Apple continues to innovate and enhance the user experience on their iPhones with the introduction of iOS 17. Unveiled at the WWDC 2023 keynote, this latest update to the operating system brings a plethora of new features and improvements that will delight iPhone users. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the most significant additions and enhancements in iOS 17, providing you with an engaging and informative overview of what to expect.
1. iOS 17 Release Date and Availability
As is customary with Apple’s annual release cycle, iOS 17 is expected to be available for public use in September 2023, coinciding with the anticipated launch of the iPhone 15 series. If you’re eager to try out the latest iOS update before its official release, beta versions are available, although we advise caution as these may contain bugs and instability issues.
2. iOS 17 features: Refreshed Phone App
Contact Posters: Personalized Visuals for Calls
One of the standout upgrades in iOS 17 is the introduction of Contact Posters, a feature that allows users to customize the visual displayed on the recipient’s phone or iPad when making a call. Gone are the days of generic incoming call screens; with Contact Posters, users can choose between personal photos or Memoji and customize their typography and font colors. Furthermore, this feature extends to third-party calling apps, ensuring a consistent experience across various platforms.
NameDrop: Effortless Contact Card Sharing
With your newly created Contact Poster, you’ll want to share it with friends, family, and colleagues. iOS 17 makes this process a breeze with the NameDrop feature. By simply bringing your iPhone close to another iPhone or Apple Watch, you can seamlessly share your contact information. No more manually spelling out your phone number or fumbling with QR codes – just a quick tap, and your contact details are shared!
3. iOS 17 features: Enhanced AirDrop and Live Voicemail Features
AirDrop with Internet Support for Uninterrupted Transfers
AirDrop has always been a popular and convenient method for transferring files between Apple devices within close proximity. However, previous iterations of the feature would result in failed transfers if the user moved too far away during the process. With iOS 17, AirDrop now switches to using the internet to avoid disruption, allowing you to wander beyond proximity after initiating the transfer.
Live Voicemail: Real-time Transcriptions for Improved Call Management
Another notable addition to iOS 17 is the Live Voicemail feature, providing real-time transcriptions of incoming voicemails. This allows users to read the transcription and gauge the urgency of the message, helping them decide whether to pick up the call or not. Spam calls identified by carriers will automatically be declined and will not appear as Live Voicemail. Transcriptions are processed on-device through the iPhone’s Neural Engine for added privacy and security.
4. iOS 17 features: FaceTime Upgrades
Leave Audio and Video Messages in FaceTime
In iOS 17, if a FaceTime call goes unanswered, users can now leave audio or video messages for the recipient. This adds an extra layer of communication and personalization to the FaceTime experience.
Express Yourself with FaceTime Reactions
FaceTime users can now send reactions within calls, thanks to iOS 17’s gesture recognition feature. Simple gestures performed in front of the phone’s camera are translated into on-screen reactions for all participants to see. For example, making a heart gesture will cause hearts to appear on the screen. This feature is also available for third-party video calling apps, ensuring a consistent and fun experience across platforms.
5. iOS 17 features: Fun and Practical Messaging Features
Live Stickers: Create and Share Custom Stickers
Following the success of iOS 16’s feature allowing users to lift subjects from photos and send them forward, iOS 17 introduces Live Stickers within the Messages app. Users can now lift subjects from photos (including Live Photos) and create reusable stickers, complete with animations and effects such as outlines and glitter. The sticker collection is accessible system-wide wherever Emoji can be used.
Check In: Automatic Notifications for Arrival Updates
The Messages app in iOS 17 also includes a handy Check In feature, allowing users to automatically notify friends or family when they have safely reached their destination. If a user is delayed beyond fifteen minutes on their route, critical information such as recent location, battery level, and cell service status will be shared to keep the recipient informed.
6. iOS 17 features: A Smarter and Cleaner Messages App
Improved Attachment Options and Catch-Up Arrow
The Messages app receives a significant update in iOS 17, with an expandable menu displaying attachment options like photos, location, and more. Additionally, a new catch-up arrow helps users identify where they last left a conversation, proving invaluable when dealing with busy or fast-paced chats.
Easier Inline Replies and Real-time Location Sharing
Inline replies are now more intuitive in iOS 17, with users able to respond by lightly swiping right on the text bubble. When a location is shared within the Messages app, it will now update in real-time within the conversation instead of relying on a static thumbnail.
