Android 16s answer to iOS Live Activities is coming soon here are the apps itll support, including Google Maps

Date:
Fri, 04 Jul 2025 16:11:53 +0000

Description:
The first-look images to Android's version of iOS Live Activities has
dropped, but an official roll out date is still in question.

FULL STORY ======================================================================First-lo ok images of Android's upcoming Live Updates function revealed Similar feel
to iOS Live Activities Live Updates is currently only functional in the
latest Android 16 QPR1 beta, but should widely rolled out next quarter

Google unveiled its upcoming Live Updates feature at this years Google I/O event back in May, and though the Android 16 roll out has begun, it wont be widely available for another few months.

In the meantime, Google has released new insights to its version of iOS Live Activities, including what kind of apps the feature will support.

Android 16s Live Updates is similar to Live Activities in iOS, which displays timely information and progress-style notifications on your lock screen that are updated frequently, meaning you wont have to open apps to view their status. At the moment, Live Updates is only functional in the latest Android 16 QPR1 beta, but its expected to land with the wider Android 16 roll out later in the year.

Since it was first previewed at Google I/O, the functionality and appearance of the feature itself has remained ambiguous, but a recent post on the
Android Developers page gives further details on what we can expect from Live Updates including a first look at the feature in action. (Image credit: 9to5Google)

In Androids post, Live Updates will be used for activities that are ongoing, user-initiated and time sensitive. Similarly to Live Activities in iOS, Android 16s Live Updates will support phone calls, food and rideshare tracking, and active navigation for apps that show live trip progress such as Google Maps.

Google even goes into detail about how developers should show Live Updates when it comes to time sensitive notifications, using the following explanation:

A Live Update is often appropriate for activities that transition between
Live Updates and normal notifications. For example, showing a boarding pass notification is appropriate many hours before a user's flight, but the notification should become a Live Update only when the user has a pressing need, such as when they have arrived at the airport or venue or once boarding has begun. In contrast, a Live Update isn't appropriate for tracking a
package as the user doesn't need to constantly monitor this. Android has its boundaries

While Google has given us the long-awaited visual insight to Live Updates,
the company has also been clear with app developers that the feature should not be abused.

In its post, Google has been quite explicit with this, stating Don't use Live Updates to offer accelerated access to app functionality. Ads, promotions, chat messages, alerts, upcoming calendar events, and quick access to app features have been deemed as inappropriate uses.

Now the only key detail thats missing is an official roll out date for Live Updates. As mentioned above, Live Updates is only available with the latest Android 16 QPR1 beta but Android Authoritys findings hint that apps will
start leaning into this function next quarter when the update is expected to go live. You might also like Android 16 will soon flag fake cell towers and warn you if someone is spying on your phone Android 16 is out now, but its
big visual redesign might not arrive until September Android 16 is finally giving the Pixel Camera app the makeover it needs and Im fully on board with the refresh



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/android-16s-answer-to-ios-live-ac tivities-is-coming-soon-here-are-the-apps-itll-support-including-google-maps


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