Feedback and perspectives on iOS8 Widgets

iOS8 Widget
Since iOS8, Widgets have appeared on our iPhones : these small pieces of applications that we find for a few years on Android phones.
We also find Widgets on the new Yosemite OS, but on the desktop the catalog is extremely limited and does not include the Widget of our phone.
In the exercise of my profession, I hear very little about this novelty, but I tell myself that these Widgets are only a first step towards something greater.
 
android widget
 
Indeed these Widgets have the role of giving the latest news, the latest update and related notifications.

It makes you wonder if the Widgets of iOS8 are not a laboratory for the future application for the Apple Watch?

The Apple Watch is the " Next Big Thing from Apple, at the end of 2014 we don't know if it will have the success of other Apple Devices, but as a Designer it is my duty to anticipate this question and explore the first Widgets.

 
 

Apple Watch
Apple Watch
 

For this I present to you
A SELECTION OF WIDGETS

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NYT NOW
offers a simple Widget that presents the last 3 articles without a photo.

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LEMONDE.FR
offers a simple Widget that offers the last 3 articles with a visual and an invitation to launch the application.

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YAHOO NEWS DIGEST
he focuses on a single topic.

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BUZZFEED
offers to bookmark the highlighted article and move on to the next news item directly in the Widget.

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VICE NEWS
takes the time to develop the news presented.

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THE WEATHER CHANNEL
offers a complete live weather forecast of where I am and weather alerts (no s) associated.

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yahoo weather widget

YAHOO WEATHER
offers a more summary weather forecast but with a visual of the place.

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RECIPE OF THE DAY
randomly offers recipes which, I imagine, are related to calendar news.

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HOTEL TONIGHT
offers the best deals of the day near you.

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TV SHOW TIME
offers you the schedule of the next series that you follow.
Which in my opinion is the main function of the app.
I therefore see a loss of income linked to the non-display of advertising.

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SONGKICK
offers the next 3 concerts of my artists declared in Spotify.
Which, in Paris, will surely be too late to buy my tickets.
I would have preferred the new concerts of my artists.

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MOOVEIT
shows the schedules for my favorite metro station.
Convenient !

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CONCLUSION
Widgets do not meet with great public success, but they have the merit of addressing essential questions:
• What are my flagship contents?
• How do I tease users to bring them to my application?
• What services can I provide to my users in extreme mobility?
• And as a bonus, what could I display on a connected object like an Apple Watch? ?
 
And you, do you use widgets? Which ?
 
Romain Landsberg
Founder & Partner
UX Activist