Apple Enables AssistiveTouch Feature In iOS 5 Beta 3

Apple has also enabled the new AssistiveTouch features in iOS 5 beta 3, in addition to performance improvements, additional location controls, voice roaming toggle, other changes and improvements that we covered earlier.

AssistiveTouch allows you to use your iOS device if you have difficulty touching the screen or if you require an adaptive accessory.
Once you have enabled the AssitiveTouch feature via the Settings app (Settings -> Accessibility -> AssitiveTouch), you can access various functions such as multi-touch gestures, volume buttons etc. via a control panel that can be activated by tapping an overlay button. You can also create custom gestures.

Checkout the video of the AssistiveTouch feature to get a better idea:


The new AssitiveTouch feature has led to speculations that Apple is planning to ditch hardware buttons in future iOS devices. We’ve also seen a purported photo of the next generation iPod Touch – iPod Touch 5G with a capacitive home button.

A capacitive home button will be interesting as it should probably help in reducing the wear and tear of the button, but hardware home or volume buttons seem to be a lot more intuitive to us.

What do you think? Please share your views in the comments section below.