iPhone 6 & 6 plus

[buckdale]

Hi Mike, I'm considering upgrading to the new iPhone 6 plus from an iPhone 5 and I'm wondering how will Pleco function with the new iPhones 6 & 6 plus? Will there be any issues moving Pleco with all dictionaries and other features to these platforms? Will there be any advantages?

Regards,
Richard Buckdale

 

[mikelove]

We don't have any reason to think there will be, but we won't know for sure until we're actually able to test on the hardware - it's possible there might be some sort of major bug we have to fix before it'll work correctly. (this happened on the iPhone 5 - issue with Apple's new A6 processor that made a large part of our software unusable until we updated it)

 

[etm001]

Hi,

I've been debating selling my 5s and iPad3 and consolidating everything onto an iPhone 6 Plus. Since I use Pleco everyday, I need to make sure that using it on the iPhone 6 Plus - in lieu of my iPad - is a reasonably pleasant experience. To that end: I often write characters as part of my flashcard testing. On the iPad the Pleco flashcard module provides a reasonably large amount of space for writing. On the 6 Plus, the absolute space available for writing will be smaller (although presumably proportionally the same as the iPad). In the past on this forum, I advocated for reducing the size of the correct/incorrect buttons in the flashcard module, as I felt they took up too much screen real estate, something that is a premium even on a device as large as the 6 Plus.

So having said all that: is the UI of the flashcard module being altered in any way that will provide more screen real estate? In other words, are any changes coming to the correct/incorrect buttons that would provide more room for the flashcard, the answer/definition, and most importantly (at least to me) room to write?

Thanks!

 

[mikelove]

The flashcard button heights for Pleco on iPhones are fixed - the definition / writing area grows to accommodate the size of the screen - so yes, you'd get more space on a larger screen. Here's a screenshot from the 6+ simulator. (this is with the soon-to-be-released 3.2 - with 3.1 it'll show you a blown-up version of the old UI since iOS doesn't know that that version of Pleco knows how to deal with larger screens)

 

[etm001]

Thanks Mike. I forgot to mention that when testing, I use my iPad exclusively in landscape mode, and expect that I would so the same with the 6 Plus. I'm assuming your reply still holds true for landscape orientation.

The only way to truly know how well it'll work for me is of course to get a 6 Plus; you can't download Pleco on the demo units in the stores (they are locked down), and even if I could I'd still need an installation that has a paid license for the flashcard module. (First world problems!)

If anyone in the future uses Pleco on a 6 Plus, please feel free to post a reply with your impressions of how comfortable it is to write in the available space within the flashcard module.

 

[mikelove]

Yes, it would apply for landscape as well.

 

[Patrick S.]

Great to hear an update for the new phones is imminent. Is there an ETA on version 3.2? My Mandarin class starts up again in a few weeks and I'd love it if Pleco was looking perfect on my soon to be delivered 6 Plus!

 

[mikelove]

No, Apple review times are kind of wacky these days so could be a few days or a few weeks.

 

[Patrick S.]

I see. Sounds like it can't be helped.

Well, thank you for the reply and for your hard work on the app. and I look forward to a surprise update one of these days! I already pimped Pleco to the other students in my first year evening classes, and I think a few bought the extra features, so I'll be sure to continue recommending it to anyone new in my second year!