You are following Apple Maps to an unfamiliar address and want to check your speed without interrupting navigation. That is where eyeSpeed’s Live Activity matters: your current speed stays visible in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen.
It is especially useful with navigation. Apple Maps can stay on the main screen while eyeSpeed keeps speed visible at the top.
What Are Live Activities?
Live Activities are an iOS feature for real-time information that persists and updates continuously. Unlike notifications, they stay available, which makes them a natural fit for speed.
On iPhone 14 Pro and later, they also appear in the Dynamic Island, so your speed stays visible while you use other apps.
They also appear on the Lock Screen.
The Dynamic Island Experience
The Dynamic Island turns eyeSpeed into an always-available reference that works alongside everything else on your phone.
Compact View
When eyeSpeed’s Live Activity is active, the compact view shows your current speed in a small, glanceable format.
It stays readable without taking over the interface.
Expanded View
Tap or long-press the Dynamic Island to expand the Live Activity. The expanded view shows speed in larger type with the unit label.
It is useful when you want a more careful look at the number.
Using Apple Maps Navigation
This is where the feature becomes most useful. When you are navigating with Apple Maps:
- Apple Maps occupies your main screen with turn-by-turn directions
- Other Live Activities, like music, can still share the Dynamic Island
- eyeSpeed keeps your speed visible alongside them
You get navigation, media, and speed without switching apps or losing context.
Other App Combinations
Beyond Apple Maps, the Live Activity works with other apps too, from music to hands-free calls. The point is the same: your speed stays available without taking over the screen.
Lock Screen Display
eyeSpeed’s Live Activity also appears on the Lock Screen, which is especially useful when your phone is mounted and locked.
The design priorities are simple: readability, consistency with the main app, and no extra chrome.
You can end the Live Activity from the Lock Screen, from eyeSpeed itself, or via Siri.
How eyeSpeed’s Live Activity Works
When you enable eyeSpeed’s Live Activity, iOS creates it, eyeSpeed feeds it updated speed data, and the system handles the compact and expanded layouts. It keeps running in the background until you stop it or a timeout ends it.
Smart Battery Management
Live Activities require background location access, so eyeSpeed includes a few battery-saving controls.
Configurable Timeouts
You can set the Live Activity to end automatically after 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or 2 hours.
If you forget to stop it, the timeout keeps it from running indefinitely.
Update Frequency Control
eyeSpeed’s efficient, balanced, and responsive modes affect how often GPS updates are processed. That lets you choose between battery life and maximum responsiveness.
Respect System Settings
eyeSpeed also respects iOS system settings. If Live Activities are disabled for the app, eyeSpeed will not try to start one.
Privacy Architecture
The same privacy architecture applies here too. Most speedometer apps with Live Activities use location for more than speed. eyeSpeed does not. GPS data stays on your device, route history is not stored, and no ad network gets your location.
Getting Started
To use Live Activities in eyeSpeed:
- Enable in iOS Settings: Make sure “Live Activities” is enabled for eyeSpeed.
- Enable in eyeSpeed: Start the Live Activity from the app or with Siri.
- Optional: Set a timeout: Choose how long it should run.
- Open another app: Apple Maps is the clearest example, but any app works.
Driving It Home
Live Activities turn eyeSpeed from a standalone speedometer into something that stays useful while you do everything else on your phone.
And like everything in eyeSpeed, it works without compromising privacy. Your speed is calculated locally, displayed locally, and never turned into route history for someone else’s benefit. That is what privacy-first iOS integration should look like.