Android 16 is true on schedule for an early launch this Summer time, and one of the crucial notable new options known as “Progress-centric Notifications.” That is Android’s model of Reside Actions on iPhone–this is the way it seems to be.

What are Reside Updates on Android?

“Progress-centric Notifications“–often known as “Reside Updates” or “Reside Information”–are particular notifications that may replace in real-time for ongoing actions. The apparent use-case for that is issues like Doordash orders, Uber rides, and Google Map navigation.

Reside Replace notifications may be current in a few alternative ways. The primary is with a progress bar on the notification card you see when knocking down the notification shade. The progress of a meals order, for instance. The icon within the standing bar can change as the knowledge on the cardboard is up to date as effectively.

The second method is with “chips” within the standing bar. A “chip” is actually a tiny widget within the standing bar with real-time data. So, as an alternative of simply seeing the Google Maps icon within the standing bar when navigation is working, you possibly can see details about the next move.

Reside Replace notifications take precedence over all different notifications. When a Reside Replace chip is lively within the standing bar, that is all you possibly can see. All the opposite notification icons are hidden–together with “Precedence” notifications. Any app that creates ongoing notifications may have Reside Updates enabled by default.

Reside Information Notifications in Android 16 Beta 2.1

With the discharge of Android 16 Beta 2.1 last week, Reside Updates turned out there to check out with none background tinkering required. Google Maps is the primary app to assist Reside Updates, and we will additionally use a take a look at app made by developer Viktor Mykhailiv to see what it’d appear to be for a meals supply app.

When an app has the flexibility to do LIve Updates, you will see an choice on the app’s data web page within the system settings referred to as “Present Reside Information.” This must be enabled by default for any app that creates ongoing notifications.

Let’s check out how Google Maps makes use of Reside Updates for real-time navigation directions. With the intention to get the dwell data chip to seem within the standing bar, that you must depart the navigation display and ensure the Google Maps picture-in-picture window is closed. You will see one thing just like the screenshots beneath.

The highest screenshot reveals what you see passively–it reveals how a lot time till your subsequent transfer. The underside screenshot is the heads-up pop-up that seems on high of no matter you are doing once you faucet the chip. Pre-Android 16, you solely get to see the Maps navigation icon, and that you must pull down the notifications for extra details about the next move. It is a particular enchancment, permitting you to see useful data with out interacting with the display.

Now, we’ll take a peek on the take a look at app that demonstrates how a meals supply app would possibly use Reside Updates. First, the icon within the standing bar modifications to point the present standing of your order. Within the screenshots beneath, you possibly can see it go from “Cooking” (steaming dish) to “Delivering” (bike) to “Delivered” (cutlery).

While you swipe right down to increase the notifications, that data is displayed on a progress bar. Under, you possibly can see how the “Cooking” icon seems within the orange space of the bar; then the “Delivering” icon strikes to the inexperienced finish. The icon strikes easily alongside the bar in actual time.

That is significantly helpful as a result of it saves you from needing to open an app to test progress. Meals supply is an apparent use, as we will see, however it could be nice for ready to your rideshare or bus as effectively.

A Work in Progress

Reside Replace notifications are trying fairly good already, however there’s nonetheless work to be carried out. For instance, they at present do not seem on the always-on show any otherwise than a standard notification. That’s anticipated habits that is not fairly working but.

Regardless of being considerably late to the social gathering on this function that Apple carried out a few years in the past, it makes a number of sense for Android. Notifications have at all times been a core energy of Android. They’ve sneakily modified fairly a bit over time, however the core performance has remained. That is one more stable step within the evolution.We sit up for seeing what number of apps benefit from it when Android 16 is released to the public this June.

Associated

Android Is Officially Getting Lock Screen Widgets (Again)

We’re in the course of discovering out what precisely shall be coming with the discharge of Android 16 this Summer time. The most recent addition is a function that hasn’t been formally out there on Android gadgets for over a decade: lock display widgets.