iPad support of 960x640 resolution apps

Question

iPad support of 960x640 resolution apps

Ok this is my one significant complaint about the iPad and i am hoping it will be resolved in the next ios update. It is the one thing that is keeping me from loving it wholeheartedly and recommending it to everyone I know. One of the things I looked forward to with the iPad was the ability to use all my iPhone apps I had previously purchased. I spent a lot of money on those both productivity and games. Many of the apps I purchased were at 960x640 resolution (optimized for iPhone 4 display). All apps that have 960x640 res are also written in 480x320 for older model iPhones and iPods. So both resolutions are stored in the downloaded program. So then why does the iPad take an app that is programed for 960x640 and only display the 480x320 version very small on the screen? Or even worse a super pixelated "zoom in 2x" making the app a worthless piece of crap.

I have heard that jailbreak can easily solve this problem so it sounds like a software issue that could be easily fixed in the next iOS update.

So my question is have they fixed this or is there something I am missing or as in all the other discussions I have read is this really the way it is?

Nate

Thanks!

<Edited by Host>

iPad 2, iOS 4

Posted on Mar 23, 2011 11:26 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 23, 2011 11:30 AM in response to Nate from Texas

It is strange that the first time I posted this it disappeared after five minutes with no explanation.

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Answer 2

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Mar 23, 2011 11:47 AM in response to Nate from Texas

why does the iPad take an app that is programed for 960x640 and only display the 480x320 version very small on the screen? Or even worse a super pixelated "zoom in 2x" making the app a worthless piece of crap.

Because the developer has not enabled the app for the iPhone and the iPad.
There is/can be more to it than simply using the higher res graphics.

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Answer 3

Mar 23, 2011 12:00 PM in response to Chris CA

Chris. Thanks for the suggestion, but I have even read the developer forums and they can't get around this issue either. One programmer stated that it would be easier to just create a full iPad version at 1024x768 than to attempt to enable the 960x640 to display on the iPad. Thanks to the retina display app on jail broken iPads there is hard proof that the iPad could easily support the higher res apps as long as iPhone 4 could support it (ie the developer created a version optimized for the iPhone 4 display).

This appears to be apple purposefully withholding functionality, but I would welcome a rebuttal by an apple expert.

BTW "enabling the app for the iPad" requires the developer going through and rescaling all their images and possibly their ui for use on the iPads 9.7" 1024x768 display. Which is indeed a significant amount if additional work for the developer. I am simply talking about displaying the work they have already done and that I have already paid for that was optimized for the iPhone 4 / iPod touch 4 display at 960x640.

Message was edited by: Nate from Texas

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Answer 4

Mar 24, 2011 8:11 AM in response to Nate from Texas

So apple discussions is willing to jump in and moderate my post but not provide a solution or explanation. I guess I'll try the "genius" bar next, however I haven't had much luck there in the past. For now it seems the only solution to getting all the basic functionality you expect out of an iOS device is to set it free from the prison walls.

I just want to be able to use the apps that I already paid for on the iphone, on the iPad. The ones that apple already made their 30% cut. Look at my ** bill. It's not like I don't buy iPad apps too!

And it's not like iPhone apps are incompatible. I'm able to install them and view them in their low res counterpart. Please just let me view them in their full native resolution!

Message was edited by: Nate from Texas

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Answer 5

Mar 24, 2011 8:10 AM in response to Nate from Texas

By the way the reason my first post was pulled is that it contained a rant. Expect this one to disappear or get heavily edited again soon.

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Answer 6

Mar 26, 2011 5:56 PM in response to Nate from Texas

Apple PLEASE enable 960x640 retina display resolution for iPhone apps running on an iPad. They won't replace genuine iPad apps as they're not laid out in an optimal way for the device. But at least they will be more usable until such time as a comparable iPad app is created.

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Answer 7

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Mar 27, 2011 9:31 AM in response to margentini

Suggestions here -> http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

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