The Best Free Android Desktop Widgets
Since my post about the Best Free Android Apps was such a hit, I’m going to try and keep track of what I think are the Best Free Android Widgets too! Just like the other post, I’m not going to write about all the widgets out there, just the ones that are most practical that I find useful and actually use on my G1 and Moto Droid. Let me know in the comments if you want to suggest any apps or widgets that I should try out.
I think desktop widgets are one of the biggest advantages for the Android platform over other smartphones like the iPhone, as it makes everything so much easier and faster. A lot of information can be accessed from the home screen, and you can complete actions quickly without changing screens or opening different applications. It’s definitely exciting to think about what the possibilities are for future widgets.
1. Launcher Dock
The Launcher Dock widget condenses 8 application icons into one single icon on your desktop. For example, I have one Launcher Dock widget icon added to my desktop called “Msgs” and when I click on it, it opens up an overlay with my gmail, email, sms, gtalk, twitter, and facebook icons. You can even add multiple Launcher Dock widgets to your desktop, so potentially instead of 16 icons per page, you can have 128! (that might slow your phone down, though)
2. AudioManager
The AudioManager widget lets you quickly visually see all the audio volume settings for your phone on the desktop. It shows the volume level of the Alarm, Music, Alerts, Ringer, System, and Voice. Clicking on the widget pulls up a menu of sliders that let you change the volume for each. Another plus is that the widget comes in different sizes, so you can add a small widget that is 2×1, or a large widget that’s 4×1.
3. Twidget
Twidget is a Twitter widget. You can customize some settings like how often it checks for tweets, and which tweets to display. When you click on the widget, it pops up a window that lets you quick reply to a tweet or post your own tweet. I like how the widget and pop-up window look, it’s just very clean.
Update: The official Twitter app now includes a desktop widget. It works well, but takes up 4×2 spaces on the home screen.
4. Sticky Note
There’s a couple of Post-It type widgets on the Market, but I use the widget called “Sticky Note” by Bratag. You can give your sticky note a title and a calendar entry, and also choose from a few colors. A simple app but it comes in handy for quick reminders.
5. LiveBookmarks
LiveBookmarks is actually a “Live Folder” and not a widget. When you add it to the desktop, be sure to look for it under “Folders” and not “Widgets.” LiveBookmarks creates a folder on the desktop that contains all your bookmarks that you’ve added in the Browser. I find it useful as a quick way to access my bookmarks from the desktop.
6. Weather Widget
Lots of weather widgets on the market, but I like “Weather Widget” by Android Apps. It looks nice, has 3 different sizes to chose from, and you can select the frequency in which it updates the forecast.
7. BatteryLife
I’m not a huge fan of the battery widgets on the market. I have a feeling that they drain the battery of the phone (the irony). If you need one though, the BatteryLife widget looks nice and you can also customize the colors of the battery widget
8. Scoreboard
I think the Scoreboard app automatically installs a Scoreboard widget. I added it to my desktop, and it actually works pretty well. Shows you the latest sport scores and upcoming games for your favorite teams across almost all sports.
Update: There’s also the SportsTap app, which includes a desktop widget. For some reason the widget always force closes on me, so I prefer the Google Scoreboard app instead.
9. Quick Calendar
The one thing I’ve missed on the G1 is a “Today” type of display on the desktop like the BlackBerry or Windows Mobile has. The 1.5 update finally added a Calendar widget, but it’s still not as good as the BlackBerry or Windows Mobile ones. The Quick Calendar widget is close, and it improves upon the default Calendar widget, but the design of it is still pretty ugly and I’m hesitant to include this widget on this list until they clean up the look and feel of it.
Update: 9/2009: Finally the perfect calendar desktop widget has been created! It’s called CalWidget…
9. CalWidget
I’ve wanted this type of simple calendar desktop widget since I first got the G1. CalWidget let’s you customize some of the events that you see and how they appear, but the best feature is the many different types of sizes you can choose: 2×2, 4×1, 4×2, 4×3, 4×4 layouts are available so you can choose the calendar type that matches your desktop layout the best. In the screenshot, you’ll also notice it applies the appropriate calendar if you have multiple calendars syncing to your phone. If you like the “Today” style of calendars from Blackberry and Windows Mobile, you’ll love this widget.
