Apple dismisses iPad mini 'jelly scroll' issue as normal behavior
Apple has issued a response to accusations there's a glitch with the sixth-generation iPad mini, claiming that the slight out-of-sync "jelly scroll" effect of the display is to be expected.
Apple's hotly-awaited iPad mini update featured a brand new display, one that appeared to havea "jelly" effect when users scrolled in a specific way. Following reports on Sunday about the phenomenon, Apple has responded to the complaints by basically saying everything is fine.
In a response to a query by Ars Technica, Apple said the "jelly scroll" is a normal behavior for LCD screens, due to the way they function.
As the panels update on a line-by-line basis, there is a small delay between lines updating at the top of the screen and the bottom being refreshed. This delay can apparently result in uneven scrolling, such as the one observed in the iPad mini.
The version observed in the iPad mini generally manifests when the tablet is held in a portrait orientation, though it can also apparently occur in landscape too, depending on the unit. Fast scrolling through a webpage, with a lot of text, for example, can result in the effect appearing on occasion.
AppleInsider has been able to recreate the effect on the iPad mini, and has also observed it in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with ProMotion in testing, but the effect is more subtle.
However, the problem is rarely noticeable, meaning most users won't necessarily observe it without looking specifically for the issue.
Even so, it is likely to be a problem that Apple will be investigating despite its claim, as while its explanation should theoretically apply to pretty much any LCD-based iPad it has released in recent years, it's only becoming a widely-discussed problem now.
Read on AppleInsider
Apple's hotly-awaited iPad mini update featured a brand new display, one that appeared to havea "jelly" effect when users scrolled in a specific way. Following reports on Sunday about the phenomenon, Apple has responded to the complaints by basically saying everything is fine.
In a response to a query by Ars Technica, Apple said the "jelly scroll" is a normal behavior for LCD screens, due to the way they function.
As the panels update on a line-by-line basis, there is a small delay between lines updating at the top of the screen and the bottom being refreshed. This delay can apparently result in uneven scrolling, such as the one observed in the iPad mini.
The version observed in the iPad mini generally manifests when the tablet is held in a portrait orientation, though it can also apparently occur in landscape too, depending on the unit. Fast scrolling through a webpage, with a lot of text, for example, can result in the effect appearing on occasion.
AppleInsider has been able to recreate the effect on the iPad mini, and has also observed it in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with ProMotion in testing, but the effect is more subtle.
However, the problem is rarely noticeable, meaning most users won't necessarily observe it without looking specifically for the issue.
Even so, it is likely to be a problem that Apple will be investigating despite its claim, as while its explanation should theoretically apply to pretty much any LCD-based iPad it has released in recent years, it's only becoming a widely-discussed problem now.
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Nothing to see here folks, put your OCD into your back pocket and move along.
It all comes down to how the end-to-end video processing stack works with the human eyes and brain. Does the net effect result in something that is pleasant to use and fits the task at hand? The evolution of computer display technology has shown us that different people react differently to the exact same video presentation. It would be one thing if we were talking about uncomfortable display artifacts that occurred at all times when using the display, e.g., low refresh rate causing flickering or leading to eye strain and headaches. But here we are talking about a nearly indiscernible artifact occurring during scrolling, when the user is probably not focused on trying to consume the detailed content of the scrolling display.
I haven’t seen the artifact yet, but I’l assuming it cannot be worse than scrolling a web page or PDF that has embedded graphics or video (web page) that doesn’t render in perfect synchronicity with the textual content on the page. It may take a few milliseconds or longer for everything to finish rendering once the scrolling stops and the user actually focuses on the aggregated content. Smoother scrolling is more aesthetically pleasing, and probably a necessity on something like a teleprompter, but I’m not losing any sleep over the many little display artifacts that we’ve been living with since the days of CRTs. Things have gotten so much better but are not yet perfect.
It doesn't look like something that would bother me, YMMV. Now the potentially cramped UI might take some getting used to, but I'm not the target market for the Mini anyway. I prefer larger displays if I have physical interaction with one. That's not to say I don't find benefits with small (non-camera) display's in the kitchen for recipes or watching the news while cooking breakfast, or next to my desk for Youtube training video references. Those are static and controlled by voice. And relatively cheap.
Now a larger Air might be OK for my wife.
I have no doubt Apple will have a fix, given enough time. It's really inexcusable - the nauseating Apple foamers don't have to defend them, yet they are, and no doubt they'll be full of renewed praise once there's a fix and say it was Apple's plan all along etc.
Right - it's been on other LCD screens/iPads, but no one thought to post info about it online. Online is a megaphone for those that want to be heard, even for non-issues.
I personally recall noticing this type of behavior on some of the earlier iPads I owned (original iPad Air, I think?). I only caught/noticed it when I was moving my head sideways while scrolling. I also notice LED taillights that pulse/flicker. For the taillights, the LEDs are drive by PWM (pulse width modulation) - power is turned on/of VERY quickly to control brightness. Length of time on vs. off determines the brightness. They are rarely (if ever) 100% on, even at the brightest you see. I also only notice this with side to side movement of my head.