Apple to push iOS widgets, App Clips, iPad app ports at virtual developer sessions

Apple on Tuesday invited select developers to take part in a series of informational sessions covering widgets, App Clips and other new iOS 14 features, suggesting the company is looking to boost integration of the capabilities.

The first virtual event, "Building Great Widget Experiences," takes place on Feb. 1 and focuses on creating useful widgets out of pertinent app data. Apple touts the feature in an email shared by developer Simon StÃ¸vring on Twitter.

"Useful and delightful, widgets let you elevate key content from your app and display it where users can see it at a glance on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. They can also help users personalize their Home screens in unique ways. Join us for an in-depth look at building great widget experiences."

A second session on Feb. 15 urges app makers to "Bring Your iPad App to Mac," an apparent call to port iPad titles to Mac using Catalyst technology in Xcode.

App Clips are the topic of a third virtual event titled "Building Great App Clip Experiences." The feature allows users to access critical functionality, like payments tools, quickly and without downloading a full-sized app.

Developers are invited to participate and ask questions about the topics at hand during the meetings.

Apple sometimes invites app makers to take part in special labs as the company promotes new technologies and services. Last October, for example, members of the Universal App Quick Start Program took part in a series centering on the optimization of iPhone, iPad and Mac apps for Apple Silicon. Prior to that, Apple promoted app accessibility in an online session in April.

3 Comments

ihatescreennames 1971 comments · 19 Years

About 3 years ago

I’ve only had one opportunity (well, two really, but different times at the same place) to try using an app clip and it didn’t work the way I expected. It was at the gas pump at a Mobil station. I held my phone up and the app clip slid up but all it did was prompt me to install the Mobil app. What I remember from the WWDC keynote was that app clips would work without having the corresponding app installed. Perhaps I’m not remembering correctly. So, I stopped trying and just continue to use Apple Pay at the pump, which works great.

williamlondon 1426 comments · 14 Years

About 3 years ago

ihatescreennames said:

I’ve only had one opportunity (well, two really, but different times at the same place) to try using an app clip and it didn’t work the way I expected. It was at the gas pump at a Mobil station. I held my phone up and the app clip slid up but all it did was prompt me to install the Mobil app. What I remember from the WWDC keynote was that app clips would work without having the corresponding app installed. Perhaps I’m not remembering correctly. So, I stopped trying and just continue to use Apple Pay at the pump, which works great.

Yeah, my impression wasn't that App Clips were promotional tools to entice you to install their app, though unscrupulous actors I'm sure will use it for exactly that purpose in order to gather personal information about you, right?

loopless 343 comments · 16 Years

About 3 years ago

ihatescreennames said:

I’ve only had one opportunity (well, two really, but different times at the same place) to try using an app clip and it didn’t work the way I expected. It was at the gas pump at a Mobil station. I held my phone up and the app clip slid up but all it did was prompt me to install the Mobil app. What I remember from the WWDC keynote was that app clips would work without having the corresponding app installed. Perhaps I’m not remembering correctly. So, I stopped trying and just continue to use Apple Pay at the pump, which works great.

I had the same issue at Mobil. What a disaster. The app clip process was messy , it downloaded the full app, then app itself then crashed so I just gave up.