Kitz Forum
Computers & Hardware => Apple Related => Topic started by: sevenlayermuddle on November 27, 2019, 09:40:08 PM
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Posted in Apple, but corresponding comments from Android users also appreciated. Posing these questions in my occasional role as an anonymous App developer (games and puzzles). For an App that works on both iPhone and iPad...
...If it works nicely landscape on an iPad, do you still want it to work portrait too?
...And vice versa for iPhone - if it works nicely portrait is that sufficient, or do you like to have the landscape option too?
Just curious as, whilst it is quite easy to detect orientation and auto rotate, crudely adjusting layout, the awkward aspect ratios make it hard to do so in a pleasing and useful way. Life can be easier if I just design a ‘pretty’ portrait layout for iPhone and refuse to rotate, and a different ‘pretty’ landscape layout for iPad. :)
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Hi 7lm
Personally for me, I tend to rotate a mobile/iPad screen to gain easier reading of information
I do not play games on phones/iPad so if that’s what you develop then ignore my comment
If it’s technical then I need to clearly read and some are very small
Many thanks
John
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I'm with John on this. I use reading glasses when I'm reading at home, but I don't carry them around with me, so it's very helpful with small text on the phone, if I can rotate it into landscape mode.
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Thanks, that comment is indeed relevant. In my case it is not just reading of text, it is consuming detail of on screen graphics, but same principle/compromise applies.
I guess I’m suggesting that providing the necessary information is easy to see on each device (by adopting an appropriate device-specific layout), is it fair to assume that portrait is always adequate on a phone, and landscape always adequate on a tablet?
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I guess I’m suggesting that providing the necessary information is easy to see on each device (by adopting an appropriate device-specific layout), is it fair to assume that portrait is always adequate on a phone, and landscape always adequate on a tablet?
As neither a user, nor owner, of such devices perhaps my answer, "Yes", to your above question should not carry too much weight. :)
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I find some graphics are too small when automatically zoomed to screen width in portrait mode so rotate the screen to landscape. Could you post a mock up of the sort of graphic so we can assess and comment?
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I find some graphics are too small when automatically zoomed to screen width in portrait mode so rotate the screen to landscape. Could you post a mock up of the sort of graphic so we can assess and comment?
Sorry, but my motivation in starting this thread was to reduce my workload.
Therefor, before responding to above, to avoid contradicting that ambition, can I clarify who is/are ‘we’?
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For reading websites I always rotate my phone to landscape,as it makes it easier to see, and the content generally fits better, most apps I use in portrait mode. My tablet is always used landscape, don't think I ever use it in portrait, although I did when I used to game on it. It is extremely annoying when a app doesn't auto rotate, or not quickly enough.
My eyesight is a lot worse these days and I have to use glasses when using my phone or tablet, I know some people that just increase the font size though. Sometimes I find some apps or websites where the choice of colours makes it difficult to see.
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Thanks guys, I’m still not sure I’m explaining this right.
With an App like a browser, preference for portrait/landscape depends on the website being viewed so such Apps will support both and the user will rotate as appropriate.
At the other extreme, the ‘phone App’ itself, with the dialling number pad, is clearly optimised for portrait and I suspect everybody is happy with that. But the phone App is a bit special because it also has to suit the physical layout of microphone and speaker.
So, providing an iPhone App can be clearly optimised for portrait with absolutely no compromises, are people happy to be forced to use it that way? Or will you sometimes want to use landscape for that App even though it doesn’t work so well, just because you like holding the phone sideways?
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I must admit I find it very unintuitive to use my phone in landscape mode and invariably always use it in portrait mode for everything except for perhaps viewing pictures taken in landscape.
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Hi 7lm
I thought you explained very well
I apologise as you did originally state GAMES
I do not play games on phone/tablets but do use technical apps
So this was taken from my iPhone and I cannot read it very well. This app will not rotate
Can you read the text in the output box...
