Google Maps starts incorporating live update notifications for Android 16.

Google Maps becomes the first app to implement the new Live Updates feature of Android 16, according to recent reports. Users with access to the beta 2.1 of Android 16 can now see the remaining time for their next turn and the estimated arrival time in the status bar of their devices.

This feature, introduced by Google in the first beta of Android 16, has been described as a "new class of notifications that help users monitor and quickly access ongoing important activities." Its operation is comparable to Live Activities on iOS, which provide real-time notifications on the lock screen and in the Dynamic Island. However, until now, there had been no evidence of its implementation in actual Android apps.

Additionally, Android Authority has pointed out that within Google Maps, there is a new option that allows users to disable the "live information" that appears in the status bar and on the lock screen. Nevertheless, Live Updates still have partial support in this beta version, as Google Maps notifications continue to be "collapsed" on the always-on display.

Although the adoption of Google Maps for this feature remains limited, there is significant scope for Google and other developers to implement full support for Live Updates, considering that the official release of Android 16 is expected in June.