Microsoft is rolling out a nice update to their lock screen app, Next Lock Screen, that brings a lot of improvements to the app. The biggest new feature in the app, which is now up to version 3.10.3 for those keeping score, is the expansion of fingerprint scanner support to a much wider range of Android phones. The support for fingerprint scanners has been in the app for a few months now but it was very limited on the number of devices that it would work on. Indeed most people didn’t even know it was there in the app. This update greatly expands the number of devices that can now use the scanner to unlock the phone. In testing it this morning, it works on my Nexus 6P and my Nextbit Robin, two devices that were not supported in the previous release.
This update to Next Lock Screen also brings other improvements. There is improved GPU performance and a reduction in the memory usage of the app along with several minor bug fixes. One
Microsoft’s Next Lock Screen
thing that was either a bug or a “feature” in the previous build was the lack of the volume control shown on the lock screen. If you pressed the volume up or down key and had Next Lock Screen running, you wouldn’t see the volume control. That has been addressed and you now see the volume control at the top of the screen with the app running.
For those new to the app, there are also several new tutorials to show you how to use it and configure it so you can get the most out of it.
Next Lock Screen is a free app and it provides a wealth of information to you when your device is locked. If you haven’t checked it out before, take a look at it and give it a try. It’s a pretty handy app, especially if you are a heavy Microsoft apps and services user.
