[tracker1]

Because that would require OS level integration with the phone.... Even with full screen apps, swiping in from at least one direction is usually the "escape" ... Also, phones come in many form factors, and creating face adapters for multiple devices would be difficult, to say the least... though options for 3d printed services may alleviate some of that.

What I'd really like to see is a Bluetooth standard for full remote input and ui rendering. That would be useful for car stereos as well as with devices such as this.

[warfangle]

I don't think it would. Many full screen apps like Kindle require two swipes from the top before it brings down the system menu (first shows the status bar, second slides down the menu). Maybe iOS is different?

You already have a fantastic multitouch device in your pocket, and many of these cheap shells have a horrific touchpad touchpad experience. Maybe shells for the major form factors would actually be cheaper than putting together a touchpad experience that doesn't make you want to chuck the device out the nearest window.