iPad browser controls stupidly opposite of those on iPhone; fixable?

December 11, 2013 8:58 AM

I want the forward/back controls in my browser on iPad to be at the bottom of the screen, same as they are on my iPhone. I don't see any way to do this in Safari or Chrome. My thumb insists on doing it the iPhone way (and quite logically because that's where my thumb already is while holding the device). It is driving me crazy. Please tell me there's a way.
posted by HotToddy to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

The sideways swiping gesture for forwards/back works the same on both devices.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 9:09 AM on December 11, 2013

Response by poster: Should have mentioned--this swiping business doesn't work well for me, takes numerous tries every time, I guess due to some quirk of skin texture or dryness. I just want to tap.
posted by HotToddy at 9:21 AM on December 11, 2013

Please tell me there's a way.

Nope. Sorry.

this swiping business doesn't work well for me

FWIW I had trouble with this too until I realized you have to start the swipe offscreen for it to work -- swipe from the edge of the device in rather than putting your finger in the window and starting to swipe from there. Once I figured that out it quickly became a very natural gesture that I very much miss when in apps that don't support it (Facebook I'm looking at you)
posted by ook at 9:27 AM on December 11, 2013

Response by poster: Well, crap. Okay, thanks. This seems like such ridiculously bad design to me. Surely I can't be the only one with this complaint.
posted by HotToddy at 12:48 PM on December 11, 2013 [1 favorite]