Second Look: Front Contacts – Make Calls & See Recent Calls from the iPhone Lock Screen (jailbreak only)
I took an initial look at Front Contacts a couple of weeks back. It’s an interesting app that lets you do several things involving the Phone app right on your lock screen – such as:
- Make a call
- See your Recent Calls
- Search for a contact
- Pull up the Phone keypad to dial a number
When I first gave it a go it ended causing me some springboard crashes and instability, and I uninstalled it. The app’s developer was kind enough to let me know when it was updated and fixed, about four days ago – so I’ve been trying out the new version
I’m happy to say the new version has been stable and good. It hasn’t caused a single crash or issue for me so far after four days.
If you’re heavy user of the phone portion of your iPhone, and you’re jailbroken, this may be a very attractive app for you – as it’s pretty cool to be able to interact with your Recent Calls list and your Phone Favorites right from the lock screen. Check out my first post on the app for more details and sceenshots of it:
You can grab Front Contacts in the Cydia app store, where it’s priced at $3.99.
Thanks for the review. I have some questions.
Are you now able to use Front Contacts with Lockinfo? What happens to Lockinfo when you call up Front Contacts? Do you have to be using Lockinfo Cydget to make this all work?
Thanks.
LockInfo and Front Contacts are independent of each other, so there are no problems in using both together. They do actually complement each other nicely. I've been using both ever since I first plugged FC on my lockscreen.
I'm no longer using LockInfo, as I just didn't need it. So no, you do not have to be using LockInfo for this one to work.
Thanks. I read a comment that Front Contacts can't be used with Clock Hide? Is this true? Also, what happens to Lockinfo when Front Contacts is called up? Is Lockinfo used as a cydget also?
Clock Hide works with Front Contacts as of version 1.1.
In order to make Front Contacts and LockInfo show up on the lockscreen, you need to install the LockInfo Cydget package. Then, check Settings > Cydget and order as you wish. The default screen after you install cydget is pretty explanatory about how it works.
Thanks for the update…held off due to your initial review. This would be a nice convenience feature for me. I do actually TALK on my 3GS from time to time, so being able to do this without having to unlock the phone would be lovely! Going to grab right now! Thanks for the folow-up PJ!
My pleasure – hope i works well for you. Using your phone for talking though – outrageous
Working great thus far. This is actually my first venture into the cydget department. I suspect i'll probably give a few other ones a look now!
Good stuff. I haven't used many either, but like the idea.
A former BlackBerry user asked me if there's an app that displays they have mail without sliding to unlock (BlackBerry apparently has blinking light to draw attention to the device). I don't know of any non-jb apps do you?
I prefer Notifier – icons can be placed on the lock screen so that when they are touched, it opens the corresponding native app: mail, phone, calendar, message. The icons can be large or small and best of all… the app is free!
It doesn't show recent call list, but with one touch, I can get it.
It's actually because or your emails, Jay, that I've become a user of the Notifier on lock screen crowd. Hahahah
Where can i find this app? i cant seem to find it in the store!
It is a jailbreak only app. You need to be jailbroken and looking in Cydia / other jailbreak app stores.
when will it compatible with ios 4.1
u have an amazin wallpaper how can i get that?