Double Up is a new browser app for the iPad, that lets you view two web pages at once.
Here’s a little more on it via its App Store description:
‘Double Up’ is the only iPad browser that offers side-by-side webpages using one, streamlined, toolbar. The minimalist design includes all the features you would expect from a modern web browser with more on the way.
I find that description just a little off, as the pages are actually viewed stacked, with one on top of the other, rather than side by side.
Here are some other quick thoughts on Double Up after using it for a while this morning:
Nice Idea
I think Double Up is a good idea, and it works OK on what it sets out to do, though the execution is not outstanding in this first version of it.
What It Does
The app lets you:
– See two pages – or ‘panels’ – at once
– Tap on a panel to make it active – the active one is indicated by a blue highlight around it
– Set two pages that you want to always load when app is opened, or leave its defaults (Bing and Reuters). It can remember where you last were or open to preset URLs (that you specify in Settings)
– Pinch and tap to zoom as normal, and add bookmarks
– Copy & paste between panels
What’s Not So Hot?
It feels slow when loading pages on opening the app.
In landscape mode, trying to input text in the bottom page is near-on impossible – as the keyboard covers up the whole lower panel.
I’m not sure why the panels stay stacked in landscape mode anyway – seems like it would be more natural to flip them to side-by-side in that mode.
It seems to always want to load – or at least display – its two default pages when it is launched. This looks a bit off at best, and is slowing things down at worst.
Overall
Double Up may well be useful on occasion for certain scenarios. If you need to do a quick bit of copy/paste between two sites – say between a reference site and a mail app, for instance. Its App Store page suggests watching a video in one panel while checking on scores in the other – that could be handy as well.
It’s definitely not an alternative browser though. Content in both panels feels small and lame in the app – it feels a lot like defeating the purpose of having that lovely, big screen to browse with.
You can find Double Up in the App Store now, priced at $2.99.
*** This app was independently purchased by the post author in the iPhone App Store. For further information regarding our site’s review policies, please see the "About" page.
