology, is the main reason.
                        But also, almost no one use this BS 'magic'

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                          • AnonD-509761
                          • th7
                          • 23 Mar 2016

                          AnonD-513766, 22 Mar 2016Because its........... uselessYour 2 cents comments is more useless than the 3D touch. Atleast 3D touch does anything when you do it but your comment is as useless as yourself..

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                            • Anonymous
                            • Kgf
                            • 23 Mar 2016

                            This probably is because a) The bigger ipad pro also doesn't have 3d Touch; b) Iphone SE is just a rehashed iphone 5s, Apple wasn't about to break the bank on r&d with that niche model; and lastly, c) Apple just probably wants to make it the headlining feature for ipads in 2017 (remember how staggered their Touch ID update was?)

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                              • joe1134206
                              • r2v
                              • 23 Mar 2016

                              iOS 9.3 added home screen shortcuts for certain native apps for 3D Touch

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                                • ZXcorr
                                • PNg
                                • 23 Mar 2016

                                I personally don't like 3D Touch/Force Touch that much. For me, it's not intuitive at all. Pressing the screen hard just seems like what old people do when they're frustrated with touch screen technology. The only thing it can be useful for is game interaction, IMO. In navigating around/interacting with UIs, it makes more sense to tap and hold for more options.

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                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 0Tv
                                  • 23 Mar 2016

                                  A very useful feature if you manage to include it to your every day routine.

                                  I'm an android user and find it sad that only Apple is bold enough to add new features but it has to be said. The rest who sh**posting against that feature either only used it once or are simply jealous. I don't know what I'm most sad, Android fans or Android itself that seems to wait everybody else before actually making a move...

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                                    • AnonD-513766
                                    • tDC
                                    • 22 Mar 2016

                                    Because its........... useless

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                                      • AnonD-81051
                                      • ICc
                                      • 22 Mar 2016

                                      AnonD-500788, 22 Mar 2016The force touch was and always be a gimmick100% agree with you

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                                        • AnonD-489640
                                        • 32P
                                        • 22 Mar 2016

                                        The 6s has a smaller battery than the 6, it weights more and all of its dimensions have increased.