If you haven’t figured it out by now, Android is my mobile OS of choice. It’s flexibility, openness, and customizability have me invested deeply into Android’s ecosystem. I customize my homescreen almost every day, download (and delete) scores of apps in a week, and chat with tons of Android designers on Google Plus. I’ve got my ear to the ground when it comes to new and up-and-coming Android features and trends. One trend I’m seeing more and more is customizable lockscreen replacements. Hit that continue reading button to learn what they are, what they mean for your ministry, and my very own recommendation.
For the longest time, the lockscreen was the one thing you couldn’t change about your Android device. Today we have dozens of lockscreen replacement apps floating around the Play Store, each with a unique set of features to attract different sets of users. What is a lockscreen replacement app? It replaces your device’s stock lockscreen (seen immediately after hitting the power button to unlock your phone) with a new splashpage prior to entering you password or pin to unlock your phone. Won’t this pose security risks on my device? Not really. After you unlock your device with the lockscreen replacement, Android takes over and prompts for your pin or password if you have one set up. Let’s take a look at a couple different kinds of lockscreen apps to get a better feel of what we’re dealing with.
Function or Fashion?
There’s usually a compromise in life. Function or fashion? Ladies know this, and have perfected their craft over thousands of years of make-up, fragrances, and styles to blur the line of function and fashion. Lockscreen replacement apps however, have not. That’s not to say there aren’t beautiful, functional apps out there, because that’s simply not true. But I’ve found that, through many hours of Play Store browsing, lockscreen apps tend to market themselves for function or fashion. Do you want a basic, stock Android experience with no bells and whistles? Maybe you want to make money unlocking your phone? Even still, it’s possible that you want your lockscreen to be just as gorgeous and customizable as your homescreen? They’re all there for you to download and try. Check them out to see what kind of app you’re looking for; there are benefits to be had for all kinds of scenarios.
Benefits for Ministry
One of my favorite passages in Scripture is Acts 17. Paul makes his “Men of Athens” speech, addressing the philosophers and reasoners of their concerns with the authenticity of the Gospel he was preaching. In the speech, he points to an altar to “the unknown god.” Paul reasons that the God he is presenting is in fact, the God they did not know, quoting famous philosophers of his day to punch the point home. I love this passage because it shows us that even “secular” forms of art and reason still have the ability to reflect God’s truth because we are all made in God’s image.
If we expand this concept to our culture today, we take in all the various forms of media around us, and we choose to engage intentionally with the culture, as Paul did. I believe whether you’re using a lockscreen for it’s function, fashion, or original intent (device security), you can do so to God’s glory. Using these for their increased productivity could help you streamline your ministry, allowing you to do more things that much faster and easier. Appreciating them for their beauty and design screams back to a wonderful Designer we all know, love, and serve.
Personal Recommendation: Cover (Beta)
How dare I recommend a beta! I know, I know, but I have great reason to give you a heads up about this awesome lockscreen replacement app. It combines great functionality and gorgeous fashion into one of the best lockscreen replacements I’ve installed. The “market” for this app is to allow you to get the apps you need right on your homescreen when you use them the most. This is learned over time by Cover depending where you are (work, home, out, or in the car) and what apps you use in those locations.
When I press the lock button, Cover recommends Hangouts, Gmail, Play Music, Google Plus, and Facebook. When I go to work, it loads up Calendar, Evernote, Gmail, etc. Not only does it know when I want to use these apps, but gives me quick access to them via their Peek feature. By tapping on the icon of the app and swiping right, Cover will load that app (fairly quickly in most instances) and give you a “peek” of that app. The farther right you slide, the more of the app you see, until you’re fully unlocked and the app is open. All this plus customization via changing the wallpaper for each scenario (including day/night cycles) and ringtones per location.
The catch? It’s definitely a beta…which means that it’s not available on the play store just yet. You can sign up for the beta waiting list here if you’d like. It’s totally worth it.
Do you use a lockscreen replacement on your device? What and why? Do you use yours for function, fashion, or both?
crismas says
very nice…
Jesse Gruber says
Thanks a ton! Have you ever used a lockscreen replacement?
Mark says
Downloaded the app after reading your review and I love it. Thanks for the sweet recommendation.