3D Touch

New tweak lets older iPhone hardware mimic 3D Touch

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated June 12, 2018

A new jailbreak tweak called Force Touch Activator was recently released on Cydia's BigBoss repo, and it lets users on older hardware running iOS 8 mimic the 3D Touch effect that's headlining the launch of the iPhone 6s.

Real 3D Touch requires a pressure sensitive screen, which is a part of the new hardware found in the new iPhone 6s. Older hardware, like the iPhone 6, lacks the pressure sensitive screen, so jailbreak tweak developers have to look for unique ways to try to bring similar functionality to older devices.

I'll be honest and say that Force Touch Activator is pretty much nothing like 3D Touch—you don't have the nuanced sensitivity levels, you don't have haptic feedback, and most importantly, you lack a true pressure sensitive screen—but it's an interesting tweak for jailbreakers to try nonetheless. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough inside, and see for yourself.

Apple-approved screen protectors will work with 3D Touch on iPhone 6s

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 18, 2017

No need to fret over whether or not your 'Made for iPhone' screen protector will work with the new iPhone 6s because covering its display with a protective film won't cause issues with 3D Touch.

As confirmed by Apple, screen protectors which follow the company's guidelines will continue to work with the 3D Touch pressure-sensing feature that the new phones come equipped with.

Dropbox updated with support for iOS 9, 3D Touch and more

Cody Lee ∙ September 16, 2015

Dropbox joins the onslaught of app updates today, following Apple's release of iOS 9. The new version of the cloud-based storage provider's iOS client is labeled 4.0, and it brings about a number of improvements, including support for some of iOS 9's new features.

Folks with the new Dropbox app on iOS 9 will see Dropbox files in Spotlight search results. This includes recently used files, plus any marked for offline access, and a quick tap will open them in-app. Additionally, any Dropbox link you tap on will open within the app.

iOS 9’s trackpad mode comes back to the iPhone courtesy of 3D Touch

Jeff Benjamin ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

iOS 9 contains a new QuickType feature that lets you slide two fingers on the iPad's screen to activate a trackpad-esque mode. Called "easy text selection", this feature lets iPad users control the cursor by sliding two fingers anywhere on the screen, including over the keyboard, to select, edit, and move text.

While easy text selection appeared in the initial iOS 9 beta for the iPhone, it was thereafter removed and has remained an iPad-only feature up until now. But, as has been highlighted by a user on Reddit, the easy text selection is making an iPhone comeback, as long as you own a new iPhone 6s.

That's because easy text selection has been rolled into the new 3D Touch suite for the iPhone 6s. Indeed, you'll be able to use the trackpad-like features on the iPhone, but only on the new iPhones.

Upcoming jailbreak tweak looks to bring 3D Touch-inspired features to older iPhones

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 10, 2015

If you don't plan on buying one of the new iPhones, but are intrigued by the iPhone 6s' hallmark 3D Touch feature, you might want to listen up. Popular jailbreak developer Elias Limneos is currently working on a 3D Touch-inspired jailbreak tweak.

Since 3D Touch requires special hardware, this obviously isn't real 3D Touch, but it emulates the 3D Touch feature by means of a long tap-and-hold gesture on the iPhone's screen. The tweak, which is entitled Touch 3D, appeared in preview form on a recently posted YouTube video. Check it out and let us know what you think...

3D Touch: how Peek and Quick Actions will change how you interact with your iPhone

Timothy Reavis ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

As part of today's event, Apple announced the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus with 3D Touch technology, a hardware and software combination that tracks how much pressure is being applied to the display and carries out different functions based on various levels of pressure. Also announced was the Taptic Engine in Apple's new 6s iPhones, which brings the addition of subtle taps, deepening the experience of 3D Touch with a haptic feedback element. Apple likens 3D Touch's new Peek and Pop actions to the legacy Tap, Swipe, and Pinch Multi-Touch gestures, but with a third dimension of functionality, bringing about the "3D Touch" moniker.

3D Touch: a brand new way to interact with your iPhone

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple this morning unveiled its next-generation smartphone, the iPhone 6s. While it looks virtually the same as last year's model on the outside, the inside contains tons of brand new technology—including an incredible feature called 3D Touch.

Built on the Force Touch technology first introduced in the Apple Watch, 3D Touch allows the iPhone to detect the force of a touch, opening the doors for new gestures, menus and shortcuts. Here are some of the ways you'll be using the new feature.

The iPhone 6s will reportedly feature a deeper version of Force Touch called 3D Touch

Jeff Benjamin ∙ September 5, 2015

At this point, it's pretty much a given that the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will feature some type of Force Touch implementation. Rumors have been going around, analysts have hinted to it, code has been discovered, and parts have leaked out that hint to the inclusion of the new technology.

What hasn't been as clear is how the adaption of Force Touch will work on a device like an iPhone. For the Apple Watch, Force Touch was pretty much a necessity given that device's diminutive size and limited input options. For the iPhone, a device with way more screen real estate, the implementation of Force Touch can potentially take on many angles.

Earlier Today, 9to5Mac's well-connected blogger Mark Gurman provided some additional details on what to expect from Apple's first usage of Force Touch in its primary money maker. Apparently, Force Touch will actually be branded as the 3D Touch Display, and will include not just two levels of pressure sensitivity—but three.