Split screen features don't go far enough

[LukeChannings]

I've been using El Cap since the first beta (it's been surprisingly stable), and the one thing I think is a bit too weak of an implementation is split screen. It reminds me of when Apple first implemented fullscreen and it didn't support multiple monitors.

My issue is this: it's as common a use case for split screen to want horizontally split windows as vertically split windows. But Apple have only implemented vertically split windows. Is this just for consistency with the iPad implementation? Will they extend it later?

As a developer, I'd like my editor taking up the top 2/3 of the screen, and then a terminal taking up the bottom 1/3.

With the introduction of System Integrity Protection in 10.11 it is no longer possible to inject code into running applications, which means there will be no SIMBL extensions to the split screen behaviour extending it. It also means extensions to Spotlight (Flashlight) will no longer work.

I'm not sure how I feel about these changes. It makes sense to ensure the integrity of system files, but the whole thing feels anti-UNIX (root user is no longer the supreme authority), and very Microsofty to me.

 

[dugbug]

Given the aspect ratio of monitors, horizontal use tends to be inefficient so splitting vertically makes the most sense with your typical user. I like the terminal idea. If you had window snapping you could do xcode on top and two terminals left/right on bottom.

 

[bmac89]

I find it silly that you can't initiate split screen (using green button) and then open a new app/window to fill the second half. Only windows which are currently open on that desktop space can be initiated using this method.

Once you initiate the first split view the dock and menu bar is inactive until the second half is initiated. So if you want to open a new window you have to leave split screen, open the app and then re-initiate.

Window snapping in Windows and better touch tools is not only more flexible but in my opinion far more mac-like in function. I guess the problem is dragging windows to the side is used for moving to the next desktop space.

While I don't personally need horizontal split view, I do think much more flexibility would be an improvement. I think non-fullscreen apps should be able to work in split screen with a black background or desktop background. Infact calculator app use to work in split screen but now it can't.

 

[LukeChannings]

I agree, I didn't think of the second split screen method. That could work nicely.

You also make a good point about launching apps when creating a split screen view, but my feeling is that making the dock visible would add complication.

It might be possible to have a drawer at the top with apps like the iOS implementation, but you'd run into issues with apps launching with multiple windows so it would end up being a two-step operation anyway. Probably simpler in the long run just to ensure the window was already open.

I have always disliked better touch tool / Magnet's handling of both dragging to the side of the screen, which doesn't trigger consistently if you have multiple monitors. And as you mentioned if you hold it too long it'll go to the next space.

I do feel like Apple's implementation is more consistent and thought out than Magnet / BTT, which seem more like direct copies of Windows Snap that are poorly implemented.

 

[KALLT]

There are a couple of things I like better about Split View though, like how both windows will be fused together with a moveable divider in between instead of just resized to both sides of the screen (in Windows 10 you can’t resize windows easily after they ‘snapped’) and I like how they both occupy one Space in Mission Control and are not treated as separate windows (like they do in Windows 10). In Windows 10 the windows will also cast a shadow in the middle where both windows meet, which is a common problem with similar third-party apps on OSX and on Linux desktop environments as well.

But I agree that Split View is a bit unwieldy without the gestures and I am surprised that Apple has not added any context menu items, menu bar items or even shortcuts to make this more powerful. It’s either pressing the green button or dragging a window to the top in Mission Control. I wonder how many people will actually discover this feature. It does seem like another feature that originated not on the desktop but on a touchscreen device, even though the feature is most useful on a huge screen like desktops naturally have. I also don’t like how Safari seems to zoom out webpages after a while when in Split View. I tried having two browser windows side by side and some pages become blurry and almost unreadable after a while. I was hoping this bug would be fixed before release.

 

[bmac89]

You also make a good point about launching apps when creating a split screen view, but my feeling is that making the dock visible would add complication.

I meant a hidden dock.... which is normally available in fullscreen/split screen mode.
At they very least I think split screen needs to be more flexible.

There are a couple of things I like better about Split View though, like how both windows will be fused together with a moveable divider in between instead of just resized to both sides of the screen (in Windows 10 you can’t resize windows easily after they ‘snapped’) and I like how they both occupy one Space in Mission Control and are not treated as separate windows (like they do in Windows 10). In Windows 10 the windows will also cast a shadow in the middle where both windows meet, which is a common problem with similar third-party apps on OSX and on Linux desktop environments as well.

Good points - I agree with this.