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Q&A: Telling Android Widgets from Apps

By J.D. BIERSDORFER



Q.

What is the difference between a widget and an app on my Android phone? Or are they the same thing?

A.

Widgets and apps are separate types of programs that run on an Android phone and they serve different purposes. Widgets are basically self-contained mini programs that live and run on the phone’s home screen. They tend to perform simple functions — like the Clock widget showing the time and temperature — but do so dynamically so you do not have to fiddle around to update them.

In addition to showing current information at a glance, widgets can work like control switches for other part of the system. For example, a widget can be used to turn the phone’s Bluetooth function on or off.

Apps, on the other hand, are typically programs you tap open and run. Apps can be very multifunctional, like a program that lets you create and edit spreadsheets right on your phone. Some apps include their own widgets to sit out on the phone’s home screen while grabbing information from that app — like a weather app that has a widget for showing the current conditions and any storm alerts in the area.

Certain widgets can help save the phone’s battery power by making it easy to turn off power-draining features. However, running a lot of widgets that constantly check the Internet for fresh information can run down the battery as well.

Although there are plenty of battery-monitor widgets out there, you can check on it yourself. In many versions of Android, click the Menu button, choose Settings and scroll down to About Phone. Select the Battery or Battery Use option to see the current state of the phone’s battery, and what hardware and software components are drawing the most power from it.

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