How to configure a photo widget on Android. Case creating a widget

Widgets for Android. A rare feature that will have to be sorted out

Hello Habr! My name is Alexander Khakimov, I am an Android developer at FINCH.

You have happened that your design was under iOS, and you have to adapt it under Android? If so, if your designers often use widgets? Unfortunately, the widget is a rare case for many developers, because it rarely works with it,

In the article I will tell in detail how to create a widget, what is worth paying attention to and sharing my case.

Creating a widget

Features of the components of the widget

Any developer who has once worked with RemoteViews is familiar with this item. If you are from these, feel free to go to the next point.

RemoteViews is designed to describe and manage Views hierarchies, which belong to the process of another application. With the help of hierarchy management, you can change the properties or cause methods belonging to View, which acts as part of another application. RemoteViews includes a limited set of components of the standard library of Android components.Widget.

View inside the widgets operate in a separate process (as a rule, this is a home screen), therefore, to change UI widget, the expansion of Boadcastreceiver. Appwidgetprovider, which operates in our application.

Features of the display of the widget in the “grid” of the screen

Each Widget Define a Minwidth and Minheight, Indicating The Minimum Amount of Space Itsume by Default. When Users Add a Widget to Their Home Screen, It Willia Generally Ocupy than the Minimum Width and Height You Specific. Android Home Screens Offer Users a Grid of Available Spaces Into White Can Place Widgets and icons. This Grid Can Vary By a Device; For Example, Many Handsets Offer A 4×4 Grid, and Tablets Can Offer A Larger, 8×7 Grid.

Translating into Russian: each widget should set its minimum width and height to indicate the minimum space that will be occupied by the default.

Пример настроек виджета при создании в Android Studio

A widget that was added to Home Screen will usually take up more space than the minimum width and height of the screen that you set. Android Home Screens provides users with a net of affordable spaces in which widgets and icons can be located. This grid may vary depending on the device; For example, many phones offer a 4×4 grid, and tablets can offer large 8×7 nets.

From this it becomes clear that the device grid can be anything, and the size of the cells may vary, depending on the size of the grid. Accordingly, the content of the widget should be designed taking into account these features.

The minimum width and height of the widget for a given number of columns and lines can be calculated by the formula:

minsidesizedp = 70 × n. 30, where n is the leadership of lines or columns

Currently, the maximum minimum of the grid that you can set this 4×4. This guarantees that your widget will be displayed on all devices.

Features of updating the widget

Since AppwidgetProvider is inherently expanding BroadCastreceiver, with it you can do the same as with the usual Boadcastreceiver. AppwidgetProvider simply parses the appropriate fields from Intent obtained in Onreceive and causes interception methods with the obtained Extras.

The difficulty arose with the frequency of renewal of content. it is all about the difference in internal work of widgets on iOS and Android. The fact is that the data on iOS-video are updated when the widget becomes visible to the user. In Android, such an event does not exist. We cannot find out when the user sees the widget.

For Android widgets, the recommended update method is to update the timer. The timer settings are set by the Updataperiodmillis widget parameter. Unfortunately, this setting does not allow to update the widget more often than once every 30 minutes. Below I will tell you more about this.

Widgets for Android

Indeed, the integration of the modern smartphone is good and allows you to get quick access to the applications. However, sometimes access to them is not needed if they are launched initially. Many applications make it possible to take small dies to the desktop, often arbitrary size, which display the most important information from the application. For example, it makes no sense to open the weather application if information from it can be taken out on such a small rectangle and see it every time you turn on the smartphone.

Your smartphone already has widgets. In order to take them to the desktop, you just need to touch in the place where there are no labels of applications and hold a little finger. In the drop.down menu, select “Widgets”. Further it will be possible to familiarize yourself with the list of what is available, touch it for a while and take it to the desktop. Everything is simple.

KWGT KUSTOM Widget Maker. Universal Widget

If you consider yourself an experienced user of widgets, then kwgt is what you need. With it you can create your own personal widgets using a simple editor.

Some opportunities require paid access, but a lot of things will be free. As a result, you can collect a widget that will contain hours, cards, battery charge indicator, memory, musical player and much more. Here is such a widgeting combine.

Directly View

ContentobServer registers all changes in external memory. For example, when adding a photograph, the Onchange (Boolean Selfchange) method is called several times with an interval of a couple of milliseconds. Loadthumbnails method loads miniatures of all photos in a separate stream. Each time the Onchange Contentobserver method is triggered, a new stream is created to create miniatures. There is a situation when, when one photo is added, several flows are immediately created that make the same actions. In order to avoid this situation in the Loaderid variable, the ID of the last created stream is stored, and in all streams there is a comparison of the preserved ID and ID of this stream. If the numbers are not equal, the flow is destroyed.

Gestures of leafletting and throwing do not cause the movement of View canvas, as is customary. Instead, the Getscrolly variable is changed. Integer Getselded returns the current position in the Miniature array, Float GetSelectedPercent returns the angle of inclination of miniatures regarding the viewer. Value of 0.5 corresponds to 45 degrees. Perhaps the next picture will clarify the situation:

In the Ontouchevent (MotionEvent Me) method, it is important not to forget to call Getpart.Requestdisallowintercepttouchevent (True) so that during the leafing of miniatures in the widget there is no leaflet to tables in the launcher.

