Here's How Interactive Widgets Work in macOS Sonoma

[adrianlondon]

Can you pick which monitor you want them on in a multiple monitor set up? Would be pretty slick if you can!

They're on every "space" / desktop. So no, unfortunately.

EDIT: Yes! The widget layouts are separate.

 

[ggibson913]

I'm surprised it has taken Apple this long to implement widget functionality on the Mac desktop.

Apple had widgets in OS X Tiger

 

[gwhizkids]

Nice! So you're running the beta? I really want to try the public beta but I'm afraid to on my main machine as I count on it so much....

I was but had to move back to Ventura. If you want to try it out, put it in a separate partition and run it from there.

 

[gwhizkids]

They're on every "space" / desktop. So no, unfortunately.

I actually had different widgets sets running on my external monitor and my desktop.

 

[adrianlondon]

I actually had different widgets sets running on my external monitor and my desktop.

I've just tested it, as I don't usually connect my monitor to my MBA, and you're correct. I edited my post above. Thanks! I'm playing with widget layout again, now

 

[TheYellowAudi]

I like the idea in theory, but I never see my desktop. I *think* they’ll remain more useful to me in the notifications window.

 

[gwhizkids]

I like the idea in theory, but I never see my desktop. I *think* they’ll remain more useful to me in the notifications window.

And that’s fine. Some will like them, others will not. But it’s nice to have the option.

 

[efktd]

Is there a Files widget? I know I can do this with a finder window, but if they implement a Sonoma enhanced version of of Files to represent a finder window, that would be cool too.

 

[robbietop]

Back in Dashboard days, there was even a line of terminal code or perhaps a setting in the Onyx app or such where you then hold on to a widget while closing dashboard and it would remain on the desktop.

Yes, and it would cause weird instabilty.

 

[lordthistle]

Am I the only one who thinks that the old dashboard has been the best implementation so far? Using the dashboard you could have both a clean desktop and usable widgets. The current implementation allows you to use widgets, but you pay that with an incredibly messy desktop.

 

[steve09090]

Am I the only one who thinks that the old dashboard has been the best implementation so far? Using the dashboard you could have both a clean desktop and usable widgets. The current implementation allows you to use widgets, but you pay that with an incredibly messy desktop.

I’m guessing that you can have separate desktops (spaces) with their own widgets if you choose.

 

[Cunir]

Am I going a bit daft or is there really no music widget. They've got a podcast one, but I still have to use the control centre for songs

 

[gwhizkids]

Am I the only one who thinks that the old dashboard has been the best implementation so far? Using the dashboard you could have both a clean desktop and usable widgets. The current implementation allows you to use widgets, but you pay that with an incredibly messy desktop.

No. Podcasters Jason Snell and Stephen Hackett both agree with you.

 

[gwhizkids]

Am I going a bit daft or is there really no music widget. They've got a podcast one, but I still have to use the control centre for songs

You’re not daft.

 

[therunningman]

I’m guessing that you can have separate desktops (spaces) with their own widgets if you choose.

I liked DashBoard, too. It was clean and out of the way when you didn't want it, and right there when you did. Having a separate space is a kind of compromise, but still not as clean as a keystroke to see all your widgets (and many of those widgets in Dashboard were interactive from the get-go...I used to have a nifty subnet calculator that I could get to from anywhere).

 

[AndiG]

The old dashboard was perfect. May Apple invents it once again some day …

 

[gwhizkids]

The old dashboard was perfect. May Apple invents it once again some day …

That’s be great as an alternate way of doing this. I like the current implementation but choice is good!

 

[Damian83]

Am I the only one who thinks that the old dashboard has been the best implementation so far? Using the dashboard you could have both a clean desktop and usable widgets. The current implementation allows you to use widgets, but you pay that with an incredibly messy desktop.

You're wrong! Tim knows well what's better for u!