Personalize your homescreen for ultimate productivity.
Ever since the release of Ratio in 2020, our users have been asking us to integrate 3rd-party widgets into the app.
Now, widgets aren’t a new thing. In fact, they’ve existed since the invention of the graphic user interface (GUI), back in the 80’s. Notes, calculators, clocks are the daily humble appliances we use to this day.
Ratio already offers a selection of custom-made widgets, but many users still missed the ability to quickly interact with the various Android widgets they were used to.
This feature request posed a challenge to us — Android widgets lack uniformity.
There, we said it.
Each widget can be so different from the next: in size, colors, and layout. Each widget is different because each app is different.
For us, this meant that there would be no straightforward way to integrate Android widgets into Ratio.
We were skeptical about the integration. We didn’t want it to compromise Ratio’s minimal and clean design. If we were to integrate 3rd-party widgets, we would need to find a way to make them aligned with our design values. Adding widgets to Ratio would also be challenging with the existing code structure.
The only way we could bring widgets to our users meant rebuilding Root from scratch. Root, as you know, is where custom Ratio widgets were displayed.
Over the summer, our team poured all of the energy into redesigning, rebuilding, and relentlessly testing the feature.
Now, we are happy to say that we have found a way to provide best of both worlds: custom-designed, functional Ratio widgets, and the freedom to customize your homescreen according to your needs.
We are happy to announce that Ratio is open to all Android widgets!
Root → Widgets
What does it mean to you? Let’s break it down. 👇
- We’ve redesigned your favorite custom Ratio widgets:
- Weather
- Media player
- Calculator
- Converter
- News
- Notes
We also curated a selection of apps that can provide an alternative to the remaining Ratio widgets that are not supported in the latest version.
If you have suggestions for new Ratio widgets you want to see next, you can join our Discord and share your suggestions there.
2. You can now choose a widget from any app that offers them. You will be able to add them directly from the widgets list.
Here’s how you can add a new widget (Ratio or 3rd-party):
1. Swipe to the leftmost screen in Ratio to Root
2.Long press the quick action icon on the bottom right
3. Select “Add widget”
4. Choose an app, and pick the widget you want to add
We hope you enjoy this update and the freedom to personalize your homescreen.
As always, we are looking for your feedback: let us know your experience with this new update!
