Apple Launches New iOS Version: iOS17 at a Glance

Apple introduced iOS 17 at its World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 5 and released the first developer beta. The latest operating system comes with significant updates and interesting features such as Live Voicemail, a new Standby, an updated Messages app, a new Journal app, and more. Apple is also said to have made a number of new UI changes, including customizable widgets and a fully customizable control center.

For some of the new cool features, keep on reading…

Standby

This is one of the most significant updates in iOS 17 and it offers a new way to use your iPhone while it’s charging. It seems to borrow from the Nightstand mode of the Apple Watch, as it looks like a smart display. Place your phone in landscape at night and Standby Mode lets you view photos, display widgets, and the time in a larger format. The demos shown by Apple also highlighted several clock styles and Live Activities taking up the entire screen. You can also select Night Mode to display red text and minimize eye strain.

Redesigned Messages App

The Messages app has been given a facelift and is now faster with smart features like transcription for audio messages, and a chic feature called Check In that will allow friends and family to inform you that they’ve arrived safely to their destination. There are also search filters that will let you add search terms to narrow the results. In addition, you can now go to the first unread message in a group chat and swipe to reply on any bubble.

Live Voicemail

If you receive a call and the person leaves a message, you’ll see a live transcript as the caller speaks. This way, you can decide whether you want to pick up or not.

Photos App

It can recognize pets and Visual Lookup works when you pause a video. The app can now identify food to recommend recipes, plus it also recognizes storefronts and signs. When you shoot photos of food, you can use the lookup tool to find sources online for cooking them yourself.

Journal App

This is a useful service designed to let you jot down thoughts as you wish. It builds on Memories in Photos to offer a new way to relive special moments and write about daily experiences with location, photos, and more.

The app uses machine learning to create tailored suggestions of moments, including music you’ve listened to and individuals you’ve spoken to. Apple stressed that the app is based around privacy and it can be locked, so people can’t have a look if you don’t want them to.

FaceTime

New for FaceTime in iOS 17 is the ability to let you leave a video when people don’t answer your call. FaceTime also supports a plethora of Reactions like balloons, hearts, fireworks, rain, and laser beams. The effects are activated by gestures and will work in third-party apps.

You can now also link your iPhone or iPad to the Apple TV 4K for FaceTime. With the use of the Continuity Camera, any iOS device can serve as the camera for FaceTime calls, but the video is shown on the TV screen. The feature supports Center Stage framing and other FaceTime functionalities for transferring calls between the TV and an iOS device.

AirDrop

Apple made AirDrop a lot simpler to use. You just need to bring your iPhones close together to share information. You can easily select the phone numbers and email addresses you wish to share on your iPhone or Apple Watch. Apple calls this feature NameDrop.

Bringing two iPhones close together initiates SharePlay so you can listen to music, play a game or watch a movie with another iPhone user. Later this year, AirDrop will be able to allow large file transfers by two iPhones in close proximity, with the transfer capping over iCloud.

Other Nifty Updates

Other cool features in iOS 17 include a smart keyboard with improved autocorrect, interactive widgets, improvements to Spotlight search, autofill verification codes in Mail, support for stickers, AirTags can now be shared, and Adaptive Audio for AirPods Pro 2 that combines Transparency with Active Noise Cancellation so you can be more aware of your surroundings while keeping unwanted noise to a minimum.

When Will Apple Officially Release iOS 17?

For registered Apple developers the update is currently available to start testing app support. A public release is set for July while the full release will most likely arrive in September this year alongside the highly anticipated iPhone 15.

What Devices are Supported by the iOS 17 Update?

The following is a list of iPhones that are eligible for the iOS 17 update.

·????????iPhone XS/XS Max, iPhone XR

·????????iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max

·????????iPhone 12, 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max

·????????iPhone 13, 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max

·????????iPhone SE (2022) with A15 Bionic processor

·????????iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max

Note that support is no longer available for the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X.