Kitz Forum

Computers & Hardware => Apple Related => Topic started by: tickmike on January 14, 2019, 02:28:38 PM

Title: iPad Apps.
Post by: tickmike on January 14, 2019, 02:28:38 PM
Are all apps supposed to work in 'Landscape' or 'Portrait' on a iPad ?.
I have some that only work in Portrait  >:D
With the iPad in a keyboard cover that make it difficult.
Title: Re: iPad Apps.
Post by: j0hn on January 14, 2019, 03:10:40 PM
Nope.
Entirely up to the app developer if they want to support landscape.
Title: Re: iPad Apps.
Post by: Weaver on January 14, 2019, 07:21:41 PM
I have seen apps that only work in portrait, very rarely. They are of course extremely rubbish. Probably only thinking about the iPhone. There are also iPhone apps that (sort-of) work on the iPad in a low resolution horrid iPhone emulation mode with everything blown up in an ugly low-res fuzzy display.

iPhone-only apps ought in theory to be flagged as such on the App Store. If you see an app that doesn’t rotate then write a bad review for it on the App Store to warn others.

You can always get instant no-questions-asked refunds for any App Store purchase. There’s an Apple page where you can just get a refund (http://reportaproblem.apple.com/) straight away with zero hassle and I have used it many times within minutes after buying a useless app.
Title: Re: iPad Apps.
Post by: chenks on January 14, 2019, 07:49:06 PM
the are valid reasons for not allowing an app to rotate though, so leaving a bad review just because you don't understand why is idiotic.
Title: Re: iPad Apps.
Post by: sevenlayermuddle on January 15, 2019, 12:56:09 AM
I have an iPhone/iPad App on sale that is designed to work only in portrait.   The reason is,  for best aesthetics, it has a row of buttons at the top, and a row of buttons at the bottom, with an interactive zone in between portraying 3d graphics that for functional reasons, has to be exactly square.   

If I allowed rotation to landscape, especially on iPhone, after the loss of space caused by top & bottom button bars, the interactive central square would shrink too much and cease to be appealing.   So rather than redesign the whole UI with buttons in different places, I simply disallow landscape.   I have had various feedback, and requests for different features, but nobody has ever asked for a landscape version.   

I have other Apps that support both orientations, where doing so is appropriate. When I publish an App that does support both orientations, I ensure the App Store screenshots illustrate them both.   But if my screenshots show only a single orientation, I assume purchasers will figure out that is the only orientation they should expect.
Title: Re: iPad Apps.
Post by: Weaver on January 15, 2019, 08:29:24 AM
I find portrait very useful, but I have to use landscape with my iPad Pro 12" in bed because I cannot hold it upright in portrait due to the pain in my hands. Disabled users need flexibility and may need rotation. It’s user-centric design over aesthetics, and an inventive graphical layout solution can often be found, but if not then the changes forced in the presentation would be the user’s choice.

I’ve tried various mechanical contraptions, and use a device to hike the bottom in position,  it piles of pillows cannot keep it upright in portrait without it falling and hitting me in the face or leaning away backwards. So landscape it is most of the time.

Disabled users encourage designers to find out about their needs which are often far from obvious.