Leaked iPod Touch with capacitive home button may point to iPhone 5

Blurry photos of a potentially leaked iPod Touch model hit the Internet today sporting a touch-sensitive home button and metal back, CrunchGear reports.

The leak is particularly interesting because previous rumors have pointed to Apple removing the home button altogether in future iPhones and iPads. Replacing the mechanical home button with something that’s touch sensitive is one way to accomplish that. The leak is a sign that we may see a similar capacitive home button in the iPhone 5. Or, as is often the case with these sorts of leaks, it could be complete bunk.

[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":252719,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"business,mobile,","session":"D"}']

Why would Apple opt for a capacitive home button? It’s possible that it wants to get rid of the older physical button because it’s so prone to error. The current iOS home button is one of the few mechanical aspects of Apple’s devices, which means that it’s also subject to wear and tear. Apple could easily replace the double-click functionality on the current home button with a double-tap on the touch sensitive version.

The prototype is marked with the “DVT-1” badge, which CrunchGear says has also appeared in previous early iPod Touch prototypes. The device also has 128 gigabytes of internal storage — twice that of the largest current iPod Touch. It has a metal back (which is also rumored for the iPhone 5), but then again so do current iPod Touch models.

Calling all mobile executives: This April 25-26, VentureBeat is hosting its inaugural VentureBeat Mobile Summit, where we’ll debate the five key business and policy challenges facing the mobile industry today. Participants will develop concrete, actionable solutions that will shape the future of the mobile industry. The invitation-only event, located at the scenic and relaxing Cavallo Point Resort in Sausalito, Calif., is limited to 180 mobile executives, investors and policymakers. We’ve pretty much finalized the invite list, but have a few spots left. Request an invitation.