Widgets Control
Asked on 07/23/2024
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Apple introduced several new features and enhancements related to widgets and controls at WWDC 2024. Here are some key points:
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Configurable Widgets:
- Widgets can now be made configurable, allowing users to set parameters such as which trail to show in a trail conditions widget. This makes it possible to add multiple widgets with different configurations (Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents).
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Interactive Widgets:
- Interactive widgets are now supported on watchOS 11, iOS, and macOS. These widgets can include multiple interactive areas like buttons and toggles, allowing users to perform actions directly from the widget without opening the app (What’s new in watchOS 11, Platforms State of the Union).
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Accessory Widget Group:
- A new view template API called Accessory Widget Group has been introduced in watchOS 11. This allows developers to create a view in an accessory rectangular widget with up to three different pieces of content, enhancing glanceability and interactivity (What’s new in watchOS 11).
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Controls in iOS 18:
- iOS 18 introduces a new type of widget called controls, which can be used in system spaces like Control Center, the lock screen, and the action button. These controls are created using WidgetKit and focus on providing quick access to actions from your app (Extend your app’s controls across the system).
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Accessibility in Widgets:
- Enhancements in SwiftUI allow for better accessibility in interactive widgets. App intents enable widgets to create interactive views like buttons and toggles, and custom actions can be added to elevate the user experience (Catch up on accessibility in SwiftUI).
For more detailed information on these topics, you can refer to the following sessions:
Bring your app’s core features to users with App Intents
Learn the principles of the App Intents framework, like intents, entities, and queries, and how you can harness them to expose your app’s most important functionality right where people need it most. Find out how to build deep integration between your app and the many system features built on top of App Intents, including Siri, controls and widgets, Apple Pencil, Shortcuts, the Action button, and more. Get tips on how to build your App Intents integrations efficiently to create the best experiences in every surface while still sharing code and core functionality.
What’s new in watchOS 11
Explore new opportunities on Apple Watch, including bringing Double Tap support to your watchOS app, making your Smart Stack widgets even more relevant and interactive, and displaying your iOS Live Activities in the Smart Stack.
Extend your app’s controls across the system
Bring your app’s controls to Control Center, the Lock Screen, and beyond. Learn how you can use WidgetKit to extend your app’s controls to the system experience. We’ll cover how you can to build a control, tailor its appearance, and make it configurable.