Parker Ortolani, a marketing lead at Buzzfeed, has conceptualized and designed a new layout and functionality of icons and widgets for iPhone and iPad home screens based on the upcoming iOS 14. Calling it ‘SpringKit’, he details that developers might be given three types of icons to build app’s views on the home screen: classic still icons, live icons and full size widgets which displays buttons or data.
As shown in the demo of the concept, users will be able to switch between still or live icon view styles for their apps and the widgets could be placed any where on the screen among the icons. The live icons of the apps and the widgets, appear bigger than the classic versions, and would display information depending on the nature of the app. For example, in the demo, the weather app’s live icon displays a weather symbol of the condition and temperature on top of the city’s name. The imagined single icon for photos and cameras apps, seems most practical, and got me excited by thinking how convenient it would be to to access both with such functionality.
Furthermore, as per SpringKit, developers would be able to give customized options in long press menus to access more features right from the home screen without opening the app. In the new concept, additional features vary from app to app on long press, for example, search Book Store for the Books app, Send My Activity Rings for the Activity app.
The imagined design and functionality do look impressive, like a much needed home screen change that iOS users have been waiting for.
Before Ortolani’s SpringKit, 9to5Mac reported on new widgets for home screen for iOS devices in iOS14. They reported that Apple might roll out a Springboard app to control home screen and for the very first time, real widgets for iOS devices could be moved easily like app icons on home screen.
Alright, here's my concept for adding widgets to the iOS home screen. I call it SpringKit. Three icon classes for developers to pick from that users can also switch between. All of them fall into the existing grid and customization features. https://t.co/JYDmUZrAFp pic.twitter.com/Vj60AXbTjm
— Parker Ortolani (@ParkerOrtolani) April 6, 2020
We always take rumors or alleged features and functionality with a grain of salt, but they all have us buzzing with excitement and waiting in anticipation for Apple’s online event in June to know for sure which new features the company is upgrading in its devices and new operating system update.
Check out a demo of how my widget concept works on iPhone… pic.twitter.com/TxNOjhbPTX
— Parker Ortolani (@ParkerOrtolani) April 6, 2020
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