Split View is hard to use in portrait on iPad

[kenrachynski]

Per your TestFlight release notes for 6.1.7, Split View is indeed hard to use in portrait on an iPad.

That's the only way I use NetNewsWire though and it's making me not want to use it anymore.

Related, when I get back to folders, the unread view never clears out unless I manually switch to another folder and back. Even then, I can still see the last post I read partially on screen.

[brentsimmons]

What specifically are the issues with split view in portrait mode on iPad? The more I know about the issues, the better I can make it.

[kenrachynski]

I'll try to get a video of what I'm talking about today

[brentsimmons]

Great — that’s much appreciated!

[kenrachynski]

Oh! I thought I was still using TestFlight. This is version 6.1.6 I'm using.

[brentsimmons]

Ah! 6.1.7 should be improved — but please let me know if you continue to have issues with it and what they are

[kenrachynski]

Ah yes, I got onto the TestFlight and the behaviour has been returned mostly to prior.

The only thing different is that the Unread list doesn't clear when I get back to the folders.

ScreenRecording_01-14-2025.08-08-05_1-HD.720p.mov

[whshep]

The latest version is a definite improvement. However, I would prefer Portrait mode to look exactly like Landscape—the middle column is always shown, rather than sliding out to the left when the article is viewed. This would make for a thinner, more easy-to-read article column.

[wahlatlas]

The following two iPad portrait orientation screenshots from the released version 6.1.7 (iOS 18.2.1) show what I am still missing from v6.1.5 and prior:

Clicking on the article text (1) now hides the feed-list but it also hides the article list with it (see below). So you can at least read the article with a single touch while holding the iPad like a book, having a huge touch target. However touching a feed list entry – my typical left thumb move (2) – does nothing, when before it made the feed list slide away.

There is no reading view in v6.1.7 where one could read an article, scroll it with the right thumb and simultaneously look at the article list to decide where to read next (eg skipping a few entries) by scrolling the article list with the left thumb without losing grip of the iPad.

Here is the desired reading experience from v6.1.4 iPad portrait orientation which not only provides fast navigation, it also offers an easier to read – narrower – text column:

In this regard NNW 6.1.5 had a superior reading experience than Apples own mail.app

[wahlatlas]

Here is a video that roughly shows my (prior to v6.1.6) reading experience – typically of the unread folder – with two thumbs.

My right thumb scrolls vertically through longer articles or swipes horizontally in feeds where I read every article, whereas my left thumb allows me to skip articles.

nnw615.mp4