Android widgets

The Android team this week is putting a “Spotlight” for developers on widgets, especially “high-quality” ones. Meanwhile, Android users will benefit from a new Play Store “Widgets” filter.

Back in August, the Google Search bar widget was updated with Dynamic Color, and it’s now bringing back “Custom” colors.

Back in August, the Google app’s Search bar widget on Android was updated with Dynamic Color but at the expense of other options being removed, and a customizable shortcut is now being tested. 

The last big update to Google Clock introduced weather integration on Pixel devices and the app is now adding a new “Timer Starter” widget.

Back in 2018, the Google app on Android introduced the ability to customize the Search bar widget, but a redesign takes away most of the options.

Following the announcement last week, Google Home 3.18 with the new Favorites widgets is widely rolling out via the Play Store.

As we previously spotted, the Google Home app on Android is getting a new homescreen widget and Wear OS Tile.

As teased in October of 2023 and spotted at I/O 2024, the Google Home app on Android is getting ready to add a homescreen widget called “Favorites.”

After beta testing, Pocket Casts is rolling out a handful of updates on Android, including new widgets and a redesign of the homescreen.

The widget improvements in Android 15 Beta 2 continue with a simple “Add” button that saves you from having to manually drag them to your homescreen. 

Back in October, the Google Home app team said it was working on a homescreen widget. We might now have our first look at the design as Google at I/O 2024 worked to encourage widget adoption.

Pocket Casts for Android has long offered a single widget and an upcoming update will overhaul it, while introducing two new options for your homescreen.

After introducing a Finance Watchlist for your homescreen earlier this year, the Google app on Android is getting ready to add a Sports widget. 

Google is updating the Individual Contact Android widget it introduced earlier this year to bring more Material You flourishes.

A big update to Apple Music that’s currently in beta adds new Android homescreen widgets from iOS 17, as well as other features from the latest iPhone and iPad release.

The Google TV and Finance Watchlist widgets ostensibly announced for Android tablets in June are now seeing wide availability on phones. 

The Nothing Phone (2) is looking at its third significant update since release. The new Nothing OS version adds new UI elements, a new compass widget, and another app that can take advantage of the Nothing Phone (2)’s arguably coolest feature – Glyph Progress.

Android is rolling out its quarterly drop of new features today, with a redesign of the Assistant At a Glance widget being the highlight.