iOS 17, the latest version of the iPhone OS, was unveiled in June and is now available for newer iPhone XR/XS models. This update introduces enhancements that improve communication experiences across Phones, FaceTime, and Messages. Minor upgrades to other applications and a forthcoming journaling app are set to be released later in the year.
Apple has revamped the Phone application to include personalized Contact Posters. Users can customize their caller ID with photos or Memojis, font type, and color choices. This feature extends to both the Phone app and third-party applications.
The introduction of Live Voicemail allows users to see voicemail transcriptions in real-time on their lock screen. It offers the option to answer the call if desired. Spam calls identified by carriers are automatically rejected and do not trigger the Live Voicemail feature.
NameDrop enhances the AirDrop experience by enabling contact information exchange by bringing two iPhones close together. This functionality also supports Apple Watch and facilitates SharePlay for shared entertainment experiences. Initiates large file transfers between complete devices via iCloud.
FaceTime now allows users to leave audio or video messages. If calls are missed, various options, such as hearts and fireworks, activated by gestures and available in third-party apps, are introduced. IPhones and iPads can also link with Apple TV 4K for FaceTime calls. Utilizing the Continuity Camera feature to project the call onto the TV screen, supporting Center Stage and other FaceTime functionalities.
The Messages app unveils a streamlined interface with a new “+” button for easy access to apps, photos, and cameras. Emojis have been transformed into stickers within the app, allowing for more dynamic interactions by placing them over images or messages. A new search functionality with filters aids in pinpointing specific messages or content.
Location sharing in Messages has been simplified, providing real-time updates within conversations. The Check-In feature enhances safety by notifying contacts upon arrival at a destination. If the user does not arrive as expected, the option to share location, battery level, and cellular status is also available. Additionally, a new feature aims to block unsolicited nude photos with a nudity warning in messages.
Apple has enhanced the autocorrect functionality across iOS devices by implementing a sophisticated machine-learning algorithm to predict users’ intended messages. This update introduces the capability to autofill entire sentences as users type, simplifying the completion of words or phrases to a mere spacebar press. Error correction has been streamlined, allowing quick adjustments with a simple tap. Additionally, the dictation feature benefits from an updated speech recognition model, boosting its precision.
iPhones can be placed horizontally on a charging dock to trigger StandBy mode when not in use. This mode displays various information at a glance through a full-screen interface. This feature is reminiscent of the Apple Watch’s Nightstand mode. It showcases customizable options such as clock designs, photos, calendar events, weather updates, Live Activities, and widgets via the Smart Stack. Although optimized for always-on displays, StandBy mode can also be activated with a tap.
The Home Screen now features interactive widgets, enabling users to perform tasks directly from the widgets themselves, including controlling music, toggling lights, completing reminders, and more. The Spotlight Search function has been more dynamic, allowing in-search setting adjustments without opening specific apps.
The Health app introduces a mood-tracking function that assists users in documenting their daily emotional states to monitor their mental health over time. It suggests mood recording options and potential mood influencers, facilitating insightful connections. Apple has integrated clinical-grade assessments for depression and anxiety within the app to help users evaluate their mental health risks.
Leveraging the TrueDepth camera, the Health app now includes a Screen Distance measuring tool within Screen Time. This feature is aimed primarily at children but is also available for adults. It alerts users if the device is held closer than 12 inches from their Face.
iOS 17 introduces a Journal app that encourages daily thought and activity logging. The app utilizes on-device machine learning to recommend journaling topics based on daily activities, including travel, workouts, social visits, photography, and more. While third-party apps can suggest journaling topics, all data is securely stored and can be passcode-protected.
Safari enhances user privacy with Face ID-secured private browsing and tracker blocking to prevent cross-website tracking. It also offers Profiles to segregate work and personal browsing activities, maintaining separate histories, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, and cookies.
The Photos app can now recognize pets, and Visual Look Up can identify objects in paused videos, including food for recipe suggestions, storefronts, signs, and other visuals.
Password sharing has been made easier with a Family Sharing option in the Passwords app. This option allows group members to securely access and manage shared passwords through iCloud Keychain, which is ideal for communal accounts like streaming services.
Apple Music now supports Collaborative Playlists, enhancing shared listening experiences. SharePlay integration in vehicles allows passengers to contribute to the playlist via CarPlay without needing an Apple Music subscription. The crossfade feature ensures seamless song transitions.
The Maps app now allows for downloading offline maps in selected areas, providing navigation, ETA, and location information without a data connection. Updated maps offer detailed trail information in U.S. parks and real-time electric vehicle charging station availability.
AirTag sharing is now possible, enabling joint tracking of items in the Find My app among household members. Including location tracking, sound playing, and Precision Finding features, which are compatible with Find My network accessories.
