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A feature roundup details 10 iPad widgets that many users overlook, spanning both Apple's built-in options and third-party apps. It also notes that iPadOS 27 introduced extra-large widgets for Today View, and explains how to add widgets via the Home Screen edit menu or by converting an app icon directly into a widget.
Microsoft says a new Windows 11 update improves responsiveness in Search, Start, Settings, File Explorer and other tools by up to 20%, based on internal comparisons between build 26300.9550 and build 26200.7628. On systems with 8GB of RAM or less, Windows now delays loading Widgets until opened, freeing over 200MB of memory, and the OS can hold up to 2GB more active data in RAM before offloading it to storage. The update also speeds up Windows Hello sign-in and Bluetooth pairing, including faster AirPods connections, while a redesigned Search experience is being tested with Windows Insiders.
Apple's updated developer agreement confirms that third-party iOS widgets already built for CarPlay will also appear on HomeView, its newly unveiled smart display device. Developers must ensure widgets are safe for hands-free use and can exclude them via the disfavoredLocations function if unsuitable. Unlike CarPlay's audio/video app categories, widget support spans any iOS app category by default.
OpenAI has introduced new GPT-6 models, GPT-6 Sol for paid subscribers and GPT-6 Luna for free users, enhancing ChatGPT's capabilities. The update features an Intelligent UI that allows responses to include visuals, interactive elements, and dynamic tools tailored to the user's prompts. These improvements aim to make conversations more engaging and versatile, with ChatGPT able to generate interactive widgets and answer progressively as it processes information.
Users can now add, remove, and organize widgets for CarPlay through the Settings app on their iPhone. The process involves selecting options under General > CarPlay, enabling widget display, and choosing preferred widgets from compatible apps. Additional automation features like Smart Rotate and Widget Suggestions enhance the widget experience while driving.
ATV Launcher's version 0.1.41 update introduces "Arrangements," ten preset home-screen row layouts including Spotlight, Bookends, Centre Stage, Marquee, and Hero Trio, some featuring double-sized highlight tiles. It also lets users embed widgets like Weather, Digital Clock, System Info, and Watch Next directly into app rows, alongside a refreshed Configure Tile dialog, new folder preview styles, edge-to-edge Watch Next cards, and a customizable status bar with pill styles and TV input switching. The developer also released a separate free companion app offering 15 digital clock widget styles.
Google has published a Play Store listing for its Create My Widget app, first teased at I/O 2026, showing how it will work on Android phones and Googlebook laptops. The app lets users generate custom widgets using natural-language prompts processed by Gemini, with preset categories like combo widgets, weather alerts and daily briefs as starting points.
Apple CarPlay users can rearrange app icons via their iPhone's Settings > General > CarPlay menu rather than the car display itself, and iOS 26 adds widgets for weather, calendar and clock with a Smart Rotate feature that swaps them automatically. Users can also adjust brightness with Automatic light/dark mode and customize wallpaper and icon colors through CarPlay's own Settings menu.
Android Authority found new code strings in Android Canary 2609 revealing that Google's in-development AI clock feature will let users edit, delete, rate, and generate multiple custom lock screen clock styles. The strings also point to cloud backup and device-to-device transfer support, meaning custom clocks could carry over when someone switches to a new Pixel phone. The feature remains non-functional in current Canary builds, so it's still under active development.
Google confirmed updates to its Pixel VIP widget but did not release official screenshots. Reporters manually activated the feature to capture and share the first images of the redesigned widget ahead of its broader rollout.
Apple's CarPlay setup works well by default, but users can adjust several settings afterward to personalize the experience. These include changing the wallpaper, switching between dark and automatic themes, adjusting text size and boldness, and rearranging or adding apps and widgets to the home screen.