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9 Ways Apps Are Harnessing iOS Live Activities

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iOS 16 introduced Live Activities, which is supported by all newer versions of the operating system. We’ll explain what it is and when to use this handy iPhone tool.

What is Live Activities on your iPhone?

With the upgrade to iOS 16.1, Apple has added a tool for everyone who wants to stay up to date. The company defines Live Activities as ongoing, interactive notifications displayed immediately on the lock screen.

Live Activities are widgets that can update information online. Its banners are more significant than standard notifications. That is, you can see the information you are interested in without going into the application, which will be updated as needed.

This innovation first appeared on the iPhone 14 Pro, replacing the notch with the new Dynamic Island. It solves the problem of where to place the camera and contributes to the overall iPhone functionality. Dynamic Island is now the hub for this functionality, working perfectly with the always-on display.

Continuous Development From Apple

A big update added this feature to the Apple Sports app. Now, following sports events has become easier. You can instantly receive live streams of matches of your most-liked teams.

Apple News has also implemented Live Activities to track the US elections, allowing you to stay up to date without interrupting your daily activities. This became a great convenience for users who want to spend their time on something other than checking the news.

Third-party apps also actively support this innovation. Uber Eats and DoorDash simplify tracking food deliveries, and various restaurant and delivery apps offer similar features.

Endless Possibilities of Live Activities

The advantages are obvious: It makes it easier for users to engage with apps and quickly view relevant information. This increases user loyalty and satisfaction.

Live Activities are engaging for the following industries and use cases, among others:

  • Sports – real-time statistics on games & competitions
  • News – breaking news & live ticker
  • Fitness – statistics during your workout
  • Delivery – current information on delivery
  • Entertainment – live updates on events & concerts
  • Travel – flight & booking updates
  • And many more!

How Famous Apps Use iOS Live Activities

The central point of Live Activities support is, for sure, in various sports-related apps. For example, Slopes is used by skiers and snowboarders to track data on each descent and ascent and get information on speed, elevation gain, and distance traveled.

For many, this app allows you to find friends with the same interests. With Live Activities, information about friends on the same slope, the distance covered, and the elevation are displayed on the screen.

1. Mountain App

The Landscape app has approximately the same functionality, only it is designed for climbing mountains, not skiing and snowboarding. In real time, you can track your ascent graph, distance traveled, and altitude gain.

2. Sports App

The Liftin application has launched Live Activities for those who prefer more traditional sports. You can track the number of reps, rest timer, and the duration of each workout set directly from the lock screen.

If you have a recent iPhone Pro, you can launch a workout directly in the application, and all the necessary information will appear on both the lock screen and Dynamic Island.

If Liftin does not work for you, use the SmartGym application. This is a handy tool for weightlifting. Thanks to Live Activities, you can effortlessly track your progress in real time right from your lock screen, making it a convenient tool for fitness enthusiasts.

3. Sports Events App

But what if you prefer not to play sports but follow them? For football fans, the FotMob is a perfect match app. Here, you need to select your favorite leagues and teams, and as soon as a game involving them starts, it will instantly show up on the lock screen.

If you want to track a match not from the list of your subscriptions, then click on the star, and it will immediately be shown on the lock screen.

4. Recipe App

However, the world is not limited to sports. Sometimes you want to eat something tasty. Here, the Pestle application will help. It allows users to import any recipe from the Internet and turn it into a step-by-step process displayed on the lock screen with a special timer.

All you have to do is follow the guide step by step without being distracted by anything. This is a very convenient feature for those who like to cook.

The app also has additional options: creating a shopping list, a 14-day meal plan, and scanning recipes from paper with subsequent recognition. Users note that the app converts recipes into a very convenient format for cooking.

5. Grocery App

Grocery is an innovative, well-designed grocery shopping and meal planning app. Its support for syncing with iCloud and reminders helps you keep your list organized while shopping.

You can easily add shopping list items from Siri and Recipes. Live activity support on the lock screen makes tracking your shopping list or recipe timer convenient.

6. Flight Tracking App

Flighty is an iOS flight-tracking app with a sleek and user-friendly interface. The latest version displays information about your planned trip on your iPhone’s lock screen three hours before departure. You can also check flight status immediately on Dynamic Island.

7. Weather App

Carrot Weather is an iOS and macOS app that shows the weather forecast in its original form. Now, you can see details about weather events like rain or strong winds directly on your iPhone’s home screen or Dynamic Island.

8. Music App

The Soor app is excellent for those who want more than the standard Apple Music app. It works on iPhone and iPad. Now, users can see song lyrics on the screen with Live Active and Dynamic Island.

9. Remote Control App

If you have an Apple TV, a TV remote app is a must-have for every iPhone. Now, the most essential buttons are accessible directly through Live Activity, including on the lock screen and Dynamic Island.

The Live Activities Limitations

In September 2024, it became evident that Live Activities could not be updated as frequently in iOS 18. App developer Nico reported this on X, stating that previously, they could update Live Activities every second. However, starting with iOS 18, they can only update every 5-15 seconds.

Apple explained the change by stating that each update writes data to disk, leading to excessive wear on the device’s NAND storage. The company clarified that Live Activities never intended to deliver “real concurrent experiences,” describing the previous capability as an unintended “API loophole.”

This should not affect Live Activities that have time tracking, such as Uber or Lyft, which display a countdown timer for your arrival time. These apps don’t require frequent data refreshes from the app to function well.

