Widgets for Maps and Search join ones for Chrome, Drive, Gmail, and News
Whereas Google ditched lock screen widgets not too long after supporting them with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean way back in 2012, Apple has suddenly decided to start embracing them. And that, of course, meant that Google had to start caring about them again. With iOS 16‘s release, Google came out with its widget plans for apps including Drive, Gmail, Maps, Search, News, and Chrome. We’re about a month into this brave new world and it seems that all of the widgets are finally finding their places on iPhones.
As iOS 16 became more widely available, users started seeing lock screen widgets for Chrome, Drive, Gmail, and News. Two more apps have now officially joined the list — Search and Maps — thus concluding the rollout of Google-based lock screen widgets for Apple’s latest software release.
Lock screen widgets support makes its way to Google Maps with version 6.40 of the app featured in the App Store, 9to5Google notes, while the Search widgets come via the standalone Google app for iOS.
With Maps, users get a 2×1 frequent trips widget that pulls up ETAs for their usual trips plus 1×1 pads with the ability to look for nearby gas stations, restaurants, etc.
The Google app gets five widgets though Search proper gets 2×1 and 1×1 variants. Then there are 1×1 widgets for Voice search, Lens, and Lens shortcuts. Users may need to update and launch the Maps and Google apps widgets to find them among the list of iOS 16 lock screen widgets.
Could Apple’s move lead to Google rethinking its strategy towards lock screen widgets for Android? Probably not on its own, but we reckon at least a few Android smartphone manufacturers are figuring out ways to bring it back to Android in some form.
Following the hype around the iPhone 14 Pro’s new Dynamic Island, one Android developer hitched onto the bandwagon with a third-party app attempting to replicate the experience. That app managed to rake in a million-plus downloads in the process.
