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Twitter (Sorta) Buys a Lock Screen

Apr 7, 2014 09:36 PM

Apr 7, 2014 09:42 PM

Earlier this morning, Twitter announced (through a tweet, naturally) that it has acquired Cover, roughly a minute after Cover made the same announcement.

Collage of app icons representing integration between a checkmark, Twitter, and Android.

Cover Lock Screen, a lockscreen replacement app, has been vastly popular during its first year. The app places relevant shortcuts on your lockscreen that adapt to your habits, so whether you're at home, work, or in the car, you'll find the apps you use the most in these situations readily available for you. For more information on Cover, including setup and use, check out our guides for the Nexus 7 and Galaxy Note 2, although the app is usable for any Android device running Jelly Bean or higher (4.1+).

So, Is Twitter in the Lock Screen Business?

Technically, yes, since they did just acquire acquire a lock screen business, but why did they do it? It seems random that a social media company would buy a lock screen replacement app that's exclusive to Android. But then again, anyone remember Facebook Home?

I'm sure there aren't very many of you still rocking that app, the one thing that people actually liked about it was their lock screen. So while it's not outside the realm of possibility that Twitter will try to engrain itself into Cover somehow, a more likely scenario is that Cover may engrain itself into Twitter.

Aside from Cover's kick-ass features, it's just a great looking app—a definite sore spot for Twitter, as their Android app was notorious for being an absolute flop. Now, they've made strides—so much so that I ditched an app I paid for in favor of the official Twitter app—but that doesn't mean it can't get better. And that's where Cover, and more importantly Cover's design and development team, come in to play.

I'm no business pro, but the most likely scenario is that Twitter acquired some great talent, and got a fantastic lock screen replacement app as a bonus. I don't see Cover doing a lot for Twitter—forcing people's feeds onto their lock screens won't help either company—but Cover's design and Android knowledge can reap some serious benefits for Twitter.

Only time will tell at this point, but share your thoughts on the acquisition with us in the comment section below.

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