WidgetLocker Lockscreen is a powerful tool for customizing your lockscreen
by Toni McQuilken
May 8, 2012 2:21 PM –
Install
WidgetLocker Lockscreen is a lock screen replacement that puts you in control of the look, feel and layout of your lock screen.
Price: $2.99
Tested on: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
Content Rating: Everyone
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Tons of ways to customize your lockscreen, including customer sliders, widgets and more!
- Lots of options to tweak it to exactly your preferences!
Cons
- There’s just so much you can do, I had to go through the tutorial a few times, just to find all the various types of options.
Features:
WidgetLocker is a lockscreen replacement app, designed to let you customize not only how your lockscreen behaves, but what information it will give you. You can do everything from create or download custom sliders, to specify which apps or actions your device performs on waking up automatically, to providing a way to add any widgets, apps or shortcuts you have installed to your screen for quick reference. You can even have your owner information displayed, with any information you want to have, in case your device gets misplaced.
There is a huge amount of information you can access via WidgetLocker. I was amazed by how much was built in, and I actually ran the tutorial a few times, just to figure out what I was missing. And you can add even more functionality by downloading additional modules like ADWNotifier, which will allow you to put notifications right on your lockscreen (you don’t need ADW Launcher installed for this to work.) As far as custom sliders are concerned, you can use the several default options it comes with, download more from the market or XDA Developers, or even create your own for a really custom look and feel.
I also liked that the slide lock, by default, also has options for adjusting the screen brightness or going straight to the camera – and you can customize what these do, so again, you can really fine-tune your lockscreen to do what you want. I was able to add a few widgets with some basic information – my calendar with the next few appointments and the weather forecast, so I don’t have to go all the way into my device to check these. They’re on my home screen, but there are times I just want to glance at that information without unlocking the whole thing.
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WidgetLocker Lockscreen
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WidgetLocker Clock
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WidgetLocker Add Elements
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WidgetLocker Slider Configure
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WidgetLocker Tutorial 1
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WidgetLocker Tutorial 2
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WidgetLocker Tutorial 3
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WidgetLocker Settings
Usefulness:
The lockscreen is, by default, just a security measure to keep your device from performing actions in your pocket, or protecting it from unauthorized use. However, this app allows you to turn your lockscreen into a quick reference guide of all your information, based on what you want to see. Add in the ability to customize the look and feel of any element, and it’s a powerful tool.
Ease of Use:
I found it pretty easy to use the Tool mode, where you can add and edit elements. I did have to go through the tutorial a few times, but it was more because there is just so much to do here, you can’t get it all in one pass.
Frequently Used:
Once you set up your lockscreen, you probably won’t go into Tool mode all that often. However, you’ll use the lockscreen every time you open your device, making it, potentially, one of the most used apps you own.
Interface:
While there is a settings menu where you can fine-tune a lot of behaviors, adding and editing is done all by long-press and visual selection, making it a lot easier. Overall, I found it very easy to navigate.