- By Prateek Levi
- Thu, 30 Jan 2025 02:26 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Google rolled out its first beta of Android 16 and gave early access to testers to gauge what's in store with the latest version of the company's operating system. This update has brought some big changes with it which includes a Live Updates notification.
Live Updates Coming To Android 16
Let's take a look into what this new Live Updates feature will do for you. This new feature on Android 16 called Live Updates, basically means real-time notifications will help users to keep track of ongoing activities which include, ride-sharing, food deliveries and navigation. This is similar to something that Apple has which is known as Live Activities which got introduced in 2022. However, it should be noted that Google's version is a bit more narrow in its focus when it comes to supporting apps. Unlike the Apple version which supports everything on your device from sports scores to shopping updates, Google's live update feature is more focused and currently only allows progress tracking for a few specific apps.
Google has not shared much information about this new feature in its Blog post that announced Android 16 Beta 1, and that is due to the fact that this mode is partially rolled out in the first Beta. And as it was mentioned earlier only a few progress-centric notifications are supported like Uber.
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Another thing to take note of is the fact that the progress-centric notifications will be visible prominently on the lock screen. This is an important update considering the fact that Google is currently working on a new compact notification shelf which will be on the lock screen for Android 16.
Interestingly, Samsung introduced a similar feature during the launch of its Galaxy S25 phones at Galaxy Unpacked. Called the Now Bar, this feature displays live notifications as a floating bar at the bottom of the lock screen, supporting various app types, such as sports updates. In comparison, Android 16’s Live Updates are placed at the top of the standard notification stack, maintaining Android’s more streamlined design.
Other things Google is Working on With This Update
The first public beta of Android 16 also aims to streamline how apps function across devices having different screen sizes. Now developers will have to make their apps resizable to ensure the apps run smoothly on tablets and foldable phones. This entails that the app will open in full screen on bigger displays which would allow users to multitask effortlessly. Currently, developers can choose to opt out of this requirement, but by the time Android 17 is released in 2026, resizable apps will become mandatory. However, games will be exempt from this rule.
In addition to these changes, Android 16 is bringing several new features, including support for the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, enhanced vertical text rendering, and automatic scene detection in camera apps to trigger night mode. These additions build on improvements from previous developer betas, like more advanced haptic controls, a refined photo picker menu, and the Health Connect app, which allows secure sharing of medical data across apps.