Buzz
Dynamic Spot is an app that makes the blemishes on Android phones less dull, turning them into Dynamic Islands like Apple's iPhone 14 Pro, and after 2 weeks of use, I find it quite enjoyable and in some cases, it enhances my phone usage experience. Particularly, if you want to experience Dynamic Island without purchasing an iPhone, this is the way to go.How much does Dynamic Spot Pro cost, and how does it differ from the free version?
DynamicSpot (later renamed to Dynamic Island) will have both a paid version and a free version. The price for the Pro version is around $5. More features are available, and notably, its user experience is superior to the free version.
I'll leave the download link for Dynamic Island here. Android users with blemishes on their phones can use it to make the blemishes less prominent, especially if they're located in the center of the phone like on my Xiaomi 13.
With the free version, users won't get smooth animations like on the iPhone, or as many deep customization options, and some interactions with Dynamic Island are limited... Whereas the Pro version has no limitations.How's the user experience? What are the features like?
After downloading, users can grant permissions, including system access, notification reception, and display. Without permissions, the app won't function. For better optimization, users can hide all app icons on the status bar to keep it neat. Additionally, disable the default system screen pop-up notifications to use the app's Dynamic Island-style pop-ups.
This is the main interface of the app, where users can find key customizations such as Behavior, Appearance, Position, and Notifications. At the top right is the play button for users to preview changes made within the app.
Starting with Notifications, users can customize settings to decline notifications when in DND mode, adjust which apps can use iPhone-style pop-ups, and especially system alerts like low battery or charging status. These defaults are recommended for their convenience.
Under Behavior, users can customize whether to hide app notification pop-ups when the corresponding app is open, or display them on the lock screen, allowing for 2 simultaneous pop-up notifications... and especially Show Always (Live Activities).
This feature will always display a black pill-shaped block, just like iPhone, and if users tap on it, they can quickly access pre-set apps, up to 6 in total. It differs from Live Activities on iPhone because Android doesn't have the supporting API functions yet, or if it does, these apps haven't integrated them. Live Activities on iPhone update in real-time, and with the iPhone 14 Pro, these updates will always be visible on Dynamic Island.
Furthermore, in Behavior, users can also customize the appearance time of pop-ups or the touch and hold actions on Dynamic Island according to their preferences. Moving on to Appearance, purchasing the Pro version enables users to activate the Premium animations feature, providing animations similar to those on the iPhone. Users can also activate bunny ears if desired 😁, choose colors for Dynamic Island, and quickly reply directly on Dynamic Island...
However, through the experiential journey, the aspect I liked the most is the ability to control media, customize music or timer settings here instead of dealing with notifications.
For example, when I'm listening to Apple Music, I can tap here to fast forward, skip tracks, pause music, touch an album for quick access to Apple Music, similarly with the timer.
When one of them is active and a notification comes in, an icon will display a small dot on the right side of the Dynamic Island, making it look just like an iPhone :D.
If the position doesn't suit you, customization options include adjusting the position, size, and curvature of the Dynamic Island's edges, offering a wide range of adjustments.
With a phone boasting slim, uniform edges like the Xiaomi 13, using it with Dynamic Island enhances its aesthetics even more, akin to not leaving a mole unadorned. While this reflects personal preference, Android users who don't favor this may not use the app for long. However, for me personally, it's another app to add to the installation list whenever I switch to using an Android phone. It's quite impressive and forms a usage habit for me.
I've never been a fan of the app icon rows always displayed on the status bar. I prefer them to vanish, and some Android manufacturers allow users to opt for this feature. I like that, and alongside that, the presence of this app makes the empty space at the top of the Android phone more useful.
Certainly, occasional display glitches may occur, and swipe gestures may not be as smooth as on an iPhone, for example, opening Apple Music and swiping back won't shrink it to the Dynamic Island but defaults to the phone's animation. Nevertheless, it's not a big deal; what matters is that I find it enjoyable and engaging.
