widgets
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macOS Sonoma made me hate widgets less
macOS Sonoma shows that Apple can still come up with new ways to make its desktop OS more pleasant.
How to use StandBy mode on your lock screen in iOS 17
Apple’s new StandBy mode that accompanied iOS 17 lets you use your phone’s lock screen in a number of unique ways. Here’s how to do just that.
Google's iOS 16 lock screen widgets are now available
Google's lock screen widgets for iOS 16 are now available, making Gmail and other apps that much more useful.
Google 'Journeys' help you resume previous searches in Chrome
Google is giving Chrome users a 'Journeys' feature that helps you return to past searches.
Google Maps for iOS gets dark mode and new location sharing features
Google Maps' latest update for iOS brings widgets, live location tracking and a dark mode to the popular app.
iPadOS 15 beta preview: Widgets and Quick Notes make for a new experience
Apple has made a handful of significant changes and a host of smaller ones, all of which add up to an experience that makes the iPad more customizable and flexible than before while still retaining (and improving upon) the basic iPad experience. There are a lot of new features to unpack, and the just-released iPadOS 15 public beta is still a work in progress, but here are some of the most significant changes to look forward to when the final software arrives this fall.
Evernote's Home feature is a dashboard full of handy widgets
Home is a dashboard made up of widgets that allow you to access some of Evernote’s most useful features from one place.
Google now has iOS widgets for Gmail, Drive and Fit, with more on the way
You can check out the company's new Gmail, Drive and Fit widgets today.
iOS doesn’t need to be more like Android, it just needs more Google
Apple’s iOS 14 has taken some heat for copying Android features. Another big change is the introduction of the App Library, a decluttered app screen that’s suspiciously similar to Android’s app drawer. This one feature, more than any other, is what I feel is a key factor in preventing me from switching to Android.
Here's everything Apple announced at its WWDC 2020 keynote
Here's everything you need to know from Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference today.
Xbox Game Bar's new widgets link to apps like XSplit
Microsoft is upgrading the Xbox Game Bar on PC with new widgets that let you control other apps like XSplit without leaving the game first.
Apple may bring 'real' home screen widgets to iOS 14
Widgets have been present in iOS for years, but they're usually on a dedicated screen rather than wherever you want them to be, as with Android. Soon, however, you might have that flexibility. As part of an ongoing string of code leaks, 9to5Mac has reportedly discovered that Apple is developing a 'real' widget system for iOS 14. Codenamed "Avocado," the feature would let you place widgets anywhere on your home screen as if they were app icons. The 9to5 crew warned there was a chance Apple could cut the feature (say, due to development time).
Spotify’s Android widget will return in a future update
After stepping into a hornet's nest of angry users, Spotify says it's bringing back its Android home screen widget. The move comes just one month after the company retired the feature.
Researchers 3D-print WiFi-connected objects that don't need power
Researchers at the University of Washington have developed a way for 3D-printed plastic objects to transmit information via WiFi without the help of batteries or electronics. And they show that it can be done with commercially available plastics and WiFi receivers. "Our goal was to create something that just comes out of your 3D printer at home and can send useful information to other devices," Vikram Iyer, a graduate student on the project, said in a statement. "But the big challenge is how do you communicate wirelessly with WiFi using only plastic? That's something that no one has been able to do before."
Google Calendar catches up to other iOS apps with a... widget
Google Calendar's iOS app now has an easier way to keep tabs on a busy schedule. An updated version of the app includes a Today View widget that shows your upcoming events at a glance. If you have a packed day with three meetings, you won't have to launch the app to get an all-too-painful reminder of your itinerary. The concept certainly isn't new on mobile devices, including on iOS (Apple has had its own "up next" calendar widget for a while), but it could prove a lifesaver if you depend on Google's internet services and can't afford to miss an appointment.
Snap makes your Android widgets reachable from any app
Android's widgets are certainly helpful, but you have to duck out to your home screen (where they also consume valuable real estate) to see them. Wouldn't it be nice if you could just take a quick glance? You can, with the right tools. Francisco Barroso's Snap lets you stuff widgets into a notification bar drawer, where they're accessible from any app. It's a bit like iOS' Today view, only more customizable -- if you want a giant, always-available Flipboard widget, you can make it happen. Snap is free if you only need quick access to three widgets, and it'll cost you a modest $2 to remove that cap.
Gibson takes a whimsical approach to the podcast microphone
When it comes to USB microphones, you're pretty much limited to a collection of black, silver and gold devices. There really isn't a ton or personality in the color schemes or look of those accessories, save for a few exceptions. Gibson's Neat Microphones line is a welcome exception, though, and its latest delivers a combination of whimsical hues and futuristic aesthetics George Jetson would fancy. The trio pictured above are Widgets, and more specifically go by A, B, and C. All three pack custom capsules, built-in pop filters, shock mounts and adjustable stands. Like a lot of USB mics, the Widgets are very much a plug-and-play add-on, as they won't require you to install drivers or software to get started. When you're ready to record, the company says you can use the gear for anything from podcasting to Skype calls and tracking instruments and vocals in 96kHz/24 bit audio. At $99, the Widgets are pricier than the popular Blue Microphones Snowball and cost the same as its newer Nessie USB mic. If the looks are too much for you to pass up with Gibson's latest, you'll be able to nab them starting November 15th.
Google's Meter turns your home screen into an active widget
Google's Creative Lab has released an interesting, and potentially super-helpful, new app on Tuesday called Meter. It transforms your boring, static wallpaper into a functional Material Design widget displaying either your remaining battery life, Wi-Fi signal strength or number of pending notifications. The widgets cycle whenever you turn off the screen so you'll never get stuck counting reception bars. But don't worry, the OS info bar isn't going anywhere The app is free and, being a Creative Lab joint, is open sourced on GitHub.
Google Fit finally estimates how many calories you've burned
No, you're not wrong: Google's activity tracking app, Fit, didn't have a means to estimate burned calories -- or kilojoules -- before today. As Mountain View tells it, all you need to do to activate it is add in your height and gender (weight monitoring already existed) and Fit'll project calories shed and distance traveled in addition to time spent active. How it displays activity history's gotten a bit of a refresh too in addition to a new widget for Android Wear and Android itself that keeps any fitness goal close at hand. The numbers still give a complete picture since heart rate isn't involved, but at least we know Google hasn't forgotten about the app, right?
Music Center lets you select music from your lock screen or any app
Music Center (free) is a very cool little app that lets you see your iOS music library from your lock screen or inside any app. It's a notification center widget, and it works quite well. You load the app, and you can select lists by song, album, artist, and playlists. Then go to your Today notifications and scroll down to the edit control to add the widget to your screen. That's all there is to it. I wasn't sure how useful Music Center would be, but I find I am using it frequently. I especially like the access from the lock screen to play music via Bluetooth while I am driving. It's quick and easy, but of course Siri can also select music by using your voice. Since the notification feature is a quick pull-down from anywhere in iOS, it's also useful if you are in the middle of using another app. Apple might pull this widget if it is found to be in violation of any developer rules, but so far, so good. Music Center is clean and useful, but note that you can't use iTunes Match or search since widgets don't get to use the keyboard. A pro version, which is a US$ 0.99 in-app purchase, gives you scrolling instead of buttons, but I find the free version meets my needs. Music Center requires iOS 8 or later, and it's optimized for the iPhone 5 and 6 phones. It's a universal app, so it will run on iPads too.
