Sorry, Samsung, I nonetheless do not need to use Good Lock

In 2023, Samsung fully modified its Galaxy Z Flip collection when it expanded the duvet display and turned it into the Flex Window. It made notifications simpler to work together with, widgets extra helpful, and even introduced fully-fledged app assist to the entrance of the Galaxy Z Flip 5 — effectively, no less than for a small handful of apps. For all the pieces else, you needed to set up Good Lock and soar via a collection of hoops to create a second app drawer.

I complained concerning the unusual setup on the time however figured it was a one-year hiccup that Samsung would repair as soon as it had extra time to fine-tune its Flex Window expertise. Boy, was I incorrect, so right here we go once more. Sorry, Samsung, I nonetheless don’t need to use Good Lock on the Galaxy Z Flip 6 — no less than not for this.

Truthfully, my downside with apps on Samsung’s Flex Window isn’t one among optimization. It’s one among entry. I don’t thoughts that Samsung hasn’t gone and made a bunch of apps work completely on its oddly formed cowl display, because it solely has management over its first-party choices — none of which I take advantage of. Nonetheless, splitting its app drawer into two items and hiding them in two separate locations makes for a studying curve that’s only a bit too steep.

On one hand, you’ve got apps that Samsung formally helps on the Flex Window — so few that you can in all probability depend them on one hand. The toggle to entry these is hidden within the Labs part of the Settings app, which is totally separate from the Flex Window settings. Once I obtained there, I used to be greeted with an app drawer that held Messages, YouTube, and Google Maps, and that’s it. Not precisely a well-stocked drawer.

For all the pieces else, you continue to want Good Lock — or no less than one small a part of it. I remembered that a lot from my time with the Galaxy Z Flip 5, however I couldn’t keep in mind which one of many many Good Lock elements truly opened up entry to the app drawer (it’s referred to as MultiStar, by the way in which). Nothing inside Good Lock jumps out and screams, “Add me to your Galaxy Z Flip; I’ve apps!” As a substitute, I had to return and reference my information on accessing any app on the Flex Window — I actually wrote the information and couldn’t keep in mind methods to do it.

If Samsung streamlined the method and tell us within the Labs menu that its app assist isn’t excellent and that quirky layouts typically happen, that will be superb. I don’t assume anybody minds that apps designed for tall, skinny shows don’t work fairly proper on quick, large ones, however I’ve by no means met anybody who wished that they had two app drawers as a substitute of 1.

Don’t get me incorrect; there are many different causes to make use of Good Lock on a Samsung Galaxy gadget. The app is break up into two tabs, Make Up and Life Up, which allow you to customise the look and accessibility of your cellphone, respectively. They mix for round 20 completely different wrinkles that in all probability make the Galaxy S24 collection, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and even some funds Samsung telephones higher — it’s simply an odd place for Samsung to cover one thing vital to its Galaxy Z Flip 6.

In truth, I’ve used each Theme Park and LockStar from the Make Up part to make my latest Samsung units really feel somewhat bit much less generic. Good Lock even has an possibility referred to as Edge Lighting Plus, which helps you to make notifications extra fascinating — even when Samsung has basically given up on curved shows. This isn’t even bearing on the truth that the Life Up part provides choices for extra sophisticated routines, richer management over your cellphone’s sound, or the flexibility to make your cellphone simpler to make use of with one hand.

Positive, you can argue that any of those Good Lock options I’ve talked about deserves to be a part of Samsung’s commonplace settings menu. I in all probability would agree — like I mentioned, I take advantage of a few of them myself. I’m simply saying that, to me, entry to apps on the Flex Window shouldn’t contain a visit to the Galaxy Retailer (or, lengthy overdue, the Play Retailer).

And, I do know, if Samsung’s quirky setup had been the one sport on the town, I wouldn’t have as a lot room to complain. Good Lock would nonetheless be an additional hoop to leap via, however what different possibility would I’ve? The issue is, it’s not the one possibility — there’s one other flip cellphone in the marketplace that handles its cowl display precisely as I feel Samsung ought to, and it’s referred to as the Motorola Razr Plus.

Motorola places all its cowl display settings in a single easy-to-access place, placing your panels, most well-liked music participant, and even creator-specific instruments on one display. Proper in the course of that intensive menu of settings is a vital button labeled App Settings. It does precisely what you assume it ought to — offer you entry to which apps you need to see in your cowl display app drawer and which of them you’d fairly save for the interior show. There’s no experimental options menu to dig via, neither is there an additional app to obtain, only a fast set of toggles for each app already in your cellphone.

If Samsung needs to make its Flex Window simpler and, by extension, extra fulfilling to make use of, it ought to comply with Motorola’s lead. The Razr Plus’ cowl display is simply as quirky — apps have to search out their means round a pair of digicam cutouts fairly than match inside an oddly formed panel — but Motorola is keen to provide them free rein of the area. The Batwing model even programmed a toggle to drive apps above the cameras ought to that you must entry the buttons they’d usually block. It’s not an ideal answer, but it simply beats Samsung’s inflexibility.

Sadly, I get the sinking feeling that Samsung will keep on with its weapons, no less than for a bit longer. It’s already been sluggish to make vital modifications to its foldable telephones through the years as a result of most individuals nonetheless haven’t used one, so I’d be shocked to see it take the initiative to repair one thing that isn’t technically damaged — or till Apple lastly jumps into the area. Till it does, although, I’ll attain for the Motorola Razr Plus at any probability.