AirPlay has been refined to adapt to user sharing preferences and will be supported by select hotels for enhanced content access while traveling. Device sign-in is streamlined through nearby device detection or using contact details linked to the user’s Apple ID.
New AirPods features include Adaptive Audio for AirPods Pro 2, merging Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency mode for a balanced auditory experience. Conversation Awareness lowers music volume during conversations, while Personalized Volume tailors audio to user preferences. Improvements to Automatic Switching enhance device connectivity, and users can mute or unmute by holding the AirPods stem.
The Home application permits monitoring past activities for up to 30 days for multiple devices like door locks, garage doors, contact sensors, and alarm systems. Along with facilitating PIN codes and tap-to-unlock features for smart locks compliant with Matter standards. In the Reminders app, an integrated grocery list automatically organizes added items into categories. Meanwhile, the Notes application enhances note-taking by creating hyperlinks between notes. It is for easy interconnection and offers improved functionality for handling PDFs, enabling users to view and annotate PDFs and scanned documents. The activation phrase for Siri has been simplified to just “Siri,” removing the need for the preceding “Hey.” This update allows for multiple commands to be given in a row without needing to re-summon Siri each time. However, this feature is exclusive to the latest devices. The Mail application now automatically inputs verification codes similarly to the Messages app.
For Apple News subscribers, daily crossword puzzles are now accessible, and Apple News+ Audio Stories are available through the Podcasts application. The Fitness app introduces features like viewing friends’ workout highlights and the ability to tailor workout and meditation routines with Apple Fitness+ Custom Plans. Freeform has been updated with new drawing tools, including a watercolor brush, highlighter, and ruler. Personal Voice offers individuals at risk of losing their speech the ability to create a digital voice resembling their own. The Live Speech accessibility function enables typed text to be audibly spoken in real-life interactions, phone conversations, or FaceTime. The Point and Speak feature assists those with visual impairments or blindness by reading text from physical objects aloud. The latest release is iOS 17.3.1, which came out on February 8. It addresses a bug that led to text duplication or overlapping issues during typing.
Following iOS 17.3, this version includes Stolen Device Protection to enhance security against unauthorized access to iCloud Keychain and modifications to device settings, even if the device and passcode are compromised. It also introduced collaborative features for Apple Music playlists, allowing multiple users to add songs and emoji reactions for interactive playlist engagement. Further details about iOS 17.3’s offerings are available in the comprehensive iOS 17.3 guide.
Lock Screen Updates
iOS 17 introduces enhancements and modifications to the Lock Screen, building on the substantial updates from iOS 16 to augment its utility. StandBy mode is a novel feature for the iPhone Lock Screen that becomes active when the iPhone is charging in a horizontal orientation through MagSafe, Qi, or Lightning chargers. This mode transforms the iPhone into a dynamic display for various types of information, akin to the Apple Watch’s Nightstand mode. It showcases the time, calendar events, chosen photos via the Memories feature, incoming notifications, music playback controls, detailed Siri responses, Live Activities, weather updates, and more, all through widget integration. Users can navigate through different displays with swipes, customize the appearance, choose photos, and select widgets for a personalized StandBy screen experience. While optimized for always-on displays, a simple tap activates StandBy on iPhones without this feature.
Widgets on the Lock and Home Screens now offer enhanced interactivity, enabling users to engage with them directly without opening the corresponding app. For instance, the Reminders widget allows users to mark tasks as completed right from the widget, while the Home widget offers control over intelligent lighting systems. This functionality extends to Apple’s native apps, with third-party app developers also allowed to integrate interactive widgets into their applications.
Keyboard Changes
iOS 17 introduces advancements in keyboard technology, leveraging updated machine-learning algorithms to enhance autocorrect accuracy. The system provides more precise predictions and adapts to individual typing habits over time. In addition to spelling corrections, it now offers grammar suggestions. A new feature allows users to complete words or even sentences by tapping on the space bar, aiming to streamline typing. Moreover, the system highlights autocorrected words for easy identification and allows users to revert to their original text with a simple tap.
AirDrop Updates
AirDrop has been updated with a feature called NameDrop. This feature facilitates the exchange of contact information between iPhones or Apple Watches by bringing them close. Users can select phone numbers and email addresses to share and send their Contact Poster.
App Updates
With each iOS update, Apple enhances its built-in apps, and iOS 17 brings new functionalities to apps like Phones, Messages, Photos, Notes, and Reminders.
Phone App
The Phone app introduces Contact Posters, enabling users to personalize their call screen with custom images or Memoji and choose the font and color for their name. This feature requires the recipient to have an iPhone and allows sharing with contacts or anyone the user calls.
