Appestry - Split Browser

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Split Browser - Help & FAQs

What is Split Browser?

What is the difference between Split Browser & Split Browser Trial?

Give me a rundown of all the features

How do I cast videos using Chromecast?

How do I view the remote control while casting?

How do I resize the two halves?

Why are there two option menus?

Why is there a separate clipboard option? How is it different from the default Android clipboard?

How do I know which half is navigating backwards when I press the device's back button?

Pressing the device's back button during video playback in full view closes it instead of navigating backwards in the active half. What's going on?!

Can I use the back button to close the tabs, bookmarks or notes pane?

What is the difference between open and replace in the pop up menu of the background tab list?

Why do the toolbar controls in one half hide when I maximize the other half?

How do I maximize one half when launching the browser from another app?

What are device bookmarks? How do I view them?

How do I export bookmarks?

How I import bookmarks?

How do I reset the two halves to the middle?

I saved the wrong username and password. I corrected it later but I still get the wrong one in the login page. What should I do?

How does autocomplete work?

Why do web pages flicker sometimes or not display completely?

Why does the app slowdown at times and not respond fast enough?

Does it support Flash or other plugins?

What video formats does it support?

How do I watch videos in full screen?

Can I watch two videos at the same time?!

What can I look for in future releases?

How do I contact support?

What is Split Browser?

Split Browser is two web browsers in one, placed side by side. It lets you browse two web pages independent of each other. For example you can watch a video in one page while reading text in the other. You can cast videos using Chromecast. It lets you open links from one half in the other half and you can use it to compare two web pages side by side. It also includes a notepad that allows you to take notes alongside a web page and then save or share the text from within the app. You can open multiple tabs and swap them between the two halves. You can also resize or rotate the two halves to suit your needs. Simply put, it is a powerful tool for multitasking.

Split Browser works better in devices that support a high screen resolution (more than 800 x 600 pixels) and have displays that are larger than 5 inches. Mostly suited for higher-end tablets and "phablets" running Android 3.0+.

Detailed video about how to cast videos using Chromecast and all the split screen features:

Video review by @howtomen:

What is the difference between Split Browser & Split Browser Trial?

Split Browser is the full version of Split Browser Trial app. The trial version which is free, is for users to try the features on their devices before they buy the full version. The trial version closes every 10 minutes and it can only save 3 bookmarks and open 3 additional tabs. You won't be able to import/export bookmarks from/to HTML files or include bookmarks from the device in the trial version. Using Chromecast the trial version can cast only 5 minutes of video at a time.

Additional features only in full version:

Option to restore previously open web pages and tabs upon restart.
Import bookmarks from HTML files generated by Split Browser, Chrome or Firefox.
Export bookmarks to HTML file for backup and sync with other devices.
Option to view bookmarks from the device - if shared by the default browser or Chrome.
When using Chromecast it displays the video playback status on TV screens.

Give me a rundown of all the features

Here's a list of all the features:

