iPhone 14 Pro Users Can Switch Between Two Live Activities in Dynamic Island

[MacRumors]

Apple earlier this month announced that iOS 16.1 will enable a new Live Activities feature which allows iPhone users to stay on top of things that are happening in real time, such as a sports game or a food delivery order, right from the Lock Screen. On the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, Live Activities also integrate with the Dynamic Island.

On Monday, we learned that when following a sports event the Dynamic Island shows a live-updating scoreboard with the number of goals scored by each club on either side of the True Depth camera pill, which Apple refers to as a Live Activity's "compact" presentation. When long pressed, the Dynamic Island expands to show the time elapsed and play-by-play action.

Since then, Apple has shared its Human Interface Guidelines (HIG) for app developers intending to support Live Activities, and one notable detail is that on iPhone 14 Pro models, users will be able to switch between two Live Activities using the Dynamic Island if they are following multiple tasks or events at the same time, thanks to a separate "minimal" presentation:

When multiple Live Activities are active, the system uses the circular minimal presentation to display two of them in the Dynamic Island. The system chooses one Live Activity to appear attached to the Dynamic Island while the other appears detached. As with a compact Live Activity, people can tap a minimal Live Activity to open the app and get more details about the event or task.

Apple's guidelines go on to add that when people touch and hold a Live Activity in the minimal presentation described above, the system displays the content in an expanded presentation, just as it does for the compact version.

Example image showing "minimal" presentation of multiple Live Activities​

The implementation Apple describes above should come as welcome news to those who envision, say, following two Premier League matches that are being played at the same time, where either one result or both could end up being decisive for the teams' league standings.

In other noteworthy tidbits in the HIG, Apple cautions developers not to offer Live Activities that exceed eight hours, and asks them to consider removing Live Activities from the Lock Screen after they end:

In the Dynamic Island, the system immediately removes a Live Activity when it ends. By default, the system shows a Live Activity on the Lock Screen for up to four hours after it ends to give people time to view its final content update. If the outcome of your Live Activity is only relevant for a shorter time, tell the system to dismiss it at a specific time within the four-hour window or immediately after it ends. For example, a rideshare app might choose to display a summary of the ride in the Live Activity on the Lock Screen for 15 minutes after the ride ends so people can view the final fare.

Finally, Apple notes that Live Activities adapt their colors to "look great" in both the Light and Dark system modes, as well as on the dimmed screen of an always-on display.

Apple says iOS 16.1, currently in beta, will be released later this year. In addition to adding support for Live Activities in third-party apps, the update will include a new Clean Energy Charging option for U.S. users, add support for Matter accessories in the Home app, make Apple Fitness+ workouts available without an Apple Watch, and more.

Article Link: iPhone 14 Pro Users Can Switch Between Two Live Activities in Dynamic Island

 

[Lewis_c]

Eight hours maximum? That JUST about works for a day’s test match cricket

 

[DMG35]

Dynamic Island is legit awesome.

 

[PeteBurgh]

Eight hours maximum? That JUST about works for a day’s test match cricket

All time great Macrumors comment. Clearly a poster with correct priorities.

 

[IIGS User]

Dynamic island wasn't just created to deal with the notch haters or to hide "the pill". I think Apple has long term plans for it.

 

[AndiG]

No way!! Sorry but the dynamic island is simply lipstick on the pig. Most people won't use it or simply do not know how to use it.
It would have been a better decision to keep Dynamic Island away from iOS. Apple should open their Api so developers can do such kind of things and if anyone needs that kind of feature, it should be available to download from the appstore.

Apple was once known for simplicity. It focussed on 80% of the features people use leaving the other 20% behind. This way Apple achieved a system that is easy to use. Nowadays Apple became crazy for new features, every year, new features.

 

[BootsWalking]

Dynamic Island will wind up in the same trash heap of design history as the Touch Bar. It's a temporary solution to a temporary problem, the notch. Once Apple figures out how to get all the Face ID stuff under the display Apple will transition Dynamic Island to the Oops Peninsula.

 

[UMHurricanes34]

It’s annoying that my brain latches on to certain things of minimal importance, but it bothers me that Apple’s copywriting refers to ‘users’ as ‘people’.

 

[fishkorp]

The example in the photo is the first thing I said it wished it had. It is the perfect space for live sports scores.

 

[BornAgainMac]

For my older iPhone, I think I'll just look for a widget to do that.
[Edit: Searched and no widget for sports scores available]

 

[AppleTheorist]

The representation is so bad, the Monarchs would be losing the Giants.

 

[wineinger]

The representation is so bad, the Monarchs would be losing the Giants.

It's only the ninth, KC will find a way

 

[rpat701]

Dynamic Island will wind up in the same trash heap of design history as the Touch Bar. It's a temporary solution to a temporary problem, the notch. Once Apple figures out how to get all the Face ID stuff under the display Apple will transition Dynamic Island to the Oops Peninsula.

Huh? From a UX perspective it works with or without the notch.

 

[rpat701]

Most useful thing I have seen from Apple in a while. Can keep track of scores nicely.

 

[MaaK]

Sorry, I‘m not into sports and find the feature more than unnecessary. Can they just make an iPhone Sport or let me deactivate the Dynamic Island?

Can’t think about something really useful. Unfortunately, due to the fact that they named this thing, it will be available for a lot of years. Although there’s a high chance it will suffer the same fate than the Touchbar did.

 

[BootsWalking]

Huh? From a UX perspective it works with or without the notch.

Without the notch it's just an animated popup.

 

[cocky jeremy]

It’s annoying that my brain latches on to certain things of minimal importance, but it bothers me that Apple’s copywriting refers to ‘users’ as ‘people’.

Are there a lot of non people using this?

 

[MacWorld78]

Dynamic Island just nice concept but not really ideal because obviously it is hard to reach from a thumb if holding one hand only.

Bless those who have long thumbs.

 

[UMHurricanes34]

Are there a lot of non people using this?

Point taken. I meant it from a copywriting standards perspective. I believe Apple has typically used the term users to represent their customers.

 

[kahkityoong]

Dynamic Island will wind up in the same trash heap of design history as the Touch Bar. It's a temporary solution to a temporary problem, the notch. Once Apple figures out how to get all the Face ID stuff under the display Apple will transition Dynamic Island to the Oops Peninsula.

So what? Until the notch is dispatched it’s an elegant way to utilise that space.

 

[iPhoneFan5349]

Dynamic Island will wind up in the same trash heap of design history as the Touch Bar. It's a temporary solution to a temporary problem, the notch. Once Apple figures out how to get all the Face ID stuff under the display Apple will transition Dynamic Island to the Oops Peninsula.

I don’t know. It’s a nice multitasking feature. It’s not about the island, it’s just that we didn’t have any space that showed us what was happening, like a task bar in windows or the dock in a Mac. I believe they will let it there even if there’s no notch at all

 

[klasma]

Without the notch it's just an animated popup.

Even with the notch.

 

[klasma]

What when you have more than two Live Activities? Is there a way to switch which are displayed on the Island?

 

[jamezr]

Now lets get the NFL and NBA on board. This a great feature.

 

[alexandr]

Nowadays Apple became crazy for new features, every year, new features.

How dare they?!