Years ago, Microsoft
introduced a unique type of storing apps on the home screen of its Windows
Phone. It appealed to the users because of Live Tiles, animated widgets that
moved around, and it quickly became a benchmark of display in the tech world.

Source: The Verge

Apple users desperately waited for the company to do something similar and
almost ten years later, with iOS 14, it has added the feature of widgets on the
home screen.

With Live Tiles,
Microsoft users were able to see information on the home screen and you could
pin those apps to anywhere on the display because they were able to move. The
colorful animation also made the screen quite vibrant and the company was
appreciated for bringing something new to the phone displays. The feature was
so important to Microsoft that they hired celebrities like Gwen Stefani to
promote it.

Source: Apple

We cannot say that
Apple has copied Microsoft but most features of widgets have been heavily
inspired by Live Tiles. For instance, the UI tweaks, the addition of folders,
some dock changes, and most importantly a static row of app icons widgets have
a stark resemblance to the Live Tiles.

With Apple’s widgets
you will be able to see what song is playing, see images from your
camera roll, use clocks for multiple time zones and keep a check on the
weather forecast simultaneously.