Toolbar
- Address input supports free text search using Google.
- http:// is optional for web addresses.
- Ctrl + Enter key inserts "www." and ".com" when using keyboards.
- Autocomplete address input from bookmarks and history.
- Press and hold an autocomplete entry to open it in a new tab, or in the other half, among other options.
- Navigate backward, forward and refresh web pages when available.
- Press and hold back/forward arrows to view tab history and jump to a page in the list.
- Progress bar indicates the speed of webpage download.
Halves
- Resize the two halves by dragging the yellow divider line.
- Rotate yellow divider (vertical/horizontal) independent of the screen orientation.
- Swap the tabs between two halves of the screen (without reloading).
- Copy the current page over to the other half (loads web page).
- Search for text in the web page in either halves separately.
- Share web page address from either halves.
Samsung Multi-Window Mode
- Works in dual view in Samsung devices that support multi-window mode.
- Works in both cascade and dual views in Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet.
Chromecast
Requires Google Play services (4.2 or above) to be enabled.
- Cast videos to Chromecast devices using Wi-Fi.
- Use the remote control to pause, rewind skip, seek or adjust the volume.
Tabs
- Starting a new tab opens a web page set in the preferences.
- View tabs that are open in the background, open, replace or close them.
- Open or replace background tabs in the other half or bookmark them.
- List of tabs open in the background are shared between the two halves.
- Tab list is kept in sync between the two halves.
Bookmarks
- Add the current web page as a bookmark.
- View, open, edit or delete bookmarks.
- Open bookmarks in the other half.
- Open bookmarks in a new tab.
- Open bookmarks in the other half in a new tab.
- Import bookmarks from HTML files generated by Split Browser, Chrome or Firefox. (only in full version)
- Export bookmarks to HTML file for backup and sync with other devices. (only in full version)
- Option to view bookmarks from the device - if shared by the default browser or Chrome. (only in full version)
- Bookmark list is shared and kept in sync between the two halves.
Clipboard
- View up to 10 recent items copied to the clipboard.
- Select the item you want to use and paste it like you'd normally do.
- Clear all items from the clipboard.
- Copy and paste text to and from other apps.
- 10 recent items copied from other apps work if Split Browser is minimized (depending on memory).
Browser
- Open links (and images) in the other half or in a new tab.
- Copy links to clipboard, share, download or bookmark them.
- View or download images or set them as wallpaper.
Tools
- Open notepads in either halves to take notes along the other side.
- Text selection supports select all, copy and paste from web page to notepad.
- Open Google calculator, translator, metrics & currency converters.
- View current time, traffic, weather for your location in Google.
History
- Manage history across all tabs in one place.
- Items are sorted reverse chronologically showing the time of last visit.
- Open items from history in either halves.
- Copy links from history to clipboard, share or bookmark them.
- Delete individual items or the entire history.
Settings
- Set the start pages for each half and for new tabs.
- Restore previously open web pages and tabs upon restart. (only in full version)
- Maximize one half when launching the browser to view links from other apps.
- Open a new tab when launching to view links from other apps.
- Turn off hardware acceleration to handle display issues.
- View pages in desktop mode.
- Remove controls to widen the address input during entry. Helpful in phones to autocomplete.
- Reset browser halves to the middle after screen rotation or window resize in Samsung's Multi-Window mode.
- Adjust maximum zoom out level. Effective in most devices.
- Show bookmarks from the device. (only in full version)
- Show zoom +/- controls.
- Remember form data.
- Remember passwords.
- Clear cache, history, cookies, form data and passwords.
- Clear cache, history and cookies when exiting.

How do I cast videos using Chromecast?

Connect your device to the same Wi-Fi network as your Chromecast.
Open Split Browser, touch the cast button on the top right corner and select a Chromecast.
Turn off desktop mode in settings and use the mobile version of web pages if available.

Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) and older versions
- Play a video in the web page.
- While it's playing press the full view button (four arrows) found in the right bottom corner of the video.
- This will launch the remote control and begin casting.
- This will also play the video in full view within the half, you can pause it on the device.
Android 4.4 (KitKat) and newer versions
- Start a video in the web page or refresh the webpage if the video had already started.
- This will pop a dialog box asking if you'd like to cast - answer yes!
- You can pause the video on the device.
- Wait for the video to play in the TV before using the remote.
- Pause, rewind skip, seek or adjust the volume using the remote.
- Press the cast button again in the remote control to disconnect.
Requires Google Play services (4.2 or above) to be enabled.
- Look for Google Play services under Android Settings > Applications.

How do I view the remote control while casting?

Once you begin casting the remote control will appear automatically. After you close the remote control you can reopen it by pressing the cast button. If you'd like to disconnect from Chromecast press the cast button again in the remote control. While casting, if you close the app or press the home key the video information is added to the Android notification area. You can press that notification to return to the remote control inside the app. The remote is displayed only in the top or right halves of the screen depending on orientation. You won't be able to swap the remote control between the two halves, this is to ensure that the cast button stays on the top right corner of the screen.

How do I resize the two halves?

Look for the yellow divider line that runs through the blue globe in the middle of the screen. Touch the screen anywhere near the yellow line and it will turn blue indicating that you can drag and move the divider in either directions. The resize feature works in both horizontal and vertical orientations.

Why are there two option menus?

