, [Key points], Conclusion: [Closing paragraph], Keywords: [List], Hashtags: [List]. Rewrite the following content accordingly:
Samsung’s latest Unpacked event brought the usual flurry of foldables and wearables — the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Galaxy Watch 8 series are now official. But buried among the hardware glitz was something far more overdue: the Now Bar is finally getting meaningful third-party app support.
Related
Gemini Live comes to the Z Flip 7’s cover screen
The Now Bar, now better
Look out, AI is starting to have an impact
The Now Bar is Samsung’s AI-powered (and probably Apple Live Activities-inspired) widget designed to surface live, relevant data on your phone — sports scores, media playback, and more — in a neat strip of information. Think Google’s At a Glance, but more visual and exclusive to One UI. Until now, the feature’s utility has been hamstrung by a walled garden of Samsung apps and the occasional Google integration. That’s starting to change.
Samsung says the Now Bar is “now integrated with more third-party apps,” an unspecific but welcome confirmation of what we’ve seen brewing in recent beta builds. Tighter integration with Android 16’s new Live Updates API appears to be the turning point here. First announced at Google I/O, Live Updates offers a system-level way for apps to push real-time info — like food delivery ETAs or rideshare status — straight to your lock screen or status bar. Naturally, Samsung’s Now Bar is getting in on that action.
Beta examples of the enhanced Now Bar in action, from Mishaal Rahman of Android Authority, DevOfIpos, and @Topraks9plus (x2), respectively.
This could be the update that finally makes the Now Bar worth the screen real estate it takes up. Since its debut, we and many users have noted that it hasn’t lived up to its promise. Without third-party support, it often felt like a pretty but pointless UI element. With Live Updates baked in, though, the Now Bar might finally do what Samsung has been promising all along: show you exactly what you need, when you need it, no taps required.
Samsung isn’t stopping there
A slate of widgets running on the Z Flip 7’s cover display.
Foldable fans also get a major usability upgrade. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE’s cover screens are now compatible with more full-fledged apps, instead of just Samsung’s widgets. Motorola proved how transformative this can be with the Razr series. Now, Samsung’s cover screen experience can evolve beyond gimmicks into something genuinely functional.
These seemingly small changes could have big ripple effects. Samsung’s ecosystem thrives when it embraces the wider Android world, not just its proprietary walled garden. Now Bar improvements, along with better foldable screen software, signal a step in the right direction.
Related
Thin is most definitely in