Elon Musk’s X rolls out home and lock screen widgets for iPhone and iPad users

In a significant update, X, under the leadership of Elon Musk, has launched a new widget feature for iOS, enhancing accessibility for users on iPhones and iPads. This update allows users to quickly access top news stories, shortcuts, and notifications directly from their home and lock screens. Interestingly, the concept of home screen widgets was initially previewed during Apple’s WWDC 2020 event for iOS 14, but the feature never materialized until now. Since the transition of Twitter's leadership from Jack Dorsey to Parag Agrawal and its subsequent acquisition by Musk, the platform has undergone several transformations. These changes include the dismantling of the previous verification system, the introduction of a paid verification model, and a rebranding to X, among others. The newly released widget for the home screen, named “X News Highlights,” offers users a streamlined view of trending topics. Users can tap on any headline to be directed to the X app for more detailed news. The widget is available in three sizes—small, medium, and large—allowing for customizable placement on the user’s screen. On the lock screen, X has rolled out a diverse selection of widgets. Users can now see “X Notifications,” which displays the count of their notifications, and “X Messages,” highlighting unread messages in X chat. Additionally, there are dedicated widgets for Grok AI, including one that allows direct chat access with the AI and another for voice interactions. These widgets also come in both large and small formats, catering to user preferences. A user on X has shared insights indicating that the platform is also working on redesigning the notifications page for iOS, potentially incorporating more visual elements. Although still in development, Nikita Bier, the head of product at X, has confirmed that the new notifications interface is on the horizon, promising an enhanced user experience in the near future.