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jwolf6589

macrumors 601
Original poster
Dec 15, 2010
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Some apps (eharmony, Alaska Airlines, etc) seem to run on the iPad but at the much smaller screen. Does this mean iPad can run iPhone apps? I wish these developers would create iPad versions so a user gets the larger screen size.
 
Some apps (eharmony, Alaska Airlines, etc) seem to run on the iPad but at the much smaller screen. Does this mean iPad can run iPhone apps? I wish these developers would create iPad versions so a user gets the larger screen size.
Not all iPhone apps are useful on an iPad.

Every iPhone has 24/7 access to a network (except when out of cell service range or put in airplane mode) but most iPads are limited to WiFi hotspots (and cell tethering). Any app that requires constant network access may not run as well on an iPad.

Every iPhone has GPS, non-cellular iPads don't. It makes no sense for a hiking app to be designed to run on an iPad because (A) iPads are not as portable and (B) no guarantee that the iPad has GPS.

Those are just 2 examples.
 
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iPhone-only apps should open in overlay mode on iPad. But they don't. They'll open all pixelated and in forced portrait mode if at all and will not work in overlay. I wish apple would fix this.
 
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Not all iPhone apps are useful on an iPad.

Every iPhone has 24/7 access to a network (except when out of cell service range or put in airplane mode) but most iPads are limited to WiFi hotspots (and cell tethering). Any app that requires constant network access may not run as well on an iPad.

Every iPhone has GPS, non-cellular iPads don't. It makes no sense for a hiking app to be designed to run on an iPad because (A) iPads are not as portable and (B) no guarantee that the iPad has GPS.

Those are just 2 examples.

What in the world does this have to do with my question?
 
iPhone-only apps should open in overlay mode on iPad. But they don't. They'll open all pixelated and in forced portrait mode if at all and will not work in overlay. I wish apple would fix this.

I sent feedback to Alaska airlines. I wish they would develop a iPad app.
 
I wish these developers would create iPad versions so a user gets the larger screen size.

Oh believe me this is a sore spot for me. Instagram, for example, is backed by a monster company but iPad users still have to deal with a blown up iPhone app if they don't use the web version.
 
Oh believe me this is a sore spot for me. Instagram, for example, is backed by a monster company but iPad users still have to deal with a blown up iPhone app if they don't use the web version.

The web version of this app is worthless. One reason I avoid Instagram.
 
Originally I believe the iPads from 3 (first retina) ran iPhone apps either pixel for pixel or an exact 2x scaled version (twice as wide and twice as tall so actually 4x the size). I don't know if this is the case any longer - I would suppose not with iPhones having much higher resolution screens while the iPads have been relatively static (outside the larger model being introduced).
 
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