iPad Pro Split Screen Question on iPad OS for the 11" iPad Pro ?

[augustya]

I understand right now with the Split Screen on iPad Pro 11" it uses two iPhone Size APPS as compared to the 12.9" I am curious to find out after the iPad OS is launched even then iPad Pro 11" would staill have only two iPhone Size APPS in Split Screen ?

 

[spudWorks]

I'm an iOS developer, so I'll help you out here.

There is technically very little difference between an iPad app and an iPhone app. What "differentiates" an iPad app from an iPhone app is really just the size classes that can be displayed and what happens when an app is displayed within those classes. To break it down, there are two size classes "Compact" and "Regular" and two axis, "Vertical" and "Horizontal". Then there is also the orientation "Portrait" or "Landscape".

An iPad app in full screen Landscape is an app that runs in Regular-Regular-Landscape. When this is the case, the app can take advantage of a displayed list view next to a detail view. Or, when in Portrait, can have the list view pop over the detail view. This is because the iPad takes advantage of something the iPhone ignores (except in landscape on an iPhone Plus) called the SplitViewController. (There will be a lot of little exceptions, so let's speak in generalities from here on out.) The iPhone, as I said, ignores this and just displays a list (for example) on one screen then replaces that with the detail view when an item has been selected.

Same app, just works slightly different given the size and device contexts.

When a 12.9" displays two apps side by side in a landscape context, it is essentially displayed two Regular-Regular-Portrait apps in the iPad context. Flip this into Portrait, and they become two Compact-Regular apps and they default to functioning as they would on a Compact-Regular-Portrait device... the iPhone.

The 11" (and 10.5" and 9.7" for that matter) display Compact-Regular-Portrait when side-by-side in landscape always. Even a swipe over window is still Compact-Regular-Portrait, it's just more compact than the compact when two apps share the screen equally.

My hope, of course, was that with the extra screen real estate given to the 11", it would bump up the size classes to be like the 12.9" but, alas, it is still the same as the smaller Pros have been.

This is a long way of saying that, even with the impending iPadOS, the 11" will still display two apps side-by-side in an iPhone-like context but, if they've been built correctly, should still be "proper" iPad apps. But, no, they won't function like they do on the 12.9".

One thing that will be possible though, and this should give you heart if the above was a downer, is that apps that are written to take advantage of it can have their list view and "detail" screen on one side and another detail view side-by-side. They've shown examples of this where you can have your Mail inbox and message displayed and then the compose window, side-by-side so you can refer back to what you were reading or another email or swipe in a new app altogether for whatever the usecase might be. So it's not exactly what you're asking for but it's definitely a power feature that's very un-iPhone-like that I've found to be very cool.

 

[augustya]

I'm an iOS developer, so I'll help you out here.

There is technically very little difference between an iPad app and an iPhone app. What "differentiates" an iPad app from an iPhone app is really just the size classes that can be displayed and what happens when an app is displayed within those classes. To break it down, there are two size classes "Compact" and "Regular" and two axis, "Vertical" and "Horizontal". Then there is also the orientation "Portrait" or "Landscape".

An iPad app in full screen Landscape is an app that runs in Regular-Regular-Landscape. When this is the case, the app can take advantage of a displayed list view next to a detail view. Or, when in Portrait, can have the list view pop over the detail view. This is because the iPad takes advantage of something the iPhone ignores (except in landscape on an iPhone Plus) called the SplitViewController. (There will be a lot of little exceptions, so let's speak in generalities from here on out.) The iPhone, as I said, ignores this and just displays a list (for example) on one screen then replaces that with the detail view when an item has been selected.

Same app, just works slightly different given the size and device contexts.

When a 12.9" displays two apps side by side in a landscape context, it is essentially displayed two Regular-Regular-Portrait apps in the iPad context. Flip this into Portrait, and they become two Compact-Regular apps and they default to functioning as they would on a Compact-Regular-Portrait device... the iPhone.

The 11" (and 10.5" and 9.7" for that matter) display Compact-Regular-Portrait when side-by-side in landscape always. Even a swipe over window is still Compact-Regular-Portrait, it's just more compact than the compact when two apps share the screen equally.

