Droid Tips & Tricks: Widgets and what they can do for you

Widgets take the dynamic functions of an app and place it on your desktop.

They can customize the user interface or keep changes in an app front and center. Widgets run all the time in the background.

Widget features pictured

• A charging widget that, once it calibrates, will tell me how long my battery will last based on my type of use.


• A brightness toggle that overrides the Droid's native automatic and manual settings and allows you to predetermine two set brightnesses to toggle between.


• A compass that changes real-time.


• A quick link to Google Calendar that displays the current event.


• A toggle switch to turn WiFi on and off.


• A Link to a news reader that displays the current top story.

A couple widgets are included with the Droid and many other are accessed though the Android Market.

All but one of the Widgets pictured are free.

You can place your widgets on any of the three desktops that slide side-by-side.

To access Widgets download from the Android Market on the handset.

Go to the menu key and select ADD > WIDGETS. The widget will appear on the home screen you select.