The two separate menus allow you to navigate the web in one half without interrupting the other half. Though they share some common functions they mostly work in their half of the browser. They popup in opposite ends of the screen to avoid any confusion.

Why is there a separate clipboard option? How is it different from the default Android clipboard?

The clipboard option allows you to view and use the last 10 items copied to the clipboard, unlike the default Android clipboard which only keeps the last item copied. By default the last item copied is available to paste. When you select a different item to paste from the clipboard, it moves to the top of the list and is now ready for pasting. The copied items are saved within the app, so they are available for use even after a device reboot. You can clear all the items from the clipboard at any time.

You can copy and paste text to and from other apps. The 10 recent items copied from other apps work within Split Browser for as long as it is minimized in the background. While the last item copied from other apps is always available inside Split Browser, the availablity of last 10 items copied from other apps depends on the available memory and the number apps running in the background.

How do I know which half is navigating backwards when I press the device's back button?

The active half has a darker shade of gray and navigates backwards in history when you press the device's back button. If there are no pages in history you will be presented with an option to exit the app by pressing the back button twice. Alternatively, you can exit the app by using one of the option menus.

Pressing the device's back button during video playback in full view closes the video instead of navigating backwards in the active half. What's going on?!

Yes, this is by design. Please use the back arrow in the browser's toolbar to navigate back in history, during full view video playback in the other half. This is because the device's back button provides multiple functionality. Here are a few things to keep in mind when using the device's back button:

The device's back button will close any video playback in full view, irrespective of which browser half is active. This is by design to quickly exit videos in full view.
If there is no full view video playback, the device's back button will navigate the active half back in history until there are no pages left.
In other words, you can continue to play videos in normal webpage view while using the device's back button to navigate in the other half.
If the active browser half is hidden behind tabs, bookmarks or notes pane, then pressing the device's back button will close them before navigating backwards. You can leave the tabs, bookmarks or notes pane open in one half and navigate using the back button in the other half by activating (pressing) the other half.
When there are no pages left in history the device's back button offers an option to exit the app by pressing it twice.
To quickly exit the app use one of the option menus.

Can I use the back button to close the tabs, bookmarks or notes pane?

Yes, you can close the tabs, bookmarks or notes pane using the back button only if they are hiding the active browser half. If you activate the other half (by pressing on it) then you won't be able to activate tabs, bookmarks or notes half till you close them. In other words, only one of the two "browser" halves can be active at any given time.

What is the difference between open and replace in the pop up menu of the background tab list?

Opening a background tab brings it to the foreground and moves the active tab to the bottom of the background list. On the other hand, replacing a background tab brings it to the foreground but closes the active tab. The same behavior applies to opening or replacing background tabs in the other half, except that they are activated in the other half of the browser.

Why do the toolbar controls in one half hide when I maximize the other half?

The toolbar resizes itself to fit within the half and hides beyond a certain size limit to avoid looking squished.

How do I maximize one half when launching the browser from another app?

In the settings & help page enable "Maximize on launch" setting to maximize one half when launching from other apps. To make this feature more useful we open links from other apps in the 1st half (top) when in vertical orientation and in the 2nd half (right) when in horizontal orientation. This way you will be able to view two external links side by side by merely rotating the device. You can always the swap halves using the option menu.

What are device bookmarks? How do I view them?

Device bookmarks are bookmarks that are shared by the default browser (and Chrome) through the Android system. They are not stored as part of Split Browser. You can view them inside Split Browser in the bookmark list by enabling "Show device bookmarks" in the settings. Device bookmarks appear at the bottom of the bookmark list with a gray Android icon. You can open them to view the webpages, however their Android icons will remain the same so that you can distinguish them from Split Browser's own bookmarks.

You will be able to bookmark the webpage URL launched from a device bookmark. This newly created bookmark will be part of Split Browser and remain separate from the device bookmark. You will not be able to edit or delete a device bookmark since they are shared by other browsers.

How do I export bookmarks?

You can export bookmarks to a HTML file. You can then use the HTML file as a backup if you have to uninstall and reinstall Split Browser. You can also use the HTML file to import those bookmarks into Split Browser installed in another device. Unlike Chrome, Split Browser doesn't upload your bookmarks to a remote server giving you the control to sync bookmarks manually. You can use email to backup these HTML files, download and sync them between devices.

