10 awesome features custom skins have that stock Android does not (but should!)

We tend to like stock Android much more than custom skins. It usually works better, it’s more fluid, makes more sense. But while that is the general case, there are plenty of things we like in custom skins as well.

Actually some of them seem like such obvious things that we can only point a finger at Google and wonder why the company has not yet included them to the stock Android. Some of them are no-brainers, others are just brilliant ideas, and yet others would boost productivity a great deal.

What are those features we sorely miss in stock Android? Here are 10 awesome ideas from Samsung’s TouchWiz, HTC Sense, the LG Optimus UI and Sony’s Timescape UI, we wish Google would incorporate in Android faster. Check them out below and don’t hesitate to let us know which are your favorites in the comments!

Cool features custom skins have that stock Android does not (but should!)

1. Send location from text - Samsung TouchWiz

Now, this is just a no brainer - you should be able to easily send your location via a text message. The implications of this could be enormous - imagine an accident happened, and you need to send your location ASAP. You won’t have the time to look for the right app, it has to be quick. In Samsung’s latest TouchWiz you can simply attach your location in a text message. And boom, hit send and you are done.

2. Camera tweaks - Slow Motion video recording - HTC Sense

Slow motion is more of a camera feature than a software trick, and we guess it is HTC’s new ImageChip that makes it possible. But we just love this option since the time we first saw it on a phone in the LG Viewty in 2007. Slow motion video is our second pick we wish came to stock Android, either via a mandated ImageChip for devices, or a software trick, just make it happen, Google.

3. Multi-window mode - Samsung TouchWiz

We have this dream of using our smartphone as our only computing device. Come home and hook it up to an HDMI monitor and Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. But with no multi-window mode serious productivity is severely crippled. We have seen experts complain about this in Windows 8, and we whole-heartedly agree with that critic. Now, Android is no computing platform, but it definitely has the potential to cover that by supporting multiple windows on the same screen. We have already seen in this on Samsung’s Galaxy Note II, after all.

4. Landscape Mode - LG Optimus UI

If we take this idea of a single computing device on Android, we would need something more - landscape mode support. Samsung nailed the multi-window mode, but landscape comes from LG’s Optimus UI. We’d love to see those two combine in stock Android.

5. VideoPic - HTC Sense

VideoPic has started appearing in more and more devices, and it is basically the feature allowing you to snap images WHILE you record video. Simple and useful.

6. Zoom in Gallery, Email, Video - LG Optimus UI

Extending zooming options for gallery, email and video is just a nice and logical tweak. We know a ton of players supporting zoom inside video, but LG has taken this to the next level with zooming in Gallery and Email.

7. Lockscreen wallpaper - Samsung TouchWiz, Sony Timescape, LG Optimus UI, HTC Sense

Did you know that you cannot change the lockscreen wallpaper on stock Android? Yes, this is ridiculous, but a fact. Now, this is not a feature, it needs fixing in the next version of Android.

8. Differently sized custom icons - LG Optimus UI

You know Windows takes great pride in its differently sized Live Tiles. Some find those live blinking tiles a bit too confusing, but while we’d abstain from a final judgment, having differently sized and custom icons is something that would be great. And you know what? It’s already here, but only on LG’s Optimus skin. Fingers crossed Google incorporates this in stock Android.

9. Battery percentage - Sony Timescape UI, LG Optimus UI

Another omission that is really annoying in stock Android is that battery status is only shown as a changing image of a depleting battery. We want the specifics, Google! How many percentage points are left. And no, we do not want a widget or a separate app for this. Sony and LG are building this into their skins, but it should be a stock feature.

10. S Beam - Samsung TouchWiz

NFC sharing is baked in on stock Android and Nexus devices support it, but it is kind of limited. You can’t send videos via Wi-Fi direct. On Samsung’s TouchWiz you can, and the company is actively advertizing this. And you should be able to do this on stock Android, don’t you think?