[WIDGET][REVIEW] Moon phase widgets: black holes at your desktop

[astrodro]

As a lucky owner of HTC Desire I desided to place a nice picture of the Moon at my desktop screen. I've spent some time (and eventually some money) and ready to share the result with comunity.

Here is the picture of my test screen:

Looks like there was Full Moon and all the widgets shown the Moon as a nice black hole.

They are:

1. Sun and Moon 2x2
2. Sun and Moon 1x1
Sun and Moon for Android

3. Moon Widget
Moon Widget for Android

4. Moon Phase
Moon Phase for Android

5. Deluxe Moon
Deluxe Moon for Android

Both [3] and [4] give you partial information about the Moon. [3] is quite good for numbers like azimuth, altitude and so on. [4] calculates the following moon phases. [5] is an ultimate solution and looks nice, though it's quite expensive. [1,2] shows just a nice picture.

What the conclusion is?

As for me [3] is quite good for a free solution. [5] can be interesting for people who are crazy about astronomy and beauty. (As I am)

Looking for more astronomy applications to write about.

 

[braj]

I use Moon Widget as even though free it seems the most all-around useful to me. I'd consider Deluxe Moon if the widget were just the plain moon, but I don't like the extra info in the widget itself. Plus it is way overpriced.

 

[astrodro]

I use Moon Widget as even though free it seems the most all-around useful to me.

Yep, Moon Widget looks good.

Lets compare the popuarity:

[1,2] Sun and Moon 10000-50000 downloads
[3] Moon Widget 10000-50000 downloads
[4] Moon Phase 50000-250000 downloads
[5] Deluxe Moon 1000-5000 downloads

Looks like Moon Phase is the most popular. The question why?

Here is the answer:

[1,2] Sun and Moon: First appearance on Mar 16, 2010
[3] Moon Widget: First appearance on Jun 06, 2010
[4] Moon Phase: New version 4 released on Oct 28, 2009. The oldest
[5] Deluxe Moon: First appearance on Jul 09, 2010. The newest

Digging into the other stuff.
C U later.

 

[lifewaresolutions]

I'd prefer more info: I like 3 and Deluxe Moon (5) widgets. In 5 you can choose to have a black or blue transparent widget. In this case, the best thing is how the blue transparency in the widget matches the background.

 

[astrodro]

I'd prefer more info...

Dear lifewaresolutions,
thanks for following my review.

Speaking frankly it's quite anfair to compare free products with paid applications. As far as I can see now, your Deluxe Moon Lite version doesn't have a widget at all. Am I wrong? Many people can't pay and they are able to use free applications only. So their choise is quite limited. Please take it in account.

[still working on free astronomy app review...]

 

[braj]

For Deluxe Moon, can you have ONLY the moon show in the widget? I have a cow icon jumping over the moon an I don't need text I can't check it myself because I already refunded this a while ago. I think the price is just too high for a moon app (nearly $5!)but if it goes on sale... $.99 for a limited-use app when there are good free alternatives seems the right price to me.

 

[Hrethgir]

I use the Sun & Moon 1x1 widget. My wallpaper is one of the stock ones I liked, the one with the wall and railroad tracks at night, and I put the moon widget above the wall in the night sky part so I have a view of the moon in a realistic looking spot, looks neat to me! And all the info I wanted was just a general look at the moons phase, don't want that other info on there.

 

[lifewaresolutions]

Dear lifewaresolutions,
thanks for following my review.

Speaking frankly it's quite anfair to compare free products with paid applications. As far as I can see now, your Deluxe Moon Lite version doesn't have a widget at all. Am I wrong? Many people can't pay and they are able to use free applications only. So their choise is quite limited. Please take it in account.

[still working on free astronomy app review...]

Point taken. Yes, the free version, Deluxe Moon Lite, does not have a widget. This version has a limited functionality - there is no widget, moon calendar or zodiac circles. But it is completely free of charge - feel free to test it:

Deluxe Moon Lite - FREE version

 

[astrodro]

All moon widgets togeather...
Widget Moon applications - Android

May be the following link can be considered as offtopic, but it's quite interesting to compare our Google Sky with some stuff available for iP**

Take a look at a great review here:
Star Charting Apps for iPhone/iPod Touch

Any thoughts?

 

[astrodro]

Here are some fresh news and updates.

First of all Sun & Moon extended to 3x3. Is it prepearing for tablets?

And welcome a new 3x3 widget with a big potential.

It's a Live by the Moon

A wallpaper behind is a Galactic Core Live Wallpaper by KittehFace Software.

 

[SlowRain]

I'm looking for a decent, simple-looking, free moon widget. I like the information of Deluxe Moon, but not the price. I took a look at the Play Store, but couldn't find anything I liked. What can you recommend? Right now, I'm just using Phases of the Moon (and Deluxe Moon Lite a little bit).

Thanks.