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Comments
i4k20z3 OP t1_itchc5k wrote
This may be a dumb question but what differentiates a third party widget? For instance, I have other widgets like “Dexcom G6” or “ PowerToYou” that are not native apple apps. I have these widgets both on the widget screen and on the Home Screen.
ramm64 t1_itcjrbt wrote
The widget type you describe is what’s referred to as a “legacy” widget. Back in iOS 8 (2014, I think), Apple introduced the concept of widgets, giving us the ability to add windows of glanceable data from our apps. These widgets were interactive, meaning that you could control the app within the widget itself. These widgets could only be added to the Today screen — this is the screen that you can see when you swipe right from the lock/home screen.
As of iOS 14 (in 2020), Apple redesigned the widget framework and allowed us to place widgets pretty much anywhere in the Home Screen as well as the Today Screen. Different from the “legacy” widgets I described above, these widgets only allow us to view data, without the ability to let us control the app itself. Tapping one of these widgets can usually only allow us to open the app itself.
It turns out that Apple has allowed the “legacy” widgets and the iOS 14 widgets to co-exist; as you mentioned, your app’s widget can still only be accessed from the Today screen, at the very bottom, to boot. I keep waiting for Apple to decree “legacy widgets will be deprecated as of iOS NN” but they haven’t done it in the last 2 years, so perhaps those old widgets are here to stay.
I’m not familiar with your app, but I’m guessing that the developers believe that their legacy widget is more functional than converting to the iOS 14 style widgets. Either that, or they haven’t bothered to do the necessary work to build the newer-style widgets. You may want to contact them and ask, or simply request that they develop a newer-style widget for their app.
ramm64 t1_itcjxtu wrote
The post above is not accurate. Apple has opened up widgets to all developers (i.e., 3rd parties) who wish to enable them. This is true for all types of widgets — Home Screen, and (as of iOS 16) Lock Screen.
rockdangelo99 t1_itck9w2 wrote
Not a dumb question. Third party are any that aren’t stock apple. The ones you have may have been updated or optimized by the app developer for the current version of iOS. Some will take a little longer to be available. I remember reading that some developers are trying to get caught up for the new iOS. Because they usually have to update for IOS. iPad OS and Mac.
rockdangelo99 t1_itcklnr wrote
Didn’t say I was right. I said I don’t think! And my reason was that live sports wasn’t available yet. Because that was coming later with a software update. Also there are plenty of apps that are not available when you try to add them to the new Home Screen right now in iOS 16. But I thank you for your clarity. Since I wasn’t accurate.
i4k20z3 OP t1_itdcc01 wrote
this is really helpful! thank you so much for typing this all out and explaining it!
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rockdangelo99 t1_itcgond wrote
I don’t think you can add third party widgets just yet. I think there’s an iPhone update coming that may allow it. A lot of people are still waiting on live scores for sports. It’s supposed to be in the newest iOS update.