New Apple patent hints at the ability to create third-party widgets in iOS 5

Unofficial widgets for jailbroken iOS 5 devices ( SpringPrefs (left) and Music Center (right))

The patent war with Apple made a lot of noise, and also caused confusion among those watching the news of the computer industry, many of whom are worried that Apple will take away their patents for the execution of multitouch interfaces. One of these patents contains a hidden hint at the ability to create third-party widgets in iOS 5 for the Notification Center. Razorian Fly explains this patent in the following way:

As you can see below, Apple especially highlights the “User-Created Widget (s)” (Widget (s) created by the user), as well as something called the “Widget Creator Module”. This Apple patent describes the ability to create widgets by users that can, (theoretically), work on devices such as the iPhone and iPad.
Most likely, all Apple needs to do is open up several public APIs to create and install third-party widgets in iOS 5 Notification Center

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According to 9to5mac, some developers have been able to prove that it is technically possible to create such widgets. Now the jailbreak community brings a huge amount of former tweaks (extensions) to the Notification Center. If we consider that Apple took the best tweaks from Cydia and added them to iOS 5, including the Notification Center, then it is likely that they will open the Notification Center for the official creation of third-party widgets and placement in a special category in the App Store.