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Apple's Dashboard Widget Download Site for OS X Broken
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They can in a simulated environment, like the iPhone Simulator in Xcode for example
Unless Apple comes up with a very creative way to run (maybe stream?) apps that are on the App Store, it is not possible. Apps in the iOS Simulator are compiled for Intel.
I've said it a few times: Dashboard needs to merge with Notification Center. We don't need two different swipeable areas for at-a-glance information.
Make widgets to fit and dock in Notification Center, and get rid of Dashboard. If I could get the weather widget, a simple calculator, and some sports scores in Notification Center, then there would be no need at all for Dashboard. Also, a unit converter, stock ticker, stats, etc, could easily be adapted to be Notification Center Widgets.
Make widgets to fit and dock in Notification Center, and get rid of Dashboard. If I could get the weather widget, a simple calculator, and some sports scores in Notification Center, then there would be no need at all for Dashboard. Also, a unit converter, stock ticker, stats, etc, could easily be adapted to be Notification Center Widgets.
From what I can tell it is partially working. Some widgets download fine, others take you to the iCloud log in page.
Great, now people can continue their "Angry Birds" game from their iPad in OS X. This would be great, if the iPad actually had decent apps for work (I'm looking at you iWork and Office). iDevices have generally been used for entertainment. Take a look at the top paid and free apps - games, games, media app, games, possibly a calendar or task app, oh, and more games.
Mobile devices are generally used for entertainment, I have yet to see corporations/firms move to tablets over notebooks or desktops as they are merely an extension. Even so, there aren't many app's that work between the two and meet the needs for the business sect. I'm tired of iOS being a main focus for OS X development.
Apple, get back to what made OS X so great - stability, speed, actual multiple display support, improved OpenGL Core, and work on Finder. Leave Facebook, Twitter and "Angry Birds" to the kiddies.
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I used to use and make widgets, but then I discovered that menu bar apps can offer the same functionality of widgets without the inconvenience of having to open the entire dashboard just for a single widget.
Plus making money off of menu bar apps is a lot more feasible than with widgets (widgets are written in HTML/CSS/JS, meaning that the code isn't ever compiled, meaning people can easily or repackage or redistribute your code in any way they please.)
Plus making money off of menu bar apps is a lot more feasible than with widgets (widgets are written in HTML/CSS/JS, meaning that the code isn't ever compiled, meaning people can easily or repackage or redistribute your code in any way they please.)
Weird, I tried it and it downloaded the wrong widget, one called "the dashboard".
I hope they don't dump widgets, I'd hate to have to fire up apps just for things like calendars, world clocks, calculator, currency conversion, etc. If they need an overhaul, sure, but don't just kill them off.
I hope they don't dump widgets, I'd hate to have to fire up apps just for things like calendars, world clocks, calculator, currency conversion, etc. If they need an overhaul, sure, but don't just kill them off.
Interesting seeing this thread since to be honest, I had forgotten all about Dashboard since I got my rMBP with Mountain Lion. I had to find it and open it just so I could remember what it looked like, so I guess I would be one of those who wouldn't miss it if it were to disappear.
Guess I'll copy my Stickies and put them into iCloud-synched Notes instead. They're the only widget I use regularly. (And Dictionary/Thesaurus, but OS X has an app for that which is easier to use anyway. I might use Translate but I never remember it exists.)
Dashboard was a neat idea for a while, but I think those widget functions (weather, world clock, quick info on stuff) are simply served better by my iPhone and iPad these days.
It's also possible I'm spoiled by my Air's SSD: I can launch the full Calendar and Address Book instantly. Just as fast as Dashboard (faster even--at first boot) and more functional.
I say Dashboard is bloat we can remove. Any widgets people really rely on are HTML anyway, and could be reworked as web bookmarks or web apps. Or let third parties step back in... Recall that Konfabulator still exists (sort of) under the name Yahoo Widgets.
Sounds like another good "back to the Mac" concept from iOS! One that hopefully will expand in iOS too (with these mysterious upcoming APIs Tim Cook just mentioned?) Notification Center with flexible third-party widgets, in both OS X and iOS?
