The best iPhone apps with iOS 8 Notification Center widgets

Home screen widget support probably isn’t anywhere near the top of most iPhone and iPad users’ wish lists in terms of missing iOS features, but a vocal minority has been begging for widget functionality ever since Android was first released. As opposed to static icons that are merely shortcuts to apps, home screen widgets offer a variety of additional functionality, namely access to zero-touch information that is updated automatically without any effort needed on the user’s part.

While home screen widgets still haven’t been added to Apple’s mobile platform in iOS 8, the latest version of Apple’s iPhone and iPad OS does finally add widget support to the Today view in Apple’s Notification Center.

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There are already hundreds of apps that make use of the new Notification Center widget support in iOS 8, but some are far more useful than others. We’ve tested tons of apps since iOS 8 was released to the public last month, and here are our picks for the 10 best apps with iOS 8 Notification Center widgets, in no particular order:

DataMan Next

Your weapon against overage. In just a glance DataMan tells you if you’re safe from busting your data cap. Never worry about overage again.

* New Widget * Designed for iOS 8, DataMan Widget lets you quickly check your usage from any screen using the Notification Center.

Beautiful design. Simply gives the key statistics you need most in an incredibly clean interface. It’s so easy to track your data usage.

Smart Forecast. The advanced Forecast predicts if you’ll stay within your data cap. And tells you in brilliant colors.

Real-time tracking. Your latest statistics are retrieved directly and immediately from iOS. No more waiting for your carrier to update.

Additional features include:

・ Track cellular (LTE/4G/3G) and Wi-Fi

・ Support monthly, 30 days, weekly plans

・ Auto reset on bill cycle date

・ Four custom alert thresholds

・ Reliable, installed by millions of users

・ Work with all carriers

・ View past usage by bill cycle

・ Stunning themes

Download DataMan Next

Quick-Tap

Quick-Tap gives you one tap access to your contacts, music and more!

Simply drag the Today screen and tap to call, email, message, play music, get directions home and even message friends via Skype, Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp.

Designed for iOS 8, Quick-Tap installs to the Today screen, which can be opened from any app by dragging from the top of the screen. From any app, or even without unlocking your phone, you can access your contacts, music and more.

Quick-Tap features an advanced filter system, so Quick-Tap buttons can be shown in certain locations, on specific days or at different times of the day, making Quick-Tap the most versatile way to access your contacts, music or other apps.

Quick-Tap lets you do the following actions with a single tap:

• Phone, email, sms or FaceTime your contacts

• Play tracks from your music collection – even without unlocking your phone!

• Get directions home, via Apple Maps, Google Maps or Maps Pro

• Send your current location to a friend

• Chat via Skype, Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger

• Browse to a specific web page

• Instantly capture photos from Instagram

Please Note : Due to limitations in iOS, it is not possible to add buttons to launch every app that is installed on your iPhone or iPad – it is only possible to launch apps which are directly supported by Quick-Tap or which support launching from other applications.

Quick-Tap is continually updated with support for even more apps.

Quick-Tap is currently free – with in-app purchase for advanced functionality.

Download Quick-Tap

Evernote

Evernote is the modern workspace that helps you be your most productive self. You’re on the path to something big — Evernote is where you do the work to achieve it.

- Write notes of all types, from short lists to lengthy research, and access them on any device.

– Collect web articles, handwritten notes, and photos to keep all the details in one place.

– Find your work quickly with Evernote’s powerful search.

– Present your work as it takes shape for better collaboration in meetings.

Move projects forward with Evernote:

- Take notes: write in a clean, distraction-free workspace.

– Get organized: create notebooks and add tags to wrangle projects.

– Access anywhere: keep your work in sync across devices.

– Find anything fast: text in notes, photos, and PDFs is searchable.

– Share ideas and resources: create a workspace for collaboration with shared notebooks.

– Keep up with to-do’s: make to-do lists and check items off as you go.

– Harness creativity: capture ideas while they’re fresh, wherever you are.

– Prepare for meetings: draft agendas and to-do’s for next time.

– Manage expenses: organize receipts, bills, and invoices to keep expense reports in check.

– Plan business travel: save reservations and tickets for simple trip planning.

– Make connections: turn business cards into rich digital contacts.

Accomplish even more with Evernote Premium:

- Take notebooks offline to access them anytime

– Annotate PDFs and notes to focus attention on key points

– Create rich contacts from photos of business cards

– Present your work on a big screen in a single tap with AirPlay

– Lock the app when not in use and unlock with Touch ID or a passcode

– Rediscover content from your account in the related notes section

Evernote is available for all your computers, phones, tablets, and on the web! Find your notes anywhere you’ve installed the app.

Download Evernote

Routie

Routie is a simple, fast & beautiful way to track and share all your fitness activities. It uses GPS in your iPhone to track your runs, walks, bike rides, kayaking trips and more. Here are some of the more interesting features that Routie offers:

○ Interactive graphs

Explore beautiful graphs of speed and altitude for each of your tracks.

○ Take Photos

With Routie or iPhone camera and have them added to the track.

○ Statistics

View total distance, duration and route count for each of your activity. For last month, last year or All time.

○ Live metrics

During tracking, you can view current speed, current altitude, distance so far, average speed, total time and more.

○ File export

Easily export to GPX, KML or KMZ and use your data with other services

○ Open Street Maps

Apart from Apple maps, you can view your tracks on Street, Cycle or MapQuest maps.

○ Track properties

You can optionally set track name, activity and notes. You can also add placemarks to map as notes, and set captions to your photos.

○ 1 tap sharing

Share to Facebook and Twitter with just one button tap. No typing required.

○ Auto pause

Tracking session is paused automatically when you stop moving.

○ Pebble support

Control tracking and view current metrics like speed, altitude and distance; on your wrist!

○ Info in badge

View tracking activity, current speed or distance on Routie icon, right from your home screen.

○ Universal tracking

While supporting wide variety of fitness activities, Routie is also great for tracking your travels. It’s a fitness and travel diary in one place.

○ All the tracking data

For each of your tracks, you can view: start time, end time, distance, duration, time moving, time paused, average speed, max speed, max & min altitude and climb.

○ Resume tracking

In case Routie is accidentally closed, you can restore the tracking session upon next launch. This means that you won’t loose your tracking data ever again.