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Spotify Developing iOS 14 Widgets in Latest Beta

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One of the big new features of iOS 14 is Home Screen widgets, which provide information from apps at a glance. The widgets can be pinned to the Home Screen in various spots and sizes, allowing for many different layouts.

xwlupgldv4s51-2.jpg
Image credit: Reddit user AustinMauritz​

Many third-party apps have released widgets, and now evidence that Spotify is developing its own official widget has appeared in a TestFlight beta.

The widget is currently available in small and medium sizes, with the former designed to display the artwork of the last played artist, song, or album, while the latter size shows four of the same content elements.

Unfortunately there are no play, pause, or next song buttons, since Apple only allows widgets to present read-only information, with interactive elements such as scrolling elements or switches not allowed, presumably due to battery life considerations.

spotify-widget-beta.jpg
Image credit: Reddit user Lupolo​

Instead, both widgets include the text "Listen to Music and Podcasts," and tapping the widget opens the Spotify app. Based on user reports on Reddit, the Spotify widgets don't yet display album artwork, but the fact that they exist at all proves that Spotify is working on them.

Last month, we reported that Spotify is testing dedicated support for direct audio streaming to Apple Watch without being connected to ‌iPhone‌.

There's no indication that the appearance of the beta feature is tied to a particular version of watchOS or iOS, but hopefully it won't be long before the ability to stream Spotify from the wrist will be available to all subscribers.

Article Link: Spotify Developing iOS 14 Widgets in Latest Beta
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/10/10/spotify-developing-ios-14-widgets/
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Freebies get no streaming then?

ps: funny how Epic is the most direct previous news article before this one on Spotify. Give. The coalition against Apple’s App Store policies has both as members ;)
 
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I am sure those buttons will be allowed by iOS 16 or so. Apple always has to come up with half baked and limited new features at first before opening it up to devs. Seriously, a music widget without play or next buttons is just dumb.

what do I gain from looking at an album artwork on the Home Screen?
 
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What's the point of this widget design?! There's minimum info density and barely any calls to action for the user –it's a rounded waste of space. If it was at least as informative and interactive as the Watch app it would make sense. I can't believe it's 2020 and my mom can have THIS interface on her €150 Nokia and my €1300 iPhone is riddled with kindergartener sized squares that do nothing.

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otternonsense said:
What's the point of this widget design?! There's minimum info density and barely any calls to action for the user –it's a rounded waste of space. If it was at least as informative and interactive as the Watch app it would make sense. I can't believe it's 2020 and my mom can have THIS interface on her €150 Nokia and my €1300 iPhone is riddled with kindergartener sized squares that do nothing.

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If only Android wasn’t such a subpar OS.

I don’t care how many more features it may have, the operating system itself feels like I’m settling.
 
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otternonsense said:
What's the point of this widget design?! There's minimum info density and barely any calls to action for the user –it's a rounded waste of space. If it was at least as informative and interactive as the Watch app it would make sense. I can't believe it's 2020 and my mom can have THIS interface on her €150 Nokia and my €1300 iPhone is riddled with kindergartener sized squares that do nothing.

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Click to expand...

Nothing is stopping you from switching to Android and enjoying this feature as well. There’s a reason you chose iOS over Android.
 
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otternonsense said:
What's the point of this widget design?! There's minimum info density and barely any calls to action for the user –it's a rounded waste of space. If it was at least as informative and interactive as the Watch app it would make sense. I can't believe it's 2020 and my mom can have THIS interface on her €150 Nokia and my €1300 iPhone is riddled with kindergartener sized squares that do nothing.

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Click to expand...

i will hapily trade this functionality over having to look at that interface
 
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Techwatcher said:
Nothing is stopping you from switching to Android and enjoying this feature as well. There’s a reason you chose iOS over Android.
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even if switching was a breeze and there was no issue with my content, libraries, and overall ecosystem lockdown, I can’t fully detach from iOS because cross platform design is part of my job.

Or here’s an idea, maybe I can still comment as a long term user on the obvious weaknesses of a formerly perfectionist UI experience without being asked to ostracize myself by fans and zealots?
 
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otternonsense said:
even if switching was a breeze and there was no issue with my content, libraries, and overall ecosystem lockdown, I can’t fully detach from iOS because cross platform design is part of my job.

Or here’s an idea, maybe I can still comment as a long term user on the obvious weaknesses of a formerly perfectionist UI experience without being asked to ostracize myself by fans and zealots?
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That's the point of a forum. When you comment you will get replied to. You're not being ostracized either, just pointing out the logical solution.

I myself started on Android, and there's many reasons I'm on iOS now as well. There's a lot of things Apple should do to "catch up" with all the features Android has and I think most of us on here know that. iOS just does a lot of things right that resonate with people.
 
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Techwatcher said:
That's the point of a forum. When you comment you will get replied to. You're not being ostracized either, just pointing out the logical solution.

I myself started on Android, and there's many reasons I'm on iOS now as well. There's a lot of things Apple should do to "catch up" with all the features Android has and I think most of us on here know that. iOS just does a lot of things right that resonate with people.
Click to expand...

I see your point, the thing is that this mode of discourse:

- I see these flaws with iOS and I wish it wasn’t the case
- just don’t use iOS!

..is not very constructive (or helpful).
 
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Sounds good to me. But for me, I am waiting for the Apple watch streaming. So I can go running and not rely on Apples, horrendous music exploration and cost of another music service..
 
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