iOS 17.4 Beta Adds Stopwatch Live Activity

[MacRumors]

iOS 17.4 introduces a small but useful change for the Clock app's Stopwatch function, adding the timer to Apple's Live Activities feature. When activated through the Clock app, the Stopwatch will now show up both in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen.

The Dynamic Island shows a small to-the-second timer, and the Lock Screen shows the full Stopwatch timer when the screen is being looked at. Pressing into the Dynamic Island shows options for pausing the Stopwatch or starting a new lap, with these controls also on the Lock Screen. After the Stopwatch is paused, swiping on it from the Lock Screen or tapping on the "X" in Dynamic Island will clear it.

Timers have worked with Live Activities since the feature launched with iOS 16, but the Stopwatch could only be viewed in the Clock app. The addition of Live Activities support will prevent users from activating the timer and then forgetting about it.

(Thanks, Hidde!)

Article Link: iOS 17.4 Beta Adds Stopwatch Live Activity

 

[alexandr]

That's funny — I didn't realize it's not there already)

 

[serzhs1]

So weird, it took ages to get ready this function 😳

 

[MLL63QNA]

I saw a reddit post about this 2 days ago.

https://www.reddit.com/r/iOSBeta/comments/1ac8n4n

 

[SAIRUS]

I stop watching for these features to come out.

Yeah I’m an old timer.

 

[macduke]

The timer in Dynamic Island is the best widget in Dynamic Island.

Change my mind.

 

[jonnysods]

Kind of ironic that Apple don't even really use this feature isn't it?

 

[Nozuka]

well i guess they didn't forget about the dynamic island after all...

 

[Lerenard3000]

O m g
lol

 

[jkelly03]

Are those stock wallpapers in the picture? Or are they new with 17.4?

 

[Surf Monkey]

Apple: late to adopt their own Dynamic Island.

 

[t0rqx]

It took them 1.5 years to make this. How are we able to have confidence in the new Siri AI?

 

[ric22]

After the initial hate for wasting more of the screen than the notch, I've grown to like the functionality of the Dynamic Island. I'd like to see more info on screen, as you get on MacOS and Windows.

 

[jamie0610]

Now to make the Dynamic Island/widget sync with HomePod requests. Set a timer on HomePod- recognises voice and adds live widget to iphone/ipad/mac and watch

Sometimes you want visual feedback not audio feedback having set a timer on HomePod.

 

[Reason077]

Timers have worked with Live Activities since the feature launched with iOS 16

A really annoying thing about the “Timer” live activity is that the large “⏸️” button makes it so easy to accidentally pause or cancel the timer.

Timers are actually worse than before because of this! I’ve missed so multiple important timers, forgotten my laundry, burnt food, etc because of this. Is there a way to disable or remove the pause/cancel buttons while still having timers visible on the Lock Screen?

 

[Surrylic]

It took them 1.5 years to make this. How are we able to have confidence in the new Siri AI?

They’re unrelated in any way so it doesn’t really matter

 

[ifxf]

I am still waiting for the ability to disable use disable the dynamic island for apple apps and the OS.

 

[josselinco]

Apple will bring the Calculator to the Island before the iPad

 

[CarAnalogy]

The timer in Dynamic Island is the best widget in Dynamic Island.

Change my mind.

Timer is one of the most useful apps on the phone. Turns out we don't need these things to actually do that much.

 

[fernelius]

Now to make the Dynamic Island/widget sync with HomePod requests. Set a timer on HomePod- recognises voice and adds live widget to iphone/ipad/mac and watch

Sometimes you want visual feedback not audio feedback having set a timer on HomePod.

This would be great! Would also love to have my devices be able to control timers across my devices. It’s not unusual for me to set a timer on a Homepod, interact with my phone, and, then, want to check the remaining time on the timer. My phone often replies, “There are no timers set.” Often I give up. Sometimes, I set the phone down somewhere (or cover the mics) and go over to the Homepod so that the device that is running the timer will respond.

 

[AttoA]

Is it just me or is the lap icon (inside the grey circular button) off-centre in the second screenshot?

 

[rikki_t]

no it's time you got yourself some iGlasses😇

 

[DocMultimedia]

Was this the biggest iOS upgrade ever that I heard about?

 

[Populus]

As a non-native English speaker, I’d like to ask a grammar question.
If mods consider this extremely off-topic they have can delete this message, I won’t mind.

The Stopwatch will now show up both in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen.

I see the preposition “in” is used with Dynamic Island, and the preposition “on” with Lock Screen.
Is there a grammatical reason for this? Or are this two prepositions usually interchangeable?

Thank you.

 

[antiprotest]

The most exciting upgrade coming on 17.4 is that they will change the "Listen Now" tab in Music to "Home".

For years, whenever I open the Music app I've been pressured to listen right NOW to the selections on that page.

I am glad the torment will be finally over.