[applyglove]

iPhone 5: Apple’s 16:9 compromise | ExtremeTech

Quote from the article:

"Apps can be redesigned to use this additional space, of course � but then what happens if you try to use a 16:9 app with a 3:2 device, such as the hundreds of millions of iPhones already in circulation? Will developers have to maintain multiple versions of each app, just like on Android? Apple has been very quiet on this matter."

Will BB10 have the same issues?

[chaddeus]

iPhone 5: Apple’s 16:9 compromise | ExtremeTech

Quote from the article:

"Apps can be redesigned to use this additional space, of course � but then what happens if you try to use a 16:9 app with a 3:2 device, such as the hundreds of millions of iPhones already in circulation? Will developers have to maintain multiple versions of each app, just like on Android? Apple has been very quiet on this matter."

Will BB10 have the same issues?

Maybe with just two resolution to maintain unlike Android with gazillion resolution to maintain

- Charles

[ekv]

I believe even Android started with "just two", different versions for an app.

[playbookster]

since Playbook is 16:9.. No.

[ekafara]

I heard Apple's isn't actually exactly 16:9, but close. And for BB it should be a non issue since the PB is 16:9 and all the BB10 apps have started off with that aspect ratio.

Edit: just did some math and yeah, it's pretty much 16:9(off by .00 something) I think it was on The Verge I read it wasn't 16:9.

[TheScionicMan]

Don't forget the N-Series at 1:1

[sahil123]

They will have to maintain 3 different app versions.
1) Optimized for PlayBook
2) Optimized for L-Series
3) Optimized for N-Series

BUT, if you do some calculations, The L series and the N series differ in height at 560 pixels, which should be about the same height as the virtual keyboard. So if it is a Social Networking app or an Instant Messenger, which heavily requires the use of the Keyboard, then you can (in theory) use the same app on both devices. Also, since the PlayBook and the L series both use the same aspect ratio, L-series Apps will work on the PlayBook and vice versa. So if you're an app developer, making an app for the L-series will give you (in theory) a universal app. But its best if you optimize them for each. (most portrait mode apps can be used on the N series)

[gorang]

Playbook is actually 15:9. L-series will be 16:9 and N-series will be 1:1.

I am more interested in what RIM will do with lower tier devices as far as screen resolutions because lower tier device with smaller screen and 1280x768 resolution will have 400ppi and there's nothing lower tier about that

[itmccb]

I heard Apple's isn't actually exactly 16:9, but close. And for BB it should be a non issue since the PB is 16:9 and all the BB10 apps have started off with that aspect ratio.

Edit: just did some math and yeah, it's pretty much 16:9(off by .00 something) I think it was on The Verge I read it wasn't 16:9.

The iPhone's only one pixel over 16x9 (which is 1136x639 vs. 1136x640) and the PlayBook isn't 16x9 at all.

Playbook is actually 15:9. L-series will be 16:9 and N-series will be 1:1.

I am more interested in what RIM will do with lower tier devices as far as screen resolutions because lower tier device with smaller screen and 1280x768 resolution will have 400ppi and there's nothing lower tier about that

There was also a 17:10 in there somewhere, but I'm too lazy to do the math to figure out which it was. Also, lower-tier devices won't have 1280x768.

[gorang]

The iPhone's only one pixel over 16x9 (which is 1136x639 vs. 1136x640) and the PlayBook isn't 16x9 at all.

There was also a 17:10 in there somewhere, but I'm too lazy to do the math to figure out which it was. Also, lower-tier devices won't have 1280x768.

Yea I was just thinking about it after I posted that, on lower tier they can use Playbook resolution of 1020x600, at 3.7-4 inch screen they would have 290-330 ppi. Still high but not like high tier yet still developer friendly.

[itmccb]

Yea I was just thinking about it after I posted that, on lower tier they can use Playbook resolution of 1020x600, at 3.7-4 inch screen they would have 290-330 ppi. Still high but not like high tier yet still developer friendly.

Probably would be either 720 or 600 for "mid range" phones and low end would have keyboards.

[lorax1284]

Properly designed apps should scale to fit. Look at how Skype windows behave when you change the size of the Windows, and you'll get a sense of how it should be implemented.

That's not to say that it's EASY to design software like that, and there's a issue with the rendering engine being able to support nested yet independently aligned and scaled components (i.e. "if this object is bigger than XX, center it, but otherwise left-align it, but don't word wrap, show a scroll bar, etc."), but if you can do it properly in an HTML-based app, it should be doable on iPhone and on BB10.