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Widget Locker and CM7/Gingerbread-Evo-Deck

I used to have Widget Locker before I started rooting and using custom ROMs on my EVO 4G, and it worked very well.
I have tried CM7 and Gingerbread-EVO-Deck(1.2), and both have issues with Widget Locker. This first is that not all widgets function properly. I can deal with that and make adjustments. The second, however, is that the "native" unlock screen stays active, so that I actually have to unlock and then unlock again to access the phone. Any ideas for fixes? Or is this just an incompatability with AOSP Gingerbread ROMs?

mevensen said:
I used to have Widget Locker before I started rooting and using custom ROMs on my EVO 4G, and it worked very well.
I have tried CM7 and Gingerbread-EVO-Deck(1.2), and both have issues with Widget Locker. This first is that not all widgets function properly. I can deal with that and make adjustments. The second, however, is that the "native" unlock screen stays active, so that I actually have to unlock and then unlock again to access the phone. Any ideas for fixes? Or is this just an incompatability with AOSP Gingerbread ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, here's where it gets tricky, but not so much.
I found a way to make the WidgetLocker lockscreen completely replace the stock lockscreen and to make the volume keys work without waking the phone.
A little background info: The stock lockscreen is what prevents the volume buttons from turning on the screen (ie when you're highering/lowering volume of music with the screen off). Once you disable the stock lockscreen, using the volume keys will turn on the screen. Here's how to fix everything:
1. Disable the stock lockscreen in CyanogenMod/Advanced Settings -> Tablet Tweaks -> Disable lockscreen.
2. In WidgetLocker settings, go into, I believe the Behavior menu, and check the Allow Volume Control (or whatever it's called).
3. Download ButtonRemapper. Open it up and find Volume Up and Volume Down. It'll say "W" next to them. Change it to NONE. Hit apply, your phone will Hot Reboot. Even if you decide to stop using WidgetLocker and use the stock lockscreen instead, you shouldn't need to change these back since the stock lockscreen disables volume button waking anyway.
4. Enable Root Helper in WidgetLocker settings so that there isn't a delay when turning the screen on and off.
The only "issue" is that when you first turn on/reboot the phone, you'll hit the homescreen, since the homescreen is disabled and WidgetLocker starts up after the phone turns on. But that's it. After that, everything works perfectly.
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Which widgets aren't behaving properly? There are some settings in WidgetLocker to disable the "Dragging Disabled" tooltip and to adjust widget space and disable widget interaction, etc. Just look through; it took me a while to notice.

Product F(RED) said:
Ok, here's where it gets tricky, but not so much.
I found a way to make the WidgetLocker lockscreen completely replace the stock lockscreen and to make the volume keys work without waking the phone.
A little background info: The stock lockscreen is what prevents the volume buttons from turning on the screen (ie when you're highering/lowering volume of music with the screen off). Once you disable the stock lockscreen, using the volume keys will turn on the screen. Here's how to fix everything:
1. Disable the stock lockscreen in CyanogenMod/Advanced Settings -> Tablet Tweaks -> Disable lockscreen.
2. In WidgetLocker settings, go into, I believe the Behavior menu, and check the Allow Volume Control (or whatever it's called).
3. Download ButtonRemapper. Open it up and find Volume Up and Volume Down. It'll say "W" next to them. Change it to NONE. Hit apply, your phone will Hot Reboot. Even if you decide to stop using WidgetLocker and use the stock lockscreen instead, you shouldn't need to change these back since the stock lockscreen disables volume button waking anyway.
4. Enable Root Helper in WidgetLocker settings so that there isn't a delay when turning the screen on and off.
The only "issue" is that when you first turn on/reboot the phone, you'll hit the homescreen, since the homescreen is disabled and WidgetLocker starts up after the phone turns on. But that's it. After that, everything works perfectly.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Which widgets aren't behaving properly? There are some settings in WidgetLocker to disable the "Dragging Disabled" tooltip and to adjust widget space and disable widget interaction, etc. Just look through; it took me a while to notice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a bunch, I'll try those sugggestions out.

Tried disabling the lock screen, seemed to work. The only trouble with this solution is that disabling the lock screen also disables the security (passcode/password).
Thanks again.

mevensen said:
Tried disabling the lock screen, seemed to work. The only trouble with this solution is that disabling the lock screen also disables the security (passcode/password).
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's definitely a way to use a password, although I don't know if it requires disabling the lockscreen. It's in the WidgetLocker FAQ.

