Insights from Google I/O 2024: The Future of Android Widgets
In a recent session at Google I/O 2024, the tech giant shared valuable insights on the importance of widgets in enhancing user experience. The discussion, titled “Build beautiful Android widgets with Jetpack Glance,” highlighted the increasing popularity of widgets that provide information at a glance, without the need for user interaction.
Google emphasized that the most effective widgets are those that offer a snapshot of information in a layout that is easy to understand at a quick glance. This is particularly useful for users who frequently open an app just to check a status or a specific detail. The presence of a widget could streamline this process, making it more efficient for users.
The characteristics of a well-designed widget, according to Google, include:
- Helpful: The widget should deliver value without the need to open the associated app.
- Simple: It should be easy to use and understand.
- Adaptive: The widget must function seamlessly across different devices, including phones, tablets, and foldables.
- Cohesive: Aesthetics matter. The widget should be visually appealing and complement the user’s home screen.
- Discoverable: High-quality previews and descriptions are essential to help users recognize the widget’s value.
Enhancements in Android 15 Beta 2 have made widgets more accessible and organized, with improvements to the Widgets picker that now categorizes options and suggests widgets to users. Additionally, visual adjustments have been made to the widgets panel that appears when long-pressing an app icon.
Google has introduced Jetpack-Glance 1.1, a tool that simplifies the creation of foundational UI elements for developers. Alongside this, Google has provided canonical widget layouts that serve as pre-built examples for developers to utilize, including layouts for text, lists, and grids, with more to come.
During the session, a variety of first and third-party widgets were showcased, all of which are currently live, such as Keep, News, YouTube Music, Calendar, Gmail, Contacts, TV, Finance Watchlist, and Battery. However, one standout was the yet-to-be-released widget for the Google Home app. This widget displayed a 3×3 grid with device icons, names/locations, and statuses, as well as quick triggers for automations, offering a comprehensive control center for smart home devices.
Google’s commitment to widget development is clear, and with these new tools and guidelines, Android users can expect a more intuitive and visually pleasing widget experience on their devices.
