14 DAY TRIAL // The Windows 10 lock screen comes with a new feature called Windows Spotlight that can be configured by any user to occasionally change the background and offer a variety of suggestions, including for features that are bundled into the operating system.
A concept published on Behance by designer Can Aslan imagines an evolved version of Windows Spotlight that would use the lock screen in a much more effective way to show high-quality backgrounds and to showcase important moments from Microsoft’s history or even to highlight the best of some of the products the firm has to offer.
While these could easily be considered ads, and we all know what the majority of users think about advertisements on their Windows 10 computers, such an approach could help Microsoft not only promote its products but also raise awareness on a range of topics, such as wildlife conservation. All without giving up on high-resolution wallpapers, that is.
Lumia photos on the lock screen
One interesting idea, however, concerns the Lumia series of phones which, according to people with knowledge of the matter, could go dark as soon as this December.
The designer explains that the lock screen could show photos taken with Lumia and thus promote Windows 10 Mobile devices, as they’re already praised for their cameras. “Content may be selected through contests, which would further expand the already exception user engagement,” the designer explains.
And while this is a good idea, the dropping market share of Windows 10 Mobile and the decreasing user base might not help too much in this case, as such contests would need thousands of participants to make sense in the long term.
Still, this concept is worth a look, especially because Microsoft can always refine the idea a little bit more with its own personal touch, but don’t expect the company to try out an approach that gets so close to the ad concept on the lock screen.
