So the latest firmware update for iOS for the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad has been given to developers and there are a few interesting things. One is that there will be the ability to turn your device into a mobile personal hotspot (thank you Verizon). Now just because Apple has added this capability into iOS does not mean ATT will allow you to use. Recall iPhones were capable of tethering for almost a year before ATT added the feature. Nevertheless, with Verizon offering it and iOS having the ability it is only a matter of time before ATT adds this nice feature! Just as interesting is the possible death of the home button?

Like almost every iOS update the best Cydia apps are implemented. It looks like iOS 4.3 will be adding slide gestures like Cydia’s Activator. Four in particular listed over at modmyi.com are very interesting

1) Use a 5-fingers pinch to return to the home screen
2) Swipe up with 4 or 5 fingers to access the multitasking menu bar
3) Swipe down with 4 or 5 fingers to close the multitasking menu bar
4) Swipe left or right with 4 or 5 fingers to switch between different apps

If your iPad (or iPhone) has this capability do you need the home button? The answer is no. Would Apple make such a drastic change to the iPhone or iPad? It might confuse customers, but removing the home button would allow additional space for that beautiful retina display. I doubt this will happen with iPad 2.0 or iPhone 5. While I think these gestures will be added, I don’t think the home button will disappear this year. That said, in two years I don’t think the home button will be around. I’m starting the death watch now.

On the downside it looks like iOS 4.3 will not support the iPhone 3G. Given the number of complaints about performance issues with 4.0 this doesn’t surprise me too much. The iPhone 3G is becoming fairly dated in the fast changing smart phone world. I doubt my 4 year old will care that he’s stuck and can’t get the mobile hotspot feature. I would suspect the battery drain on the iPhone 3G using it as a personal hotspot would be substantial.

Of course none of this is official, but gives a glimpse of what is coming if not with iOS 4.3.