The Android lockscreen prototype that will never be reality

According to reports from a Google ad Android Authoritythe android lock screen it should have been very different from the current one. Google has been working on one for some time smart and interactive lockscreen comparable to a full screen version of the widget At a Glance available on Google Pixel.

This lock screen design had to be implemented on already Android 11. At a later time, Google has decided to shelve the project and for now it does not seem willing to retrace its steps.

Android Authority has posted several screenshots of the UI as it was designed, with all the potential and unique features in plain sight. To a distracted eye it might appear similar to the current one, were it not for a button located in the center which allows you to expand the right controls at the right time. Yes, because the button would have been able to adapt to the context (eg at the time of day) and therefore to show useful information according to its predictions.

For example, it is likely that the user needs to log in at night home automation controls to switch on / adjust the lights, or to one shortcut to activate the alarm. Otherwise, with the earphones connected, the lockscreen would have been updated with the music playlistswhile at train stations / bus terminals it would display travel times to your favorite destinations.

It’s unclear why the new lockscreen never got beyond the prototyping stage. The most likely has to do with the privacy, since the information displayed may contain sensitive data; according to another hypothesis, however, the lack of adequate support from third-party apps would have been decisive.