It’s been months since Android 16 made it to the public with a bunch of new features in tow, and the one that I keep coming back to is Live Updates. Each time one of these priority notifications pops up on my screen, I’m happy to see it because it’s exactly the kind of smart and contextual information I need my “smart” phone to provide in that moment. I don’t want my transit directions or Uber progress to get lost among a dozen other notifications, but to surface on top.
Despite how delightful and useful Live Updates are, very few apps are using them. Even Google hasn’t made the most of these excellent notifications in its apps, which is such a shame. Let me explain to you why Live Updates are so cool and why I’m worried that no one is adopting them yet.
Are you using Android's new Live Updates? 8 votes Yes, in as many apps as I can find. 25 % I've seen them in Maps / Uber, but I wish there were more. 50 % I haven't noticed them / I'm indifferent to them. 25 % I saw a few and turned them off. 0 %
Live Updates put the most important notification upfront
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
If you’ve used Google Maps in the past few months on Android 16, you’ve probably noticed the bubble or chip in the status bar that tells you at a glance what your next direction is. Whether it’s walking, driving, or taking public transit, you don’t need to do anything besides look at your screen, no matter which app you’re in (or not), to see what’s coming up. I love this.
I ride the Parisian public transport very frequently and use walking directions quite often, too. I used to go in and out of Maps all the time to check the status of my trip. Now, having these crucial notifications right there at all times has become crucial. I can keep browsing or watching videos in the subway without missing my stop and without having to stare like a hawk at Google Maps at all times. And when I need more info, I just tap the bubble and get a more detailed progress bar. It looks good, it works great, and it’s genuinely useful. What else could you ask for?
When driving, the pop-up adds detailed traffic information. I used this for a few weeks over the holidays while in the passenger seat, and I was able to keep my husband updated on the traffic’s progress without leaving Spotify or Chrome or whatever else I was doing on my phone. Neat.
But perhaps my favorite aspect of Live Updates is that they carry across the entire Android interface. They show up in the notification drop-down on top of everything else, taking priority over less important alerts. They’re there on the lock screen as well, with the same importance as the ongoing music notification. And, surprisingly, they pop up on the always-on display.
Rita El Khoury / Android Authority
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