Well, at the end of a couple of words about the class Transformation. He returns the transformation matrix for miniatures, depending on what the GetSelded and GetSelectedPercent described above are returned.

It should also be noted that the miniatures of all images and videos are stored in the ITEM mass []. This is bad. The correct option would be miniature caching.

IOS 14 widgets on Android download

First you need to download the application and skins

In the end, it should turn out like this

When adding widgets to the desktop, it is very important to take into account the size of the skins that you download so that they do not take up more space than they need. As a rule, developers write sizes directly in the name of the skins. For example, 4 × 1 or 4 × 2. Therefore, it is very important to adjust the skin with a size of 4 × 2 for a 4 × 2 widget. If this is not done, the mismatch of the skin and widget on the desktop can lead to the fact that it will not be possible to place something next to him, and it will not be possible to scale it in this case. As a result, it will not turn out as cool as on iOS. But we only need this, is it not so?

Where to download widgets from iOS 14

Small clarification: in the Kwgt catalog there are many iOS 14 skins. Therefore, you can find them in the application itself. But, if you want to use the skins of third.party developers, downloading them on the side, you will need a paid version of Kwgt. It costs 200 and is bought at a time. Not so much as for me. When I wrote this article, I wanted to pay for access to the full version, but it turned out that it was already bought. Therefore, if you feel sorry for the money, check, perhaps you also once purchased it, and then forgot it.

I made a small selection of packages with widgets that I downloaded myself and checked for quality. They are painted very clearly and 100% repeat the execution of widgets that are available in iOS 14. They do not have their own names, so I give the names of the authors:

If you wish, you can find widgets that you like, yourself or, if you have appropriate skills, create them in the KWGT application. After all, it is intended not only for installing skins, but also has a built.in editor, which allows you to make cool widgets from scratch, which will then be pleased to use, realizing that it was done with your own hands.

How to install Google update photo

You could always install wallpaper from Google, but the memories. no

Important: Memories in “Google Photo” are called the same story that regularly appear over photos. Thus, Google reminds us of the past events in which we took part, or shows simply beautiful pictures from our past.

And sometimes, if you’re lucky, the Algorithms of Google Photo can form a real gif animation from several photographs if they were shot sequentially, and there is artistic value in their unification. I don’t know how you are, but I like gifs from Google the most, because I would not have been able to glue them on my own. this is certainly.

However, even if you have already been updated, it is possible that when trying to put a picture from the memories of the Google Photo as wallpaper on the screen of your smartphone, you can encounter certain difficulties. We analyze what these can be for difficulties and how to overcome them.

If you have not yet updated Google Photo to version 5.52, you will need to install an update in the form of an APK file. It can be downloaded from this link. If the update has already reached you, this action can be neglected. Now we move on to the main problem that I have encountered at the first stage.

Memories from Google Photos on Wallpaper

It turned out that only the update of “Google Photo” is not enough, because installing photos from the assortment of the catalog using the standard software is impossible. You still need to download the “Wallpaper” application from Google. only it contains a special section, which is a kind of gate from “Google photo”, which allows you to install pictures from the cloud.

You can put the story from Google a photo on the screensaver only through the “Wallpaper” application from Google

In addition to memories, “Google Photo” allows you to install any picture from the gallery on the screensaver. It is very simple to do this. just open the right photo, open the context menu (three vertical points), then choose “use it” and install as wallpaper. In general, nothing complicated.

In fact, the opportunity to establish memories from “Google Photo” as wallpapers is a really cool function. I really love these storis, which form Google algorithms, but. it turns out. they open the application infrequently. And the regular renewal of these pictures, reminding me of past events, solves this problem literally for one or two. Yes, you need to be prepared for the fact that some pictures from Storis are frankly non.artistic. Therefore, think 10 times if there is something in your gallery that you would like to hide from outsiders.

KWGT KUSTOM Widget Maker. this program has a huge number of opportunities for those users who want to experiment on their Android desktop and create their own widgets, as well as make it really unique. KWGT KUSTOM Widget Maker contains models and additional settings for such types of widgets as astronomical information, world time, battery, weather, text widgets, a state of memory, maps, analog hours and much, much more. All this can be configured: change fonts, add effects, sizes of all elements or even make widgets in 3D, add animations.

Good day. In this post we will consider several applications that can block access to

How to aesthetically decorate the smartphone screen with the Color Widgets application

After downloading and installing the application on a smartphone or tablet, you can start creating widgets. Create them in the Your Widgets section (“your widgets”) by clicking on a plusk, or select the available options under the inscription Discover.

Create a widget

The service will offer widgets with information about the weather, date and time and sports achievements. The section also has a window with reminders and a list of those planned for the day. Select the widget you need, depending on what information you want to place on the phone screen.

Widgets with information about the weather, steps and reminders

We proceed to the customization of the widget. Choose the background to the picture by clicking on one of the options in the Background section, and change the color and font of the inscriptions in Theme and Font. In the Change Widget section, you can choose the style of the picture and the location of the text.