My hope, of course, was that with the extra screen real estate given to the 11", it would bump up the size classes to be like the 12.9" but, alas, it is still the same as the smaller Pros have been.

This is a long way of saying that, even with the impending iPadOS, the 11" will still display two apps side-by-side in an iPhone-like context but, if they've been built correctly, should still be "proper" iPad apps. But, no, they won't function like they do on the 12.9".

One thing that will be possible though, and this should give you heart if the above was a downer, is that apps that are written to take advantage of it can have their list view and "detail" screen on one side and another detail view side-by-side. They've shown examples of this where you can have your Mail inbox and message displayed and then the compose window, side-by-side so you can refer back to what you were reading or another email or swipe in a new app altogether for whatever the usecase might be. So it's not exactly what you're asking for but it's definitely a power feature that's very un-iPhone-like that I've found to be very cool.

So in short, even with the iPad OS the 11" would not have full sized, Regular Sized APPS in Landscape mode in Split View right ?

 

[spudWorks]

Haha... yeah. That's the short of it.

 

[augustya]

Haha... yeah. That's the short of it.

Yeah Man ! The developer Language was going all over my Head so made it simple ! lol !!

 

[AutomaticApple]

The developer Language was going all over my Head

Same here.

 

[secretk]

Yeah Man ! The developer Language was going all over my Head so made it simple ! lol !!

Understandable. However I as a fellow Developer want to thank for that developer language! It was quite interesting for me.

 

[augustya]

Understandable. However I as a fellow Developer want to thank for that developer language! It was quite interesting for me.

So did I correctly interpret it ? What he was saying ? That even after iPad OS arrives the split screen in iPad Pro 11" will still only render iPhone size compact view apps in split screen.

 

[secretk]

So did I correctly interpret it ? What he was saying ? That even after iPad OS arrives the split screen in iPad Pro 11" will still only render iPhone size compact view apps in split screen.

Sorry. I thought that you had received confirmation from the Developer . He is saying that if you put two apps in split screen on iPad 11 they will be in Compact mode (no matter if it is landscape or portrait). Then he is saying that it depends on the actual Developers how exactly the compact mode looks like. Some apps would really have the iPhone view while others might have slightly different view in Compact mode on an iPad to offer better user experience.

That being said I did not understand if his post explains how iOS 12 works or also how iPadOS works because if I understood your question correctly you are asking if there were changes in this behavior between iOS 12 and iPadOS.

Bear in mind that I am not iOS Developer myself so this is how I interpreted his post based on my general Developer knowledge and not based on my iOS knowledge.

 

[spudWorks]

That being said I did not understand if his post explains how iOS 12 works or also how iPadOS works because if I understood your question correctly you are asking if there were changes in this behavior between iOS 12 and iPadOS.

Bear in mind that I am not iOS Developer myself so this is how I interpreted his post based on my general Developer knowledge and not based on my iOS knowledge.

As the developer in question, first, I'd like to apologize. I feel like I may have muddied the waters with my "explanation." Believe it or not, my speciality is typically to explain technical matters to non-technical people but... I feel like I really might have blown it here.

To the original question. The answer is, yes, even in iPadOS 13, on the 11" iPad, you will essentially get two "iPhone" apps running side-by-side. That is the short and sweet version of it.

BUT... because there's always a but... if the app developer puts a little extra time into it to make it truly universal, not just in layouts but also in what's available on the iPad versus the iPhone, just because it might be running in an "iPhone" layout, doesn't mean it can't have iPad features. Drag-and-drop, for instance, can work even when in "iPhone" mode. (I've done with with my own apps.) And the ability to split one app into two, the way they've demoed Mail (and how I've already used it) works in iPadOS 13.

Mail is a great example. In side-by-side mode, it basically works and looks the same as it does on an iPhone. But... you can move the compose window into the opposite side-by-side view and then use the original window to search for other messages to reference OR switch to another app entirely if you need to reference a spread sheet, a web page, whatever. So... while the app in it's most basic usage functions in side-by-side mode on an 11" iPad Pro is "iPhone-like", it can function as more given the fact that it's on an iPad.

