Latest iPhone 8 concept visualizes ‘HomeBar’ for virtual Home button

Since the launch of the iPhone 7 last year, there has been a continuous barrage of rumors and concepts about how the next iPhone is slated to look like. Now a new concept from John Calkins has provided an optimistic look at how Apple is slated to make changes to the iOS for the iPhone 8.

The concept shows that the iOS 12 could apply to the OLED iPhone next month with it carrying features which focus mainly on the iPhone 8 and its OLED display, bezel-less design, and virtual Home button.

For instance, the concept images a new “HomeBar” that houses notifications, shortcuts, widgets, and more. It sounds a lot like the rumored ‘function area’ from earlier this year.

Calkins states, “With the new HomeBar, you can launch notifications, swipe through widgets and shortcuts, and go back home. 100 percent customizable. 100 percent easy. The new virtual Home button is new but familiar – and will even change colors based on your wallpaper. You can also choose to hide it and resize as you wish.”

The concept also shows the HomeBar as being contextually aware and changing throughout the operating system, such as in various applications, Siri, and more. In addition to the HomeBar, notifications have also been revamped. Recent notifications are grouped by app and accessible from the bottom of the display.

The concept also imagines the iPhone 8 with an always-on display. This would allow for the device to always show basic information such as time, date, and notifications.

The Calkin renders predominantly shows the dark interfaces thanks to the OLED display. Apple has been reluctant to add a “dark mode” to iOS thus far, but perhaps with the launch of the OLED iPhone 8, the company will finally cave into pressure.