Former XDA-Developers editor Mishaal Rahman has discovered an intriguing addition within the latest Android 15 beta. The new "Rich Ongoing Notifications" API suggests that Google might be taking inspiration from iOS's "Live Activities" feature for a future version of Android.
Enhanced Notifications Coming to Android?
This new tool hints at the ability to display compact, customizable notification widgets directly within the status bar, similar to how Live Activities functions on iOS. Rahman provided an example of a taxi arrival notification using this compact format.
While a similar functionality existed in Android 12, it was limited to displaying call durations. iOS's Live Activities, on the other hand, offers a wider range of uses, such as tracking timers, sports scores, and delivery statuses directly on the lock screen.
A More Convenient and Informative Experience?
If this feature makes its way to Android 16, it could provide users with a more convenient and glanceable way to stay updated on ongoing tasks without needing to unlock their devices or open specific apps.
However, it's important to note that this is still a developing feature spotted in a beta version of Android. There's no official confirmation from Google regarding its inclusion in Android 16 or any specific timeline for its release.
