I'm looking for a good android lock screen.
Desiderata
- Lock screen with some form of security - e.g. pattern lock
- What I'd really like here is a pattern lock that does NOT require me to swipe, then swipe again for the pattern.
- Lock screen can show me my calendar agenda
- Lock screen can show me the time
- Lock screen can do other lock-screen-esque things, like pause music, show new SMS's, missed calls, etc.
- Lock screen should include 'if found please call' information.
- Lock screen should include 'emergency dial' capability (but protected somehow so I don't pocket-dial).
Options
- Executive Assistant is a well implemented app that does most of what I want.
- myLock is looks like it is heading the right direction. Not sure it does everything I want yet, but is pretty close, and is open source so I might be able to make it do exactly what I want.
Previous attempts
I had a rooted HTC Hero rom installed previously. With that ROM I was able to make the lock screen transparent and put all the widgets I wanted on the home screen. I then used HomeSeek to make sure that the main home screen was showing behind the lock screen. This was good in that it showed my what I wanted without losing any of the standard Hero lock-screen functionality. It wasn't perfect however it in that it still required a double-unlock; I had to swipe down and then do the pattern unlock.
Current Thoughts
If I had freedom to design my own lock screen, I'd take myLock, and use the 'widget embedding' version. Embedding widgets allows me to get most of the other functionality without having to put it in the lockscreen app itself. I'd then use the android gestures API and put a GestureOverlayView over the top. The lock screen would unlock when the user enters the correct gesture.
This gives me more flexibility with the unlock gesture. It means that I don't have to swipe to get the 'pattern lock' screen - the front screen is the gesture lock screen.