iOS 9’s new Picture-in-Picture mode allows iPad users to watch videos in a small screen while they continue to do other things on their device. But with some simple hacks and zero jailbreaking, the feature can be tricked into playing games like Doom — as demonstrated in the video below.
Using a public API available to all iOS developers, indie app maker Adam Bell was able to get Doom running inside Picture-in-Picture mode, so that the game could be played over the top of other apps, and above the Springboard — the home screen on iOS.
“This can be used (and abused!) with public API to place any kind of content in a PIP window,” Bell explains, and it does not require a jailbroken device. Here’s a short video of the trick in action:
You might think that no one wants to play games on top of other apps, but there instances where it might be useful. For example, if you’re struggling to beat a level in your favorite game, you could pull up a walkthrough in Safari while you play the game alongside it.
It’s unlikely we’ll see too many developers taking advantage of this, however, and we wouldn’t be too surprised to see Apple block it. Nevertheless, it’s still a pretty neat trick.
[via Twitter]