What you need to know
- Spotify removed the widget from its Android app in August.
- Users revolted, calling for the widget to return and saying that notification controls aren't enough.
- Spotify now says the widget will be coming back in a upcoming release, with some new improvements.
There are few things that are constant on my home screen, but a music widget is one of them, and so I understand all too well the furor that arose when Spotify removed its music widget from the Android app last month. Spotify said that with notification controls and lock screen controls, the widget was redundant and no longer needed, something many users took issue with.
After speaking their minds in forum threads over the last three weeks, Spotify has now confirmed that not only is the widget coming back in an upcoming Android app update, it's coming back with some new improvements:
We value your input and ideas, and wanted to let you know that we have made some improvements to the performance and visuals of the Android Widget. We will be reinstating it in an upcoming release on Android.
If you can't wait for the widget to come back — or you just prefer music widgets that can change their look according to your theme — do what I do and go third-party! KWGT and KLWP have many an option out there for you to use, and my favorite pre-formed widget pack is Melodi for Kustom which contains many great widgets such as the darling bubble widget above. It's not quite as detailed as the Spotify widget, but it's also ten times prettier and works with any music app on your phone thanks to KWGT's notification interaction permission.
Spotify vs. Google Play Music: Which should you subscribe to?
OnePlus 8 launch event to go ahead as planned as camera details leak out
A new leak has shed light on the camera hardware of OnePlus' upcoming flagship phone. The OnePlus 8 Pro will have a 48MP primary sensor, 48MP ultra-wide-angle lens, an 8MP telephoto lens, and a 5MP "color filter."
Daily Coronavirus updates: US COVID-19 death toll could exceed 100,000
COVID-19 has already infected over 720,000 people globally and caused over 34,000 fatalities. It has also had a huge impact on the tech industry, affecting the global supply chain and causing interminable product delays. Here are all the ways the coronavirus is affecting the world.
Control's Foundation DLC shows Remedy's still in top form
Remedy takes us back to the Oldest House on another exciting mission to save the Federal Bureau of Control. If this expansion is any indication, the next one potentially involving Alan Wake should be incredible.
Spice up your smartphone or tablet with the best icon packs for Android
Being able to customize your device is fantastic as it helps to make your device even more of "your own". With the power of Android, you can use third-party launchers to add custom icon themes and these are just some of our favorites.
