what is new in widgets
Generated on 8/2/2024
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Apple introduced several new features and enhancements for widgets at WWDC 2024. Here are the key updates:
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Interactive Widgets: Widgets can now include multiple interactive areas, such as buttons and toggles, allowing users to perform actions directly from the widget without opening the app. This feature is available on iOS, macOS, and now watchOS 11. For example, a home widget can let users lock or unlock their door directly from the widget (What’s new in watchOS 11).
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Accessory Widget Group Layout: This new layout allows for more information and interactivity by accommodating up to three separate views. It supports deep linking to different parts of your app and includes button and toggle initializers to perform actions without leaving the widget (Platforms State of the Union).
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Relevant Widgets: Widgets can now be contextually relevant, meaning the system can suggest them at the right time based on factors like time of day, location, or routine. This makes the smart stack more actionable and intelligent (What’s new in watchOS 11).
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Live Activities on watchOS: Live activities from iOS will automatically show up on Apple Watch, allowing for real-time updates and interactions. This includes new widget families like the small supplemental activity family, which can be tailored for watchOS (What’s new in SwiftUI).
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Controls in iOS 18: A new type of widget called "controls" has been introduced, which extends app functionality into system spaces like Control Center and the lock screen. These controls focus on quick actions and succinct information (Extend your app’s controls across the system).
For more detailed information, you can refer to the following sessions:
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.
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.
Catch up on accessibility in SwiftUI
SwiftUI makes it easy to build amazing experiences that are accessible to everyone. We’ll discover how assistive technologies understand and navigate your app through the rich accessibility elements provided by SwiftUI. We’ll also discuss how you can further customize these experiences by providing more information about your app’s content and interactions by using accessibility modifiers.
Platforms State of the Union
Discover the newest advancements on Apple platforms.
What’s new in SwiftUI
Learn how you can use SwiftUI to build great apps for any Apple platform. Explore a fresh new look and feel for tabs and documents on iPadOS. Improve your window management with new windowing APIs, and gain more control over immersive spaces and volumes in your visionOS apps. We’ll also take you through other exciting refinements that help you make expressive charts, customize and layout text, and so much more.
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.