The Live Voicemail feature transcribes voicemails in real-time and displays them on the Lock Screen. Based on the transcription, users can choose to answer the call. This feature also categorizes calls, sending unknown numbers to Live Voicemail and automatically declining spam calls.
Other updates to the phone app include enhancements to the call log and improved dual SIM functionality with options for message sorting, separate ringtones, and SIM selection for returning calls.
Messages
The Messages app sports a revamped design for a cleaner interface, consolidating access to apps and features like the camera and photos under a “+” button. A new Check-In safety feature notifies selected contacts when the user arrives at a destination, with customizable options for the amount of shared information. The Stickers experience in Messages has been updated, integrating emojis as stickers alongside App Store downloads, custom photo stickers, and Memoji.
FaceTime
FaceTime now allows users to leave video or audio messages for missed calls, supporting features like Portrait mode and Studio Light, similar to voicemail functionality for traditional phone calls.
It introduces entertaining 3D augmented reality enhancements through specific hand movements, bringing to life animations such as hearts, confetti, and fireworks. These interactive features are accessible on the front-facing camera of the iPhone 12 and newer models.
Users of iPhones and iPads can now enjoy FaceTime calls on their Apple TV, offering a more extensive viewing experience. A call can be initiated from an iPhone, transferred to Apple TV, or started directly from its FaceTime application. The iPhone is the webcam, while the Apple TV screen displays the call interface. This feature requires iOS 17 on the iPhone and tvOS 17 on an Apple TV 4K.
Journal
The introduction of the Journal app in iOS 17 enables users of iPhones and iPads to document their daily experiences and reflections. The app integrates personal data such as photos, music, workouts, and more, offering personalized writing prompts. Journal entries can include photos, music, and voice memos, with the ability to highlight significant events. The app is secured with a passcode and Face ID, ensuring privacy with facial recognition access. All data processing occurs on the device, and entries are secured with end-to-end encryption.
Safari and Passwords
Safari has been upgraded to support user profiles in iOS 17, allowing for separate profiles for work and personal browsing. Each profile maintains its history, extensions, cookies, bookmarks, and tab groups, easily switchable with a simple tap.
iCloud Keychain’s password and passkey features allow access to be shared with trusted individuals. Once a password-sharing group is established, all members can view, modify, and add to a shared collection of passwords automatically updated for all users.
Maps
A significant update to Maps in iOS 17 enables you to download the maps for offline access. Users can save specific regions to navigate without an internet connection, including details like business hours and reviews, and still receive turn-by-turn directions.
Photos
Lastly, the Photos app has been enhanced to recognize individuals more accurately and differentiate between various pets. Users can categorize their animal friends alongside people in the newly named Pets and People album.
Visual Look Up
Visual Look-Up: The enhanced Visual Recognition feature now includes the capability to identify dishes from photos. Users can explore similar recipe options by selecting the “Info” button on a picture containing a meal. This function is accessible across iOS devices, including within the Photos app and various applications like Safari.
Health App
Health Application Updates The Health application introduces new features aimed at mental wellness, including an option to track one’s mood. Users can now record their current or overall mood for the day and pinpoint factors such as work or family that may impact their emotional state. This feature allows for monitoring over time to understand mood influences better.
Mail Application Enhancements The Mail app sees a modest update, including a new feature for auto-filling verification codes received via Mail in Safari, eliminating the need to switch apps. Additionally, there is an option for these one-time codes to be deleted automatically post-use.
Apple Music
Apple Music Innovations Apple Music plans to roll out a feature for collaborative playlists later in the year. This feature will enable friends and family to collectively manage a playlist by adding, rearranging, or removing tracks. Participants can also express their reactions to songs through emojis. Moreover, SharePlay for CarPlay will let passengers in a vehicle share and control the music playlist.
Weather App
Weather Application Improvements The Weather app now includes a moon phase module, offering details on the current moon phase, countdown to the next full moon, and the times for moonrise and moonset, along with a lunar calendar.
Reminders
Reminders App Update A new feature in the Reminders app automatically categorizes grocery items into distinct sections, such as “Produce” or “Breads & Cereals,” facilitating an organized shopping experience. The app sorts various groceries under appropriate categories for easier list management.
Notes
Notes Application Advancements The Notes app introduces a feature for interlinking notes, creating a Wiki-like structure for better organization and navigation between related notes.
Find My
Find My Enhancements The Find My network now allows for sharing AirTags and other network accessories among up to five individuals, making it easier for family members to track shared items using Precision Finding or playing a sound.
Freeform
Freeform Application Upgrades On iPhone and iPad, the Freeform app expands its toolkit with additional drawing instruments, including a watercolor brush, calligraphy pen, highlighter, variable-width pen, and a ruler for artistic expression.
Apple News
Apple News Features Apple News+ subscribers gain access to daily crossword puzzles, adding a new dimension of engagement within the Apple News app.
