Question

Since iOS 5.1 was released, the default for showing the Master view controller in split views is a slide in type of thing. In order to present a popover it seems like you have to enable it using a UIPopover controller instead. Does this mean that the popover is going to going out of style?

Answer 1

When it comes to Apple’s API’s, deprecated means that Apple has specifically stated that something is in the process of going away. It’s usually accompanied by advice regarding a new way to accomplish the same thing. So, if Apple ever deprecates UIPopoverController, you’ll know it just from reading the documentation.

That said, it’s also a good idea to read the release notes for each new version of iOS that comes along. In the iOS 5.1 release notes you’ll find a note that explains what you’re seeing:

In 5.1 the UISplitViewController class adopts the sliding presentation
style when presenting the left view (previously only seen in Mail).
This style is used when presentation is initiated either by the
existing bar button item provided by the delegate methods or by a
swipe gesture within the right view. No additional API adoption is
required to obtain this behavior, and all existing API, including that
of the UIPopoverController instance provided by the delegate, will
continue to work as before.