Android 16 to bring lock screen widgets this year
Google has announced that lock screen widgets are coming to Android phones with the release of Android 16 later this year. This feature, previously available on the Pixel Tablet, will expand to phones and more tablet devices.
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By default, all widgets will be compatible with the lock screen, although developers will have the option to disable this functionality. For security, actions that trigger app launches will require user authentication via fingerprint, PIN, or face unlock.
The announcement, made on the Android Developers Blog, confirms that lock screen widgets will be integrated into the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) in the first quarterly update following the Android 16 launch, expected in late summer. Android 16 itself is currently in beta and scheduled for a June release.
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While the lock screen widget feature is not yet active in the latest Android 16 beta, Mishaal Rahman of Android Authority managed to enable it early. He discovered that, unlike the Pixel Tablet’s swipe-right access, the phone implementation is currently tied to Android’s screensaver mode, requiring the device to be charging or docked. However, Google notes that hardware manufacturers can customize the trigger mechanism, suggesting potential variations in the final release.
Another difference lies in the widget display. On phones, widgets are stacked vertically, allowing only a few to be visible at a time, requiring users to swipe through them. This contrasts with the Pixel Tablet’s two-row grid layout.
Crédito: Link de origem