Opinion
Android rivals don’t have any answer to Samsung Good Lock
Android holds a large share of the global smartphone market compared to iOS and others. Specifically, Samsung is the leader in Android market with highest shipments. Rivals are giving tough competition to Samsung, but they don’t have any answer to One UI’s Good Lock.
Major Samsung rivals (in Android) include Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus, realme and vivo. Compared to Galaxy’s One UI software, the custom skins based on the Android operating system are significantly customizable, but, there is nothing like the Good Lock.
Other Android software skins such as MIUI, ColorOS and OxygenOS offer a lot of customization options to smartphones. Meanwhile, they (Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus, realme, vivo, even Apple iOS) don’t have any competitor to Samsung’s Good Lock service.
In case you are not a regular Samsung tracker, Good Lock is an application available on Galaxy Store for selected Galaxy devices and countries. Over time, the company introduced several additional plugins that make it a plenty useful customization suite.
Fine Lock (3rd party app)
Created by Samsung, the Good Lock and Galaxy Labs are official tools for customizing and optimizing Android experience on Samsung devices running Android/One UI software. The company is expanding availability but Galaxy Store in some markets still doesn’t let you download Good Lock app.
Even if you have them installed, they may not work at all. Fine Lock is here to solve the problem by acting like a launcher for Good Lock and Galaxy Labs modules. Fine Lock does not support Samsung devices running AOSP OS build, such as LineageOS.
Good Lock upgrades
The Good Lock app works like a manager of personalization modules and applications. Once opened, you will get dozens of plugins, letting you renovate different aspects of your Galaxy device as well as enable experimental features that are restricted by the operating system.
With the One UI 5.0 version, Samsung introduced four new apps/plugins to the Good Lock suite, which brings increment to the usability. The newly released Camera Assistant, Dropship, RegiStar, and Galaxy to Share are newcomers to the Good Lock app.
Apart from the newly added plugins, Good Lock already packed lots of modules and apps, which allow you to renovate your Galaxy device. Samsung’s One UI user interface can be customized in various ways, but the Good Lock removes every kind of restriction.
Here’s what Good Lock has to offer
Make Up Section
Theme Park: Samsung Theme Park app allows Galaxy smartphone users to easily and quickly create their own themes.
Pentastic: This module is supported by only Galaxy devices that have S Pen support. Using it, you can apply various styles to the S Pen menu.
Wonderland: There are a lot of wallpaper providers, however, Samsung Wonderland is an official way to give a 3D motion wallpaper with various effects on your Galaxy.
LockStar: This Good Lock plugin not only allows you to customize the lockscreen of your Galaxy device but also provides plenty of styles of always-on display feature.
KeysCafe: Using this Samsung app, you can create a keyboard that is optimized for you alongside different kinds of visual effects and colors.
NavStar: Conveniently organize the navigation bar and gesture mode.
HomeUp: For homescreen personalization of Galaxy devices, Samsung HomeUp module is the greatest solution. This plugin allows you to renovate your Galaxy’s homescreen in various ways and optimize it to your preference.
ClockFace: You can configure many different clock styles on the lockscreen and AOD, and customize the clock in any way you want.
QuickStar: It allows you to redesign the user interface of your Galaxy device’s Quick panel.
Life Up Section
NiceShot: NiceShot makes it possible to use features like screenshots and screen recording more conveniently.
NotiStar: Manage the notifications history easily.
EdgeTouch: It allows you to adjust settings for touch on edge screen easily.
NiceCatch: If you want to get rid of interrupting vibrations, NiceCatch module is here so you can look into the causes of unexplained actions.
One Hand Operation +: This module has different kinds of shortcuts and tools that make it easier to use your large screen with just a single hand.
Routines +: In the Bixby Routines, the Routines + module adds various features so you can create even more powerful Routines.
MultiStar: MultiStar service brings additional features and personalization options for the Multi window feature so you can have better experiences while multitasking.
Camera Assistant: It’s one of the newly added plugins to the Good Lock family. This module lets you customize your own camera settings to your preference.
RegiStar: With the help of RegiStar, Galaxy users can conveniently configure the Settings app and press the side key, tap the back, or press the screen strongly to quickly launch useful features.
Sound Assistant: It allows you to expand audio system settings and increase convenience.
Samsung’s relationship with Google is rock solid. Both companies collaborate on different products to benefit their consumer base. Is it the right time for Samsung to develop a Galaxy-dedicated OS or at least Android for Galaxy?
Google worked with Samsung to optimize Android for foldables and tablets. The company had even launched Android 12L, a version dedicated to large-screen devices. Now, Samsung should work with Google to optimize Android for Galaxy devices.
