Split screen woes... anyone use it in portrait?

[Hym tix]

OK, I have a new 11” iPad Pro that is gorgeous. But... I’m so bothered to find out that Apple have still refused to make split screen function properly. (edit: and by this I mean the feature works as designed, but the design is so absolutely awful when used in portrait mode that it could be said it doesn't properly work)


Just look at this screenshot. Is there honestly anyone who would ever want to use two tall skinny apps in that orientation?

edit: and here is how it could be better:

Of course I know all the caveats, workarounds, and “you are holding it wrong” answers.

But split screen is utterly useless when holding the iPad in portrait... and it shouldn’t be. End of story. The new 11” with wider screen ratio just exacerbates the issue; it is truly awful design on the part of Apple software engineers.

All they would need to do is allow for the split line to go horizontally across the screen so two apps could be top/ bottom.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Wait a second. Isn’t the video on the right YouTube? Looks like you clicked on the video which of course will surround the video in black with the video in the middle. If you click it back, the video will appear on the top with content below.

I am not sure what you are trying to say. Of course apps will be skinnier in splitview while the iPad is in portrait. This goes for the 12.9” as well. Much better to use splitscreen in landscape.

 

[flur]

Spilt screen is functioning properly for how it’s built. What I believe you’re saying is that you want it to function top/bottom or have options to do other orientations beyond side-by-side. IMO this would be a good addition to the iPad functionality. Have you suggested it to Apple?

 

[Hym tix]

I am not sure what you are trying to say. Of course apps will be skinnier in splitview while the iPad is in portrait. This goes for the 12.9” as well. Much better to use splitscreen in landscape.

Yeah that's the "you are holding it wrong" answer. My point is that Split Screen could potentially be very useful in portrait. But the design is such that it looks absolutely awful and is functionally pointless if you try to use Split Screen in portrait. Apple designed the feature lazily, poorly, or without thought to actual use.

Have you suggested it to Apple?

good point, no I haven't and that would be much better than just complaining about it.

I guess the real reason I posted this thread (not just to complain) is that I am curious to see how much of a reaction this gets on MacRumors and whether there are many others who have noticed the design flaw.

 

[Absrnd]

I am waiting for Captain Obvious to give an answer...

But till that time..
What did you expect ?, it was either this, or you making a posting why there is no split-screen in portrait mode, or not able to choose if it is top-bottom or side by side.

and a YouTube vid is the worst example to have in portrait split-view, unless it was filmed in portrait mode

 

[ericwn]

I am not sure I understand the OP. Split screen obviously benefits from a wide screen in order to display more content and the portrait orientation doesn’t offer that.

What specific immediate improvements would you like to see? Can you provide some examples?

 

[Hym tix]

What did you expect ?, it was either this, or you making a posting why there is no split-screen in portrait mode, or not able to choose if it is top-bottom or side by side.

Ability to “choose top-bottom or side by side” would be a great solution.

and a YouTube vid is the worst example to have in portrait split-view, unless it was filmed in portrait mode

Yeah, I used the worst example in order to make the point more obvious, but you have to admit it is bad for any two apps.
Also, widescreen video playback is one of the best examples of how this could be better (with a top-bottom split)

 

[PJivan]

Ability to “choose top-bottom or side by side” would be a great solution.

I find it a good suggestion that should not be hard to be implemented, it could also work for phones to be fair now that they have a super long screen rateo.

 

[Hym tix]

I am not sure I understand the OP. Split screen obviously benefits from a wide screen in order to display more content and the portrait orientation doesn’t offer that.

Portrait "split view" (did some research, thats the official name of the feature) doesn't offer more content because of poor design. Thats my point.

What specific immediate improvements would you like to see? Can you provide some examples?

yeah, I'll make some mockups.

 

[ericwn]

Yes please make some mock-up so we get a better understanding. In your first screenshot there’s a video on the right side which I’m not sure could be better viewed in a portrait shape window.

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Ah I see, you want top to bottom split screen instead of side to side. Not a bad idea.

 

[Greenmeenie]

Spilt screen is functioning properly for how it’s built. What I believe you’re saying is that you want it to function top/bottom or have options to do other orientations beyond side-by-side. IMO this would be a good addition to the iPad functionality. Have you suggested it to Apple?

Exactly. OP didn’t make this clear. Sounded like they were complaining the columns were too skinny in portrait. Not much can be done about that. I totally agree however that an option to split screen top to bottom in portrait is a fantastic idea.

 

[Hym tix]

First use case: movie + website. This is possible now with picture-in-picture, but would be so much more elegant with proper top-bottom "split view." I'm just using my first awful example from above; I've resized it to a top-bottom layout. This is MacRumors YouTube channel up top and MacRumors website in Google Chrome down below.


