Microsoft's Android flavored Next Lock Screen gives you message notificatications and more

posted by Alan F. / Jan 18, 2015, 6:13 PM

Microsoft's Android flavored Next Lock Screen gives you message notificatications and more

The Next Lock Screen is found in the Google Play Store and is made for Android phones even though it was developed by Microsoft. That's really not terribly shocking considering that Microsoft owns a number of patents used in the production of Android handsets, and makes a decent living collecting royalties from other manufacturers, including Samsung.

The Next Lock Screen allows you to get a quick glance at your calendar, including meetings and their locations. The app will also dial you into a conference call, even entering the PIN number so that you can quickly connect. And a location based app launcher shows you the most used apps from your current location, allowing you to access them quickly.

A brand new update to the app allows music controls to appear on the Lock Screen on phones running Android 4.3 or higher. MMS notifications as well as notifications for Skype, Line, and Google Hangouts can be viewed from the app. And a single tap will allow you to turn off mobile data if you want to save your battery life. Microsoft says it has improved the performance of the app, and has also made some bug fixes.

If you're looking for an Android Lock Screen that keeps you informed, the Next Lock Screen is a free download from the Google Play Store.

Update to Next Lock Screen brings more features

source: NextLockScreen (Android) via Engadget

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15 Comments

1. AfterShock

Posts: 4146; Member since: Nov 02, 2012

Keep up the good work, tile free ftw! Looks like they put some effort into this.

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 6:27 PM 7

4. Liveitup

Posts: 1798; Member since: Jan 07, 2014

Those features are built into Windows Phone and if your phone has Glance, it's way better than this. This is a Microsoft garage projects which is where a bunch of employees and interns work on their own ideas. http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/garage/ Tiles are future. Its everywhere around us just a matter of time before it invades Android iOS and other OEM's homescreens.

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 6:50 PM 4

6. AfterShock

Tiles needs a GUI overhaul. What else is holding wp back?

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 7:37 PM 2

8. Liveitup

Tiles that updates relevant information is pushing WP forward.Icons are old school. Lack of proper marketing etc amongst other reasons is why WP has grown as fast as it should have. Tiles are the future watch and see.

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 7:58 PM 0

10. LetsBeHonest

Posts: 1548; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

Icons are old school but WP has icons In the app launcher and small tiles are just square icons. Tiles just give uniform looks, and flips information Other than that they are just uniformed widgets. Tiles will be cool once Microsoft introduce " Interactive tiles ". Hope they would do it in WP10.

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 8:48 PM 1

11. sgodsell

Posts: 7383; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

You go on that those features are built into WP. However Android has a number of other lock screens that offer some of the same or other features. WP only has what Microsoft gives you, and that is it. No one can add or change the WP lock screen. For that matter no one can change the tile home screen on WP either. Android once again can give its users any home screen they want. Including WP or iOS and many others.

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 9:06 PM 2

12. AfterShock

T-Minus three years an counting.....

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 9:32 PM 0

2. tech2

Posts: 3487; Member since: Oct 26, 2012

Quite a redundant app as all this features are pretty much baked in Android L itself.

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 6:33 PM 1

5. Dattack

Posts: 61; Member since: Jan 09, 2013

Yeah, but not for lower than Android L. Therefor, it's nice for the people who are scared of flashing a custom ROM. Or even for people with Android L it's nice.

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 7:13 PM 0

3. Drsarcastic

Posts: 136; Member since: Jul 23, 2014

Okay this is actually pretty good.

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 6:50 PM 0

7. Iamnofanboy

Posts: 14; Member since: Jul 08, 2014

s Microsoft spying on android users with this app to make WP better...??? I mean like getting the info of the apps people need or use in different places is a good piece of information right...???

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 7:54 PM 2

9. Mobilephile

Posts: 166; Member since: Nov 25, 2012

..umm to rid of your paranoia, like just DONT download it.

posted on Jan 18, 2015, 8:11 PM 3

13. Iamnofanboy

No i don't care if they just spy for that, I'm on Carbon ROM so got good lock screen by default. Just a random thought or let's say sarcasm

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 7:04 AM 0

14. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3139; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

You're on a custom ROM. Nice to know that Android works so well for you right out of the box. That there's sarcasm.

posted on Jan 19, 2015, 7:27 AM 0

15. 7thspaceman

Posts: 1597; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

Microsoft has the rights to make and sell the Nokia X2 smart phone that uses a totally open source forked non Google Android operating system. it's main fault was it cold not access and use google play store apps unless you rooted its OS. You got apps for the X2 from th many android open source apps sites in the web. This screen would be great for a better version of the X2 made to sell the USA