Google adds new features in Android version 16

The new feature allows users to receive notifications right on the lock screen, status bar, always-on display, and notification panel. Live Updates provide information about the progress of a specific task, unlike regular notifications.

Google Maps will be the first app to support Live Updates in Android 16. Notifications will appear as green arrows that make it easy to identify Google Maps thanks to the app's distinctive icon. Information displayed on the chip includes next-arrival times, estimated time of arrival (ETA), and data related to each trip.

Tapping the arrow will open a panel that provides more detailed information such as distance to travel, estimated time to destination, and next stop time.

In addition to Google Maps, Live Updates will also show food delivery progress from some delivery platforms, information from sporting events. But this feature is still in the testing phase and will have many improvements before the stable version of Android 16 is released next June.

iOS users may feel familiar with the familiar Live Updates feature as it is similar to the Live Activities feature on Dynamic Island and Lock Screen of iPhone smartphones.