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I didn't realize - were you planning on going with the 10.5 if it had a higher resolution?
It's not about resolution, but about form-factor. I was seriously considering the 10.5 if the experience on it was exactly like the 12.9 (only smaller). Supporting the iPad UI in split window is one of those factors. So is the RAM.

But even then, I would need to try it out firsthand to see if the size reduction compared to the 12.9 was enough without making splitwindow feel cramped. And even if it was too small for me, I could at least be knowledgeable enough to recommend it or not.

In other words, it's complicated. :D
 
It's not about resolution, but about form-factor. I was seriously considering the 10.5 if the experience on it was exactly like the 12.9 (only smaller). Supporting the iPad UI in split window is one of those factors. So is the RAM.

But even then, I would need to try it out firsthand to see if the size reduction compared to the 12.9 was enough without making splitwindow feel cramped. And even if it was too small for me, I could at least be knowledgeable enough to recommend it or not.

In other words, it's complicated. :D

Lol I get it. It really isn't an easy decision. I'm very curious to see them both in store, and see how the 10.5 feels (I'm sure it'll feel amazing for a very portable iPad). Right now I'm absolutely loving the iOS 11 changes (using the 9.7) and feel like complimenting it with a 12.9 would be ideal.
 
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Im the type of person that uses his primary ipad at home 99% of the time and the 12.9 is great for that, would never give up that form factor. However i also like to have a 2nd one when i go to work and for portability. Was hoping for a new mini since i sold my mini 3, but since that aint happening i guess either another 12.9 or normal size.
 
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Well I have to admit this is pretty close to being a deal breaker for me too. I have a 12.9 and I really love that aspect of it but if you can still get one app as iPad in the 80/20 I think I can live with it and I think you could just move the bar back and forth if you wanted the other app to be the iPad version. Not ideal but I can live with it I think.
 
Im the type of person that uses his primary ipad at home 99% of the time and the 12.9 is great for that, would never give up that form factor. However i also like to have a 2nd one when i go to work and for portability. Was hoping for a new mini since i sold my mini 3, but since that aint happening i guess either another 12.9 or normal size.

I was thinking to buy the 12.9 first too. But I will mainly use it for gaming (App store). Its too big to hold so decided to get the 10.5 ^^
I will only use it at home.
 
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I was thinking to buy the 12.9 first too. But I will mainly use it for gaming (App store). Its too big to hold so decided to get the 10.5 ^^
I will only use it at home.

Yep for gaming i would suggest the smaller one. I mostly just use mine for consumption, media, surfing web, etc, and the big one is best for that.

So on 2nd thought, i better not get 2x 12.9s.
 
It's not about resolution, but about form-factor. I was seriously considering the 10.5 if the experience on it was exactly like the 12.9 (only smaller). Supporting the iPad UI in split window is one of those factors. So is the RAM.

But even then, I would need to try it out firsthand to see if the size reduction compared to the 12.9 was enough without making splitwindow feel cramped. And even if it was too small for me, I could at least be knowledgeable enough to recommend it or not.
If the 10.5 had used the same resolution as the 12.9, it would have clocked in at ~325 PPI and split screen would feel like using 2x retina iPad mini side by side. That would've been nice. :D
 
The main difference between the 10.5" and the 9.7" when it comes to split screen is that the new 10.5" will show "Regular size" class UI in the 80/20 view on the larger app, whereas the 9.7" Pro, 2017 9.7" iPad and 7.9" iPad mini show the "Compact size" class UI in all forms of split screen multitasking.

Taken independently, this is an improvement over the 9.7" iPad Pro, and a good one. However, in context, I can't help but be disappointed. It is a shame that Apple has chosen to differentiate in this way between the two iPad Pros, even though it is a very "Apple" way to nudge towards the larger, more expensive device. I'm still buying the 10.5" though. I couldn't stomach the 12.9" because it was bigger and heavier than my rMB. (Although this attitude might need to be adjusted if the 10.5" actually works as a real contender to replace the rMB. Then the 12.9" might make more sense, but seems to move away from the holy grail of a "single device" - feel almost like I would have to have an iPad mini around as my "iPad" if I had a 12.9" again...)

