.png)
Last month, Google published the first stable build of Android 16, which included a number of new features. Live Updates, for example, sends real-time notifications for actions to the lock screen of an Android phone. The tech titan has now revealed further details regarding this function. Live Updates on Android 16 can be used in apps that provide services such as phone calls, ride sharing, and food delivery, but not in adverts or promotions.
Live Updates for Android 16
Live Updates follows the Live Activities feature on iPhone. It sends notifications when an activity is in progress and has a specific start and finish time. The tool is primarily intended to provide time-sensitive notifications rather than historical occurrences, according to Google's developer website.
Its use cases include active navigation, continuing phone conversations, active food delivery monitoring, and active ride-sharing tracking via their respective Android applications. These alerts will appear on the Android device's lock screen, including information such as ETA (estimated time of arrival) or tracking.
The tech behemoth claims it eliminates the need to unlock the phone to see the status. For example, during active navigation, Google Maps will display directions in the status chip on the home screen, whereas Live Update on the lock screen will indicate the trip's current state and future directions.
However, developers must guarantee that Live Updates only represent actions that are expressly initiated by the user and display only if the activity requires the user's attention for the whole period.
The company also described improper uses of the Live Updates function. It cannot be used for advertisements, promotions, chat messages, impending calendar events, or notifications. Developers can leverage other OS features, such as standard notifications, to do this. Meanwhile, Quick Settings tile and app widgets may be utilized to enable faster access to the app's features.
There are certain exceptions, though. If a user purchases airplane or concert tickets in advance or joins up for a time-sensitive activity, Live Updates may be triggered, but only when the scheduled event is approaching.
