The latest update in the Apple iPad rumor mill has it that the upcoming tablet will indeed measure 12 inches and will show tech fans what real mobile multitasking is all about.
"Apple is reportedly working on a drastic redesign for the iPad, enlarging the screen to 12 inches and introducing a new split-screen mode that could display two apps at once," Time said.
Split-screen mode is not a new feature. It's long been introduced in smart TVs and flat-screen TV sets in the last few years. It's also a feature in the Samsung Galaxy S3, as enabled by Android OS version 4.1.2. The Mult-Window mode, as it was called, allows users to "run two apps at the same time ont he Galaxy S3's 4.8-inch display and can pick how much of the screen each app can use," according to GottaBeMobile. The Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4 also has this feature.
Despite this, it is anticipated that the multi-tasking capacity will enhance the iPad's appeal and usefulness.
In addition to the dual-app viewing feature, the upcoming iPads, which 9to5Mac said had been codenamed "J98" and "J99," will include multi-user login support.
Further, according to the site's sources, "the split-screen mode will support 1/2, 1/3, and 2/3 views depending on the apps."
"When split, the screen can either display two different apps side-by-side, or multiple views of the same app. This would enable iPad users to see two separate Safari tabs, or compare a pair of Pages documents at the same time," the tech news outlet added.
It's also been whispered that the dual-app capable iPad, previously nicknamed "iPad Pro," may be unveiled next month at Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference. However, sources had also warned that this multitasking feature may not be included in the upcoming tablet as "additional polish would be needed to bring it to the same level as other features that will be making their way into the first iOS 9 beta next month."
Previously, Apple had wanted to include the dual-view app last year on the iPad Air with the launch of iOS 8. However, the version they had "was deemed too unpolished for public consumption. The rush to finish the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, as well as Apple Watch, sidelined the feature to a later release timeframe.
For those hoping that the split-screen mode may be included in the iPhone, you may be disappointed to know that it's likely this feature won't be considering the limited display space.
Currently, Apple has not confirmed rumors of the June split-screen iPad launch.
What do you think of a dual-view iPad?
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