iOS8 - Companion App - does not orient correctly

[George]

Is there a solution for the problem described below?  Can anyone else confirm this? 
Prerequisites:
- iOS8
- AppBuilder 2.5.1 from AppStore

Steps to reproduce the problem:
- Make sure that the  AppBuilder application on the iPad is NOT running (terminate if necessary)
- Hold the iPad in PORTRAIT
- Launch AppBuilder
- if this is the first time in the app, swipe through the Welcome and tutorial screens
- Notice that left most pixel of the application's page starts BEFORE the word “iPad” in the toolbar which is "Normal" behavior
- Now turn the iPad in Landscape mode
- Still "Normal" behavior
- Rotate the iPad as many times as you want, the behavior is "Normal"

- Terminate AppBuilder (make sure it is not running the background)
- Hold the iPad in LANDSCAPE mode
- Launch AppBuilder
- Notice the left most pixel starts AFTER the word “iPad” – "Problem"
- Rotate the iPad to Portrait
- Notice "Normal" behavior
- Rotate the iPad to Landscape
- Notice the "Problem" returns exaggerated (25% of the screen is missing)
- Rotate back to Portrait and "Normal" behavior has returned
- Landscape again and…  "Problem" again ….

[Tina Stancheva]

Hello George,

We are aware of this issue and it is logged in our internal issue tracking system. We will do our best to address it in the next versions of the companion app but I cannot currently bind to any time frames.

In the meantime, I do hope it is not a showstopper for you and I would like to apologize for the inconvenience it causes.

Regards,
Tina Stancheva
Telerik

 

 

[George]

Hi Tina, 
thank you for letting me know that you know of this. It took A LOT of investigation to pin down the pattern of the problem. Unfortunately it is a showstopper for me as I was counting on the AppBuilder to avoid publishing my app through the AppStore. I don't have the volume the justify the hassle.  Do you have any suggestions or "hotfixes" to bypass this problem?

[Tina Stancheva]

Hello George,

Thank you for getting back to us. The AppBuilder companion app is a test utility for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 8 devices. It is designed to facilitate the development process by allowing you to more quickly and easily test your application on a device. However, the companion app is not meant as an alternative of publishing apps through the AppStore.

Additionally, the companion app comes with limitations such as the inability to test icons and splash screens as well as restrictions in device orientation and family. Further, in the companion app you cannot run custom plugins or preview changes in the configuration files.

This is the reason why, in order to distribute your app you have to either publish it in a store and make it publicly available or take advantage of AppManager to securely deploy it as a private app.

This being said, we understand your desire to have the orientation issue fixed as soon as possible and we will do our best to address it in a timely manner.

Regards,
Tina Stancheva
Telerik

 

 

[George]

Thank you Tina 
I have a better understanding of the app's place in the "world" :)
I will check appmanager out.