Google Maps Still Working On Long-Overdue Live Activities Support

[MacRumors]

Google Maps continues to work on integrating Live Activities support for iPhones, according to new assets unearthed by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris in the latest version of the app.

Evidence that the feature was in development first appeared in August, but further work on it had appeared to have come to a standstill until now, suggesting it could become functional soon.

The Google Maps team announced in February 2023 that it would roll out Live Activities support "in the coming months," so support is now long overdue based on the company's own internal roadmap.

When support rolls out, Google Maps users will be able to view turn-by-turn directions and their ETA in a single live-updating iPhone Lock Screen notification, as well as in the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 series models.

Apple opened up its Live Activities API to third-party iPhone apps with the release of iOS 16.1, and many developers have since made good use of the feature.

Article Link: Google Maps Still Working On Long-Overdue Live Activities Support

 

[ZacNicholson]

Apple has developed a lot of cool features, but sadly 3rd party devs don't implement many of them.

 

[brofkand]

If they wait long enough, Apple will abandon the Dynamic Island (aka the bigger notch) like they did 3D Touch. Google is simply thinking ahead.

 

[darngooddesign]

If they wait long enough, Apple will abandon the Dynamic Island (aka the bigger notch) like they did 3D Touch. Google is simply thinking ahead.

Live Activities are also on the lock screen even on iPhones with a notch.

 

[TechRemarker]

I wish they had Google Waze Dynamic Island support. The only way to get it, is by oddly setting the app to not being able to always see location, when then causes other problems. And even when enabled that way, what's shown in the dynamic island is not very helpful compared to Apple Maps, and Waze still doesn't have Apple Watch support, so feels like such a downgrade from Apple Maps, and never understood why they are holding back making their user experience as good as Apple Maps, since Waze already blows Apple Maps away on data and accuracy front.

 

[rgwebb]

Apple Maps is as good or better now. Google needs to realize slow rolling iOS development doesn’t work anymore. They need to dedicate more effort toward the product.

 

[contacos]

Apple has developed a lot of cool features, but sadly 3rd party devs don't implement many of them.

Apple forces them to use a certain language in their app description, they should certainly force them to integrate the latest features again.

Also, I don´t see the point of showing the tiny arrow in the Dynamic Island. I personally find it completely useless on Apple Maps as well

 

[bLackjackj]

By the time they release it, Apple will have removed the floating Notch. We've already seen what appear to be forthcoming plans to reduce and remove the notch. Then we can finally say goodbye to this annoying black hole.

 

[kevinpdoyle]

Google remains an underwhelming member of the iOS app community.

 

[darngooddesign]

By the time they release it, Apple will have removed the floating Notch. We've already seen what appear to be forthcoming plans to reduce and remove the notch. Then we can finally say goodbye to this annoying black hole.

Live Activities do not require the Dynamic Island, they are also on the Lock Screen. My iPhone XR has them.

 

[Strebor]

Time Google brings turn notifications to Apple watch too. I love the way Apple Maps does this on Watch.. But Apple Maps does not do Bicycle routes, and Google does.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Apple Maps is as good or better now. Google needs to realize slow rolling iOS development doesn’t work anymore. They need to dedicate more effort toward the product.

The business reviews aren't, though. Yelp is a dumpster fire and no one around here uses it or leaves reviews anymore.

 

[zach-coleman]

Still waiting for any pizza place to implement it… seems like a complete no brainer… especially for carry out where you would like to have a countdown to when you need to turn up.

 

[zach-coleman]

If they wait long enough, Apple will abandon the Dynamic Island (aka the bigger notch) like they did 3D Touch. Google is simply thinking ahead.

By the time they release it, Apple will have removed the floating Notch. We've already seen what appear to be forthcoming plans to reduce and remove the notch. Then we can finally say goodbye to this annoying black hole.

I’m almost certain iPhones with no hole punch will emulate the Dynamic Island when a live activity is occurring. When not in use it will just turn invisible/shrink. They put too much work into exposing the function to developers to drop it so quickly, and the top bar of the phone is wasted space in most UI anyways.

 

[GMShadow]

Google only has 2 developers who actually work on existing projects, they’re a small struggling startup.

 

[one more]

Long overdue, LOL? Adding fancy features for mobile phones representing about 30% of the worldwide smartphone market might not be Google’s top priority.

 

[victorvictoria]

Apple and Google maps are pretty much useless compared to the built-in NAV systems on any decent car made in the last 5 years. And should you really be looking at your phone's map while you're driving???

 

[jonnysods]

I've had the iPhone 15 Pro since it came out, but I haven't seen any apps push any live activites to me yet.

 

[antiprotest]

Are we there yet?

 

[antiprotest]

I've had the iPhone 15 Pro since it came out, but I haven't seen any apps push any live activites to me yet.

Even Apple hardly uses it, if at all.

 

[TwoBytes]

It's not like Google needs more money for developers.. It can't be that hard for a company as big as Google to implement this so something else is going on

Google Maps on the Apple Watch doesn't have the Apple Maps map view, it just has text turn by turn which is shocking compared to Apple Maps.. it's like there is some kind of deal going on that Apple said to Google, 'Don't make your maps app useable on the watch because we want Apple Maps to have features you don't'!

I'm thinking there is something behind the scenes to cripple the Google app experience because it's pretty bewildering that a company have have really good app features to increase usage and revenue and don't implement them.

 

[MNWildFan]

Apple forces them to use a certain language in their app description, they should certainly force them to integrate the latest features again.

Also, I don´t see the point of showing the tiny arrow in the Dynamic Island. I personally find it completely useless on Apple Maps as well

Exactly

Out of everything that one can use DI for, it annoys me to no end when it's just used to show that little location arrow when an app or built-in service is actively using location services

Such a waste of space to do it on there instead of just by the time or signal bars

 

[rwilliams]

Every time they release an update for this in the App Store, I immediately put in a route to see if Live Activities has finally been implemented.

 

[MNWildFan]

Even Apple hardly uses it, if at all.

Far from the truth

It's used for the following:

• Active timers
• Incoming calls or messages
• Charging status (briefly after you put your phone on the charger, so as long as your phone is unlocked)
• Battery status of accessories like AirPods
• Currently playing media from either Apple Music or any other music or podcast app

And for 3rd parties, some have caught onto it and have started to use the live activities feature, even if the adaptation has been a little slower, which is nothing new as this kind of thing almost always seems to happen after a new feature like DI's live activities gets announced at WWDC

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Apple and Google maps are pretty much useless compared to the built-in NAV systems on any decent car made in the last 5 years. And should you really be looking at your phone's map while you're driving???

My vehicle (VW) doesn't happen a built-in maps. It uses CarPlay for maps.