introduced comprehensive widgets for the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island to show time-sensitive information.
Uber was flaunted as one of the best implementations of Live Activities on the Lock Screen in iOS 16. While the new Lock Screen can show small widgets under the date and time, these options remain on the Lock Screen at all times. That's a great way to see weather or fitness information, but it's not the best way to display Uber and Uber Eats information. s want to see this information when they've placed an order and need to follow it closely. Live Activities are designed to appear when s need them and disappear when they don't, making it a great option for displaying time-sensitive and temporary data.
Despite being one of the first applications showcased at WWDC, Uber and Uber Eats were far from the first to release Live Activities for iOS 16. The feature debuted with iOS 16.1, and a slew of apps introduced for Live Activities within a week of the feature's launch. Weeks later, Uber and Uber Eats are slowly rolling out their Live Activities implementation to s, as spotted by Twitter and Reddit s on Dec. 8. These reports were corroborated by 9to5Mac, but an official confirmation of the rollout has not been made by Uber or Uber Eats at this time.
How Uber's Live Activities Work On iOS 16
Uber's take on Live Activities, when enabled, activates as soon as a ride is requested or a delivery order is placed. The Uber app will display the current ride's progress as a person reaches their destination. It'll show the driver's progress to the pickup location as a customer awaits their ride, and displays their expected ETA alongside this information. After a person is picked up by their Uber driver, the Live Activities feature will show the driver's route with a dynamic progress bar. Additionally, the expected ETA will change as external factors — like traffic and weather conditions — evolve.
For the Uber Eats app, a customer's order progress will be displayed in the Live Activities feature. As the order progresses, the information will change on the Lock Screen or on the Dynamic island. Though the Uber and Uber Eats app both utilize the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max models, limited information is viewable on the island. After the Dynamic Island is expanded with a long press, the full Live Activity widget will be displayed.
Not all s will be immediately able to access Live Activities for Uber and Uber Eats since the company is employing a soft rollout. However, they can enable the feature by navigating to Settings > Uber (or Uber Eats) and turning on the Live Activities toggle. Uber was touted as a great implementation of Live Activities back in June, and it's finally rolling out the feature five months later.
Source: @gntlmnking/Twitter, Rejuvenist/Reddit, 9to5Mac