After several weeks, iOS developers have been updating their apps to run on Apple’s new operating system. One specific new feature in iOS 8 is Notificiation Center Widgets.
Since it’s major release almost a month ago now, the widget market has blown up. With a ton of apps updated with widgets included, and several other standalone apps where their soul purpose is to install a widget on your device.
Here are five of what we believe are the best widgets currently available on iOS 8. This list is in no specific order.
Top Five iOS 8 Widgets For iPhone 6/Plus
TapToShare
Back in iOS 6, and quite frankly only iOS 6, Apple introduced a share widget. This allowed users to quickly tweet to Twitter or post to Facebook. Apple themselves even noted nearly 50% of tweets came from iOS that year. Sadly, with iOS 7 Apple got rid of this magical share widget. TapToShare is hoping to replicate the share widget from iOS 6.
From a design standpoint, it looks great. Sadly, Apple has limited widgets in a manner that makes this widget less exciting. When you tap to tweet, or tap to post, you will be redirected to the TapToShare app, and then the share sheet will come up. Apple has restricted the use of keyboards with widgets. Even though this is the best workaround, we hope Apple will lift this restriction in the future.
TapToShare is available for free on the App Store.
Forecast+
Another widget that was available in iOS 6, the weather widget. Unlike TapToShare, this widget works flawlessly. It shows the current weather, and a five day forecast. In the app itself, you’re able to set weather location, set a compact mode, and change the temperature scale (fahrenheit or celsius). It’s worth noting that Forecast+ was developed by the same guy behind popular Cydia tweak ProWidgets.
Forecast+ is available for $1 on the App Store
Agenda+
The stock calendar widget is nice, but it’s missing one key aspect. The widget is unable to show all day events. The design isn’t the best either. Luckily, Agenda+ fixes all of those issues. Agenda+ offers a compact calendar widget that shows all day events, as well as all other events. Similar to apps such as Fantastical, Agenda+ allows you to merge calendar events and reminders into one single widget. Unlike the stock calendar widget, when no events are scheduled, the widget will notify you that no events are scheduled.
Other than basic calendar and reminder settings, Agenda+ also allows you to toggle an add and settings button within the widget itself. Though, the widget looks much cleaner when you disable these buttons. Not to mention, this widget is also developed by the mastermind behind ProWidgets.
Agenda+ can be found on the App Store for $1.99.
PCalc
The stock calculator app is great. It does it’s basic functions, and can get your everyday math done. Again, it’s another stock application that lacks power user support. This time, the stock calculator doesn’t even offer a widget. With PCalc, you’re able to make even quicker calculations within the Notification Center. I, personally, don’t actually use the app, I bought the app just for the Notification Center widget.
On the other hand, PCalc is a powerful calculator that can get more complex calculations done in the palm of your hands. Which is why the App is rightly priced at $9.99 on the App Store.
Pedometer++
When the iPhone 5S was released Apple began putting greater emphasis on Health and it really got me and many others to thinking. I and many others have tried to get in shape with no success. However, this has changed since the iPhone 5S release due to the many great Apps developers have created for Health. This is due to the M7 motion co-processor that’s built into the iPhone 5s.
Pedometer++ is a great application for keeping track of distances. This is a simple app that tracks your steps. With the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the app also tracks flights of stairs climbed.
Not to mention, it has a widget. The widget displays the number of steps walked, distance traveled, and flights climbed. The widget is also has a shortcut to the app.
Pedometer++ can be found for free on the App Store. The app requires a device with the M7 or M8 chip.
Leave a Reply