If you’re a frequent reader of the site, then you must know that I don’t hide my excitement in regards to the Widgets implementation on the homescreen of the Nokia N97. Widgets have been supported by Symbian for a long time, but the N97 takes things further and allows you to integrate them in your daily rhythm. So after finally having laid my hands on the device, and checked this integration in person, I formed a much more precise idea about the impact of Widgets on the way we will interact with the internet in the future.
Widgets, a pseudo-technical explanation
I’m not much of an expert in the field, but technically widgets are based on the Web-Runtime Technology (WRT). That jargon translates in the fact that a widget is nothing but a webpage coded in HTML, CSS or Java with links, images… The page and its full content is then zipped and the zip is simply renamed to .wgz . You could verify this by taking any widget file in .wgz , renaming its extension to .zip and unzipping it: the contents are very similar to a webpage.
Compatibility with WRT, on a Symbian device, means that the said device is capable of recognizing the Widget as an installation file, installing it on the handset, and giving it a dedicated icon in the menu structure, unlike webpages that can only be launched from the web browser and don’t have a dedicated icon.
Widgets and Symbian, the history
The first WRT compatible device in Nokia’s Symbian arsenal was the N95. At the time, widgets were sparse and useless: we all know the Facebook widget that served nothing but to launch the mobile version of the Facebook page. As we advanced through time, all Symbian devices brought this WRT compatibility and we started seeing some real widgets making their way through, like the BBC iPlayer, Google Translator,…
Widgets aren’t an N97 exclusive
One point of confusion I’ve seen around is that some people think that Widgets are exclusive to the N97. They are not. Widgets can be run on practically all Symbian devices since the N95, and the touchscreen widgets that are designed for the N97 run perfectly well on the Nokia 5800 XM, I testify. The difference that the N97 brings is the widget implementation on the homescreen, which is a small view of the widget, always running, on the standby screen. Click it, and you access the full version, like on the 5800XM.
The question of whether or not we will see this homescreen implementation on the 5800XM remains unanswered. I tend to believe that they’re coming in a future firmware upgrade, just 2 or 3 months after the launch of the N97.
Widgets vs Mobile webpages
Since Widgets are nothing but a webpage, what gives them the advantage over these pages, and why will they always be ahead of them?
- Beautifully designed: so far, all the widgets I’ve been able to test on the 5800XM and N97 are beautifully designed. Unlike a mobile webpage that concentrates on the information without really worrying about aesthetics, Widgets are graphically pleasing.
- UI differences: widgets usually launch in fullscreen and have much more freedom to display buttons as well as access gestures compared to mobile webpages.
- Access to a device’s core functions: unlike a webpage, a widget can access a device’s Camera, Calendar, send an SMS, an email…
- Dedicated Icon: another plus on the Widget’s side is the fact that they install as a separate application with a dedicated icon, which makes accessing them easier, and running them in the background a nice option.
Widgets vs Native applications
One major drawback of Widgets over native applications that I have noticed so far is that almost all of them ask about connecting to the network each time they are launched, some of them also require you to choose your access point without an option to set a predefined one. Native apps have the ability to set an autoconnect and default access point, and even Java apps have the option to choose a default access point in the Applications Manager. Widgets don’t, but on the other hand of this usability glitch, Widgets offer 2 undeniable advantages especially when it comes to developers:
- Language coding: as stated above, Widgets are usually coded in HTML, CSS, Java which makes their development a much easier process for newbies and experts, unlike Symbian C++ which is a dedicated and new language that developers must learn in order to code for native apps.
- Signing: this reason is HUGE. Widgets don’t need to be signed so they don’t involve nor the costs nor the tedious process of Symbian Signing. For developers, this is a boon, especially for independent developers who want to access the Ovi Store and list their apps as freeware: Widgets are the way to go. They can easily develop them, and they are free to list on the Ovi Store, with one less step in the approval process.
Widgets, a few examples
AP News, Le Monde
Associated Press news is already available via the Ovi Store, and brings one of the best designs to date in my opinion. It’s a News widget, but it’s done beautifully with images, videos… Le Monde is a France-exclusive widget available on the N97 that brings the contents of the famous Le Monde magazine to the mobile. Simple layout and beautifully executed.
Bloomberg, Reuters
Bloomberg made their widget available a few days ago through their mobile site bringing us the best news in the financial world with stocks, currencies and other finance jargon I am very unfamiliar with. Reuters Slideshow, which is available through the Ovi Store, is an image-based news widget.
FoneFood, AlloCine
FoneFood is available via the Ovi Store, and allows you to check nearby restaurants according to the cuisine they offer as well as make reservations. AlloCine is a France-exclusive widget coming preinstalled on the N97 that brings the latest movies and series news. The best part about it is that it integrates with Twitter as well as allows you to send movie and news links to your friends.
Facebook
Probably the most anticipated Widget of all time, the Facebook widget was made available to the Ovi Store last week, and brings access to the camera, the calendar, the calling functions and the gallery. It is still a bit sluggish and stops responding sometimes, but it’s here and it can only get better.
AccuWeather and WeatherBug
Both of these widgets are available through the Download! folder and bring a nice graphical representation of the weather state.
Of course, there are a lot more widgets available be it through the Ovi Store, including social networks like Friendster, Hi5, as well as others like the new official Symbian.org widget.
Widgets, which seemed to me like a gimmick when Nokia first started pushing them, are now more wildly available. The potential is there, especially when it comes to developing them and to bringing them to the Ovi Store. There is no doubt in my mind that the future wil be totally full of Widgets. Do you agree?
