Should Microsoft bring Next Lock Screen to the forefront of its Android efforts?

Microsoft has dozens of apps available on Android. These range from core Office applications to niche apps like Excel Keyboard. Some of the most interesting Microsoft apps on Android come up out of the Microsoft Garage, an "experimental outlet" for Microsoft employees.

Microsoft took one of the about loved Microsoft Garage apps, Arrow Launcher, rebranded information technology, and added new features that integrate it with Microsoft's vision of mobile computing. Just in that location's some other well-regarded Microsoft Garage app that doesn't get the same attention, Next Lock Screen.

In that location's a variety of factors that could contribute to the app beingness left to a relaxed life of mostly receiving problems fixes, just I think it might be worth Microsoft giving Next Lock Screen the same treatment that Arrow Launcher received.

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A unified experience

Next Lock Screen is made past the same team that made Arrow Launcher. As such, it shares many of the aforementioned blueprint cues and goals. Next Lock Screen features a crisp pattern with minimal icons and is centered effectually getting users into apps quicker. Information technology handles notifications beautifully and does the fiddling things that y'all need a lock screen to take care of such as decision-making music and speedily accessing tools.

Adjacent Lock Screen tin exist an extension of the Microsoft Launcher experience. While it doesn't utilize features like 'Go along on PC' it extends the wait and experience of Microsoft Launcher onto the lock screen of your Android device. Microsoft sells multiple types of Android phones in their stores, and many are preloaded with Microsoft software. If you had a device preloaded with an upgraded version of Next Lock Screen, Microsoft Launcher, and Microsoft's other core apps, the telephone would feel more like a Microsoft phone than an Android phone running Microsoft apps.

How Microsoft is turning Android into a phone for Windows

What'southward in the manner

I've used Side by side Lock Screen on and off for quite a while and used it on my daily driver for the terminal week. I think that it would be an excellent lock screen if information technology were my only lock screen. Unfortunately, Android doesn't handle third-party lock screens equally well equally it handles tertiary-political party launchers, browsers, and other apps. Next Lock Screen is basically a skin over my device'southward default lock screen.

Some Android phones might play nicely with Next Lock Screen but I utilise a Milky way S8+, and I often have to swipe downwards to clear Next and swipe upwards to clear my Galaxy's lock screen. I can skip this dual swiping step by using my fingerprint to unlock the telephone and clear both lock screens at once, but this is more of a workaround than a solution. Y'all besides can accept some features restricted or express by Next such as Google Pay which requires you to unlock Next Lock Screen before you can apply information technology.

Additionally, in an age where smartphones unlock quickly, the importance of a lock screen has diminished. Face up unlock on some phones is and so fast that my guess is many users wouldn't discover if there wasn't a lock screen on their device at all.

Lock screen customization is dead

Microsoft'south vision of mobile calculating is connecting all types of devices to Windows 10. Features like 'Continue on PC' and apps like Your Phone evidence that this is a priority. Next Lock Screen tin extend the look of Microsoft Launcher to the lock screen, just even if upgraded, information technology can't exercise much to farther connect your telephone and your PC.

What needs improving

I like Next Lock Screen on the whole, but for information technology to be in the league of Microsoft Launcher, it needs some updates. Firstly, Microsoft would demand to find a way to arrive feel like a default lock screen rather than a skin. This might be generally out of Microsoft's control, but in that location's a chance they could work with OEMs to allow Microsoft Launcher to be an selection for a default lock screen. Samsung'south partnership with Microsoft has strengthened over recent years, so maybe there's a chance the 2 companies could work something out. While Microsoft is hypothetically speaking with Samsung, they could also work on getting Face Unlock to work with Adjacent Lock Screen.

Second, Next Lock Screen needs some more customization options. I'd love to be able to utilise any icon pack I want on information technology. I use round icons matching the Pixel'southward icon style, but on Side by side Lock Screen, my icons are a mixture of round and square default icons.

Third, I'd like to see quick actions to contacts to back up more apps. At the moment you tin only call, text message, or email contacts through Next Lock Screen's shortcuts. Microsoft needs to add support for apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram.

Lastly, I'd like to see more options to accept Next replicate other lock screen'due south features, for instance, calculation the choice to swipe either down or upward to unlock the phone.

Will Adjacent be the adjacent big Microsoft app?

While I like Side by side Lock Screen and think information technology tin can aid complete the Microsoft experience on Android phones, I doubtfulness Microsoft will make it mainstream similar Arrow Launcher. It doesn't fit into the company'due south mobile mission to connect phones to PCs, and at that place are as well many limitations of tertiary-party lock screens on Android to brand information technology worth a heavy investment.

Microsoft could surprise me and find a clever way to expand Next Lock Screen's functionality, and I'd be happy to see it, but it seems unlikely. If the app was brought to the forefront, there wouldn't have to exist many upgrades or changes to go far a premiere lock screen experience.

Every bit a side annotation, I don't call back Microsoft will ever release an Android phone, but if they did, I'd like to see an iteration of Side by side Lock Screen exist the default on that device.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/should-next-lock-screen-become-microsoft-lock-screen

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