As for Calculator, Command-Spacebar is my calculator! (For those who don't know: type some math there... just don't press Return or type an = sign.)
Dashboard was a neat idea for a while, but I think those widget functions (weather, world clock, quick info on stuff) are simply served better by my iPhone and iPad these days.
It's also possible I'm spoiled by my Air's SSD: I can launch the full Calendar and Address Book instantly. Just as fast as Dashboard (faster even--at first boot) and more functional.
I say Dashboard is bloat we can remove. Any widgets people really rely on are HTML anyway, and could be reworked as web bookmarks or web apps. Or let third parties step back in... Recall that Konfabulator still exists (sort of) under the name Yahoo Widgets.
Sounds like another good "back to the Mac" concept from iOS! One that hopefully will expand in iOS too (with these mysterious upcoming APIs Tim Cook just mentioned?) Notification Center with flexible third-party widgets, in both OS X and iOS?
As for Calculator, Command-Spacebar is my calculator! (For those who don't know: type some math there... just don't press Return or type an = sign.)
I agree. They should just include the widgets in the App Store. Would make more sense to have a centralized location for apps/widgets.
Although I rarely download widgets, I do frequently use the weather, metric and clock widgets. So I'd miss Dashboard if they killed it.
I use the Sticky notes all the time. It's convenient to store a phone number that I don't necessarily want in my Contacts or to just jot down little reminder. The reminders app is a piece of junk that I loathe using.
I like the idea of moving some of the widgets into the notifications bar. I never bother opening that because there's nothing particularly useful there but widgets would change that. Plus I would be able to look at my widgets while in a full screen app without having to navigate to the Dashboard.
I like the idea of moving some of the widgets into the notifications bar. I never bother opening that because there's nothing particularly useful there but widgets would change that. Plus I would be able to look at my widgets while in a full screen app without having to navigate to the Dashboard.
I don't think widgets will go away. When you try to download a widgets you get redirected to the Downloads page; this makes me suspect that widgets may be distributed through the AppStore instead of the Apple website.
And it makes sense, as this is currently an open door for malware.
EDIT: I just noticed someone else mentioned AppStore above, so my post suddenly became redundant.
And it makes sense, as this is currently an open door for malware.
EDIT: I just noticed someone else mentioned AppStore above, so my post suddenly became redundant.
Dashboard may not have been given a lot of love from Apple lately, but I still use it frequently. A lot more so than Launchpad. I'd be sad to see it go away.
i use it too:
- Weather
- Time Machine Buddy
- Calendar
- TV Show Tracker
- EasyEnvelopes
- Translation
So yeah, I would miss it too. My best guess is that Widgets will be improved and distributed through the AppStore for safety.
I would expect this change to happen in 10.8.4 and 10.9
Ymmv
Without even reading the comments, I know there'll be a bunch of "dashboard is dead, move on" posts (e.g.; I don't use it so no one needs it).
I use Dashboard routinely (weather radar, a calendar (to let me see a few months dates at a glance, Delivery Status (probably my favorite widget), and a recent addition, a lyrics lookup for iTunes). All of this is easily replaced with web site links and/or my iPad.
But I still like the quick hit of F4, a glance at the radar or the calendar, etc., and then back to the desktop (or whatever Space).
I'll miss it if it goes away, but it won't kill me if it does.
Without even reading the comments, I know there'll be a bunch of "dashboard is dead, move on" posts (e.g.; I don't use it so no one needs it).
I use Dashboard routinely (weather radar, a calendar (to let me see a few months dates at a glance, Delivery Status (probably my favorite widget), and a recent addition, a lyrics lookup for iTunes). All of this is easily replaced with web site links and/or my iPad.
But I still like the quick hit of F4, a glance at the radar or the calendar, etc., and then back to the desktop (or whatever Space).
I'll miss it if it goes away, but it won't kill me if it does.
Good I never used them, and it was a waste of a feature. Glad Apple realizes this and moves on instead of being stubborn. It's a good sign and gives me hope even if it's just a small thing.