All posts tagged: Widgets

Android phones are getting lock screen widgets this year

Android phones are getting lock screen widgets this year

Published by Webster

Google has announced that lock screen widgets are coming to Android 16 phones later this year. Widgets have been available on the lock screen of the Pixel Tablet since last year, but Google is now bringing them to phones and more tablets. All widgets will support the lock screen by default, though app developers will have the option to disable support if they prefer. Certain widget actions — such as triggering an app — will still require you to authenticate with a fingerprint, pin, or face unlock before they’ll function. The upcoming change was announced on the Android Developers Blog, where the company confirmed that lock screen widgets will be added to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) in the first quarterly update following the release of Android 16, due in late summer. Android 16 itself is still in beta, and is due to release in June. While the lock screen widgets for phones aren’t yet enabled in the latest Android 16 beta, Android Authority’s Mishaal Rahman managed to activate the functionality early. He found …

Google Play is going to start highlighting apps with widgets

Google Play is going to start highlighting apps with widgets

Published by Webster

Google is making some changes to Google Play on Android devices to better highlight apps that include widgets, according to a blog post. The changes include a new search filter for widgets, widget badges on app detail pages, and a curated editorial page dedicated to widgets. “Historically, one of the challenges with investing in widget development has been discoverability and user understanding,” product manager Yinka Taiwo-Peters says in the post. “You’ve asked for better ways for users to find and utilize your widgets, and we’re delivering.” Yinka Taiwo-Peters also acknowledges that “we understand that the effort required to build and maintain widgets needs to be justified by user adoption.” With the search filter, users will be able to more easily search for apps with widgets. The badge “eliminates guesswork for users and highlights your widget offerings, encouraging them to explore and utilize this capability,” Taiwo-Peters says. And the curated editorial page will show off “collections of excellent widgets.” The updated widget discoverability tools will be “coming soon,” Taiwo-Peters says. Disclaimer: We do not own any …

Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 Start menu with floating widgets

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Microsoft has quietly started testing an intriguing change to the Windows 11 Start menu that could introduce a floating panel full of “companion” widgets. Windows watcher Albacore discovered the new Start menu feature in the latest test versions of Windows 11 that Microsoft has released publicly. While Microsoft has not yet announced this feature, the “Start menu Companions” appear to be a way to allow developers to extend the Windows 11 Start menu with widget-like functionality that lives inside a floating island that can be docked next to the Start menu. It looks like developers will be able to build apps that provide widget-like information through adaptive cards — a platform-agnostic way of displaying UI blocks of information. These companions will be configurable in the main Windows 11 Settings section, with the ability to install multiple companions and toggles to enable or disable them. Albacore mentions that these companions seem to be very web-centric, much like the widgets inside Windows 11. If Microsoft decides to proceed with this Start menu feature, it could be the …

Windows 11 Update Brings New AI Capabilities to Copilot, Improvements to Widgets, More

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Windows 11 has received a new update for March 2024 that will bring new features and major improvements to supported PCs, laptops, and workstations. Microsoft announced the long list of features on Thursday and stated that the update has started rolling out to users. However, not all the features will be available immediately, with the new Copilot features coming later this month. Some of the notable features include improvements to Widgets, new skills for the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbot Copilot, and new features for multiple apps. Announcing the new features via a Windows blog, Yusuf Mehdi, Executive Vice President, Consumer Chief Marketing Officer at Microsoft highlighted that the Copilot features build on the introduction of the Copilot key on the keyboards powering Windows PCs from earlier this year. He also said that Snap, Widgets, and Inking are receiving major upgrades. Copilot is getting new plugins that will enable it to perform tasks such as making restaurant reservations via OpenTable and grocery ordering via Instacart. In the coming months, support for Shopify, Klarna and Kayak will …

Microsoft updates Windows 11 with improved Copilot, Widgets, and more

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Microsoft is starting to roll out a new update to Windows 11 that includes a whole host of improvements and new built-in features. Copilot in Windows 11 is getting more options to control your PC as part of this update, alongside a new Generative Erase option in Photos, Voice Shortcuts for accessibility, improved Snap layouts, changes to the Widgets system, and more. While the Windows 11 update is available starting today, Microsoft says not all features will be enabled straight away. Copilot’s new options will start rolling out in late March, enabling new skills like being able to ask the AI chatbot to enable the battery saver mode or to launch accessibility features like Narrator or Magnifier. Copilot will also be able to show available Wi-Fi networks, storage space, and even empty your recycling bin. More AI-powered features are also coming to the built-in Photos app. A new Generative Erase feature will let you remove unwanted objects from a photo by simply selecting and deleting them. It’s similar to the magical AI selective photo erasers found …

iOS 17.2 Update With Journal App, Spatial Video Capture, New Widgets, and More Available Now

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Apple released the iOS 17.2 update on Monday (December 11) as the latest OS version for iPhone. The update includes security fixes, patches, improvements as well as new features. It brings Apple’s long-awaited new Journal app (Review) to the iPhone. It also enables Spatial Video capture on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iOS 17.2 update also brings new actions for the iPhone 15 Pro’s Action Button, new Weather widget, AirDrop improvements, and improvements to the Messages app. Further, the update brings Qi2 wireless charging support to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 series. However, the AirPlay in hotels feature and Apple Music collaborative playlists have been delayed and pushed to 2024. After several weeks of testing, Apple has officially released iOS 17.2 to all compatible iPhone models alongside iPadOS 17.2, macOS 14.2 Sonoma, and watchOS 10.2 updates. The Cupertino-based tech giant has introduced the Journal app with the latest iOS update. The health and wellness-focused app that helps users record daily activities and thoughts was initially announced at the company’s WWDC …

Shazam For Android Updated With Material You-Themed Home Screen Widgets

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Shazam app, the Apple-owned music recognition app, has rolled out a new update for Android users bringing with support for new home screen widgets. The latest update to Shazam 13.7 for Android is rolling out for all, letting users quickly identify a song playing without opening the app. The new widget features a Material You-inspired design on Android 12 and Android 13. The update is already available to download via the Play Store. According to a 9to5Google report, the new Shazam widget for Android phones lets you quickly identify a song without even opening the app. You can even quickly identify a song using an alert in the notification section, as per the report. This new version of the home screen widget comes with a default size of 5×1 but you can reportedly resize it to 1×1. It also has “Dynamic Color” support for theming based on your system’s wallpaper for phones running on Android 12 and Android 13. If you use the 1×1 widget, it will appear like a moving circle when active. The …