Product F(RED) said:
There's definitely a way to use a password, although I don't know if it requires disabling the lockscreen. It's in the WidgetLocker FAQ.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, I found it.
With non-Sense, the WidgetLocker will hit the second unlock screen if you use a password/passcode. It will work with an unlock pattern, however.
In my case, this doesn't really help, as my work e-mail requires a password/passcode, and does not allow patterns.
Thanks, again.

Google Maps/Navigator - How Can I Set This Up?

I have been using Google Navigation, which is a great app but which is a huge battery hog - particularly with the screen on.
(Lets assume for the moment I dont have a car charger available)
I understand that Google Nav can be used with the screen off, and the voice commands will still work. This helps significantly with the battery life.
At certain points I would like to actually see the map/screen, but in between can leave the screen off and follow voice commands.
Here is my question - currently if I turn off my screen by pressing the side power button, it should keep navigation voice directions active with the screen off (I think...correct?).
But when I press this button to turn it back on, it goes to my lock screen (in my case I use WidgetLocker). From there I would need to manually navigate back to the Navigator App. While driving, going through this series of steps is not ideal.
How can I set things up so that the screen times out or I switch it off with the power button, but that when re-activated it goes straight to the Navigation app screen with no needed intermediate steps?
I am on stock setup - not rooted.
Thanks.

lirong said:
I have been using Google Navigation, which is a great app but which is a huge battery hog - particularly with the screen on.
(Lets assume for the moment I dont have a car charger available)
I understand that Google Nav can be used with the screen off, and the voice commands will still work. This helps significantly with the battery life.
At certain points I would like to actually see the map/screen, but in between can leave the screen off and follow voice commands.
Here is my question - currently if I turn off my screen by pressing the side power button, it should keep navigation voice directions active with the screen off (I think...correct?).
But when I press this button to turn it back on, it goes to my lock screen (in my case I use WidgetLocker). From there I would need to manually navigate back to the Navigator App. While driving, going through this series of steps is not ideal.
How can I set things up so that the screen times out or I switch it off with the power button, but that when re-activated it goes straight to the Navigation app screen with no needed intermediate steps?
I am on stock setup - not rooted.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try disabling Widget locker before entering navigation. See if you get the same results with the stock lock screen.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

lirong said:
Here is my question - currently if I turn off my screen by pressing the side power button, it should keep navigation voice directions active with the screen off (I think...correct?).
But when I press this button to turn it back on, it goes to my lock screen (in my case I use WidgetLocker). From there I would need to manually navigate back to the Navigator App.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use WidgetLocker.
If I turn the screen off using the power button, I still get voice commands.
If I turn the screen on, I get WidgetLocker and unlock it with the simple swipe, then I'm back at the GPS screen as if I'd never left it.

Hmmm that doesnt work for me. Could be because my WidgetLocker screen is covered with email, calendar, etc. So anywhere I try to swipe ends up taking me directly an app or an email, rather than just swiping off the screen...
Is there no way to set up so that for a particular app, lock screen / widget locker just dont activate so the phone goes from standby straight into the app?
CZ Eddie said:
I use WidgetLocker.
If I turn the screen off using the power button, I still get voice commands.
If I turn the screen on, I get WidgetLocker and unlock it with the simple swipe, then I'm back at the GPS screen as if I'd never left it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You can configure widgetlocker to prevent clicks on those apps you have on the lockscreen
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

CZ Eddie said:
You can configure widgetlocker to prevent clicks on those apps you have on the lockscreen
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.
But most of the time I want that click through capability. I dont think I would want it to be off. I was just pointing out that this is the reason a simple swipe from that screen isnt feasible for me in getting straight back to Navigation...

Google Nav will overlay the built-in lock screen, but Widget Locker will show up. If you have a bunch of widgets that allow interaction you can try turning on the back button unlock in settings:
Settings->Buttons & Inputs->Back Button Unlock
You can then set the unlock delay to suit. That way you can unlock while in Nav without using the sliders.

This suggestion worked. Thanks very much for your help.
Thinking about it I guess if I had the space I could also add the Nav icon to WidgetLocker and get to it that way directly as well.
Appreciate everyone's input.
marvin02 said:
Google Nav will overlay the built-in lock screen, but Widget Locker will show up. If you have a bunch of widgets that allow interaction you can try turning on the back button unlock in settings:
Settings->Buttons & Inputs->Back Button Unlock
You can then set the unlock delay to suit. That way you can unlock while in Nav without using the sliders.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] Jelly Bean Lock Screen - Allow slide and pattern?