Samsung flagships are equipped with pro-grade hardware specifications. The company manages to optimize the One UI software accordingly. Meanwhile, there are still a lot of areas, that require significant improvements.
Benefits of Android for Galaxy
Samsung fine-tunes Android for Galaxy products. Meanwhile, Android for Galaxy will make things a lot better, eventually benefitting end users. It shouldn’t be the Tizen approach, but a collaborative progress.
Android optimized for Galaxy devices should allow users to enjoy the power and personalization of the OS. Its optimization level for Galaxy devices will offer faster app launches, performance improvements, and longer battery life.
Samsung owns Exynos, Galaxy AI, Good Lock, and a lot of stunning services. A combined approach can significantly uplevel the user experience. Functional capabilities would also be boosted, taking Galaxy’s experience to a whole new level.
Difficulties
Android’s presence is vast. It’s available across different brands including Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, and so on. Samsung is unquestionably the biggest Android vendor but Google could find it difficult to optimize Android for all Galaxies.
The Korean tech giant itself tests and deploys security updates on Galaxy devices. Various applications are already available with better features than Google services such as the Internet. Even Google takes inspiration from Galaxies to develop features for Pixel phones.
Samsung not only has flagship phones, but also brings budget, mid-range, and premium mid-range phones. These products use different hardware such as camera and processor, requiring a need for unified software. Just a collective approach is required to end all kinds of difficulties.
"Android for Galaxy" ❤️
Should Samsung & Google embark on this stunning journey?#Samsung #Android #OneUI pic.twitter.com/HT2S5xfzfV
— Sammy Fans – We ♥ Samsung! (@thesammyfans) August 29, 2024
Google’s Pixel 9 series is official with pretty new AI stuff. The most notable thing that changed with this year’s Pixel phones is the Android installation. I guess, Google took a sip of poison to push Samsung Galaxy’s Android OS superiority further.
Pixel 9 series comes with Android 14, rather than the latest OS. Pixel 8 series and later devices are supported by seven years of OS updates. However, the Pixel 9 will get one less Android upgrade than that it deserves to have.
Google’s decision puts the Pixel 9 together with last year’s Pixel 8 series. Both lineups will end their major upgrade life at Android 21. Well, Pixel phones are neither durable nor Google provides satisfactory support, so don’t expect more than 1 year of service.
The decision, however, aligns with Samsung’s superiority, let’s decode.
The Galaxy S25 series will be the first (imp) to come with Android 15 pre-installed. You can guess how things have been decided by downgrading the Pixel 9 lineup. As a Samsung fan, I always wanted H2 Galaxy products to come with the latest OS.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 also come with Android 14. The OS was released in October last year and is still arriving pre-installed. Google ultimately filled the OS gap between Galaxy foldables and Pixel phones at a cost of Pixel downgrade.
Android 15 might be released on the official channel in October as last year. Eligible Pixel phones will start getting the major firmware update. Samsung is also expected to begin the One UI 7 update rollout for Galaxy models by the end of October.
In the first phase, Samsung’s Android 15 will arrive on flagship phones. However, the Korean tech giant won’t make other users wait much. The One UI 7 update rollout may begin for all eligible Galaxy models before 2024 ends.
Samsung replicated Google’s promise of Android updates, but the plus point is that mid-range and budget Galaxy phones are eligible for at least four major OS upgrades. The upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 will also be honored with 7 major Android updates.
The Korean tech giant offers the longest software update support in the Android industry. Google’s OS update promise starts from the Pixel 8 series. While mid-range and budget Samsung phones get four Android updates, the premium Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 will get 7.
Earlier this year, Samsung launched the Galaxy S24 series smartphones. The lineup is guaranteed for at least seven OS upgrades. The strategy was earlier expected to be applied to Galaxy A55, but the company kept it limited to the flagship phones.
Samsung doesn’t officially consider Galaxy Z as flagship lineup, but it’s the most premium segment. All the novelties that Galaxy S receives also come to foldable phones. Therefore, it’s certain that the company will support its upcoming Galaxy Z phones for 7 years.
Will they survive 7 years?
Sporting a foldable display entirely ends the discussion of longevity. Besides, the pre-applied screen protection film starts to damage within a year of normal usage. Samsung’s innovative foldables are available internationally but support isn’t.
Samsung Care+ plan is also offered by the phone maker for additional protection. However, it still requires the owner to pay the processing fee, which isn’t considerable. Also, the Care+ plan doesn’t cover the Samsung-slapped screen protector film.
So if the Korean phone maker is willing for longer software support, it should rather offer a two-year replacement guarantee on manufacture defects. It would push consumers to prefer foldable phones as they won’t have to worry about display concerns.
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