This example is on the 11" Pro dimensions. The standard 4:3 screen would benefit less, but it would still be great, far more useful.

I mean who doesn't want to peruse Instagram or Facebook during a boring part on that Netflix show? Or watch an iFixit youtube tutorial while reading the step-by-step webpage at the same time?

 

[ericwn]

Thanks for sharing your mock-up, it’s indeed an interesting idea!

 

[Hym tix]

OK, for the record, "Split View" works the way it was designed. I'm just saying that this intentional design is very impractical and nearly useless for holding and using the iPad in portrait.

Here is Apple's documentation for developers showing the options for Split View:

Full article here https://developer.apple.com/library....html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40015145-CH13-SW1

The bottom left image is the only option for portrait-held orientation. Split View would be significantly more useful (read: at all useful) in Portrait if Apple designed a "top-bottom" split view when the iPad is in portrait. The black bar would be horizontal and could accommodate two full apps, one on top, one below.

I'm working on writing up and sending feedback to Apple about this.

 

[augustya]

Does Apple listens to all these suggestions ? It is like asking President Trump to change a legislation. Which common Man can do that ?? Anyways good looking for with your task ! By the way are you planning to write it directly to Timmy Boy ?? Or on whose email ?

 

[Mr.Blacky]

I (unlike many others here apparently) use my iPad in both portrait and landscape, but if I'm using splitscreen, I solely use it in landscape.
And I don't know, if your example is so good. On time apps would be left and right and other times they would be top and bottom. Could get confusing.

 

[Hym tix]

I (unlike many others here apparently) use my iPad in both portrait and landscape, but if I'm using splitscreen, I solely use it in landscape.
And I don't know, if your example is so good. On time apps would be left and right and other times they would be top and bottom. Could get confusing.

Interesting, to clarify I am asking Apple to

1. remove the side-by-side Split View option for Portrait. Its useless (as you mention, you only use Split View with the iPad in landscape, which I imagine is true for all of us and proves my original point)
2. create a new format for Split View when iPad is used in portrait. A top-bottom Split View would be actually useable and significantly enhance the function of using the iPad in portrait.

 

[ahostmadsen]

I agree that top-bottom split view in portrait would be much more useful. You could see two apps in full width.

The only issue is that perhaps it could be very hard to implement for some apps. It would work very well for webpages, documents, video, images. But other types of apps with a more fixed layout could be hard to adopt.

 

[RevTEG]

It never crossed my mind how split screen would work in portrait. Unless I’m teaching from my iPad, I always use it in landscape mode. Now I’m going to have to go see what split screen looks like in portrait.

 

[Hym tix]

The only issue is that perhaps it could be very hard to implement for some apps. It would work very well for webpages, documents, video, images. But other types of apps with a more fixed layout could be hard to adopt.

True, but it would be no harder than it is for apps to implement the wonky current Portrait Split View. In fact the layout for what I am suggesting is closer to standard landscape layout so it would be a bit easier.

 

[DNichter]

I like it, good idea. I’d certainly use it more this way if implemented properly.

 

[gnomeisland]

Yeah that's the "you are holding it wrong" answer. My point is that Split Screen could potentially be very useful in portrait. But the design is such that it looks absolutely awful and is functionally pointless if you try to use Split Screen in portrait. Apple designed the feature lazily, poorly, or without thought to actual use.


good point, no I haven't and that would be much better than just complaining about it.

I guess the real reason I posted this thread (not just to complain) is that I am curious to see how much of a reaction this gets on MacRumors and whether there are many others who have noticed the design flaw.

I 100% agree with you but (because I am a contrarian) I feel the need to point out that when you throw in an on screen keyboard the skinny apps make a bit more sense where was the top/bottom config would give you really weird shapes. However, I still think there should be an option. For several of my uses a top/bottom split screen would be perfect (because I don't use an on screen keyboard).

 

[subjonas]

I completely understood your original post, but it could also be because I’ve always thought portrait split view was problematic. I remember when they introduced split screen (in iOS 9?), in landscape left/right split made complete sense of course, and then they turned it portrait and it was still left/right split with these super skinny windows, and I remember thinking, “What? Really? Shouldn’t it be top/bottom split?”
I get the feeling Apple did this mainly because they didn’t want to confuse users. In left/right split, you swipe from the right edge to bring back a slide over app. In top/bottom split, logically, you would swipe from the top or bottom to bring back a slide over app—but those gestures are already spoken for with Notification Center and Control Center (and now dock/home/multitask). So instead changing up the gestures, Apple chose to just limit split screen to left/right.
I do wish Apple would implement top/bottom portrait split, but if they do they’ll likely have to make some major changes to the current iOS gestures.

 

[Macintoshrumors]

Are you new? It’s been like this, you are using it wrong.