Apple Activates Assistive Touch in iOS 5 Beta 3

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In the latest iOS 5 beta just released today, Apple has activated the new "Assistive Touch" features for the iPad. The Assistive Touch settings were in place in iOS's accessibility settings in previous betas, but is only now active. The new features are meant to provide additional interactivity for those who might have trouble using the traditional gestures and buttons on the iPad.

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The new settings allow users to activate a menu overlay on the iPad with by pressing on a designated corner. The menu allows one-tap access to all of the iPad's functions including rotation, shaking, volume changes and even gestures. Known gestures such as pinch and swipe can be recalled by a tap, and custom gestures can even be recorded and played back on command.

Top Rated Comments

Kahnyl Avatar
Kahnyl
188 months ago
I thought the people who needed this type of assistance had problems but then I read about these poor people going without widgets. It's terrible.

Do you guys have a charity I could donate to or something?
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
acslater017 Avatar
acslater017
188 months ago
Yea Apple is very thoughtful about these kinds of things, but they rarely get credit for it...
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dethmaShine Avatar
dethmaShine
188 months ago
Because then it would be called Android.

Or Dashboard?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JAT Avatar
JAT
188 months ago
Physical buttons? Whatever do you mean?

Oh you mean the home button that stops working about 9 months after getting your iPhone 4? :mad:

Well, that would suck. But my Touch 1G button never stopped working, had it for over 3 years.

Also: 12 month warranty.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JGowan Avatar
JGowan
188 months ago
I have no problems with these gestures, but in some instances I think I could use a few of this instead of the gestures. Perhaps could be more handy. Will have to see when it lands.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aeolius Avatar
Aeolius
188 months ago
My 17-year old son has cerebral palsy. Her uses a wheelchair and has stiffness in his muscles but is intellectually on par with his peers. He has been using Mac laptops since he was 2 years old. I am hoping this feature will be of use to him, as he gets by just fine on his MacBook Pro using just his pinky finger for typing and trackpad use. Multi-finger swipes, pinches, and the like are not gestures he can easily manage.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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