live notifications Archives

AppWizard

October 3, 2025

Android 16 Revolutionizes App Icons with Material You Customization

Google's Android 16 update introduces innovative app icon customization features, allowing users to modify app icons with various shapes, styles, and thematic integrations. The QPR2 beta mandates monochrome filters for all applications, ensuring a cohesive aesthetic across the home screen. Users can choose from five distinct icon shapes, addressing feedback on rigid designs. The update also includes forced dark mode and auto-theming for legacy applications, enhancing the overall user experience. Customizable Quick Settings panels and live notifications improve efficiency for power users. Starting October 15, 2025, developers will be required to provide adaptive icons due to new mandatory theming rules. Privacy features, such as protections against SMS one-time password hijacking, are also included.

AppWizard

July 23, 2025

Samsung plans to make Now Bar more useful by nearly doubling app support

Samsung's Now Bar feature, initially introduced with the Galaxy S25 series, has expanded to the cover screen of the Galaxy Z Flip with the One UI 8 update. As of June 2025, it supports approximately 20 applications, including those from Samsung, Google, and third-party developers, with plans to increase this number to 35 by the end of 2025. The expansion is enabled by a new API in One UI 8 based on Android 16, allowing applications to create “Live Notifications.” Current compatible applications include various Samsung apps (e.g., Media Player, Notes, SmartThings TV Remote), Google apps (e.g., Google Maps), and third-party apps (e.g., Uber, Waymo). Samsung's documentation lists 19 specific applications but suggests a 20th app is forthcoming.

AppWizard

July 3, 2025

One UI 8 will let any app show a Live Notification in Samsung’s Now Bar

Samsung is enhancing its One UI 8 experience by integrating the Live Notifications feature with Android 16's "Live Updates" API, allowing broader third-party app support for live notifications. This upgrade will enable real-time updates from various compatible applications, moving beyond the previous limitation of primarily supporting Samsung's own apps. The feature was initially introduced with One UI 7 and is set to expand significantly in One UI 8. The One UI 8 beta has shown a developer option for "Live notifications for all apps," which allows Live Updates to appear in the status bar and Now Bar. Currently, no public apps support Live Updates, and testing requires Google's sample app. It is expected that users will not need to toggle a developer option for the feature in the final release of One UI 8.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

Samsung snuck in a surprise for its latest SmartThings app update

Samsung has released an update to its SmartThings mobile application, version 1.8.33.25, which includes several new features: - Home Life Survey: A survey for users to provide details about their household and interests to receive tailored recommendations. - Flexible Routine Configurations: Enhanced control over routines, including notifications before initiation and delays between actions. - Galaxy Tag Location Sharing: Temporary links to share the location of Galaxy Tags with options for expiration (12 hours, 24 hours, or a week). - Enhanced Map View Navigation: Map View is now the default interface, with simplified navigation between Map View and the Home tab. - Support for SmartThings in the Now Bar and Live Notifications, allowing toggling SmartThings on or off from the Now Bar settings. The update is being rolled out in phases to ensure smooth performance across the platform.

AppWizard

June 10, 2025

Android 16 is officially here, and Pixels get first dibs on new features

Android 16 has been officially launched, with Google Pixel phones being the first to adopt this stable version. Key features include live notifications for real-time updates, a "desktop windowing" feature for larger screens, and custom keyboard shortcuts. The stable version was released on June 10, earlier than previous years. Enhanced communication capabilities for users with hearing aids allow clearer call quality and volume control from the phone. Security improvements include Advanced Protection against scam apps and online threats. Android 16 will roll out to Pixel 6 and newer models, with updates for other brands expected later this year. The Google Pixel 9 features a Tensor G4 chip, a 6.3-inch Actua Display, a dual-camera system, a 4700mAh battery, 12GB of RAM, and a commitment to seven years of OS and security updates, along with an IP68 water-resistant design.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 starts rolling out with Material 3 Expressive

Google has begun the rollout of Android 16's first Beta, known as Android 16 QPR1 (BP31.250502.008), for enrolled users of the Pixel 6 series and newer devices, including Pixel tablets. This update features the new Material 3 Expressive UI, which enhances user experience with a focus on color, shape, size, motion, and containment. Notable features include Gemini's live notifications, improved screen recording, and a redesigned Settings app with color-coded icons. The update also includes bug fixes, performance optimizations, and August 2025 security patches. Users who have previously enrolled in the Android 16 Beta will receive this update automatically.

AppWizard

April 11, 2025

Stable One UI 7 rolls out to users both in the U.S. and European regions

The stable version of One UI 7 has started rolling out for eligible Galaxy users in the U.S. and Europe, beginning with the Samsung Galaxy S24 series, Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6. The update, approximately 5.2GB in size, includes the April security patch and enhances the AI experience with new writing tools and image generation capabilities. Users can check for the update by navigating to Settings > Software Update > Check for updates. One UI 7 features a refreshed Notification panel, a vertically-scrolling app drawer, and a new "Now Bar" for quick access to various controls. Samsung plans to extend the update to older devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Flip 4, S23 FE, A34, A35, S22, S21 series, and Tab S9/S8 series, by May. The rollout is occurring in phases.

AppWizard

April 10, 2025

One UI 7 brings Live Notifications for your favorite media apps, including YouTube and Spotify

Samsung's One UI version 7 has begun rolling out, introducing features that enhance media playback, including Live Notifications for real-time control over media applications from the notification shade. Users can receive ongoing media playback notifications from apps like Spotify, YouTube, and YouTube Music, although Netflix does not show notifications during local playback but does support live notifications when casting. To access these features, users must have the latest builds of One UI 7, particularly those with the April 2025 security patch. The update also hints at cross-device synchronization for media playback control without needing to be on the same Wi-Fi network. Currently, YouTube allows playback controls for connected smart devices but typically requires the same Wi-Fi network.