Apple Inc. (AAPL) has once again pushed the boundaries of user experience, this time by introducing a dynamic and engaging way to follow election results. On the night of the U.S. presidential and congressional elections, Apple News unveiled a feature that allowed users to monitor the electoral count in real-time directly on their iPhone and iPad lock screens, utilizing the innovative Dynamic Island.
This feature, accessible through the Apple News app, offered users a seamless and interactive experience. By simply registering for Apple News and following the “2024 election live” banner, users could get instant updates on the electoral count for both presidential candidates and congressional races. If the banner isn’t immediately visible, users can find it under “Election 2024” in the “Special Coverage” section of the Apple News menu. Upon activation, users receive a notification confirming the launch of the Live Activity.
The dynamic widgets, available on iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches, displayed the electoral count for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, along with Senate and House election results, providing a comprehensive view of the unfolding election night. The feature’s integration with the Dynamic Island, Apple’s latest innovation for iPhone displays, garnered significant praise on social media. Users commended Apple for its innovative use of the Dynamic Island, deeming it a clever and intuitive way to present real-time election data.
However, the rollout was not without its hiccups. Several users reported that the feature crashed during the voting count, hindering the flow of updates. The sudden interruption left some users frustrated and questioning the reliability of the feature. Tweets highlighting these issues quickly emerged, raising concerns about the feature’s stability and the potential for misinformation.
The election night also saw a dramatic impact on Wall Street. The shares of Trump’s media company, Trump Media & Technology Group Corp, surged in response to the election results. Stock futures and yields on U.S. sovereign debt also experienced notable fluctuations. Former President Trump, claiming victory in key battleground states, addressed his supporters in New York, declaring himself “the 47th president and your 45th president.”
While the final outcome of the election remained uncertain, Apple’s innovative approach to election coverage, despite its glitches, demonstrated its commitment to leveraging technology for real-time information delivery. As the election progressed, Apple News continued to provide updates on the electoral count, showcasing its commitment to keeping users informed.