Castamize the widget

If desired, add your image or photo to the widget. To do this, click on the Add Photo button and select the desired picture from the smartphone gallery.

Add the image to the widget

Save the widget by clicking on Set Widget, and then on SET as New Widget (“Install as a new widget”).

Save the widget

Now you need to connect a widget so that the finished image appears on the smartphone screen. Exit the application, tap the phone screen and hold. Click on a plus that appeared at the top.

In the search bar, pour the name of the program Color Widgets. Then select the required widget size and click “Add a widget”.

Add a widget

Touch and hold the widget, and then select “Change the Widget” to add your stylized picture.

Change the widget

Thus, you can install other widgets or just images that you like on the screen. To make the desktop look even more aesthetically aesthetic, put on the wallpaper a picture suitable for the style of widgets. Ready, now your screen looks like you want.

Screen with widgets

The Color Widgets application is suitable for those who are tired of boring wallpaper on a smartphone and want only the necessary information on the main screen.

Previously, Medialeaks talked about the service for the exchange of photos Locket. Messages from friends and partners suddenly appear on the phone screen, creating the effect of the presence of loved ones.

In another Medialeak material, you can find out how the Dream by Wombo application works. With the help of a neural network, the program turns photos into aesthetic paintings.

How Locket app is working

Locket social application became available in January 2022 and immediately captured the network users, getting into the top Store tops. With it, a couple and friends in real time exchange personal photos, which are immediately displayed on the main screen screen.

Locket application

How to use Locket?

After downloading, you need to go to the “Settings” to enter your phone number and go through verification. Then it is necessary to allow the application access to your contacts so that you can send friends to SMS invitations to friends. The maximum number of your “subscribers” is ten. Having finished with the settings, you need to turn on the widget.

How to set up the Locket application

Locket widget is on the main screen screen. To take a photo and send it to friends, you just need to press the widget icon. As soon as the picture is uploaded to the application, it will appear in your contacts on the screen.

If you want only one friend or several, then in the application you can choose recipients.

Who created Locket?

The programmer and former student of the University of California Matt Moss came up with an application-video for communicating with his girlfriend, who went to study in another city.

I did it for my girlfriend’s birthday last summer. She returned to study, and we had to maintain relations at a distance. The idea to send each other a photo immediately to the working screen seemed very attractive. This is a cute way to stay in touch, ”said the inventor in an interview with TechCrush.

For six months, the couple exchanged pictures until the application was noticed by Matt’s friends and offered to make it available for all network users.

The main types of widgets on Android

What is Android TV. detailed information about the device

Classifications of these microprograms many. Then only the main.

First of all, widgets are divided in appearance and location:

• Toppers. They are located at the top of the screen and usually look like a strip with a field for output of information and a button. Obviously, they are searching and displaying any information, whether it be a note, a course of shares, a notification about a letter, etc. D.;
• Flor. Can be similar to the toppers, but are located at the bottom of the display. This is their main difference. They do not differ anything else;
• popup windows. related to web video, but can be applied on Android when you need to remind a person of an important meeting or deeds.

The appearance of the widgets window in smartphones with the new operating system

Another well.known classification is the built.in place. The widget can be located on the site for convenient authorization through social networks. Such programs allow you to share the material you like, invite friends or referrals to the service, etc. D.

Widgets on Android devices are classified as desktop, that is, launched only on a specific operating system: mobile or computer. To create such a widget, you need a special program working as a engine. Typically, such micacts are sharpened to perform one function. For example, time control, starting a timer or stopwatch with notification, creation and consolidation of commemorative notes on the desktop, showing weather forecast or updating the dollar exchange rate.

note! The use of such small in the volume of the occupied place on the screen and in the memory of programs allows us to significantly make life easier and always remain in touch and in the course of all the latest events and forecasts.

The location of the section of the widgets on Android is not the newest version

What are android widgets

Widget (Widget) is a small program or a visual part located on the smartphone desktop and designed to display certain data, as well as for other purposes. It can manage the hardware or software equipment of the phone or to execute another user or pre.installed program.

As an example of a microprogram on the desktop, you can set a display of time and weather

For example, there are widgets that allow you to display the operation of some telephone sensors and show their measurements (processor workload, affordable and busy amount of RAM, battery charge and its condition, etc. D.). Such utilities can also work with one or another service to obtain any data: weather in the selected city, a course of certain currencies, news from the site for which RSS subscription is designed.

note! Widgets working with programs or online services that constantly update this or that information, take it from open online sources and simply display it on the desktop. Often they stop functioning if the user does not have access to the global network.

These applications can have different sizes. Minimum. the size of one standard label (1 × 1). The maximum is the full.screen mode, which obviously occupies the entire space of the free window window window.

Simply put, a widget is a regular program, the purpose of which is to display any data from online resources or phone sensors, as well as interaction with important hardware and software settings. The application “lives” on the desktop where there are no labels. Most often it is located on the initial window in the form of hours or on any free area of ​​the main menu with labels of all applications.

The most common widget is analog or digital clock on the first page of the main menu