Apple To Disallow Calculator-based Widgets In Notification Center

After what seemed like a really long time coming, Apple finally introduced the concept of widgets in iOS 8. The widgets would exist in the Notification Center where users could slide it down to take a quick glance or access certain app’s features via a shortcut. Now recently there has been one particular widget that has caught the attention of the public and Apple – a calculator widget.

Basically the idea is that you pull down Notification Center and will be able to start using a calculator right away. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately Apple doesn’t seem to think so and has asked developer James Thomson to remove his app’s widget. The app, PCalc, will be allowed to exist in the iTunes App Store, but its widget will have to be removed.

Apparently this goes against Apple’s policy regarding widgets which prevents them from performing calculations. We’re not sure why this is a feature that Apple will not allow. After all it saves the user time from having to swipe up the Control Center and access the calculator app which is a two step move, versus the widget which is a one step move.

Thomson has since confirmed Apple’s request so it looks like if you were hoping for a calculator widget shortcut, you will be disappointed but hopefully this is something Apple will reconsider in the future.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Apple
Tags: Apps, ios 8a