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Why still no live widgets?
- Thread starter MBX
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The only widgets in Android that kill battery are the ones that are setup to auto-refresh too often. The widgets to toggle things like bluetooth and Wifi do not use battery.
The only widgets in Android that kill battery are the ones that are setup to auto-refresh too often. The widgets to toggle things like bluetooth and Wifi do not use battery.
Careful, facts aren't welcomed around here..
I'm running 8 widgets on my jailbroken iPhone 5 and haven't noticed any battery drain at all, my usage times are exactly what they were without them.
Of course, you know the day Apple announces widgets for iOS they will suddenly have invented them, and they will be the best thing ever.
I look forward to them, for all the talk about how different iOS 7 supposedly is, it's still just a boring grid of lifeless icons.
I'm afraid I agree with this comment.
Whilst I am also baffled at Apple's decisions with all their products, I accept it and find something that works for me.
There were several things about iOS that I didn't like from the very first iPhone. I gave iOS and the iPhone several revisions and then decided that some things were never going to change - live widgets/icons being one of them - so I moved to Android. Perhaps you should do the same and give another OS a go? At best you'll fall in love with Android and at worst it'll just confirm that iOS is the right one for you.
I have no idea if Apple believes that live widgets should exist in iOS. I've been hoping for some kind of implementation for years, but I gave up on it until iOS 7's announcement.
Apple has, whether on purpose or not, laid the groundwork in iOS 7 for home screen widgets. Background App Refresh makes it completely possible. If apps are already allowed to update in the background when the system makes itself available for certain services, then making that updated information glanceable in a widget or something else is now easy.
Apple has, whether on purpose or not, laid the groundwork in iOS 7 for home screen widgets. Background App Refresh makes it completely possible. If apps are already allowed to update in the background when the system makes itself available for certain services, then making that updated information glanceable in a widget or something else is now easy.
If I may ask, what 8 live widgets are you running?
Maybe I'm incorrect but didn't OSX have live widgets before Android was even out yet? Dashboard widget's was first introduced on OSX Tiger in 2005. Apple chose not to implement live widgets on iOS just like they chose not to use mobile Flash. Too much battery and resources would be used. Look where mobile Flash is now.
I think we need to clarify what kind of widget's we want because iOS already has widgets in the Notification Center (weather, stocks, calendar, etc) and the Control Center with system control toggle widgets. These widgets do not drain battery because they only update when the notification center is accessed. Unlike Android where a user can place all kinds of live feed widgets like a twitter feed, Facebook feed, etc which auto updates at a given interval. Even a photo album widget which cycle through photos eat up battery and resources. I have iHeart Radio and Pandora widgets on my S4 but I cannot use them to start the streaming music without launching the app so they don't really drain battery just sitting there. I use them to stop/pause the music and also get the name of the song and artist. I think Apple carefully selected widgets that are most used and chose not give use "live feed" widgets they DO contribute to more battery drain and more resources used. Just watch any YouTube videos on how to extend battery life and decrease lag on Android devices. Among the top tips is to reduce widgets to a minimum. It's a fact. I own an S2, S4 and a Nexus 7 & 10 as well as iOS devices (jailbroken) so my experience with both platforms are extensive.
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Likewise, what does the poster's hate of widgets have to do with whether or not Apple adds them?
It might. History has shown time and again that if Apple doesn't have something right now, there are legions of fans who "hate" that thing.
Then when Apple gets it, suddenly it's okay. It's ridiculous and totally predictable.
Adding them to the homescreens is optional. Therefore hating them is like hating handicapped mode or optional gestures or anything else you might not want to use. Just don't use them.
As for hating them in general, Apple already has added their own widgets in the form of weather etc in the notification shade, info on the lock screen, and toggles in the new control center.
Do you hate those? Because that's exactly the kind of thing that most people use widgets for.
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The only widgets in Android that kill battery are the ones that are setup to auto-refresh too often. The widgets to toggle things like bluetooth and Wifi do not use battery.
True a wifi widget is great when it's in the pull down
Apple needs to upgrade the battery capacity on the iPhone. The battery is the source of power, the gate for more creative things on the iOS. As simple as that. Of course widget is nice, informative and convenient. But, what is the use of it if the phone can't last until we get home? 1400 mAh is too limitating, just imagine what we could do with 1800 or 2000 mAh battery capacity? Live widgets or toogle widget or both or more? People could choose freely, according to their needs, their ego, their pride! On a device that have won their business.
I'm surprised people want widgets on the iPhone. Heck, you might as well buy an Android phone at this point if you keep wanting Android features.
I don't think widgets bring any value to a phone. Let's take a closer look.
