Wearable Widgets For Multiple Platforms

[mountainbikermark]

Free on the Play Store, $1.99 to unlock multiple widget capability.
Let's say you've got that favorite widget on your Android phone that you'd like on your smartwatch. Here's your app. Just download its companion app from the appropriate app store, such as Tizen companion app from Gear Store, AW version from PS , etc.
Create the widget in the phone app and the companion app works the widget from the watch.
Here's an example of one where it is fine without even using the phone, though it isn't a standalone. Color Note Today widget from Color Note app

Here is one that opens the app on the phone from ICE Card.

.

You simply open the app on the phone and add your device if it didn't auto add.
Tap the plus sign at the bottom right

Your list of phone widgets pops up

Tap the one you want. Voila you've got that widget on your watch now that does the action on the phone (or simply shows the data if set that way) when you tap the widget in the watch app.
I haven't purchased the premium upgrade to test multiple widgets and cannot say how well it works on AW or Sony but it's snappy for what it is doing (reading a widget on the phone then sending data to the watch) taking under 2 seconds when opened on the watch. The description says there developer is working on independent from the app (true widgets on the watch itself) capability so this one should get even better. The only Tizen one listed as not working is the Gear Fit 2 and nothing listed as not working on Android Wear.
Active Applications is another I tried just for kicks. With the free version I had to delete the existing and create a new one but it only takes about 5 seconds to do so.
Hope y'all enjoy this no matter what platform you're using.

Support Our Troops!!!
Beast Mode 4

<><

 

[mountainbikermark]

I went ahead and paid the $1.99 for the ability to add widgets instead of just 1 at a time since all I tried worked fine. For ones like Power Amp and Pandora that interact with the phone a single tap causes the action such as skip track, etc but ones that open an app on the phone a double tap opens the app on the phone.
I'm now running Pandora

Target Cartwheel barcode

Power Amp, which as you can see allowed me to customize the widget even more.
The ICE Card and Color Note I wrote of earlier are also still a scroll away in the app.
The app is now added to my watch face as a shortcut. I had to use a different face, then go back to it for it to take to the shortcut area

Reorder of the widgets is just a tap of the arrows on the lower right of the phone app

Support Our Troops!!!
Beast Mode 4

<><

 

[mountainbikermark]

Just found this neat trick in Color Note Today widget when tapping each item in the screen shot.

Support Our Troops!!!
Beast Mode 4

<><

 

[mountainbikermark]

I hope someone with an Android Wear watch will try it out for more information on how that speak to your watch causes widget action to work.

Support Our Troops!!!
<≥≤
Notate

 

[mountainbikermark]

After using it for a bit I can honestly state it does cause about a 10% hit too the battery vs not using it. When not accessing any of the widgets on a couple of days I noticed no difference in battery life but on days I used Power Amp widget it did use more battery on the watch. This is about the same behavior as when I use the stock widget on the watch to control the music player, the difference being with the app I get all the info but on the stock widget it only shows "controlling music on the phone" with no other info.

Support Our Troops!!!
Beast Mode 4

<><

 

[PereDroid]

Tried it. Didn't like it.
I don't like how it replaces the watchface. I put a Sports app on there with some scores. And the watch face was gone with no way to see the time. I'd like to be able to launch the widget from the watch face I'm currently using, and then go back to the face. Unless I can and just don't know how.
Tried the Roku widget to control my Roku TV. Too small.
Tried the Google News app. Wouldn't scroll.
Removed.
Thanks for the review though. We need more of these.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[mountainbikermark]

Tried it. Didn't like it.
I don't like how it replaces the watchface. I put a Sports app on there with some scores. And the watch face was gone with no way to see the time. I'd like to be able to launch the widget from the watch face I'm currently using, and then go back to the face. Unless I can and just don't know how.
Tried the Roku widget to control my Roku TV. Too small.
Tried the Google News app. Wouldn't scroll.
Removed.
Thanks for the review though. We need more of these.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

I think AW 2.0 will solve the launch from current face problem. From what I understand it'll allow more ability for developers to add little icons to open things from the home screen (aka watch face).
Size is why I'm sticking with the watch I've got vs upgrading to anything newer, no matter the platform. I have a hard enough time seeing some things on my S1, can't imagine the frustrations if I lost half my screen real estate.
Thanks for reviewing your take on a different platform. Did you try any voice commands with it? The Tizen voice command capability is inept, at best, so I can't see it working for me well enough for me to not want to take off my watch and throw it against a wall. That's another reason I prefer the launcher style watch faces I use.
Here's what it looks like on my watch face, tap it like any icon on a phone/tablet to open it which AW 2.0 will bring similar capability to a greater degree.

Thanks again

Support Our Troops!!!
Beast Mode 4

<><

 

[mountainbikermark]

Something I noticed recently but never updated this post about is the Power Amp widget causes a slight vibration on the watch when tapping forward or back as a confirmation just before the track changes.

Support Our Troops!!!
Beast Mode 4

<><

 

[mountainbikermark]

This app got an update to make it AW2.0 compatible along with other features for AW watches

Support Our Troops!!!
Beast Mode 4

<><