How the Apple Photos Widget is like getting chocolates on your pillow
When I moved East and began my sales career I started going to conferences at high end hotels and resorts as both a speaker and attendee. It was my first real experience with luxury brands and it impressed me how you could take a large box filled with a bed, a desk, a couple of chairs, and a bathroom, and turn it into a remarkable experience.
Those rooms were quite different than the hotels I’d booked for business trips. Better linen, thicker towels, an office chair at the desk, real art on the walls. And even though I’m not a robe guy, a pair of thick cozy robes in the closet. It just says, “Welcome. Stay awhile and enjoy.”
The defining touch, though, was the chocolates on the pillows. That elevated it all to the personal. One step beyond the vision of an efficient, anonymous cleaning staff. That chocolate was hand placed by Marie/Joan/Dale/Sam for me to enjoy when I returned from a long day on the conference floor and just wanted to do a face plant on those 300 thread count sheets.
What sets Apple apart from all the other big, successful tech companies is that same kind of personal touch. Yes, you often have to initiate the exchange, but in the universe of tech-based experiences, no company does it better than Apple.
My most recent find, prompted by an old colleague (thanks, Jenny) is the Photos Widget that you can add to your home screen.
If you haven’t noticed, Photos regularly creates a random Featured Photos collection as well as Memories that generally show off 5-10 pictures from your Photos Library, either chosen at random (Featured Photos) or based on some theme (Memories). Normally you have to open the Photos app to see them, but by adding the Photos Widget to your Home Screen, these treasures are front and center every time you open your iPhone.
Just like a chocolate on your pillow.
Whenever you open up your Home Screen you'll be treated to the Featured Photos of the day, or a Memory video. And setting it up is really easy.
Press and hold on any App until you get the wiggling Apps and a dialogue popup OR you get a "+" button show in the upper right hand corner (depending on the iOS)
Tap the Edit home Screen option if the "+" button doesn't show
Tap the "+" sign in the upper left corner to get to the Widget chooser
Scroll down through the Widget chooser to the Photos Widget
Tap on the Photos Widget and you’ll get the choice of sizes.
You can chose a small, medium or large Widget to show your Photos on the Home Screen.
That's it!
The Widget will share the day's Featured Photos or a recent Memory movie every time you open that Home Screen. You'll be amazed at how often an old, forgotten moment or photo pops up and makes you smile.
Just like that chocolate on your pillow.