1. There are no legitimate widgets worth redesigning the OS for. Think about it. The best widgets are clocks, settings and weather. There really isn't anything outside of those that's worthwhile.
2. Widgets put more strain on a battery. Are we that lazy they we can't do a single tap to bring up weather on the home screen? We can't slide the settings screen up and turn off/on features?
3. See #1. Rinse and repeat.
I don't think widgets bring any value to a phone. Let's take a closer look.
1. There are no legitimate widgets worth redesigning the OS for. Think about it. The best widgets are clocks, settings and weather. There really isn't anything outside of those that's worthwhile.
2. Widgets put more strain on a battery. Are we that lazy they we can't do a single tap to bring up weather on the home screen? We can't slide the settings screen up and turn off/on features?
3. See #1. Rinse and repeat.
You can't increase battery capacity without increasing the size of the battery. The bigger the battery the bigger the phone has to be in order to allow space for the internal components.
Thanks to both of you for the laughs!
And I say that _respectfully_ as I'm not taking it as seriously as one might think
Actually the truth be known, I'm using and enjoying both a Galaxy 4S and an iPhone 5. When one uses both concurrently it explodes many myths. It provides great variety, and keeps one informed via priceless firsthand experience.
Buy a Mophie, get more organized or charge your phone more frequently.
I've never really understood the battery efficiency issue. Unless you're a forest ranger, when are you not within 5' of a power outlet for more than an hour?
I think you are confusing notification widgets being displayed on your springboard with actual widgets that Android have. iOs does not have the framework for widgets. The Jailbreak tweaks Ive seen just add a notification widget to the springboard.
Below is a Facebook widget for Android. The information displayed in that window is only current if the widget is manually updated or set to auto-refresh at a specific interval. this is what kills battery because people will set it to refresh every 5 minutes.
This forum baffles me. People speak intelligently on most matters, but when it comes down to it they forget the definition of the word choice.
With today's technology, you can either CHOOSE to use them or CHOOSE to not use them.
With today's technology, you can either CHOOSE to use them or CHOOSE to not use them.
Exactly and I so don't need that. I can just open my Facebook app and have the information that I need. I would hate to see iPhone become a battery hog and have to increase battery size. Who knows before long we might all be carrying 6 inch phones.
Agreed. No one wants a battery hogging widget... but what if you could have a widget that didn't have a negative impact to the battery? I don't care to have a glance-able Facebook widget, but a glance-able Calendar on my home screen might be helpful. iOS 7's Background App Refresh is going to keep apps up-to-date in the background, so now its just a matter of displaying that up-to-date information somewhere.
You're right and their forgetfulness is easily explained.
Choice is a concept Apple fears. Their business model is based on power & control, on convincing people only Apple knows what's best for them. Google, Samsung, Microsoft and others are the enemy.
Yea i am an oil man and working daily 8 hours on the field in the remote area before i go back to the company house. Oh don't worry, i have 4 mophie cases. 2 for my 4S, 2 for my 5 and a 7000 mAh battery pack. I use my 5 only for taking phone calls and the 4S is very useful in helping me calculating my working through the apps we developed. So efficiency is always a good thing for me.
I look at it differently. I don't think they fear choice, but that they simply believe that controlling the experience is better for them. While widgets may be attractive to some folks, Apple feels that they will then be criticized for lower battery life and it's not worth the trade-off.
Add to that the criticism they would get that they're copying Android, and I would bet we never see widgets on the iPhone.
Well then that is apple job to solve that. Unless they want to stuck having a 1400 mAh device forever while their competitors doing nonstop innovations in every release, even if it looks gimmicky at first but the idea can grow in their users.
Ios 7 clock icon
Can I confirm that the clock icon on iOS 7 shows live time? If so that's useful. How about live info on weather icon? It could include the ability to activate live icons in settings or switch them off if you want to save battery. Can the icons on window one, all be setup to include recently used apps, or most often used apps?
Can I confirm that the clock icon on iOS 7 shows live time? If so that's useful. How about live info on weather icon? It could include the ability to activate live icons in settings or switch them off if you want to save battery. Can the icons on window one, all be setup to include recently used apps, or most often used apps?
Because its 2013, not 1999.
What apps would be useful as live widgets?
Clock? Time at the top of your phone constantly and the app icon is now animated.
Date? Icon always show the current date.
Weather? Look outside, it's more current and usually a little more accurate too.
What apps would be useful as live widgets?
Clock? Time at the top of your phone constantly and the app icon is now animated.
Date? Icon always show the current date.
Weather? Look outside, it's more current and usually a little more accurate too.
I for one don't see the need for these widgets...
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Or you would have wasted 200 bucks.
Lets not forget that there is WP8 also.