Now, "Compact size class" doesn't actually mean iPhone UI - it means a UI optimised for resolutions smaller than "Regular size class". The iPhone Plus actually has a horizontal "Regular size class" classification when in landscape mode (why Mail.app for example shows your list of messages in a separate left column when in landscape) There are several differences in almost all first party apps (and lots of third party ones too) between iPhone UI and "Compact size class" UI's, but they are similar, and will adapt depending on the point resolution the app is given to work with.

In any case, I'm still excited to get my hands on the 10.5" and immediately put the iOS 11 beta on it to put it through its paces as much as possible within the 14 day window. The 10.5" ASK arrived today. I have a thread where I compare it to the rMB keyboard.
 
The main difference between the 10.5" and the 9.7" when it comes to split screen is that the new 10.5" will show "Regular size" class UI in the 80/20 view on the larger app, whereas the 9.7" Pro, 2017 9.7" iPad and 7.9" iPad mini show the "Compact size" class UI in all forms of split screen multitasking.

Taken independently, this is an improvement over the 9.7" iPad Pro, and a good one. However, in context, I can't help but be disappointed. It is a shame that Apple has chosen to differentiate in this way between the two iPad Pros, even though it is a very "Apple" way to nudge towards the larger, more expensive device. I'm still buying the 10.5" though. I couldn't stomach the 12.9" because it was bigger and heavier than my rMB. (Although this attitude might need to be adjusted if the 10.5" actually works as a real contender to replace the rMB. Then the 12.9" might make more sense, but seems to move away from the holy grail of a "single device" - feel almost like I would have to have an iPad mini around as my "iPad" if I had a 12.9" again...)

Now, "Compact size class" doesn't actually mean iPhone UI - it means a UI optimised for resolutions smaller than "Regular size class". The iPhone Plus actually has a horizontal "Regular size class" classification when in landscape mode (why Mail.app for example shows your list of messages in a separate left column when in landscape) There are several differences in almost all first party apps (and lots of third party ones too) between iPhone UI and "Compact size class" UI's, but they are similar, and will adapt depending on the point resolution the app is given to work with.

In any case, I'm still excited to get my hands on the 10.5" and immediately put the iOS 11 beta on it to put it through its paces as much as possible within the 14 day window. The 10.5" ASK arrived today. I have a thread where I compare it to the rMB keyboard.

The 80/20 view - is that the default when you first add an additional app on screen, before sliding to go 50/50?

This is a screenshot from the 9.7. I assume that Safari here is then in 'compact size' class? If so, I'm curious what 'regular size' class would look like? Would it just be how an app looks when it's full screen on a 9.7? If so that's a nice improvement then for the 10.5.

img.jpeg
 
On my 9.7" Pro, I usually have the split screen mode in 80/20. Usually Safari or Mail or a note taking app for the 80, and Slack or Twitter or something like that in the 20 side. Works out out really nicely for my purposes. However, most of the time I don't bother with split screen at all, mostly because I got really sick of that janky app picker. It really didn't age well. I think now that it will be easier to find stuff and throw it into split screen, I'll use it a lot more.
 
The 80/20 view - is that the default when you first add an additional app on screen, before sliding to go 50/50?

This is a screenshot from the 9.7. I assume that Safari here is then in 'compact size' class? If so, I'm curious what 'regular size' class would look like? Would it just be how an app looks when it's full screen on a 9.7? If so that's a nice improvement then for the 10.5.

View attachment 702824
Yes, that is the 80/20 view I am referring to. The "Regular size class" will be the full portrait mode UI from the 9.7" iPad - in your screen shot, Safari.

And with that I am going to have to retract most of my post above as well. I had a weird feeling about this and looked up the actual point resolutions here.

The 9.7" actually already has regular size class UI in 80/20 mode...so sorry about that everyone!
 
