iOS 17: The biggest iPhone update ever! Apple unveiled iOS 17, the latest version of its mobile operating system, at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. The update is expected to launch in September, along with the new iPhone 15 models. iOS 17 will be compatible with iPhone XR and later, but not with iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X.
iOS 17 is the latest version of Apple’s mobile operating system for iPhone. It brings a host of new features and improvements to enhance the things you do every day. Some of the most notable features include:
StandBy mode: This new feature turns your iPhone on its side while charging to make it even more useful when you set it down. With Live Activities on full screen, you can stay on top of things happening in real time, like the score of a game or the progress of your food delivery. It turns your iPhone into a smart display when it is charging and in horizontal orientation. The screen shows recent photos, the time, popular widgets, live activities, and more. You can also interact with Siri and see rich visual results from a distance. StandBy mode is ideal for using your iPhone as a bedside clock, a photo frame, or a personal assistant.
Journal app: This is a brand-new app that builds on Memories in Photos to bring a new way to relive special moments, remember and write about experiences with text, location, photos, and more.
Major changes for Messages: iOS 17 bring many improvements to the Messages app. You can now tap the new plus button to view all the things you send the most — like photos, audio messages, and your location. Swipe up to view the rest of your iMessage apps. A new catch-up arrow lets you jump to the first message you haven’t seen in a conversation. And now you can swipe to the right on any message to send a reply.
Live Voicemail: The new Live Voicemail feature on iOS17 shows a live transcription of incoming calls for better screening as people speak. Using this feature, you can let your iPhone direct any call to voicemail, but instead of rejecting it, you can first get a live transcription of what the person is saying.
Contact Posters: This new feature allows you to customize what people see when you call.
NameDrop: This is a new feature in iOS 17 that makes sharing contact information easier. With NameDrop, you can share your contact card with someone nearby using AirDrop. You can choose what information to share — like your phone number, email, or address — and the person you’re sharing with can save it directly to their contacts.
Autocorrect: Autocorrect on iOS 17 has been improved to make typing on your iPhone even easier. The new autocorrect system is more accurate and context-aware, reducing the number of errors and making your messages clearer.
Dictation: Dictation in iOS 17 has also seen significant improvements. It’s now more accurate and can better understand natural language, making it easier to dictate messages, notes, and more. Plus, with on-device dictation, your voice data is kept private.
App Library: The App Library is a new space at the end of your Home Screen pages that automatically organizes all your apps into one simple, easy-to-navigate view. You can also hide Home Screen pages for quicker access to the App Library.
Compact Calls: Incoming FaceTime and phone calls now appear as a banner instead of taking up the entire screen, so you won’t lose track of what you’re doing.
Picture in Picture: You can now continue watching a video or taking a FaceTime call while you use another app.
Siri: Siri has a new compact design that allows you to refer to information onscreen and seamlessly launch into your next task. Siri can also send audio messages and help with more types of requests, including cycling directions and language translation.
Privacy: iOS 17 introduces new privacy features to give you more transparency and control over the data you share. The App Privacy Report shows you how often apps have accessed your location, photos, camera, microphone, and contacts in the past seven days.
These are just some of the many new features and improvements in iOS 17. These features aim to make communication and every other thing you do on your iPhone smoother and more efficient.
The developer beta of iOS 17 is available now, and a public beta will be available next month. The new software features will be available this fall as a free software update for iPhone XR and later.
Some features that are not yet available in iOS 17, such as third-party app store support or lock screen widgets. iOS 17 is a feature-packed update that enhances the iPhone experience with new tweaks and convenience features. It also brings some much-needed improvements to apps like Messages, FaceTime, and Phone. However, some users may be disappointed by the lack of support for older devices or the absence of some features that are available on Android devices. What do you think of iOS 17? Will you upgrade your iPhone when it comes out? Let us know in the comments below.
