iPad Pro - what do non-optimized apps look like?

[pdoherty]

I saw an iPad Pro 12.9 at Best Buy the other day, but they only had optimized apps installed for obvious reasons. I want to see what the 12.9 and 10.5 iPads look like when running apps that are NOT optimized to be aware of and use their differing resolutions. Anyone have a video or can take some screenshots of what that looks like? Is it the old 1X/2X thing from the original iPad days when all the apps were for iPhone?

 

[Booji]

I have a 10.5 and would like to know what's wrong - so far the apps look good to me.

 

[pdoherty]

anyone have an iPad Air or 9.7 pro they can sit side by side to a larger Pro with the same apps open and take snaps of it?

 

[acorntoy]

Only non optimized app I have is Leafly, and everything just looks bigger. It's not nearly as noticeable as the old iPhone 2x days. Everything is just a little larger than it looks like it should be and is just a little less clear than usual if you look close.

 

[itsmilo]

If u point me to an App i can try. I got an Air 2 and a iPad Pro

 

[pdoherty]

How about some games? Have any? Like Carcassonne, Splendor, San Juan, Ticket to Ride?

 

[pdoherty]

I can't believe people spending big bucks on 10.5 and 12.9 iPad pros aren't interested or concerned about how the tons of apps that aren't optimized will look.

 

[Sunshoopa]

I can't believe people spending big bucks on 10.5 and 12.9 iPad pros aren't interested or concerned about how the tons of apps that aren't optimized will look.

It’s not a big deal, with the 10.5 anyways. I went from an Air to a 10.5 and I don’t even notice unless I put the iPad close to my eyes and look for it, only because I know about it. People who don’t know about the unoptimized apps won’t even know about it. Sure, text is “slightly” clearer with optimized apps, but nothing huge. I also play a ton of games that aren’t optimized and they look no different.

Taking a picture of each won’t help as you couldn’t tell the difference with it.

The main thing I notice is the split keyboard doesn’t work in non-optimized apps, which is annoying, but that’s how I know it isn’t optimized for sure. It’s not even close to the retina iPad with non-retina assets

 

[pdoherty]

It’s not a big deal, with the 10.5 anyways. I went from an Air to a 10.5 and I don’t even notice unless I put the iPad close to my eyes and look for it, only because I know about it. People who don’t know about the unoptimized apps won’t even know about it. Sure, text is “slightly” clearer with optimized apps, but nothing huge. I also play a ton of games that aren’t optimized and they look no different.

Taking a picture of each won’t help as you couldn’t tell the difference with it.

The main thing I notice is the split keyboard doesn’t work in non-optimized apps, which is annoying, but that’s how I know it isn’t optimized for sure. It’s not even close to the retina iPad with non-retina assets

Is the above also true with 12.9 iPads?

 

[maflynn]

I can't believe people spending big bucks on 10.5 and 12.9 iPad pros aren't interested or concerned about how the tons of apps that aren't optimized will look.

Not really, everything that I use looks fine. I'm not worked up over what's optimized vs. not.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I can't believe people spending big bucks on 10.5 and 12.9 iPad pros aren't interested or concerned about how the tons of apps that aren't optimized will look.

12.9 here. I really haven't come across anything that is really annoying like it was when the original iPad came out and there were very few iPad optimized apps. iPhone apps on the iPad truly looked funky and were annoying. Similarly, when Retina came out using non-Retina apps was quite noticeable and irksome too.

I don't think it's that we are not "concerned," but more that it's not a top concern given our options and the lack of severity of the optimization problem. It's the price you pay for being an early-ish adopter. Otherwise you just wait it out until the tech is more accepted and supported. But, again, I haven't come across any non-optimized apps were I've said "yuck, I can't look at this."

 

[pdoherty]

12.9 here. I really haven't come across anything that is really annoying like it was when the original iPad came out and there were very few iPad optimized apps. iPhone apps on the iPad truly looked funky and were annoying. Similarly, when Retina came out using non-Retina apps was quite noticeable and irksome too.

I don't think it's that we are not "concerned," but more that it's not a top concern given our options and the lack of severity of the optimization problem. It's the price you pay for being an early-ish adopter. Otherwise you just wait it out until the tech is more accepted and supported. But, again, I haven't come across any non-optimized apps were I've said "yuck, I can't look at this."

