Summary

  • Lock screen widgets for Android phones are set to be launched this year, according to a blog post on the Android Developers Blog.
  • The facility has been available on the Pixel Tablet for some time, but Google is now extending the option to phones and other tablets.
  • All widgets will be available on the lock screen by default, although developers will have the option to switch this facility off.
  • Some functions, such as triggering an app, will only be available following authentication through facial or fingerprint recognition.
  • The change is set to be incorporated into the Android Open Source Project in the third quarter of this year.
  • At present, the functionality is only available through the Android 16 beta, and only displays when the phone is charging.

By Dominic Preston

Original Article