Widgets Arrive for the iPod
The iPod is still largely a closed development platform, but that's not stopping some folks from creating widgets that run on it. Kooloroo has two products that bring handy information to the iPod. One is a tip calculator. The other is a color wheel. More here.
Over time, all handheld devices will get widget capabilities. It's the perfect venue for them. The challenge will be that many these devices today are not yet Internet-enabled.
When you think about it, Java apps that run on phones are basically widgets. One of the key trends to watch for is synchronization - users will want to run the same widgets on their mobile devices as they do on the desktop or web-top. We'll also see even more innovation once marketers get wind that widgets are a ticket to getting on mobile phones.
This is a super creative way to hack the iPod. Basically, the tip calculator is a set of 151 photos you sync to your iPod and display in slideshow mode. You then move the wheel to the correct bill amount and the tip and split amounts are shown. The only thing is these are just pictures, not an app running on the iPod.
I'll give these guys points for ingenuity, that's for sure. Gives me an idea or two of my own...
Posted by: Tim Elliott | Monday, April 02, 2007 at 06:21 PM
"users will want to run the same widgets on their mobile devices as they do on the desktop or web-top"
That's questionable. Many apps are specific to a task or setting - consider the tip calculator. Handy on your phone or iPod; on the PC, not so useful.
Posted by: John Whiteside | Monday, April 02, 2007 at 06:32 PM
I echo what John said. I'm assuming you are referring to widgets like the dozens of sports ones you feature on the site, but the issue is the availability of the Internet to enable them once we clear the closed/open system hurdle.
In Re that hurdle: Apple is cautious to open up the iPod as an open development platform. I'm guessing we'll have to see more DRM-free catalogs available before the iPod will unbutton. Same issue in fact that the iPhone will face. You're going to have people hacking that thing apart (esp. because it's built on OS X vs. custom code like the iPod) in order to get their widgets and heterogeneous apps installed. Check the availability for iPhonehacks.com.
Posted by: Eric Hansen | Tuesday, April 03, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Well, they still have time to redesign it with a bigger screen. If there's enough bad press about the screen size, maybe it will grow a little.
Wishful thinking though.
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Posted by: PaperMario | Wednesday, April 04, 2007 at 03:22 AM
Steve, any word on when/how Apple intends to open up development access to widget developers on Ipod/IPhone products?
Posted by: Hooman Radfar | Sunday, April 08, 2007 at 02:46 PM