App Store Icons And Artwork Look Blurry And Low-Res On New Retina Display
March 17, 2012
Apple's new iPad is an undeniable blockbuster phenomenon. That much we know.
But, in the wake of a sure-to-be-recordbreaking launch day, many questions remain. And paramount on the mind of at least one AppAdvice staffer is the jarring juxtaposition of the iPad's 264 PPI Retina display and the App Store's seeming failure to properly showcase its stunning majesty.
Sure, when you first fire up the App Store on your shiny new iPad, you'll get the initial Retina treatment. All the tabs -- from Featured apps to Top Lists to Genius recommendations to plain old search -- look crystal clear and sharp and vibrant. So far, so good. But just tap on an app, and you'll see just how far short that refinement really goes. For some reason, Apple's neglected to spruce up these individual landing pages. No matter which app you choose, its enlarged icon (on the upper left side) is a muddy mess, and the screenshots -- which should be showing off Apple's high-resolution glory to the fullest -- are a jumbled mass of fuzzy pixels. Peep the screens to see what I mean (tap or click to zoom in):
What gives?
Well, there are two possibilities: Either Apple's simply not finished updating its digital marketplace, or these big app icons and small preview stills have been purposely handicapped to mitigate the increased bandwidth needs inherent in serving Retina-sized art. Indeed, if this graphical (mis)behavior only occurred while browsing over cellular connections, the latter would make loads of sense. Unfortunately, it happens over Wi-Fi, too, and that seems to be a big mistake.
After all, the new iPad's crazy-dense display is far and away its biggest selling point. You're going to hear about this revolutionary panel for months (if not years) to come, so it seems pretty logical that Apple should promote its apps -- in their native home! -- as jaw-droppingly and eye-poppingly as possible.
I guess it's true what they say: The better you look, the worse your missteps appear.
