My friend just showed me One Handed Mode on her S8...

[mongobongo]

... and now it's my number one feature request for iOS 12.

It shrinks the usable screen into any corner to be easily accessible by one hand. It stays that way until you tap outside of that area which makes everything expand again. Much better than Reachability which just lowers the screen and expands after first tap.

This is far from enough to make me consider switching to Android but it would definitely make me consider going with a plus model next year.

 

[George Knighton]

With an iPhone X, you can use your thumb to swipe down on the multitasking bar, and the screen size is reduced for one-handed use.

 

[jonblatho]

With an iPhone X, you can use your thumb to swipe down on the multitasking bar, and the screen size is reduced for one-handed use.

No, it’s just the same Reachability feature with a more awkward gesture.

 

[D.T.]

I like simply lowering the screen (dynamically scaling careful designed layouts/touch targets/etc., sounds like a bad idea - assuming I'm understanding the implementation correctly ...).

However, I do like the idea of it being sticky (vs. returning after a single touch), and while I'm mostly very positive about the X, the Reachability trigger is something that could use a little re-thinking.

 

[mongobongo]

With an iPhone X, you can use your thumb to swipe down on the multitasking bar, and the screen size is reduced for one-handed use.

I know, I mentioned that in my post when I explained why I like the Android version of this much better.
[doublepost=1513203946][/doublepost]

I like simply lowering the screen (dynamically scaling careful designed layouts/touch targets/etc., sounds like a bad idea - assuming I'm understanding the implementation correctly ...).

The problem with simply lowering the screen is obvious. H

I like simply lowering the screen (dynamically scaling careful designed layouts/touch targets/etc., sounds like a bad idea - assuming I'm understanding the implementation correctly ...).

However, I do like the idea of it being sticky (vs. returning after a single touch), and while I'm mostly very positive about the X, the Reachability trigger is something that could use a little re-thinking.

The problem is that if you simply lower the screen, the lower half is not displayed and then you can't have that be sticky. If you like the idea of it being sticky, dynamic scaling is a necessity. It looks perfect on my friends S8. No problem with the scaling.

 

[Phil A.]

I like simply lowering the screen (dynamically scaling careful designed layouts/touch targets/etc., sounds like a bad idea - assuming I'm understanding the implementation correctly ...).

However, I do like the idea of it being sticky (vs. returning after a single touch), and while I'm mostly very positive about the X, the Reachability trigger is something that could use a little re-thinking.

What it does is shrink the entire screen down into one of the corners so in effect you have a smaller screen device embedded in your large screen. It works exactly like a small screen device would work and all the layouts, touch targets, etc work perfectly (don't forget that Android supports dynamic sizing much better than iOS does)

It's not something I use very often but it is a useful feature to have and it's been around for quite a while on Samsung phones

 

[Altis]

Maybe if there weren't so many UI elements at the top of the screen, it wouldn't be a big deal.

You can't even set your icons to fill from the bottom.

 

[D.T.]

The problem is that if you simply lower the screen, the lower half is not displayed and then you can't have that be sticky. If you like the idea of it being sticky, dynamic scaling is a necessity. It looks perfect on my friends S8. No problem with the scaling.

There are a number of use cases where I want to access the top of the screen _and_ maintain access to the top through multiple interactions (ex: category select, followed by a list select), so being sticky would be effective - that being said, we're talking about a UX change from the original intent of Reachability so clearly it would have to be rethought.

What it does is shrink the entire screen down into one of the corners so in effect you have a smaller screen device embedded in your large screen. It works exactly like a small screen device would work and all the layouts, touch targets, etc work perfectly (don't forget that Android supports dynamic sizing much better than iOS does)

It's not something I use very often but it is a useful feature to have and it's been around for quite a while on Samsung phones

Yeah, that's what I assumed, that seems like a significant amount of scaling [to get a proper ratio of HxW down to a "thumbs reach"] but I'll have to check this out. Odd that I've never noticed this on the dev S5/S6 I've used quite a bit (you know, for dev work ), but that was mostly AR/VR prototyping and the more, I guess call it, "regular" dev work has used a couple of non-Samsung devices for testing, usability checks, etc., so I guess I just have the combination of the right device + looking for this feature.

