HTC: Widgets not important to most Android users

posted by Alan F. / Mar 01, 2013, 1:34 PM

HTC: Widgets not important to most Android users

The new BlinkFeed screen brings you your social networks and news feeds

HTC has really changed the Android homescreen experience with Sense 5. With the BlinkFeed providing social network updates along with news, you are seeing real time information that is not only important to you, but also is fresh. You might have a weather widget on your home screen that gives you the current temperature, but how many times a day is that information actually useful to you? BlinkFeed is designed to present you with information that is important to you at all times.

The Taiwan based manufacturer really listened intently to what it's customers had to say. HTC learned that 90% of its customers don't care about widgets. HTC also found out that most people don't differentiate between apps and widgets. Outside of weather, clock and music widgets, only 10% of HTC's customers used any widgets at all. And while some Android users do customize their home screen when they first take possession of their smartphone, once the first month of ownership passes, 80% do not change their home screen at all.

While previous versions of Sense leaned heavily on widgets, this research conducted by HTC led to the BlinkFeed screen and this huge change. And considering that only 10% of Android users care about widgets based on the Taiwan based manufacturer's research, it wouldn't seem that HTC is taking a risk at all.

source: HTC via MobileBurn

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112 Comments

1. Ninetysix

Posts: 2964; Member since: Oct 08, 2012

No. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7huae767Rxg "I'm telling you..it's all about the widgets."

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 1:34 PM 13

10. danny_a2005

Posts: 362; Member since: Oct 06, 2011

"sh*t android users say" thats the name of the video right?

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 1:48 PM 18

35. p5yb0rg unregistered

Widgets and customization are the main things that separate iOS/Windows OS from Android. Take that simple joy from me and I'm gone.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 2:49 PM 21

81. microsoftnokiawin

Posts: 1268; Member since: Mar 30, 2012

live tiles are somewhat similar to widgets

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 7:58 PM 4

102. Aeires unregistered

Except you can't get rid of the live tiles if you don't want them. Fundamentally what's keeping me from owning a Windows phone.

posted on Mar 02, 2013, 8:34 AM 0

103. rizevnarastek

Posts: 349; Member since: Sep 06, 2012

It's not gone. You still have widgets in Sense5. I, currentIy owning a Note 2 have an agenda widget/clock and a news/rss widget on my home screen, on the left and the right a note widget, for play and for work. I see A LOT of potential in BlinkFeed. Mixing my agenda/news clock widget in a good news/agenda/social agregator feed looks like a brilliant idea.

posted on Mar 02, 2013, 9:36 AM 2

107. ghmina

Posts: 2; Member since: Feb 20, 2013

they didn't take this from u you can make any screen your home screen check this video in the fourth minute twenty second (04:20) video name (Interview with Drew Bamford, HTC AVP of User Experience) in phonearena channel on youtube

posted on Mar 02, 2013, 1:26 PM 0

64. Dastrix unregistered

Customization is the name of the game for Android. I have mixed feelings about BlinkFeed, but I don't think it would detract too much from customization.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 5:44 PM 3

70. half_21

Posts: 44; Member since: Nov 16, 2012

i'll be dumping android off the trash if not only for the widgets and customization...i barely go to the app drawer to open apps..but instead almost all the apps that i open has widgets..so widgets really make it an easy access and at the same time gives your phone a good look, not just showing a bunch of icons...

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 6:23 PM 2

79. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

HTC also don think multitasking is important to.have sense force close all background tasks making some Android apps incompatible. HTC might as well come out their own mobile OS. If it is truly better than Android I will buy them.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 7:53 PM 6

100. cloud_atlas1991

Posts: 62; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

This is not even a pressing matter. If you don't like widgets THEN DON'T USE THEM. What's wrong, HTC?! Can't find anything worth anyone's attention?

posted on Mar 02, 2013, 6:48 AM 0

2. RiseAgainst94

Posts: 281; Member since: Mar 03, 2012

Sigh, catering to those who are uninformed. Hard to blame them, but it's a shame for us here at PA who love to mess around and customize our phones. I think blinkfeed has potential, as long as it does not become burdensome for those who do not use it.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 1:37 PM 12

53. MichaelHeller

Posts: 2734; Member since: May 26, 2011

"Uninformed" is very different from "uninterested". I love messing around and customizing, but I really only use about 2 widgets: weather and screen filter (best app if you use your device in the dark). I've got other widgets on my homescreens, but I don't know that I've ever touched any of them.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 4:47 PM 4

94. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

But you use those 2 widgets every day, right? How would your opinion change if you could no longer use those two widgets?

posted on Mar 02, 2013, 12:33 AM 2

110. rizevnarastek

Posts: 349; Member since: Sep 06, 2012

You can still use widgets!!!!!!!!!!!! It's still Android! Only the default screen is set to BlinkFeed which you can change or disable. (god why don't you people read before you start ranting, I'm so sick of you dimwitts)

posted on Mar 04, 2013, 1:18 AM 0

86. RaKithAPeiRiZ

Posts: 1488; Member since: Dec 29, 2011

people used to buy htc because of the rich collection of widgets , wonder if everyone at htc is possessed by Apple or something

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 9:07 PM 0

3. Muayyad

Posts: 240; Member since: Oct 05, 2012

They don't matter to me

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 1:40 PM 19

5. danny_a2005

Posts: 362; Member since: Oct 06, 2011

me either, never use them

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 1:44 PM 14

21. taz89

Posts: 2014; Member since: May 03, 2011

I use 2 widgets the weather and a twitter widget and I also have power widget in the notification...

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 2:13 PM 1

62. blingblingthing

Posts: 969; Member since: Oct 23, 2012

Weather, toggles , Google now , YouTube and Apollo.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 5:25 PM 3

90. BattleBrat

Posts: 1476; Member since: Oct 26, 2011

There is an app called Floating widget, try that out ;)

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 9:54 PM 0

4. drnggaj33

Posts: 127; Member since: Feb 29, 2012

its an option thats all like have my twitter right on my screen without going into the app i like sometimes

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 1:43 PM 1

6. housry23

Posts: 136; Member since: Jun 03, 2012

Honestly, widgets are a huge part of Android. The problem is, the average user doesn't know about them and how useful they can be. There are some AMAZING widgets in the Play Store. UCCW is so cool. It does have a learning curve, but if people would actually take the time to learn their phone, get know the OS and use it to its full potential, Android would really take off. It is so much more powerful than iOS. Here are a couple reads from former iOS lovers that took the time to get to know Android and have completely switched over. http://thetechblock.com/from-ios-to-android/http://gizmodo.com/5973073/an-iphone-lovers-confession-i-switched-to-the-nexus-4-completely

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 1:45 PM 8

67. Hemlocke unregistered

Now, now, Dexter, let's not get TOO carried away. Honestly, I like a bunch of widgets, but unless you have the hands of a basketball player to use the Note 2, or you like Motorola's locked down MAXX, the trade off between widgets and battery life is not worth it. I guess if you are close to an outlet all the time it might be, but barring that, I usually ditch the widgets to save my juice.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 6:20 PM 0

105. housry23

Posts: 136; Member since: Jun 03, 2012

Haha! I wondered if you were the same Hemlocke as XDA. How have you been? Honestly, I get at least a full day with anywhere between 2 and 5 hours screen on time. Widgets don't cause a major battery drain for me. I don't have a bunch of widgets. I have the sharp and clean Google Now widgets and it gives me all the information I need. I also have the circle battery widget. Someone else on here says they like a nice clean look. I think my setup is very clean looking. The UCCW widget can have hotspots to launch applications. It is by far the most intuitive widget out there. Don't take my word for it. Look at what people have done with widgets to make their homescreens as minimal, clean or as complicated as you want.http://mycolorscreen.com/

posted on Mar 02, 2013, 11:22 AM 0

7. torr310

Posts: 1661; Member since: Oct 27, 2011

I don't like widgets because I like the simplicity and cleanness of the home screen. I replaced widgets with shortcuts. For instance, I just click the weather shortcut if I need to check the weather instead of keeping the weather widget running/occupying all the time on my home screen. Also, I only have two pages of home screens and it's very easy to find everything I want just in one flip.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 1:46 PM 6

20. menny07

Posts: 89; Member since: Dec 13, 2012

^Basically this. Widgets ruin the wallpapers that I painstakingly find on the Play Store lol.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 2:11 PM 6

8. Muhannad

Posts: 455; Member since: Sep 20, 2011

Only a few are actually important, in my case I like to use the power control, clock/weather and the news widgets on my homescreen. Because in reality a bunch of icons isn't too appealing *cough iOS cough*.

posted on Mar 01, 2013, 1:46 PM 13

50. downphoenix

Posts: 3165; Member since: Jun 19, 2010

Power Control is a must. I no longer use it though since my GS3 gives all of that functionality in the notification bar though, but it was a must on my previous Android phones.