I just updated from Gingerbread to Jelly Bean. In GB I had the pattern set on the lock screen. After I input the pattern, it would require me to swipe to unlock. At the time I thought this was annoying that I had to do both.
With Jelly Bean, the lock screen shows the weather and calendar as well as allowing me to swipe in different directions to access different apps. I love this new feature. However, I also want my phone to be secured so I would like to have the pattern security on. Ideally when pressing the power button I would be presented with the "slide" lock screen with the calendar/weather and choice of sliding a direction for apps. Then when I slide to unlock or go to an app, it would ask for the pattern security before letting me in. This would allow me to secure the phone and entire directly where I want to go. It would also allow me to quickly see the weather info or calendar without entering a pattern first.
Does anyone know if this is possible to do? I love the slide lock screen options, but I feel the need to secure the phone with a pattern/pin/password as well.

It pretty much works just like you described. The only exception being that after you enter the pattern lock you don't have to swipe.

mcavoya said:
It pretty much works just like you described. The only exception being that after you enter the pattern lock you don't have to swipe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know, but I'd like to have the swipe screen there first. That way I can swipe directly into an app and/or see the calendar/weather before I have to draw the pattern. So when I press the power button, I'd like to be presented with the swipe screen first, then after swiping to an app or to unlock, it would ask me to supply the pattern/password/pin. That way, I would get the advantages of the swipe screen and the security of the pattern/password/pin.
I'm just wondering if there is a way to force it to work like this, but I'm guessing there isn't.

docmattman said:
I just updated from Gingerbread to Jelly Bean. In GB I had the pattern set on the lock screen. After I input the pattern, it would require me to swipe to unlock. At the time I thought this was annoying that I had to do both.
With Jelly Bean, the lock screen shows the weather and calendar as well as allowing me to swipe in different directions to access different apps. I love this new feature. However, I also want my phone to be secured so I would like to have the pattern security on. Ideally when pressing the power button I would be presented with the "slide" lock screen with the calendar/weather and choice of sliding a direction for apps. Then when I slide to unlock or go to an app, it would ask for the pattern security before letting me in. This would allow me to secure the phone and entire directly where I want to go. It would also allow me to quickly see the weather info or calendar without entering a pattern first.
Does anyone know if this is possible to do? I love the slide lock screen options, but I feel the need to secure the phone with a pattern/pin/password as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey jelly bean also has a pattern lockscreen option along with 3 more types of lock screen,check settings and choose best one

Is there a second lockscreen app?

So I would like to have a lockscreen similar to the standard swipe to unlock (without pin). My problem is that I have mandatory encryption on my device, so it requires a pin lockdown within at least 14 minutes. But when using this option, powering on before 14 minutes goes straight to the home screen instead of a simple swipe with no pin. I would like a swipe requirement so that my phone wont go ape in my pocket while I am playing golf. Since disabling the home power-on is not an option, I was hoping there might be a secondary swipe to unlock app out there. Anyone know of such an animal?

Nevermind! Found an awesome app called widget locker that does exactly what I needed!

Tested Smart Unlock with NFC tags

So I bought a few cheap nfc tags from China and used one for the Smart Unlock. Since mxp doesn't have fingerprint sensor, I guess having a Skip alike thing would be the next best thing. Very easy to setup, just go to Security menu, Smart Unlock (you must have pin or pattern lock), add Trusted Devices, pick NFC then put the tag behind the phone. Give it a name and thats it. The only hassle with this unlocking method is you have to wake up the phone then only it will read the tag. Skip has a magnet built in that wakes up the phone automatically. Oh and another not so good thing is you have to lock the phone using the power button in order for the unlock to work. Whenever I lock using Nova's Screen Lock or Greenify's Hibernate and Lock, it just didn't work.

Update on diy skip. Now I no longer needs to press the power button to lock/unlock the phone. With root access, use Tasker and Secure Settings plugin to emulate power button press when display is off (run command - input keyevent 26). Then use Nova launcher's screen lock shortcut gesture (double tap, swipe up/down etc) to complete the process. I have a small magnet taped to the nfc tag, so when I slowly swipe from the side, the magnet wakes up the screen and then nfc takes over to unlock.

pijes said:
Skip has a magnet built in that wakes up the phone automatically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Pijes, I didn't understand what do you mean by Skip or magnet. Could you explain? Thanks!