OK, thanks for that! I was just wanting to get a good feel of how much of an issue it might be before I consider upgrading from my iPad Air 2. It's good to hear from someone who actually has a 12.9.

 

[Brammy]

On the 12.5, non optimized apps look like crap. It's like an app scaled up to the iphone 6+; everything is bigger. The keyboard is not the full-sized keyboard. It is a blown up 9.7 keyboard without all the extra rows.

The two biggest offenders are Facebook and Linkedin.

 

[pdoherty]

Ok so we have two people, one saying non-optimized apps are no issue, and the other saying they look terrible. Why isn't this a cut-and-dried thing that can be observed? What's the deal?

 

[Maetzle]

Ok so we have two people, one saying non-optimized apps are no issue, and the other saying they look terrible. Why isn't this a cut-and-dried thing that can be observed? What's the deal?

Because some people aren't that bothered by things being slightly larger. Back when the iPhone 4 came out apps actually looked like bad because everything was very pixilated which is not the case here. It's just blown up.

 

[Brammy]

It is the keyboard that bothers me.

Above is the keyboard to the Facebook App on a 12.9" iPad Pro. Below is the normal 12.9" iPad Pro keyboard. If the the difference in keyboards doesn't bother you, then I don't think we can reach an accord. If it was just the app icons and scaling I could handle it.

 

[xxray]

Spotify - you can see the time, battery, WiFi, iPad, etc. labels on the status bar are all blurry

 

[Royksöpp]

I have the 10.5 and here is an example of non optimized VS optimized in Amazon and Music:

Top is non optimized:

 

[Brammy]

I also feel that by now, not upgrading for the 12'9" (at least for non-games) is just complete laziness. The device is two years old almost at this point.

 

[Synergie]

It is the keyboard that bothers me.

Above is the keyboard to the Facebook App on a 12.9" iPad Pro. Below is the normal 12.9" iPad Pro keyboard. If the the difference in keyboards doesn't bother you, then I don't think we can reach an accord. If it was just the app icons and scaling I could handle it.

You know, I honestly didn't even notice this LOL. I guess I didn't miss the numbers being right out there and I instinctively just typed the way I would have on smaller version to get the numbers without even thinking.

 

[pdoherty]

I have the 10.5 and here is an example of non optimized VS optimized in Amazon and Music:

Top is non optimized:

View attachment 716773

Can't some people simply grab full screen snapshots of non-native games or other apps and post them? Just press power button + home and hold both to get a snapshot in the Gallery.

 

[Brammy]

Can't some people simply grab full screen snapshots of non-native games or other apps and post them? Just press power button + home and hold both to get a snapshot in the Gallery.

The reason I posted only the keyboard was because my Facebook feed wasn't something I felt like posting.

 

[pdoherty]

The reason I posted only the keyboard was because my Facebook feed wasn't something I felt like posting.

1) It should be clear by what I wrote I wasn't criticizing you, but suggesting what anyone post.
2) No one asked for a Facebook screenshot.

 

[Phil A.]

It is the keyboard that bothers me.

Above is the keyboard to the Facebook App on a 12.9" iPad Pro. Below is the normal 12.9" iPad Pro keyboard. If the the difference in keyboards doesn't bother you, then I don't think we can reach an accord. If it was just the app icons and scaling I could handle it.

I don't have a 12.9" any more (I've now got a 10.5), but that used to drive me mad and was easily the worst thing about non-optimised apps. The virtual keyboard on the 12.9 is fantastic and it really pained me when it wasn't available in non-optimised apps

 

[Red Viking]

I have an iPad 3, iPad Pro 10.5 and an iPad Pro 12.9 (first gen.) and I have to say the visuals of non-optimized apps still look great on the larger iPads. Of course, they are a bit softer on the larger screens, but the difference isn't noticeable in real world usage, especially when playing a game where action blurs the graphics.

Here are samples from the original Peggle HD, screen captured on my 12.9.

They may be too large to display, so you can view them here:

http://www.brilliantboy.com/Misc/File_000.png
http://www.brilliantboy.com/Misc/File_001.png
http://www.brilliantboy.com/Misc/File_002.png