Home
Home App Developments The Home app is updated with an Activity History feature, detailing interactions like who locked or unlocked a door and when. It also records recent activities for garage doors, contact sensors, and security systems. An enhanced interface for multi-color lights and interactive widgets for controlling HomeKit devices are also additions.
Wallet App
Apple Pay has introduced enhancements that now include support for Apple Maps, providing transaction receipts, adding orders directly to the Wallet application through email attachments and a “track with Apple Wallet” feature accessible on various apps and websites. In the upcoming months, iPhone users can display a driver’s license or ID stored within the Wallet application at select establishments and venues to verify age and identity for purposes like purchasing alcohol, renting cars, and more. For guardians, the Wallet application will offer the functionality to arrange Apple Cash payments for their offspring on a regular, biweekly, or monthly schedule. Within the Shortcuts application, a novel “Transaction” function has been introduced, enabling the setting of actions triggered by using a Wallet Card or Pass. Users can configure triggers for different taps, including payment, transit, entry, or ID verification.
Podcasts App
Podcasts Application Apple has unveiled a redesigned Now Playing interface featuring an expansive display of podcast artwork or images for episode chapters. The redesign also includes overhauling the playback controls at the bottom of the screen and moving the play speed adjustment to the rewind control.
Camera Application
The camera application in iOS 17 now features an improved leveling tool. By enabling the new Level feature, users will see a horizontal guideline on their screen, assisting in the alignment and leveling of landscape photographs.
App Store Application
A new functionality within the App Store application now estimates the time required to download an app after initiating the download process. Once the “Get” or purchase option is selected for an app, and the download indicator appears, it will display the estimated time until the download is complete.
AirPlay
AirPlay Enhancements AirPlay is becoming more innovative with its latest updates, which harness the power of on-device intelligence to adapt to your preferences. For example, if you frequently stream content from your iPhone to your Apple TV, your device will learn this habit and prioritize showing the Apple TV at the top of your AirPlay options. The list of devices you see will be organized based on how relevant they are to you, and suggestions for connections will be made proactively, thanks to your historical usage of AirPlay.
Apple has announced collaborations with selected hotels to integrate AirPlay within hotel rooms. This means that shortly, guests in these hotels scan a QR code to connect with devices to the room’s TV, enabling them to stream their media effortlessly
as videos, photos, and music to a larger screen.
Siri and Spotlight
Siri and Spotlight Improvements The latest iOS version significantly changes how users interact with Siri. The activation command is now simplified to “Siri,” removing the need to precede it with “Hey.” Additionally, Siri has been upgraded to handle several
requests in succession without needing to be activated again after each
command. It means you can ask Siri to send a message to inform someone you’re
en route and then immediately follow it with a request to remind you to
purchase milk in one smooth interaction.
CarPlay
CarPlay Updates While the anticipated comprehensive revamp of CarPlay was not launched, iOS 17 introduces several new features for CarPlay users. One notable addition is SharePlay for the music app, which allows the driver and passengers to collaborate on the music playlist during a drive. With an active Apple Music subscription, the car’s owner can start a SharePlay session, enabling others to add their favorite tracks to the
playlist by scanning a QR code.
For electric vehicle (EV) owners, the Apple Maps app now offers updated functionalities, including the real-time availability of charging stations compatible with their vehicles. This makes it easier to plan charging stops during their journey.
Future CarPlay Experience At the WWDC event 2022, Apple provided a sneak peek of the next-generation CarPlay, promising a more integrated experience with vehicles. Although not discussed at WWDC 2023, Apple has previously indicated that cars equipped with this new CarPlay technology are expected to hit the market by late 2023. This future version of CarPlay aims to support multiple in-car displays and offer integration with various car
functions such as the speedometer, fuel gauge, and climate controls, promising
a unified and immersive in-car user experience.
Privacy and Security
Privacy and Security Features iOS 17 introduces a new feature to protect users from receiving unwanted sensitive content. Photos and videos containing nudity will now be blurred automatically in various applications, including Messages. AirDrop, and even third-party apps, provide a safeguard against unwanted explicit material.
Enhanced Accessibility Options.
The latest iOS update also focuses on making the device more accessible, introducing features like Personal Voice, which is designed for individuals at risk of losing their
speech ability, and Assistive Access simplifies the iOS interface for more straightforward navigation.
Sideloading
Anticipated changes will allow iPhone users to sideload apps by the first half 2024. Marking a significant shift from the exclusive use of the App Store. This move comes in response to European regulations demanding more openness. While developers can bypass Apple’s commission fees by opting for sideloading. Apple plans to introduce a system where developers still need to pay to use its app development tools. Changes will also be made to Messages and payment apps, though these adjustments will be exclusive to the European Union.