Confused about apps in relation to different screen sizes/resolutions.

[zamardii12]

So I am a current iPhone 3gs user migrating over to Android this Friday and getting the Evo 4g. Now, all iPhone/iPod touch screen sizes are the same and all the hardware specs are the same for the most part, but with Android you all kinds of resolutions, screen sizes, processors, etc etc...

Are all apps made for Android stretched to accomodate bigger screen sizes? For instance, I have played with my friend's Droid on Verizon and the screen is 3.7" at a resolution of 854x480 and he has showed me games on it like Gameloft's NOVA which is a full 3D first person shooter. So his phone essentially has a bigger resolution slightly than the HTC EVO 4G but smaller screen size (3.7" vs. 4.3"). So would the same game be stretched to fit my phone?

Basically I'm wondering with different apps, are there any conflicts in relation to different spec phones?

Thanks.

 

[TheAndroidWorks]

Yes, it totally depends on the phone and the developer. You do see some complaints from time to time about apps that a careless a developer with a droid did not test out on the different aspect ratio phones, and vice versa.

All android phones that are 1.5 and lower are 320 x 480. In 1.6 Android got better support for graphics and larger screen resolutions, but you are correct in thinking that the aspect ratio of the screens is not even the same any more. (droid: 854 x 480 nexus: 800 x 480)

The better programmers out there are programming around these matters using the new tools in the SDK, but the bottom line is that between these screens, the games will always look slight different. More often than not, you would never know otherwise! Hope that answers your question.

 

[zamardii12]

Thanks for the answer... that makes sense. The only other question I have right now is if there is any way to put Apps in folders. I have played with my buddy's Droid and he slides his finger up to unveil an ungodly number of apps one after another (among system tools and settings too which makes no sense). I'm also a current iPhone 3GS user, and it'll be getting folders in the summer in a update but right now I just have different pages set up for different things like Games, productivity, tools... But since i'll be switching to Android for the first time, I wanted to know if there is any form of organization possible for the apps? Or is there maybe a folder you can put on the desktop (where you put widgets) that has different apps in it?

Maybe make a "Games" folder, and then when you select it, if goes to games that you have picked to go in that folder.

Thanks again.

 

[TheAndroidWorks]

That is a great question. At this time, there is no native support in the operating system for folders as you describe. However, if you are someone who just likes to have a whole slew of apps I recommend you set the app drawer to list them alphabetically. It is easier to scroll through them once you figure out how to use the alphabetic slider thingy.

If you have a phone with HTC Sense then you can set up a profile to handle organization of as many apps on as many pages (7 at a time per profile) as you desire! Just think of the app drawer as the equivalent of your Program Files directory on a PC or a Mac and the home screens as your desktop. I personally think it makes a lot more sense than the way the Iphone is currently configured where you just have pages of apps that you can move around - folders or not.

Hope this helps.