You broght it from taobao?

quera said:
Hi Pijes, I didn't understand what do you mean by Skip or magnet. Could you explain? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Motorola has a product called Skip which utilize the NFC chip to bypass the lockscreen. If you have been using some Moto phones, you should know that most of them has a magnetic sensor that is used for the docking (older Moto phones have dock accessories). The dock has a tiny magnet that when the phone detects it, it automatically turns the phone into a desk clock or navigation mode when attached to a car dock if I'm not mistaken. It seems that Moto maintains this sensor in newer phones, it is located at the back and in MXP case, somewhere in the center. If you have Skip, you attach it to your belt so when you pull the phone out from your pocket, all you need is a swipe on Skip and the phone is unlocked. I believe what happens is the phone detects the magnet, wakes up the phone (still locked) and then it detects the NFC tag inside Skip to unlock.
So I bought some NFC tags, got small magnet from my busted laptop hard disk, taped them together and attach it to my belt. If you don't have the magnet it is still possible to tap on the NFC tag to unlock but you have to enable Moto Display. When you pull your phone out, you'll see the clock, swipe down to get to the lockscreen (pin/pattern/password lock) and then tap on the tag to unlock.

eliccs said:
You broght it from taobao?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not directly from TaoBao but surely from China

Anyone else with experiences ? I was able to register the nfc tag but unlocking on the pattern lock screen didnt work. There was a sound when putting the nfc tag behind the device (so i guess somehow the nfc reader worked) but the unlock failed.
Maybe its only working if i have some special services switched on?

aVe2000 said:
Anyone else with experiences ? I was able to register the nfc tag but unlocking on the pattern lock screen didnt work. There was a sound when putting the nfc tag behind the device (so i guess somehow the nfc reader worked) but the unlock failed.
Maybe its only working if i have some special services switched on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you lock the phone? By pressing the power button or a shortcut app?

pijes said:
How did you lock the phone? By pressing the power button or a shortcut app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually the power button. Sometimes maybe because of the auto lock after some seconds (i set it to 30). I am not sure what you mean with shortcut app.

aVe2000 said:
Usually the power button. Sometimes maybe because of the auto lock after some seconds (i set it to 30). I am not sure what you mean with shortcut app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Our phone has a default app that detects the nfc chip, it's called Tags. I believe this app made the sound, if you're at the home screen (unlocked) and place the tag at the back of the phone you'll hear a sound and a popup message asking what to do even if you already registered the tag for smart unlock. I disabled this app to get rid of the sound and notification.
What I mean with the shortcut app is something like double tap to sleep or lock the phone. Greenify and Nova launcher app also has a shortcut to lock the screen. If you use this method to lock the phone, smart unlock won't work.

pijes said:
Our phone has a default app that detects the nfc chip, it's called Tags. I believe this app made the sound, if you're at the home screen (unlocked) and place the tag at the back of the phone you'll hear a sound and a popup message asking what to do even if you already registered the tag for smart unlock. I disabled this app to get rid of the sound and notification.
What I mean with the shortcut app is something like double tap to sleep or lock the phone. Greenify and Nova launcher app also has a shortcut to lock the screen. If you use this method to lock the phone, smart unlock won't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if my phone detects a nearby nfc, even if it is registered with smart lock, there is a black screen only saying:
new tag detected
empty tag
(or similiar, i have a german version). There is no menu, no arrows nothing. Only those two text fields. I cannot find an app called Tags (via autostarts tool or settings|apps list).

aVe2000 said:
if my phone detects a nearby nfc, even if it is registered with smart lock, there is a black screen only saying:
new tag detected
empty tag
(or similiar, i have a german version). There is no menu, no arrows nothing. Only those two text fields. I cannot find an app called Tags (via autostarts tool or settings|apps list).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In settings-Apps screen, press the 3 dot menu and choose show system

Can someone enlighten me why this is useful? I mean, if you have Tasker and root you can use Secure Settings to unlock by WLAN or location (in LP that is), and if you are going to literally stick the key on the back of the device, why even set a lock at all? I would understand if the tag was in your wallet or your jacket or on your desk, but literally on the device?

Who said about sticking the key on the back of the device?

Oh, the magnet is just to wake up the screen. I must have read over that too quickly.

I want to apologize. I was wrong about not working my nfc tags. I simply missed that pretty little detail: nearing the nfc tag while in lock screen. I always tried to unlock while beeing in the screen before the unlock screen.
So, everything is fine now. I am using a stylish nfc ring beeing very happy with it.
Update, 2.2.2016: No, not everything is fine. I came across a bug or intended feature. The lock functionality is disabled after some time not using the phone, according to this:
this is a lollipop behavior.
According to this, nephiel made a workaround for at least MM.
Here is the bug report for this issue.
Does anyone else use the nfc ring or another nfc tag for unlocking?
Regards.