Automatic Audio Message Transcriptions and Enhanced Search Filters
When sending audio messages, iOS 17 automatically transcribes the content, allowing recipients to choose between listening to the message or reading the transcript. Searching within Messages has also been improved, with the addition of search filters to help narrow down results and find specific content more quickly.
7. iOS 17 features: StandBy, Get More Out of Your iPhone While Charging
Glanceable Information and Live Activities
iOS 17 introduces StandBy, a feature that presents glanceable information on your iPhone’s screen when charging in landscape orientation. This information can include the time, your favorite photos, or widgets such as the Smart Stack widget. StandBy also supports Live Activities, Siri, incoming calls, and prominent notifications, turning your iPhone into a versatile and useful display when charging.
MagSafe Accessory Support and Always On Display Compatibility
When charging with a MagSafe accessory, StandBy will remember your preferred view for a consistent experience. iPhones with Always On Displays, like the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, will have StandBy available when charging on their side. For other iPhone models, StandBy can be activated by tapping the screen, though it will only remain on for a few seconds before the screen switches off again.
8. iOS 17 features: Siri Gets Smarter
Activate Siri with Just “Siri” and Chain Multiple Commands
In iOS 17, Siri activation is simplified, with users now able to wake the virtual assistant by saying “Siri” instead of the previous “Hey Siri.” Additionally, Siri can now accept multiple commands in succession without requiring reactivation between each command.
AI-Powered Autocorrect and Dictation Improvements
iOS 17 brings AI enhancements to both Autocorrect and Dictation within the keyboard. Autocorrect now utilizes a transformer language model to improve word prediction, offering inline predictive text recommendations as users type. Dictation also benefits from a new speech recognition model, resulting in increased accuracy.
9. iOS 17 features: Introducing the Journal App for Gratitude Journaling
Machine Learning-Powered Suggestions for Journal Entries
The Journal app is a new addition to the Apple ecosystem with iOS 17. The app encourages users to cultivate a habit of gratitude journaling. Beyond being a simple journaling app, Journal uses on-device machine learning to provide personalized suggestions for journal entries, drawing from recent activity such as photos, people, places, workouts, and more.
Scheduled Notifications, Bookmarking, and Privacy Features
To help users build a consistent journaling routine, the Journal app offers scheduled notifications. It also offers the ability to bookmark favorite entries. Recognizing the personal nature of journaling, the app also includes a lock feature to prevent unauthorized access.
10. iOS 17 features: Enhanced Privacy and Security in Safari and Beyond
Safari Privacy Upgrades: Private Browsing Lock and Advanced Tracking Protections
Safari, Apple’s native web browser, receives several privacy enhancements in iOS 17. Private Browsing sessions will now lock when the phone is not in use. This will allow users to maintain private tabs even when away from their device. Advanced tracking and fingerprinting protections have also been added to prevent websites from identifying or tracking user devices.
Sensitive Content Warning
The Sensitive Content Warning feature in iOS 17 helps adult users avoid encountering unwanted explicit images and videos. If such content is received, the media is blurred. The user is also warned about the explicit nature of the incoming file. All image and video processing for this feature is conducted on-device to ensure privacy.
11. iOS 17 features: Health app offers new mental health features
In iOS 17, the Health app introduces a notable emphasis on mental health. iPhones users can now record their daily moods and momentary emotions directly within the Health app. This feature enables individuals to gain insights into factors that might be influencing their emotional well-being. Additionally, the app provides access to depression and anxiety assessments commonly utilized in clinics, along with other relevant resources specific to the user’s location.
12. iOS 17 features: Additional Noteworthy Features
Aside from the major updates and features discussed above, iOS 17 also includes a variety of smaller but equally important enhancements and additions:
- The Home app now allows users to view up to 30 days of activity history. This is useful for managing and troubleshooting smart home setups.
- The Reminders app gains a grocery list feature that automatically groups items into categories for easier shopping, with customization options and memory for user preferences.
- Visual Look Up can now be activated in paused video frames, enabling reverse image searches within video content.
- Machine learning improvements to the People album in the Photos app result in better recognition of people and pets.
- Accessibility enhancements include Assistive Access, Live Speech, Personal Voice, and Point and Speak. All these cater to users with cognitive disabilities, speech loss risks, and vision impairments.
With iOS 17, Apple has once again demonstrated its commitment to improving the iPhone experience. Whether you’re an avid FaceTime user, a frequent traveler needing offline Maps support, or someone who values privacy and security, iOS 17 has something for everyone. Upgrade your iPhone to iOS 17 in September 2023 and enjoy the many benefits of Apple’s latest operating system update.