The best I can tell you is that if you haven't already checked out the beta, then to wait for the public release and then try out the apps that are updated after to see how they take advantage of the new features. It's totally disappointing that Apple didn't make the 11" display apps like the 12.9" can. But, with iPadOS 13, they may have come up with an answer that negates that as a problem.

I hope that helps to clarify things.

 

[augustya]

But... you can move the compose window into the opposite side-by-side view and then use the original window to search for other messages to reference OR switch to another app entirely if you need to reference a spread sheet, a web page, whatever.

I would like to know more how this thing is done. Can you post some pictures showing and explaining this, if you do not mind ? That will help understand. I have never tried this, I tried doing, could not do what you are saying.

 

[spudWorks]

I would like to know more how this thing is done. Can you post some pictures showing and explaining this, if you do not mind ? That will help understand. I have never tried this, I tried doing, could not do what you are saying.

So here's the best I can do:

First, here's Mail with inbox view, side-by-side with Safari.



Then, I touch a message to read it. Still, side-by-side



Let's say I want to respond. Still, side-by-side.



Then I drag the compose window over Safari.



While, writing a well worded response, I then drag Podcasts over the original Mail side of the screen and yet the Compose screen remains. If I send or cancel the composition, then it goes away and the window that's sharing the screen takes over the full screen.



This same thing can already be done with Notes so that two notes can be side-by-side but I haven't experimented with other apps yet. But, technically, any app will be able to do this in the future. So... it's not the full "iPad" layout but it suddenly becomes a lot more flexible.

Cool, right?

 

[bluespark]

This may be the best thread ever.

 

[secretk]

As the developer in question, first, I'd like to apologize. I feel like I may have muddied the waters with my "explanation." Believe it or not, my speciality is typically to explain technical matters to non-technical people but... I feel like I really might have blown it here.

Nah. You were clear. I was not sure because I am not iOS Developer and I was not sure if I had grasped everything you have written or not. I had written my post like 1 AM my time :lol: .

To the original question. The answer is, yes, even in iPadOS 13, on the 11" iPad, you will essentially get two "iPhone" apps running side-by-side. That is the short and sweet version of it.

Thanks! I unfortunately have 9.7 inch regular iPad so the split screen in portrait is not an option for me anyway. Nevertheless it was interesting read.

Thanks for the screenshots. It was quite easy to see what you are describing.

 

[augustya]

I still cannot replicate the part where form the left side of your mail window how did you have the compose window coming on the right side ? I can't replicate that part !! And both the side by side windows are now safari ! How ?

 

[spudWorks]

I still cannot replicate the part where form the left side of your mail window how did you have the compose window coming on the right side ? I can't replicate that part !! And both the side by side windows are now safari ! How ?

Do you have iPadOS 13 beta installed? That's the only way it's possible right now.

 

[digitalexplr]

@spudWorks - Thank for your replies. I was actually to wrap my old brain around what you were saying initially, but appreciate your additional responses and examples.

It is refreshing to get a understandable explanation from a developer rather just Internet opinions those who only think they know what they are talking about!

 

[spudWorks]

Thanks! I unfortunately have 9.7 inch regular iPad so the split screen in portrait is not an option for me anyway. Nevertheless it was interesting read.

If you're referring to the iPad in your signature, you'll have access to all of these features as soon as the new OS is released. I have an old 9.7" iPad Pro and can do all of it. And your model is newer.

 

[augustya]

Do you have iPadOS 13 beta installed? That's the only way it's possible right now.

Oh I see where is the disconnect now. I am only on iOS 12 :-((

 

[secretk]

If you're referring to the iPad in your signature, you'll have access to all of these features as soon as the new OS is released. I have an old 9.7" iPad Pro and can do all of it. And your model is newer.

True . What I meant to say is that I don't use split screen that much on my iPad because the screen is too small for me. I wear glasses (serious prescription) and I need the full screen on one app.

I am glad to hear that those features are available though. Who knows I might start using split screen at some point.