Final Words

IOS Live Activities makes the iPhone lock screen practical for users. It allows them to track real-time information efficiently and conveniently without frequently going to the app. It’s a simple way to stay on top of things, save time, and keep important information at your fingertips!

The Best Memory Apps to Boost Brainpower

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Maintaining mental clarity is becoming more and more important in the busy modern surroundings. Whether your objectives are to boost memory, improve attention, or avoid age-related cognitive decline, the best apps to improve memory might provide quick ways to improve brain performance.

Best memory apps challenge your mind with creative activities and progressively strengthen mental resilience.

MemoryOS is one amazing tool aimed at rewiring the brain using a series of scientifically validated techniques. This app helps users develop and strengthen neural connections by combining gamified, exciting activities with contemporary memory training methods, therefore enabling information storage and retrieval. [Read more…] about The Best Memory Apps to Boost Brainpower

7 Ways Personal Finance Apps Make Managing Money Easier

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Managing your finances can sometimes feel like a juggling act, but thanks to personal finance apps, it’s never been easier to keep track of your money.

These digital tools can help you budget, save, invest, and even plan for future financial goals, all from the convenience of your smartphone.

Let’s dive into seven ways personal finance apps can simplify your financial life and keep you on track for success. [Read more…] about 7 Ways Personal Finance Apps Make Managing Money Easier

Save and Spend Consciously: 4 Best Money-Saving Apps

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In a world where everything is just a tap away, it becomes a gruesome task to refrain from spending. With the constant bombardment of ads on social platforms, most people may fall into the trap and spend money on unnecessary things.

Whether preparing for rainy days or buying a wish list item, most people may want to save money. With e-commerce and its guerilla marketing on the rise, there’s hardly a way one may stop from spending recklessly.

However, if you’re tired of being a spendthrift, don’t worry, as we’re going to explore some nifty money-saving applications. Using a variety of techniques, from no-nonsense tasks to fun activities, a user can easily get a hold of the following money-saving apps. [Read more…] about Save and Spend Consciously: 4 Best Money-Saving Apps

Hacking Health at Work: 8 Tech-Based Steps for Success

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The majority of people spend most of their day at work, usually sitting at a desk. This approach is perfect for productivity and getting stuff done, but it’s not so great for staying healthy.

Over time, office workers can develop high blood pressure, stiff backs, and even chronic disease, all from a lack of movement.

Fortunately, there are numerous ways workers can hack their health at work, and technology is riding to the rescue. More advanced and science-based approaches are giving workers the ability to remain productive and healthy at the same time. [Read more…] about Hacking Health at Work: 8 Tech-Based Steps for Success

Tips for Designing Timeless User Interfaces for a Medical Device

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User interface design trends might come and go throughout the lengthy design and development phase of a medical device. This implies that keeping up with or predicting user interface (UI) design trends may be difficult.

Furthermore, a user interface with a “dated” design is not just a possible danger to the product’s market image; it may also have ramifications for use.

An interface that does not seem up-to-date, for example, may make a user go for your competitor and choose a different product. [Read more…] about Tips for Designing Timeless User Interfaces for a Medical Device

Simple Ways You Can Do Your Part for the Environment Using Tech

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Environmental concerns are on everyone’s minds in 2021. We are all looking for new ways to reduce our carbon emissions and promote ethical and eco-friendly practices.

As technology continues to advance, there are many ways that we can use tech in our daily lives to help reduce our impact on the environment. Here are some simple ways that you can incorporate green practices into your everyday life. [Read more…] about Simple Ways You Can Do Your Part for the Environment Using Tech

The Impact of AI-Based Applications on E-Commerce

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AI is becoming an integral part of our lives, and we are using its advantages in all areas, including trade. Let’s look at how AI-powered applications are impacting the development of e-commerce.

Under the influence of today’s digital world, the rapidly evolving realm of e-commerce has undergone a major facelift. The recent rise of AI has impacted not only people but businesses as well.

Thanks to the latest AI-driven functionalities and products in e-commerce, you’ll surely have noticed how your favorite website has changed for the better. [Read more…] about The Impact of AI-Based Applications on E-Commerce

How to Keep Your Texts Private

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Hey there! Have you ever stopped to think about the privacy of your text messages? In today’s digital world, where communication happens at our fingertips, it’s crucial to ensure that our conversations remain private and secure.

Whether you’re discussing personal matters, sharing sensitive information, or simply having a casual chat, protecting your texts from prying eyes is essential. In this article, we’ll explore various measures you can take to keep your texts private and maintain your online confidentiality. So, let’s dive in! [Read more…] about How to Keep Your Texts Private

Ready Robotics ‘making robotics system design easier’ for non-programmers

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Robotics hardware traditionally requires programmers to deploy it. Ready Robotics wants to change that with its “no code” software aimed at people working in manufacturing who haven’t got programming skills.

The Columbus, Ohio, startup is a spinout of robotics research from Johns Hopkins University. Kel Guerin was a PhD candidate there leading this research when he partnered with Benjamin Gibbs, who was at Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, to land funding and pursue the company, now led by Gibbs as CEO.

Guerin, who’s now chief innovation officer at the startup, says: “There was this a-ha moment where we figured out that we could take these types of visual languages that are very easy to understand and use them for robotics.” [Read more…] about Ready Robotics ‘making robotics system design easier’ for non-programmers