Heck, let me see if I can find a video, now my curiosity is peaked!

[edit]

OK, first of all, good lord, is YT a wasteland of need-to-get-to-the-point, mumbling goobers (I know why I mostly stay away)

Yeah, about what I expected, if I get access to try this first hand I'll report back. Looks like it would compromise the UI on iOS given how the underlying rendering layer works.

 

[mongobongo]

There are a number of use cases where I want to access the top of the screen _and_ maintain access to the top through multiple interactions, so yes, and could be sticky, but we're talking about a UX change from the original intent of Reachability so clearly it would have to be rethought.

I can't think of any such use cases, certainly not one where Apples implementation would be superior to Samsungs. Feel free to enlighten me

 

[D.T.]

I can't think of any such use cases, certainly not one where Apples implementation would be superior to Samsungs. Feel free to enlighten me

I'm not talking about the superiority of one platform over the other - that was an odd place to go[?] - I was talking about the the current implementation of Reachability and how a "sticky mode" to retain it in the lower position would be handy, ex: category select, followed by a list select (an interaction that's super common in iOS apps) ... simple.

 

[mongobongo]

I'm not talking about the superiority of one platform over the other - that was an odd place to go[?] - I was talking about the the current implementation of Reachability and how a "sticky mode" to retain it in the lower position would handy, ex: category select, followed by a list select (an interaction that's super common in iOS apps) ... simple.

I wasn’t talking about superiority of one platform vs the other either. As I mentioned in my original post I’m firmly in the iOS camp anyway but that’s besides the point here. Like you I was talking about the implementation of Reachability vs One Handed Mode. What I meant to say was that I can’t think of a single use case where Samsung’s implementation would be inferior to Apples, even if Apple made their current implementation sticky, which it isn’t.

 

[D.T.]

I wasn’t talking about superiority of one platform vs the other either. As I mentioned in my original post I’m firmly in the iOS camp anyway but that’s besides the point here. Like you I was talking about the implementation of Reachability vs One Handed Mode. What I meant to say was that I can’t think of a single use case where Samsung’s implementation would be inferior to Apples, even if Apple made their current implementation sticky, which it isn’t.

Then we're on the same page. What I was suggesting was just some minor improvements to the current Reachability execution would be notable, without even needing to go as far as Samsung with a whole scale-down-the-screen implementation (regardless of whether that's better, or not).

FWIW, I recall one of my Apple acquaintances (during some shoot-the-crap time on my west coast adventures) being all froggy about my suggestion of capitalizing on the Plus model's "mini tablet" modes by scaling apps, etc. (I was super excited by the potential of the Plus - now I have an X and don't care ).

 

[mongobongo]

Then we're on the same page. What I was suggesting was just some minor improvements to the current Reachability execution would be notable, without even needing to go as far as Samsung with a whole scale-down-the-screen implementation (regardless of whether that's better, or not).

FWIW, I recall one of my Apple acquaintances (during some shoot-the-crap time on my west coast adventures) being all froggy about my suggestion of capitalizing on the Plus model's "mini tablet" modes by scaling apps, etc. (I was super excited by the potential of the Plus - now I have an X and don't care ).

I have an X as well and for the first time, even though I have big hands, I have difficulties using the phone with one hand. I’ve thought about it and realized that making Apples current implementation sticky would go a long way to improving it but still quite not as good as Samsung’s. If Apple would implement “sticky” or Samsung’s version, I think that might even make me consider a plus model next year. I will however admit that I have never actually used Androids One Handed Mode. I’ve only seen a very brief demo by a friend.

But the fact remains, and I think you’ll agree. The way both modes are currently implemented, Apples version seems far far inferior to Samsung’s. And it’s a shame really. There’s no reason why the X, or any other iPhone, should be difficult to use with one hand, even though it has a large screen.

 

[George Knighton]

No, it’s just the same Reachability feature with a more awkward gesture.

Played around with this on my V30. I get it. The Android is a little more useful, if you need it.

 

[Paradoxally]

Jailbroken devices have this, it's called OneHandWizard. Unfortunately jailbreaking is pretty much dead lately.