I was reading over the iOS Human Interface Guidelines, specifically the section Standard Icons for Use in Tab Bars. It notes the 3-dots More icon means Show additional tab bar items. At the moment, I've been using it as a 5th tab, meaning more stuff I didn't have space for in the other 4 tabs but I love the idea of it bringing up more tabs altogether, like a 2nd page. Perhaps v1.6 could add space for 8 tabs, in which case the 5th tab on each page automatically becomes the More tab and switches from one tab set to the other.

Ur gonna end up working for Apple. I was thinking along these lines the other day but was considering the case where the iPad can easily support more than 5 tabs. Generally, the 5th 'more' tab leads to a menu, like you suggested. Doing this by hand would be pointing the 5th tab to a menu you built and using the three-dots icon (again, like you suggested). The engineering challenge is this: If 8 tabs are configured, for use in a iPad, all good so far. But, if the same app is deployed on an iPhone, the 5th tab should auto-magically become the more tab with the menu items in a list. In writing this, it doesn't sound too complicated really. The control panel options may get a little confusing 'Enter an unlimited number of tabs, when the tabs won't fit the last tab will automatically become a menu' Hmm... not sure if our users will understand this? Thinking...

They will understand once the app launches, or just show a screenshot of the iPad version and iPhone version of ten tabs next to the settings as an example link. It sounds like a great idea R2!

Thanks, Felix. These old circuits get warmed up every once in a while. A screenshot goes a long way. I don't think it would be confusing at all for the developer. The developer should be *encouraged* to use as few tabs as possible, because that will usually keep the app more user-friendly and simple (K.I.S.S., right?). However, there are legitimate reasons an app might be improved be having more tabs. Right now my design philosophy is limited to pick the 4 most important aspects of the app for their own tabs, then cram the rest under a 5th More tab. I hadn't thought about the extra real estate on the iPad. and that might vary depending on landscape or portrait mode (if the tab bar were so configured). That's a nice bonus. So yes, it seems it would need to be more auto-magical, fitting whatever fits and making a second/third? page as necessary. To kick up complexity a notch, there are also possible scenarios where fewer tabs and more pages might be appropriate. Maybe I'd like 3 tabs per page on an iPhone in Portrait mode, but then three pages. Each page has 2 active tabs and 1 more tab, total of 6 active tabs, but spread over 3 pages. This might really complicate the logic, but I'm just throwing it out there. If anything, it will make the simpler approach seem even easier. ;)

how about multiple tabs scrolling horizontally. This would allow for an unlimited amount of tabs.

Hi gojuryu. For Anroid multiple scrolling tabs is common, iOS - a no go. Apple rejects these all the time. Not sure why, it makes soooo much sense! Good thought.