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Multitasking and split screen are they better on the 12.9"? Or do they work just as well on the 10.5" I wonder.
 
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Yes, that is the 80/20 view I am referring to. The "Regular size class" will be the full portrait mode UI from the 9.7" iPad - in your screen shot, Safari.

And with that I am going to have to retract most of my post above as well. I had a weird feeling about this and looked up the actual point resolutions here.

The 9.7" actually already has regular size class UI in 80/20 mode...so sorry about that everyone!

Nah, don't apologize. Good to discuss and learn new info. I sure did.
 
Depends upon your definition of "better". If you aren't concerned with the "regular size" vs "compact size" UI, then the 12.9 and 10.5 should be identical in that regard.

As long as I can multitask and take full advantage of all the upcoming IOS 11 features for the iPad Pro I'll be happy, I'm still deciding at the moment between the 12.9" and the 10.5" I do a lot of multitasking and picture in picture so I do lean towards the 12.9" however the 10.5" isn't too far off.
 
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As long as I can multitask and take full advantage of all the upcoming IOS 11 features for the iPad Pro I'll be happy, I'm still deciding at the moment between the 12.9" and the 10.5" I do a lot of multitasking and picture in picture so I do lean towards the 12.9" however the 10.5" isn't too far off.
I guess it depends upon the type of multitasking you do. With what I do, compact size UI windows would noticeably impact my experience... but then again I've had 15 months of use. If I didn't have any past experience, the 10.5 would be fine I'm sure.

I think the deciding factor will be to see both of them in person, side-by-side if possible. You may find that the size difference isn't that great but the difference in split window UI is (which would lean toward the 12.9) or the opposite (which would lean toward the 10.5).

I have come to really rely on a fullsize keyboard... both onscreen and smart keyboard. Took a while for me to unlearn a modified cramped touch typing position. :)
 
I've never had a 12.9 iPad and when I owned one it was always the 9.7 I actually had an iPhone 6 plus but decided to go smaller and get the 7 and after a week to get used to it I am perfectly happy with the 7. Don't miss the bigger size. Only thing that I was debating on for the plus was the camera buy the camera on this is still great
 
On my 9.7" Pro, I usually have the split screen mode in 80/20. Usually Safari or Mail or a note taking app for the 80, and Slack or Twitter or something like that in the 20 side. Works out out really nicely for my purposes. However, most of the time I don't bother with split screen at all, mostly because I got really sick of that janky app picker. It really didn't age well. I think now that it will be easier to find stuff and throw it into split screen, I'll use it a lot more.

How is the split screen app picker on iOS 11? I saw that you can choose from the dock now. What about the rest of the apps? Is it the same where you slide in from the right edge of the screen and scroll apps vertically? Still no search by name?
 
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How is the split screen app picker on iOS 11? I saw that you can choose from the dock now. What about the rest of the apps? Is it the same where you slide in from the right edge of the screen and scroll apps vertically? Still no search by name?

No more slide in from the side.

You can pull apps from the dock, from the home screen, and from spot light from what I've found so far.
 
It's not about resolution, but about form-factor. I was seriously considering the 10.5 if the experience on it was exactly like the 12.9 (only smaller). Supporting the iPad UI in split window is one of those factors. So is the RAM.

But even then, I would need to try it out firsthand to see if the size reduction compared to the 12.9 was enough without making splitwindow feel cramped. And even if it was too small for me, I could at least be knowledgeable enough to recommend it or not.

In other words, it's complicated. :D

I love my Gen one 12.9 but was also interested in the 10.5 (probably because I love new tech and it's a form factor I haven't tried yet). I placed my order for the 10.5 and ASK. The ASK arrived today. For me it's to small. I put in on my wife's 9.7 pro and it's just not that much bigger. I know the screen size will be bigger but it's just not what i was hoping. I canceled my 10.5 and will be returning the ASK today.

12.9 just fits my needs. I guess I'll be getting the new 12.9 instead. That should save me a little on accessories.
 
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