Update: I’ve since switched over to Pure Calendar. It allows for more customization than CalWidget, and seems to run a little bit more stable. It’s definitely worth purchasing if you need a more robust calendar widget.
10. Pandora
Android recently got the Pandora internet radio application, and it comes packaged with a very handy Android desktop widget for playing music. The compact widget (4×1) displays the song title, artist, and album name, and also lets you vote thumbs up / down, play / pause, and skip to the next song.
11. Facebook for Android
I’m liking this trend of applications coming packaged with desktop widgets. The Facebook desktop widget comes packaged when you download the official Facebook for Android application. It allows you to scroll through recent status updates from your friends and update your own status all from your Android desktop.
12. Facebook for Android
If you’re looking for a simple clock widget, try the Digital Clock Widget by Maize. You get to chose a semi-transparent black background, or no background.
Update: If you could only buy one widget, buy Beautiful Widgets. It’s a clock + weather widget that looks similar to the HTC Sense UI clock. What’s great is that you can choose from a bunch of different skins that users have created, so the clock widget can match any theme / background image you have.
Related posts:
- A List of the Best Free Android Apps
- Android App Review: Kindle for Android
- Android Game Review: Jewellust by Smartpix Games
- Android Game Review: Homerun Battle 3D by COM2US
- Best Paid T-Mobile G1 and MyTouch Android Games
June 16, 2009 at 8:21 pm | Android | 19 comments
You should try Android Agenda Widget, it’s free and much better than CalWidget.
Does anyone know which type of video information are supported? I keep in mind the Instinct only might dl 3gp using opera mini. I downloaded the twist ap, maybe that’s the problem? How can I watch videos from websites other than youtube? Which file varieties? Usually I am given the option of 3gp or mpeg4. Cannot get both to work. Thanks in your time! Rattling I want I was eligible for the improve to EVO!
SicKid – there is a paid version and free version. make sure you’re looking for weather widget – free, and the developer name “android apps.” hope that helps.
the “weather widget” you have shown is not free
Dee – There are a bunch of different widgets that display the date. Try What’s Today Calendar Widget, DateWidget, or Date Widget Free. If you’re looking for something a with a little more customization and features, I really like the Pure Grid calendar widget, which costs about $1.50 USD on the Android Market.
I am interested in just having a desktop widget that displays the current date, not for scheduling events.
Almost forgot, my daughter has a app on Her G3 called gallery, which recognizes the media card videos I have access to them on Samsumg phone, but this dang G1 is wierd!
Hi;
I have an G1 which I did do one upgrade, lost passcode or something let it sit a long time, now however after reading of all I can do with the unit since I have found a little time to do so, my question is can I find the free apps you show on my google browser and if so where? also do they just download and open automatically, or do i have to copy to my media card, rename and all that just to get phone to recognize? anyway pls email me could use all the help I can get just hopeing that the doubletwist sync program i have will also be of help tried a video but not has easy to use has the Ultra mobile 3GP Vid Converter.
I think that they need to make a message widget, like the one on the cliq….If I had the money I would just go buy a Cliq….GER!!! I think that the cliq probably has the BEST widgets….like..ever. period
I have CalWidget and the newest upgrade seems to drain the life out of my phone. Checking the battery use, CalWidget takes up 90% of the battery. That seems a little excessive for a calendar app.
@Jackie, I think “Twitterride” is a Android Twitter App that will let you update your Twitter profile picture.
Is there any apps to update my main twitter pic direct from my g1 ???
Thank you so much for showing me calWidget! Recently switched from HTC Touch (Windows Mobile) to HTC Hero and sorely missed the calendar today screen. This filled my void. Thanks again!
Great list of the best Android widgets. Thanks!
James – Try clicking on this link using your Android browser to get CalWidget. This should open up Android Market on your phone and you should be able to download the widget from there.
Where can I download CalWidget? I don’t see it in the market, and I haven’t found a link elsewhere…
Using Launcher Dock I was able to put 5 different dials that each had up to 8 different apps on each dial.
David, the Launcher Dock widget icon only takes up 1 icon space on my android desktop. Perhaps you used a different app that is similar to LD?
one note about launcherdock: unless I’m mistaken, a single LD icon takes up the same space as 4 normal icons on your android desktop. so, it’s giving you twice the apps per page, not 8x. Would be great if the widget only took 1 icon space though.