Considering moving back to iPhone, does iOS16 have this feature?

[h.gilbert]

Had an iPhone 7 Plus years ago and since then I've been using an Android so I've gotten quite use to it. Recently I've been thinking about going back to iOS but I'm worried I'll lose some features that I rely on.

The big one is the ability to open up any other app in a floating window above any other currently open app. For example, at the moment I'm learning Korean, so I'll often watch something Korean on Netflix or YT in full screen mode. If a word comes up that I don't know, I can just swipe on a little bar on the top left side of the screen and select a Korean-English dictionary app from a list of apps. That dictionary app then opens in a small floating window on top of the video and I can enter in the word using a floating keyboard. Once I have that word, I can just swipe the floating window to the side to make is disappear and resume what I'm watching.

A video would've probably been a better way to explain that but oh well... Does iOS 16 have anything like this?

 

[SumYoungGai]

iOS has picture in picture; the video would move to a small floating window when you swipe up to go home and the dictionary would be full screen

 

[h.gilbert]

iOS has picture in picture; the video would move to a small floating window when you swipe up to go home and the dictionary would be full screen

Even with non-premium YT?

I guess it wouldn't work if I was browsing on IG and then wanted to pull up the dictionary app then

 

[contacos]

Nope this does not work unfortunately

 

[Slartibart]

Nope this does not work unfortunately

Well, on iPadOS 16.3.1 you can swipe over (most) apps from the dock over a running full screen video - and yes, the video continues playing using e.g. Safari in the example below -… just checked with Amazon, Youtube and playing a video via Files. That is such a basic functionality, and it’s not available on iOS?

Oh, and youtube runs easily as PiP via Safari without subscription. 🤓

 

[contacos]

But the OP wants to replace his android PHONE not tablet

 

[h.gilbert]

Yes, I'd also like it to work over any app, not just YT/Netflix/other video apps.

 

[Slartibart]

But the OP wants to replace his android PHONE not tablet

I got that - wasn’t aware that slide over is iPadOS-specific.

 

[Paddle1]

iOS has a built in translation option system-wide if you highlight text and I use the Live Text feature to do something similar. If I see something I want to translate (that can't be highlighted normally) I screenshot it, highlight the text, and then press Translate without leaving the app I'm in.

 

[h.gilbert]

iOS has a built in translation option system-wide if you highlight text and I use the Live Text feature to do something similar. If I see something I want to translate (that can't be highlighted normally) I screenshot it, highlight the text, and then press Translate without leaving the app I'm in.

Thanks for the help but I need it to work with the specific app I use. It's a dedicated Korean-English app with definitions from multiple dictionaries, hand written input, notes on etymology, add-ons, user created entries, flashcard system etc etc.

I guess iOS doesn't have it then. On my phone's version of android you can select any non-gaming app to open up in a floating window above ANY other app. Seems like with iOS you are limited to video player in PiP mode, and then swipe to the dictionary app.

 

[Paddle1]

Thanks for the help but I need it to work with the specific app I use. It's a dedicated Korean-English app with definitions from multiple dictionaries, hand written input, notes on etymology, add-ons, user created entries, flashcard system etc etc.

I guess iOS doesn't have it then. On my phone's version of android you can select any non-gaming app to open up in a floating window above ANY other app. Seems like with iOS you are limited to video player in PiP mode, and then swipe to the dictionary app.

Yeah, no split screen on iPhone, only iPad. You'd have to flip between apps or use PiP.