Widsets - Mobile Widgets for Nokia E61
Many of us are familiar with desktop "Widgets" - either through using Dashboard on Mac OS or Yahoo! Widgets (formerly known as Konfabulator)
Now, Widsets has released a service that will bring mobile Widgets to the Nokia E61, and other devices. I've used a lot of mobile applications throughout the years but I have to say that Widsets Widgets is probably the most amazing application I have used so far. The potential for Widsets mobile Widsets (can we call them "Midgets?") is HUGE. I can easily see how this will grow and become a mobile standard.
The strength and magic of Widsets lies in the extreme ease of use, the breadth of useful services, the *gorgeously stunning* UI and the viral aspect.
In short, Widsets is a simple service that provides useful information available on the Internet directly to your Nokia E61. There are two parts to Widsets - the application you load on your device and a web service you set up and configure on the Internet.
Go to Widsets and register for an account. An SMS will be sent to your device to confirm your phone number and allow you to download the application.
Once you have set up your account on Widsets you pick and customize the Widsets (Widgets) you want to have access to on your Nokia E61. You can search for Widsets by category, popularity or by name.
The Widsets you choose will be saved to your personalized set of widgets. This user interface is beautiful, intuitive and easily customizable. The way you order the Widsets is the way they will be displayed on the Nokia E61.
There are many existing Widsets but it is also very simple to create and share your own Widsets. Since RSS is the core of the information feed for the Widsets you can grab an RSS and wrap it in a Widget and share it with the rest of the world. Example below is a Widset for Engadget's Wireless RSS feed.
The Widset user interface on the Nokia E61 is stunning. It is so visually appealing that the only way to describe it as "lickable". It is fast, colorful and simply irresistable. After you download the application you will need to initiate a "Reload" to get started.
The Widsets you included on your account on the Internet will be presented, in that order, on your device. If you are worrying about the amount of data you can limit the data usage and track it using the "Traffic Monitor" feature.
The Engadget Wireless Widset I created in 120 seconds looks like this. I didn't spend any time on personalizing the look and feel of the widgets but it is easy to do. I also customized a Flickr Widset to search and display images of the Nokia E61.
June 27th, 2006 at 10:58 am
great little app actually - its effectivley and RSS reader but with a very nice GUI interface.
June 27th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Thanks for stopping by. You are right that it is somewhat of a glorified RSS reader but I see a huge potential in this going forward. I think the number of Widsets (mobile widgets) will grow exponentially because of how easy it is to come up with these Widsets. I also think they (Widset) can create other services using these Widset. I have a good feeling about this - I might be wrong but I think this can be a groundbreaking app in the making.
Thanks for stopping by!
June 29th, 2006 at 4:36 pm
[...] Apart from Widsets which I wrote about here, I highly recommend Google's Map application for the Nokia E61. [...]
July 2nd, 2006 at 9:27 am
[...] Widsets, which I first wrote about here, is probably one of my top three software picks for the Nokia E61. This new version brings additional features and functionality to the already useful and nifty Widsets. If you haven't already installed Widsets on your Nokia E61 I encourage you to do so right away. [...]
July 7th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Hi -
I’m a E61 owner from India, on the Airtel network.
I’ve been trying to download the installation file from the Widsets site for ages, but can’t. I follow the links (after due sign-ups, etc) on the phone, but the connection gets terminated at the point where the phone model is identified and I’m asked to specify a location for the install.
Can you please help?
Thanks…
July 7th, 2006 at 5:39 pm
Hi P Chawla,
Hmm, it is hard to say. Have you successfully downloaded other applications over the air? for an example Google Maps? I would try to download another application to see whether it is something wrong with your network setting.
I would also contact the people over at Widsets. They seem like a friendly bunch of people.
July 7th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
Hi - thanks for your reply. You were right - I tried to download Google Maps and got the same problem. Can you suggest anything?
Thanks…
PC
July 7th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Can you use the browser successfully? How about sending email? Also, what kind of data service does your carrier provide you with? For instance I have an unlimited data plan so I can download and browse the web for as much as I want.
Could it be that your carrier is limiting your data access?
July 26th, 2006 at 1:47 am
Has anyone figured out a way to ‘reroute’ the data traffic for Widsets over the WIFI connection? Carrier data traffic is horrendously expensive in my neck of the woods…
Thanks!
July 26th, 2006 at 6:29 am
The way I have set it up - I don’t use a preferred Access Point except for my mail. When I use Widsets or the browser I have set it to ask me what acccess point to use. That way I can control whether I use WiFi or Cellular. The downside is that you have to specify that each time you launch the application - but it might be worth it if you can save some $$$.
Try it out and let us know what you think.
July 28th, 2006 at 7:00 am
It’s working like a charm for me, now. Tons of information at your fingertips for free! What could be better?
~Tim
August 31st, 2006 at 10:57 pm
Dear Sir/Madam:
I would like to know if there is a free e-book reader for Nokia e61.
Thanks and regards,
Sathya Prasad
September 1st, 2006 at 9:50 am
Hello Sathya,
Have you tried Mobipocket? You can download a trial from Menu > Tools > Catalogs on your device or http://www.mobipocket.com
Cheers
September 11th, 2006 at 2:05 pm
Guys,
Check for Mig33, it a new solution to make cheap phone call, a kind of skype….I have download, not make a phone call yet because you have you to by some credits…..but they do something interested about roaming… and it seems cool…try it on… you can also do chat as well limited for the moment to yahoo and msn…. but in compare to other solution the voice work.
take care,
E61 community…
September 28th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
Please Help,
I have roadsync and it works great with my exchange server, is there any way to also get it to sync with my yahoo mail. I have a plus account. Currently, i use the native email client. This works ok but unfortunately, i have to choose between roadsync and yahoo mail
March 13th, 2007 at 1:45 am
Care for more good, cool web widgets
March 18th, 2007 at 6:44 am
[...] Assuming you do not run into a stewardess with the intellect of a head of lettuce, and you still like to read your RSS messages offline, you might try the solution NewsTouch is offering. The main advantages as I see them from this solution are : 1) offline reading, and 2) the simplicity the way the information is offered. Although I do like Widgets the disadvantages I see is that you loose the overview especially when you start adding more and more feeds. NewsTouch in itself is a very basic and simple application which is java based and extremely easy to use. Because it is java based its usage is not limited to the e61. Disadvantage : it is not free and an annual subscription is required. However, trying it is free and you can download the application (*.jar) here (the application just recently has been optimized for s60 3rd edition). A listing of some standard feeds is offered both in the trial as well as the normal version. Additional feeds can be entered into the phone directly but then obviously you need to know the URL. With a registration you get access to the NewsTouch portal where you can very easily maintain your folders and feeds. [...]
April 5th, 2007 at 5:13 am
The site looks great ! Thanks for all your help ( past, present and future !)
May 13th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
Hi,
Just last week i bought nokia e50, it would be great if someone can tell me how to setup yahoo mail in e50. (mailbox setup). it tried with the instructions but it didnt work out.
i gave
pop.yahoo.com
and
smtp.yahoo.com
Cheers
Sibghat
May 18th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Hey whenever i try to go on widgets website my web shows a error specifiying “unable to create a secure connection” again wherever i try singning in yahoo or gmail i get same errror…….!!!!!! Can plz somebody help me…..
July 5th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Thanks, i think its wonderful to have widset in your mobile, it was also helpful during my travel,news jokes and weather report is always with you, great, i must say thanks to inventor of-widset,greatttttttttt
February 6th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
whenever i try to open widgets in my mobile a message shows an error coneecting html connection. can some one help me