Man, so Apple just dropped some wild new stuff at WWDC. I mean, widgets that stick to your walls like those clings we had as kids, remember? You slap ’em on the wall, and bam — there they stick. Anyway, Apple’s Vision Pro is getting this persistent widget thing in visionOS 26. It’s like pinning sticky notes in your room, but cooler and less, I dunno, papery.
Picture this: You’re watching Apple’s dev session — yeah, the one they released at WWDC (no clue how I always end up watching these) — and they start going off about this new widget system. Widgets, unlike the typical floaty Vision Pro windows that kinda hover around, are now gonna stick to walls or tables, anchored like they’re part of the space. Apple claims they even stay put when you reboot. Imagine that!
And they’re making use of existing widgets from iOS and iPadOS, which is pretty neat if you ask me. Tons of options straight from the get-go. WidgetKit’s getting some upgrades too. New sizes, different aspect ratios, you name it.
Oh, and these widgets? They’ve got this ‘paper’ and ‘glass’ overlay thing going on. So, depending on the light, your widgets might dim or stay bright, which I guess is useful if you don’t want your room to look like Times Square at night. I gotta wonder, is dimming a widget an innovation, or am I just that easily impressed? Probably both.
Here’s a fun twist: The widgets are aware of where you are in the room. Like, “Hey, over here!” if you’re close, or more chill with less info if you’re far. How they do this? Magic, perhaps. Or science. (Note to self: Learn the difference.)
There’s this album art widget that acts as a poster. You tap on it, and bam, tunes start playing. Then there’s another thing – a ‘photo window’ that’s like a virtual peek outside. But it’s just flat pictures for now, so don’t get too excited about 3D nature scenes.
The Clock widget (yes, I’m still talking about widgets) got a makeover too. It’s all about details and new designs, presumably so we don’t get bored staring at the same clock every day. Yay, change!
Apple wants these widgets to feel like they’re real objects in your room. I mean, sure, they’re virtual shadows and all. But if you think about the kind of detail they’re putting into the frame shadows, it’s a bit wild. And the customization options? You can tweak these things from 75% to 125% their size, give them a thick frame, or even sink them into the wall, like a painting. Why? Why not, I guess.
Color options—of course—come in both light and dark, catering to everyone’s inner goth or minimalist. You can even arrange multiple widgets on the wall, and they’ll snap into a grid. It’s like organizing your apps, but on a wall. Handy, right?
Apparently, these things are interactive, too. You stare at them intensely—kidding, kinda—or pinch the air, and voila! You’ve ticked off your to-do list. No idea if that makes it any easier…
And so, they’re already out for developers. The beta dropped this week; they’re aiming for a public release come fall. Bet it’ll make everything feel, like, a tiny bit more futuristic around here. Whooshing into 2025 with widgets — just the new reality, I guess.
Anyway, those were my ramblings on Apple’s latest. Chaotic enough? Probably.