Use the plus button on top of the bookmark list and select the "Export to HTML file" option. It will display a file dialog box with default path set to [external_storage_path]/Bookmarks/bookmarks_YYYY-MM-DD.html. Edit the file path if needed and save the bookmarks file. You can use a file manager app (like ES Explorer) to view the file or open the file in Split Browser itself using the path file:///[external_storage_path]/Bookmarks/bookmarks_YYYY-MM-DD.html. You can also import the bookmarks HTML file as described below.

How do I import bookmarks?

You can import bookmarks from Chrome or Firefox browsers in your PC using HTML files. You can also import bookmarks from HTML files that are exported from Split Browser as a backup or from other Android devices. Once you have the HTML file saved in your Android device (downloaded via email), you can import it by selecting the plus button on top of the bookmark list. Use the "Import from HTML file" option to launch the default File Manager app (or install ES Explorer if you don't have a file manager app). Using the file manager app open the HTML file from the folder where you saved it. You will see a confirmation dialog asking you to confirm that you want to import X number of bookmarks from that HTML file. Once you click Yes, you will see that all the bookmarks from the HTML file are imported. You will be able to open them inside Split Browser and edit them just like other bookmarks.

How do I reset the two halves to the middle?

In the settings page enable "Reset browser halves" setting to reset the two halves to the middle after screen rotation. After you enable this setting, simply rotate the screen to reset the yellow divider to the middle of the screen. Remember the top half in the vertical orientation always moves to the left side in the horizontal orientation and bottom half always moves to the right side no matter which way you rotate the screen. So tilting a vertical screen towards the right doesn't move the top half to right side of the screen.

I saved the wrong username and password. I corrected it later but I still get the wrong one in the login page. What should I do?

Clear the form data and password under "Clear all data" in the settings screen. Then login and save the correct credentials.

How does autocomplete work?

Once you type 3 characters you will see matches dropdown from bookmarks and history. It matches using webpage names and web addresses. You can either click the autocomplete entry or press and hold for more options. Options include opening the link in the other half, or in a new tab, bookmark, copy, share... etc.

When using an external keyboard, use the arrow keys to scroll through the autocomplete list, then use the tab key instead of the enter key to select an automcomplete entry. Once the selected address appears in the text box then hit enter like you would normally do.

Why do web pages flicker sometimes or not display completely?

This can happen when your device is low on memory or running out of resources. Please clear the cache under "Clear all data" in the settings screen which will improve performance. If you have too many tabs open in the background, closing some of them will help as well. This can happen in low-end devices.

Why does the app slowdown at times and not respond fast enough?

This can happen when your device is low on memory or running out of resources. Please clear the cache under "Clear all data" in the settings screen which will improve performance. If you have too many tabs open in the background, closing some of them will help as well. This can happen in low-end devices.

Does it support Flash or other plugins?

Android 4.1 doesn't officially support Flash. If you have flash plugin installed in your device and if your default browser supports it then Split Browser will support as well. The same goes for all other plugins, if the stock browser supports a plugin then expect Split Browser to support it as well.

What video formats does it support?

It currently plays all video formats supported by Android: 3GP, HTML5, MKV, MP4, WEBM (Android 4.0+)

How do I watch videos in full screen?

Videos play within each half of the screen. You can make either half cover the entire screen by dragging the yellow divider. The videos will resize and fill the entire screen. When you rotate the orientation the full view playback will stop and you will have to restart the full screen view from where it stopped.

Can I watch two videos at the same time?!

No, Android is not there yet! Depending on your device, you might be able to watch a 3GP, MP4, MKV or WEBM formats alongside an HTML5 video, but you won't be able to watch both of them in full view. At least not yet! Look for it in the future.

What can I look for in future releases?

Here's our wish list:

Display web page titles somewhere! Looking for screen real estate.
Drag and drop links from one half to the other.
Bookmark folders.

How do I contact support?

Please send an email to appestry@gmail.com with your questions and feedback. All emails will be responded within 24 hours.

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