Widsets 2.0 reviewed and released…

Many websites report that Widsets 2.0 have been released, but is still in beta. Widsets is loved by many of a us for its looks and usability.

The Widsets 2.0 beta site recently went live which means you can now download and test the latest version of the Widsets client. New features include better integration between Widsets and the rest of the device including the ability to initiate a phone call or open a browser window. Widsets is a way to get web content on your mobile via widgetisation. Read on for more.

Widsets has been around since the summer of 2006 (but only really took off last year). It has continued to evolve at an impressive pace and the new version holds a great deal more functionality that the original version. The basic idea is presenting digestible web content optimised for consumption of a mobile device through a ‘dashboard / desktop’ and ‘widget / application’ interface. Widgets are arranged on the dashboard and each widget can be opened to view the contents. The basic Widgets are RSS feeds wrapped in an attractive package, but there are also a number of small games and utility widgets. New to this beta is the Push E-mail widget.

The new version is also faster loading and is smoother in operation. The overall impression
is of a much more polished application. Note the new ability to ‘Move’ Widgets around the dashboard. This
together with the on device Widget library means in practical to use Widsets without going near the PC site.

Here the Guardian Widget demonstrates the new ability to open the link in a browser. This addresses one of the
longest standard limitations of Widsets and makes the whole Widsets system much more useful.

The beta also includes other recent updates / new features such as the ability to rearrange widgets on the device (previously this had to be done via the Widsets website) and the creation of new widgets from with the application.
From the blog:

My favorites:

- creating my own widgets on mobile! Yes, we will have a Mobile Studio.

- moving widgets around the dasboard on your device! Yes, full control of how your WidSets looks like.

- speed! Loads much faster than today.

- using the new Email widget: Yes, now there is a real push email widget to use your POP or IMAP email.

- sharing content and widgets with friends, with comments. And lots of other cool stuff and contents.

We are really proud of the work guys in the labs have been doing again, and of the results coming available in just a few days. We will again have a (short) service break, and then go live with the new release on March 18th. And by the way, we do know there were some problems the last time we did an upgrade in November. We have now been working really, really hard to make sure the service break will be shorter, and start with new release smoother. For example, you do not necessarily need to upgrade to the new client, but we do believe you will want to!

Many of the improvements now made have their origins on the great feedback and suggestions we have been receiving from you and our other users, via WidSets Forum comments and feedback. We are really grateful for your contribution and support! We have very strong commitment to you, our users, and we do our best to listen and act on your comments and requests.

 

Rafe from All About Symbian also posted a neat review on it, so that you can find out more about this useful application.

 

 

Source: The Nokia Guide

 

 

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