Alright, so here’s the thing. Apple’s at it again, throwing some tech magic our way at WWDC this week—honestly, they never really stop, do they? Anyway, they’ve cooked up this funky persistent widget system for Vision Pro, which they’re calling visionOS 26. Sounds fancy, right? So, picture this: you can stick widgets on your wall or like… right on your desk? And they just kinda hang there, looking all present and informative, no matter where you plop them or even if you reboot the dang thing. Like, seriously, it’s glued there until the end of time. Or until you move it. Whichever comes first.
So yeah, during this developer session at WWDC, Apple dives deep—like really deep—into these widgets. They’re not like the usual floaty windows that just drift around in your peripheral vision. Nah, these widgets are stubborn little things. They stay put on whatever flat surface you tell them to. Maybe it’s kinda like those sticky notes you hoard but digital and, you know, cooler?
Oh, and guess what? They’ve made sure these widgets work with the old ones from iOS and iPadOS. Because, why invent the wheel when you can just make it cooler, right? They’re even letting you fiddle with sizes and shapes. Think of it like digital Tetris, but for adulting.
Then there’s this wild ‘paper’ or ‘glass’ overlay choice for developers. It dictates how the widget plays with light in your space. Apple says for static stuff like photos, you should go with paper—they’ll sort of dim with the room. Real zen vibes. But for stuff with dynamic info, like your never-ending to-do list, the glass style stays bright and shiny so you can’t ignore it. Great for those of us who have selective vision—or is that just me?
Now get this: these widgets can sense how close you are. They’ll switch up what they show depending on whether you’re squinting at them from across the room or right up in their business. Sort of like a… mood ring? But for digital widgets. Yeah, that’s a stretch, but hey, it sounded right in my head.
Apple’s also stoked about their own lineup of widgets. There’s an album poster one that hangs on your wall; you click it, and boom, tunes. Also, this photo window thing that’s supposed to make you feel like you’ve got a scenic view. The snapshots aren’t all 3D yet, but you can almost smell the potential. Almost.
Okay, here comes my favorite part: the Clock widget. It’s all revamped, looking sharp—way better than my usual frantic phone-checking to figure out if I missed lunch again. Yeah, Apple’s serious about making these widgets feel like they belong. They tuck them into frames, even make them cast shadows. Real-life mimicking in digital forms or something like that.
Now, if you’re into customizing stuff (aren’t we all?), the options are endless. Adjust sizes, elevate them like artwork, pick some snazzy colors—really go nuts. Oh, and they’ve got this grid system for those of you who like a little order in your life. So satisfying.
And imagine this: you can actually interact with them—pinch to check off a to-do or just poke it to open stuff up. Widgets are live in the developer beta now, and rumor has it they’re hitting the world come fall. So buckle up, it’s gonna be a widget-filled ride. Fun times!
