On iOS and Android, the lock screen is sacred. But now Apple is breaking with the closed structures. That could also be an important clue for Android. Widgets on Android actually have a very long tradition. But at some point, she no longer allowed Google on the lock screen and hardly maintained the whole system anymore. Until Apple came along and introduced widgets themselves on iOS. This has also led Google to implement a major restart for widgets on Android. To everyone’s delight.
Apple could again be a role model for future Android versions
Apple introduces the latest features and top-class widgets in iOS 16. But, there are no classic widgets on the lock screen but there are many sub-areas that the user can determine. This includes information from the Apple Watch, calendar entries and things like that. But the data from other providers, for example from driving companies such as Uber, also ends up on the lock screen.
With iOS adding lock screen widgets, Google should revisit this feature for Android. Android 4.4 supported lock screen widgets, but they were removed in Android 5.0. It’s something I think Google could add back with existing tools, and I hope they consider it. https://t.co/X39PDSRAkw
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) July 29, 2022
Recently, Google has also shown itself to be retracted with the Pixel cell phones. Users only see the live display and cannot determine anything else here. And what the live ad actually shows also depends a bit on how Google regulates it. For example, there is no current fitness data, which could change with Fitbit and Pixel Watch.
Google Pixel: Live display is a start, but it’s not enough
I think it’s conceivable that Google will open the lock screen again for widgets. Not like before. Perhaps more as well controlled as Apple and possibly only for Google Pixel. In any case, I’m not alone in thinking that with iOS 16 Apple is again giving a template that Google can’t ignore.
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