Widgets have become a part of the Android mobile phones for a very long time. With these widgets, the Android applications were able to push forward their functional abilities and have it displayed on the home screen for easy access.
These widgets have made its introduction into the iPhone and the iPad devices with the launch of the iOS 8. Many consider that the feature of widgets introduced in iOS devices are same as that of its Android counterparts. But Apple has tried to unify the use of widgets that go through its motto 'Think different' in its way. Therefore, those who expect widgets in iOS to be an exact carbon copy of the Android will be in for a disappointment.
IOS widgets have some extra functionality and user-friendly features that open up a separate area of development for iOS widgets.
How does The iOS Widgets Work?
While in Android, we have the widgets placed in the home screen of the mobile phones and tablets. In iPhone and iPad the widgets are put in the notification centre.
A swipe down to look at the notification center of the mobile phones, and there you will have the widgets of the mobile applications installed. These widgets are majorly used to cut down the time a user spends inside an application and instead, enables them to get all the basic information they will access from inside the application through the widgets directly. It is known as an 'Extensibility concept' which users can access without opening the installed application.
Through the ‘Edit’ option, iOS devices let you know the number of installed applications can support widgets. The users can decide which of these widgets they want to use and see on the notification through this option.
Another development in the recent iOS 10 release is the functionality of the widgets on the lock screen. You don’t see the usual ‘Slide to unlock’ option in the iOS devices now. All you will see is blank wallpaper and when you slide, in the normal direction of the, unlock option like the previous updated, you will get the list of widgets in the Today View.
It lets you access basic features such as weather, temperature, upcoming events, and the latest news without unlocking your iPhone and iPad. To make use of this option, the user needs to enable access when locked for the applications for which they need to see the widgets on the lock screen.
iOS Widget Development
Widgets can be beneficial in increasing the retention of the apps. Any app can create a widget according to their functions and make it compelling to the users, be it a social media app, a note app, a fitness app, a cooking app, a news app, an email app, a music app or a cab booking app. Making the users get used to seeing a particular piece of information that is important to them in the form of widgets, then there are fewer chances that users will want to uninstall them.
For example, having a widget that displays the stock values in real-time will be highly beneficial for the investors. Some iOS apps use widgets to create free and paid versions and increase revenue through it. The bottom line to develop an effective widget shows all the information that displays in it. If you have unwanted or impertinent information on a widget, your users won’t be happy about it.
Your app may contain any number of functionalities in it but do not try to crowd everything into a single widget. Choose the most looked information from your application and use it in the widgets. You can’t satisfy every single user but ensure that the information you use on the widget should be attractive to a majority of the users.
Sometimes, the user may want to get more additional information from the application more than what displayed in the widget and therefore, they may click on the widget hoping to get the additional data. Therefore, ensure that the correct information directly displays on your application instead of just linking the widget to the home page of the app.
Developing Widget for Today View
While creating a widget for the Today View, developers should exercise caution to make sure that the widget fits into the window of the Today View and that it doesn’t take up much screen space. The widgets in Today View is used for a quick look through and therefore, the design of the widget should be user-friendly and easy for the user to get the information they want in a matter of not more two to three seconds.
It is obvious that iOS widgets have introduced a higher level of ease of access to its users. Apps that use this feature properly and provide users with important information it will be easily selected, and it adds the development of the widget to iPhone App Developers India as part of their app development.
