Digest

This episode of iOS Today dives into the world of widgets, offering practical advice on how to enhance your iPhone and iPad experience. Hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard discuss various apps and their widget functionalities, providing insights into how to optimize your home screen for productivity and convenience. They cover a range of topics, including sleep tracking with Sleep++ widgets, calendar management with Fantastical, battery monitoring with Cloud Battery, fitness tracking with Peak, media management with TV Forecasts, weather updates with Carrot Weather, RSS feeds with NetNewsWire, note-taking with Bear, and even creating custom dashboards with WidgetSmith. The episode also features a Shortcuts Corner segment where Rosemary provides a detailed solution to a listener's request for controlling hallway lights using Acara buttons and Shortcuts. The hosts emphasize the versatility of widgets and how they can transform your device into a personalized hub for information and actions.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction

This Chapter introduces the topic of the episode: leveling up your widget game on iPhone and iPad. Hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard welcome listeners and set the stage for the discussion.

00:01:23

Understanding Widgets

This Chapter delves into the concept of widgets and how they have evolved over time. The hosts discuss the different types of widgets available and how they can be used on various Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

00:02:29

Widget Strategy

This Chapter explores a strategic approach to widget selection. Rosemary shares her method of identifying frequently used apps and determining which ones can be replaced with widgets for better accessibility and efficiency.

00:05:32

Widget Upgrades

This Chapter focuses on specific app widgets that offer upgrades to Apple's built-in options. Rosemary highlights Sleep++ for sleep tracking, Fantastical for calendar management, and Cloud Battery for battery monitoring.

00:13:38

Fitness Tracking Widgets

This Chapter delves into fitness tracking widgets, featuring Peak as a recommended app for comprehensive fitness data visualization and goal setting.

00:16:12

Media Management Widgets

This Chapter explores widgets for managing your media consumption. Rosemary recommends TV Forecasts for tracking shows and movies across various streaming services.

00:19:56

Weather Widgets

This Chapter focuses on weather widgets, highlighting Carrot Weather for its snarky personality, customizable designs, and integration with Apple Watch complications.

00:23:06

Dashboard Widgets

This Chapter discusses the resurgence of dashboard-like functionality through widgets. Rosemary recommends NetNewsWire for creating personalized RSS feeds and curating news content.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some tips for choosing the right widgets for your iPhone or iPad?

  Rosemary suggests starting by identifying the apps you use most frequently and then considering which ones can be replaced with widgets for better accessibility and efficiency. She also recommends thinking about the information or actions you need at a glance and selecting widgets that provide those.

• What are some of the best widget apps for sleep tracking, calendar management, and battery monitoring?

  Rosemary recommends Sleep++ for sleep tracking, Fantastical for calendar management, and Cloud Battery for battery monitoring. These apps offer customizable widgets that provide more detailed information and functionality than Apple's built-in options.

• How can I use widgets to create a personalized dashboard on my iPad?

  Widgets can be used to create custom dashboards on your iPad by combining widgets from different apps to display information and actions relevant to your needs. For example, you could use widgets for RSS feeds, note-taking, weather updates, and more to create a central hub for your daily tasks and interests.

• What are some of the creative ways to use WidgetSmith to customize your home screen?

  WidgetSmith allows you to create highly customized widgets with different designs, data sources, and interactive features. You can use it to display time zones, countdowns, photo galleries, weather information, and more. You can even set up timed widgets to change the appearance of your home screen throughout the day.

• How can I use Shortcuts to control my hallway lights with Acara buttons?

  Rosemary provides a detailed solution for controlling hallway lights using Acara buttons and Shortcuts. She explains how to create a shortcut that checks the power state of your lights and then sets a scene based on whether they are on or off. She also discusses the limitations of Shortcuts for dimming lights and suggests alternative solutions like Home Assistant or Homebridge.

Show Notes