# Upgrading the Uber Experience: Live Activities on Apple Watch with watchOS 11
With the rollout of watchOS 11, Apple has enhanced the capabilities of the Apple Watch by incorporating Live Activities from the iPhone into the wearable device. This functionality enables users to get immediate updates right on their wrist, elevating the overall experience. Notably, Uber has leveraged this enhancement to refine its Live Activity interface specifically for the Apple Watch, making it more intuitive and informative.
## Uber’s Live Activity on Apple Watch
In the past, the Live Activity feature of the Uber app on the Apple Watch was rather simplistic, showing only the Uber logo and the estimated time of arrival (ETA) while on a ride. This configuration mirrored the condensed view available on the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, offering limited real-time tracking. However, with the recent update, Uber has unveiled a more advanced interface designed for Apple Watch users.
### Key Features of the Enhanced Live Activity
1. **Circular Progress Indicator**: The updated interface includes a circular progress indicator that visually illustrates the status of the ride, helping users track their journey in real-time more intuitively.
2. **Improved ETA Clarity**: Rather than merely displaying the estimated time, the Live Activity now mentions “Dropoff at,” giving users clearer details about their destination.
3. **Driver Details**: When the driver nears, the Live Activity presents an image of the vehicle along with its license plate number. This addition bolsters safety and enables users to recognize their ride with greater ease.
These updates, despite appearing minor, greatly enhance the experience of tracking an Uber ride on the Apple Watch, particularly given that Uber removed its dedicated Apple Watch app in 2022.
### Accessing Live Activities
Users can monitor Live Activities on their Apple Watch through the Smart Stack feature. By turning the Digital Crown upwards, users can access the Smart Stack, which automatically elevates Live Activities to the top when there is a fresh status update. Developers have the capability to create dedicated Live Activities for the Apple Watch without the need for a specific watchOS app, allowing for enhanced flexibility and functionality.
## Requirements for Use
To benefit from these new features, Uber users need to ensure they have the latest version of the app installed on their iPhone. Additionally, watchOS 11 necessitates an Apple Watch Series 6 or newer, meaning users with older models will not be able to access these improvements.
## Conclusion
The incorporation of Live Activities into the Apple Watch, particularly via the Uber app, signifies a major improvement in how users interact with their rides in real-time. With features such as a circular progress indicator, clearer ETA details, and driver identification, Uber has transformed the experience of utilizing its service on the Apple Watch to be much more engaging and efficient. As technology progresses, updates like these highlight the potential for enhanced user experiences across devices, making daily tasks more manageable and accessible.
