Widgets -- Engadget Mobile

widgets posts

RIM posts new BlackBerry widget APIs, dev kit

by Joseph L. Flatley posted Oct 9th 2009 @ 1:26PM

We know you love widgets, so feast your eyes on this: RIM has just announced a software development kit for creating web-based widgets on the BlackBerry platform. With new APIs that allow access to a everything from email and calendar applications to the GPS, media player, files and documents stored on the smartphone, the handset's push technology and more, hot-to-trot software developers such as yourself can build all kinds of crazy apps for OS 5. What are you waiting for? Hit the read link for everything you need -- including the Smartphone Simulator and BlackBerry Widget SDK beta. And be sure you drop us a line after creating some award-winning apps. PR after the break.

[Via PhoneArena]

Continue reading RIM posts new BlackBerry widget APIs, dev kit

Samsung launches TouchWiz SDK for cross-platform bliss

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 17th 2009 @ 2:03PM

Now that Samsung's standardized on the TouchWiz interface across its entire touchscreen line -- dumbphone and smartphone alike -- they've created a fertile playground that offers developers the opportunity to reach a good chunk of the world's second largest phone manufacturer's devices. A dedicated software development kit for TouchWiz is now available direct from Samsung, and since your average code monkey doesn't necessarily have access to fifteen different phones running multiple versions of every platform Sammy supports, they're also offering up their Virtual Device Lab that'll let devs test their wares on everything the company has on tap. For distribution, Samsung will have a number of channels available: its Application Store, a new Widget Gallery that'll premiere on Verizon's Omnia II launching later this year, and -- perhaps most tantalizingly for developers -- the possibility of inclusion right in the frickin' ROM if Samsung really loves what you've done. Considering that you're targeting S60, WinMo, and a wealth of proprietary OS devices in one fell swoop, this could end up being a huge distribution channel.

New video of HTC Hero's Android build offers Frenchy vision of widget utopia

by Paul Miller posted May 19th 2009 @ 10:37AM

The verdict is still out on whether what we've been seeing is indeed some precursor to Android 2.0 "Donut," or (more likely) some elaborate HTC skin designed bring HTC's Android home screen experience up to par with its extensive Windows Mobile reskinning. Either way, things are shaping up quite nicely for the HTC Hero, with another leaked build showing widget functionality galore, including weather widgets that actually show the weather. Interestingly, this isn't a complete replacement for the existing home screen, since in the add widget dialogue you can pick an HTC Gadget, a Google Gadget, or other regular things like Shortcuts, and most everything seems to cohabitate well in the example video. With the rate these leaks are coming, we're guessing we'll be hearing more about the HTC Hero before too long, and if not we've always got the neauveau cocktail jazz electro crossover stylings of Air to keep us calm. Video is after the break.

[Via Android Guys]

Continue reading New video of HTC Hero's Android build offers Frenchy vision of widget utopia

Vodafone announces unified app framework

by Chris Ziegler posted May 13th 2009 @ 9:28AM

Common widget platforms have been a hot topic among global carriers over the past year or so, with AT&T (among several other major players) coming out and saying that they're actively pursuing standardized OS-agnostic frameworks like the OMTP's BONDI initiative. Vodafone also happens to be a member of the OMTP, and the massive multinational operator has laid down the law this week by announcing that it will be creating a single clearinghouse for internet app developers looking to expose their wares to Voda customers around the world. In addition, there'll be a single set of APIs for location awareness, direct operator billing, and other goodies that should take some of the pain out of developing apps that can work across multiple devices. An SDK will be available to some partners starting in the summer, with broader release following on after that.

