Is an iPad App Developer the same as an iPhone Developer?

I got this question once… Does doing an iPad app in addition to an iPhone app double the cost?

To an iOS developer, it’s a funny question. We know how easy it is to create a new .xib file for tablets and carry on the same functionality. It’s easy, and the skills are the same.

But you would be surprised how often we work with developers who don’t make an app tablet-friendly. All of our iPhone apps work on iPad too (it’s an internal rule) but not all developers code this way. You see this all the time if you look at the app store and download an app on your iPad that forces itself into portrait mode and has an “x1” in the corner of the screen.

When you’re thinking of creating an iPad version of your app, here are some things to think about.

Do you want the screen to scale to the larger display size or re-orient itself?

It is a question not a lot of people think about when it comes to iPad development: Should the iPad app be a bigger version of the iPhone app? Should all fonts and controls be, you know, bigger?
Our general rule of thumb is that we scale up everything on games but not on business apps.

For example, a business app (with forms, text, images, etc.) can reorient all controls and fit more on the screen. One of the perks of a larger screen is being able to see more at a glance.

But for games? Having extra room on the screen could be an unfair advantage. Imagine two people competing at Flappy Bird and the person on an iPad can see the barriers long before the user on an iPhone.

Does it support Landscape mode?

We do a lot of iPhone apps that are restricted to landscape or portrait. It depends on the experience we want our users to have. Typically, if we are using only one orientation, we prefer portrait-mode on an iPhone.

But for iPad, landscape makes more sense. It is especially true when a keyboard is used.

How will you handle missing features like vibration and 4G?

Does your app rely on vibration? Does the internet ALWAYS have to be present? On the phone, these are taken for granted, but iPads might not have these.

If you are thinking of creating an iPhone app, don’t forget the big brother tablets. I use an iPad every day and can’t stand it when I am forced to use an iPhone app on my tables (scrunched up blurry screen which I have to run in portrait).
Could iPad developers and iPhone developers be the same? Yeah, they can be. But when hiring a new developer, make sure you clarify this early.

Are you thinking about getting an app developed? If so, give Overpass a call or fill in our New Project Form.

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