Please note on iPhone using app, you cannot zoom so please look at picture without zooming
Please ignore though as it is technical and not gaming but just thought I’d show you
Many thanks
John
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20191128/b67b05d1be64877731fb99b7d3c40b05.jpg)
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In fairness d2d4j, I would not say that App is optimised for portrait with absolutely no compromises, as the text display is clearly a compromise. I think I’d be looking for a way to make that one auto-rotate, does it do so? Not sure how I’d lay it out though for landscape, and I guess the qwerty keyboard might get clumsy.
Apple’s human interface guidelines encourage developers to support both orientations “if possible”, because that’s what people prefer and expect. From contributions here I’m getting the impression that’s good advice, even if it means the App is sub-optimal in, say, landscape on a phone. :)
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If the app is designed to work in portrait mode I'm generally happy to use it that way on a phone, so long as I can read the text with my glasses on.
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Hi
@7lm - no the app does not rotate
All that is needed is to make the text bigger in output screen so it is readable.
That app is very useful though for diagnosis of issues relating to services
I do not mind myself if portrait or landscape as long as I can read without difficulty. That’s the only reason I would turn landscape is to read better
This I guess though does not apply to games sorry.
Many thanks
John
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Thanks folks.
Shame I’m too shy to publicly identify myself, else I could refer to my own Apps for more specific debate. I could even bump up the prices beforehand, to take advantage of the sudden rush. :D
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can I clarify who is/are ‘we’?
Anyone reading this topic!
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Sorry Jelv, it was late and not now sure what I meant by that, point taken. :)
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Thanks folks.
Shame I’m too shy to publicly identify myself, else I could refer to my own Apps for more specific debate. I could even bump up the prices beforehand, to take advantage of the sudden rush. :D
There won't be any rush from me, I don't own any Apple products :P
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There won't be any rush from me, I don't own any Apple products :P
Another plan bites the dust. Marketing and ‘monetisation’ have never been strengths of mine. ::)
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Its a very random question really as it depends entirely on the app.
I don't mind if games have specified aspect ratios, but when things like SSH clients are forced into portrait (so the text is too small/doesnt fit) or landscape (the keyboard then takes up too much space), then having the option of quickly switching between both is useful.
You also have to consider, is this an app where holding the tablet in one hand while doing something with the other might be a factor? Then portrait is more important.
I think it really boils down to if you are compromising the UI by having both views, vs fully optimising for one.
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With my iPhone I use both, but on my iPad I have a keyboard built in the case so like Landscape only, some apps I have are only portrait mode so I do not use them :'(
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Thanks again folks. All contributions provide further insight to the question posted...
https://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php/topic,24091.0.html
:)
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No doubt this will muddy the waters, but...
My preference for both iPad & iPhone is to use portrait mode, for several reasons:
1. If I am typing, the on-screen keyboard occupies about a third of the screen in portrait mode, but about half the screen in landscape mode. It therefore sometimes prevents me seeing what I have typed!
2. It's easier to hold in one hand, with the centre of mass closer to the wrist.
3. Small text isn't really an issue for me, as I am shortsighted, and tend to take off my specs and hold either device about 30cm from my face. Since both devices try to optimise to the viewing width, there's more viewable 'real estate' visible when in portrait.
4. I find it easier to read a greater number of shorter lines, rather than fewer but longer lines. (Maybe that's why most books are printed in portrait mode, and newspapers are printed in columns?) The Kitz site is a prime example of this.
Of course, the opposite applies when watching full-screen 'YouTube' videos, for example, because they are optimised for landscape viewing, and require little user interaction.
Since the screen dimension ratios are so different between the two devices, it doesn't surprise me that some apps are restricted to either landscape or portrait mode. The work involved in trying to optimise for both orientations on both devices must be significant!
TBH I rarely use the phone for anything other than calls, texts and messages, so my useage is probably atypical, and my opinions should not be given too much weight! :-X
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Thanks Westie, feedback appreciated. :)
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> It is extremely annoying when a app doesn't auto rotate, or not quickly enough.
Seconded, most definitely. It drives me wild.
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Worth noting, modern phones are kinda too large to use one-handed anyway, especially as they've gotten taller so feel top-heavy.
Not sure how that applies to iPhones as I've never owned one.
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iPhones seem to vary in size a lot, many are way too big, getting almost like a mini iPad Mini. Janet got the smallest iPhone she could find.