Android 1.5's widget support gets detailed

by Chris Ziegler posted Apr 22nd 2009 @ 3:06AM

One of the huge features missing from Android at its initial launch was proper widget extensibility -- as far as the official SDK was concerned, what you saw on the home screen when you took your phone out of the box was what you got, no questions asked. Fortunately, this is a marquis addition in 1.5, and the official Android Developers Blog is detailing exactly how this is all going to go down. In short, it looks like devs have complete control -- as it should be -- with the ability to infinitely tweak widget update intervals and appearance. As any G1 owner can attest, this action can't possibly come soon enough.

WidSets 2.0 goes gold

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 20th 2008 @ 5:58PM

Nokia's open widget platform just got a little better this week with the official release of WidSets 2.0, which had previously been in public beta. Notably, the new version seems to be quite a bit snappier, offers the ability to rearrange widgets right from the device instead of having to do it from WidSets' website (pictured), and sports a tighter marriage with its host phone by allowing calls and browser windows to be initiated from the client. For those who haven't tried it, it's worth having a go -- it's compatible with all sorts of phones, both Nokia and otherwise -- because let's be honest, who doesn't want an Engadget Mobile widget in their pocket?

[Via All About Symbian]

Yahoo! takes Go to version 3, releases widget platform

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 7th 2008 @ 4:08PM

Yahoo's been taking it's mobile strategy pretty seriously over the course of the past couple years, having zoomed through two revisions of its Go portal app on multiple platforms. They've officially unveiled yet another major version today -- 3.0, to be exact -- featuring a new icon view (in addition to the old-school carousel view) and support for widgets. Widgets, you say? Yep, that's the real meat of today's announcements: Yahoo has opened the floodgates to third party development with its Mobile Developer Platform, promising a future rich with widgets that'll plug into Go and make it even meatier than it already is. eBay, MTV, and MySpace have already crafted widgets for the platform, too, so it's a promising start. Yahoo! Go 3.0 is available now for a wide variety of S60 and BlackBerry devices, and we're guessing that Windows Mobile will be following on shortly.

Read - Yahoo! Go 3.0
Read - Yahoo! Mobile Developer Platform

WidSets comes out of beta

by Chris Ziegler posted Nov 3rd 2007 @ 4:54PM

Nokia's versatile widget platform, WidSets, has come out of beta (although they've had boatloads of users and a solid offering for months now, so calling it "beta" may have been a bit of stretch anyway) with a refreshed look. The headlining feature seems to be the pictured "Explore" feature, which uses Flash to present you with a crazy web to drill down to the widgets that might (or might not) interest you. It's free, it works on a lot of phones, and it's cool -- so now that the ominous "beta" label is officially gone, y'all may as well check it out, no?

Spelunking through iPhone's firmware reveals new widget hints

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 1st 2007 @ 5:06AM

It seems like a healthy percentage of iPhone users currently in circulation are twiddling their collective thumbs, waiting for Apple to drop a feature-bomb on them in the form of a plump firmware update (and no, 1.01 doesn't count) -- but the present-day build may already be lending clues as to what's to come. It turns out that one of the iPhone's preference files makes mention of several widgets that seemingly don't yet exist; among others, Unit Converter, Translation, and Radio seem the most promising. An FM radio add-on from Apple certainly isn't without precedent, and the others have obvious analogues on the desktop, so it's all believable enough -- whether Apple gets 'em out before the homebrew community, though, is another question entirely.

[Thanks, Kai]

Nokia releases widget platform for S60

by Brian White posted Apr 18th 2007 @ 8:08PM

If you're a fan of Apple's Widgets and Microsoft's Gadgets, Nokia's software engineers hear you. Nokia's Symbian-based S60 platform now has support for dashboard-like widgets thanks to the recent introduction of its "Web Run-Time" tools for web developer types. Nokia is claiming its S60 widgetry to be a first for a mobile platform, although Microsoft may be readying the same concept for Windows Mobile 6. So, if you're ready to stock up that slicker-than-slick N73, just remember that you're going to need Nokia's S60 3rd Edition Feature Pack 2 to get those new widgets -- then let the WeatherBugging begin.

[Via Mobilewhack]