If there’s one thing we love about Android, it’s that ability to customize just about everything that those using the platform are always telling is the reason it is so popular. There’s something to be said for Apple’s walled garden and the amount of control it likes to have over everything, but sometimes it’s just nice to be able to fiddle around with your smartphone, isn’t it?
Cover, currently available for download but still in beta, is a prime example of something that would never be entertained on iOS but is the epitomy of why people love Android so much. In fact, we’d go so far as to say we’d love to see this kind of thing come to both iOS and Windows Phone too, though we won’t be holding our breaths for that.
At its most simple level, Cover is a lock screen replacement for Android smartphones. Calling it that does its developer a disservice though, because it’s much more than that.
While having the right apps available on the lock screen is something that other third-party solutions have been trying to do for a while, Cover’s approach of doing that based on your location and context is something that can prove truly useful and that’s why we’re such big fans of it.
The idea is a simple one on the surface – Cover lets your phone alter its state based on where you are. If you’re at work the chances are you’re going to want a different lock screen to when you’re sat at home watching the big game. You’ll need different information and different apps at your finger tips. and that’s why Cover will do its best to adapt to those situations.
It’s not just about changing some icons either. Cover will let users ‘peak’ into apps from the lock screen, meaning that seeing the latest Twitter updates is only a swipe away. The idea is a great one, and the app’s promotional video certainly does enough to whet the appetite.
We’ll be keeping a beady eye on Cover as it matures, and we suggest you do too.
You can download Cover for Android from the Google Play Store here.
Make sure to check out our Android Apps gallery to explore more apps for your Android device.
You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the Web.