iPadOS (iOS 13.1) Setting You May Need to Change

thebadmachine on 25/09/2019 - 20:25
Last edited 25/09/2019 - 20:25

So updated to iPadOS today, and instantly noticed an issue with Safari loading the desktop version of every website by default.
In my case some of these (desktop version) websites are slower to load, and more difficult to navigate.
YouTube for example.

To fix this to how it used to be (default mobile website):
Go to Settings>Safari>Request Desktop Websites
Then turn off “other websites”

Now some websites like ozbargain.com.au ends up looking funny on the mobile version of the website, so when on ozbargain click the ‘aA’ on the left of the address bar, then tap on ‘website settings’ and turn on “Request Desktop Website”. (Safari will now remember this for future visits)

In my experience (with previous iOS 12) it was much handier having Safari default to the mobile website (which is more likely to be better / more suitable for tablets) and have the option of “Requesting Desktop Website” for the odd website which it worked better for.

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 26/09/2019 - 07:35
    +5

    isnt that the whole point of ipad os is to work more like a pc and load pages/apps (eventually) to coincide with the bigger screens and better(?) processors.

    • thebadmachine on 26/09/2019 - 14:22

      Regarding desktop version websites, I can imagine the new 11-inch / 13-inch iPad Pro’s being capable of dealing with desktop websites and other laptop duties.
      But for those who are on iPad Mini or the budget iPad 9.7 (like myself) I found it better & more intuitive most-of-the-time to use the mobile version of websites.

      When viewing the ‘desktop version’ of websites on smaller iPads typically the text & links are too small, making it more difficult to navigate and sometimes having to zoom in & out to be able to read some sections.
      Also some desktop websites have a lot going on (animations / banners / higher resolution images) therefore they take that little-bit longer to load and it just all feels congested.

      It seems the new ‘default’ is always requesting ‘desktop websites’ and individually setting certain websites for to request ‘mobile websites’.
      When the previous default was always requesting ‘mobile websites’ then holding down on the refresh icon to optionally request the desktop website.
      So they reversed it, which may be only suitable for certain larger ‘Pro’ iPads.

  • kerfuffle on 26/09/2019 - 09:12

    Thanks for this PSA; didn't know new iOS was out and promptly updated my iPad mini 4

    • thebadmachine on 26/09/2019 - 17:59

      Also if you find the ‘link preview’ image too large and annoying every time you tap and hold a link to open in a new tab, simply tap & hold and at the bottom of the options tap on “hide link preview”. iPadOS will remember this and only show the link in the future. You can do the same thing and tap on “allow link preview” if you want it back again.

      There are a few changes to the fundamentals in iPadOS 13.1 and it will take some getting used to.
      One example is when editing text when text is selected I find it harder to get the cursor (this used to much easier), instead of getting the cursor I keep selecting the text.
      (You can try this by tapping on the address bar in Safari (it’s auto select all) now try to get the cursor, i can get it only sometimes, it seems to depend on how long you wait before you tap or something.
      Also when holding & dragging to move Safari tabs around (like you want one to the right or left of another) it keeps opening the tab in another ‘new session’ of Safari after I drop it. Things just are a bit fiddly / difficult than they used to be.

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