Unlocking the Latest Features of Apple's New Operating System
System Features
The iOS 17 update comes with a slew of new and improved system features designed to make your iPhone user experience more intuitive and convenient. They are silly but attractive system tweaks that enhance your use and personalize details to your specifications. Let's look at some of these new system features in detail.
Contact Posters
With iOS 17, whenever you call someone with your contact information stored on their device, they can see a customized contact poster you've set up. This feature works similarly to how you would set up a custom lock screen, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the call screen. It brings a personal touch to each call and helps form instant recognition for the receiver.
Namedrop
Namedrop is a new feature introduced with the iOS 17 update that simplifies sharing contact information. All you need to do is touch the top of your phone to the recipient's, removing the need to physically exchange phones and type out numbers. This function provides a faster way to share contact data.
Standby
In addition, standby is a new feature that transforms your phone into a smart display when charging. It turns on when the phone is plugged in and kept horizontally, making it suitable for use with a MagSafe stand. It's a simple way to manage music, podcasts, running timers, and other widgets without having to unlock the phone every time.
Interactive Widgets
iPhone users can now enjoy enhanced functionality with the new interactive widgets feature on both the Home Screen and Lock Screen. Widgets from various applications, such as the Music and Podcasts apps, now include interactive elements like play/pause buttons. Similarly, the Reminders widget lets you mark off completed tasks directly from the widget. This feature becomes increasingly useful as third-party apps roll out new widgets supporting iOS 17.
Smarter Autocorrect
Another addition to iOS 17 is a smarter autocorrect feature that uses sophisticated machine learning models to learn your typing habits over time. This makes the predictive text even more efficient and personalized to your texting style, further enhancing your typing experience on the iPhone.
Shared Passwords Folder
Last but not least, iOS 17 introduces a Shared Passwords Folder. Found under Settings > Passwords, users can create a folder of passwords (and passkeys) synchronized across devices. This feature comes in handy when sharing family passwords for various services like streaming platforms, bank accounts, emails, and more.
iMessage, FaceTime and Phone Features
The iOS 17 update introduces several exciting enhancements to iMessage, FaceTime, and phone functionalities that aim to streamline communication and provide users with more flexible options to express themselves. Let's now explore these new features in detail.
Live Voicemail
A prominent new feature is Live Voicemail, which provides a real-time voicemail transcript as it is being recorded. This function means that if an incoming voicemail is important, you can pick up the call at any time.
Video Message
If a recipient is unavailable for an impromptu FaceTime call, you can leave a video message. This feature allows individuals to watch your message at a later, more convenient time, ensuring that your communication isn't missed or delayed.
Stickers From Photos
Another impressive feature is the ability to transform items you copy from photos into stickers. These can then be dropped into a group chat, email, Snapchat, or note, truly revitalizing your digital communication. These stickers are easily accessible from the emoji keyboard.
Check In
The Check In feature introduced with iOS 17 lets you share your estimated time of arrival with someone while you're on the move. They'll be notified if your journey gets delayed and when you finally arrive at your destination. It delivers a great way to keep others informed about your travel progress.
Recurring Payments
For those frequently sending money via Apple Cash, iOS 17 features an option to set up Recurring Payments. You can schedule various remittance plans weekly, monthly, or on specific days, ensuring your payments are always on time.
Transcriptions for Voice Messages
Last but not least is the new transcript feature for voice messages in iMessage. Now, if you're unable to listen to voice messages for any reason, you can still get the content thanks to this transcription feature. It's especially convenient in scenarios where you cannot play the message out loud.
Other App Features
Alongside the broad system features, iOS 17 offers improvements and additions to individual apps, making your iPhone experience more seamless and enjoyable. Whether it is about adding more context to your photos, ensuring smarter navigation, or enhancing productivity, the updates offer a more personalized and enriching experience for users across the iOS universe.
Pets Assigning in Photos
A delightful update is the ability to assign names to pets in your photos. This makes your furry friends recognizable, allowing you to quickly search and access their pictures whenever you want to remember some delightful pet moments.
Groceries List Conversion in Reminders
The Reminders app now allows users to convert any list to a grocery list. This makes it easier to organize your reminders and plan your shopping efficiently.
Phone Holding Level in Camera
This new Camera feature displays a level indicator when the phone is held at an angle. It ensures you capture perfectly balanced photos, enhancing your photography skills.
Sharing AirTag in Find My
You can now share an AirTag with family members in the updated 'Find My' app. This is particularly useful when traveling or sharing items tracked by an AirTag.
Electric Car Charging Stations in Maps
For electric vehicle owners, the upgraded Maps app now provides the option to search for electric car charging stations. This ensures that your e-mobility is always supported, no matter where you are.
Offline Map Download in Maps
Another handy Maps feature is the ability to download sections of maps for offline use. This functionality is invaluable in areas with poor Internet connectivity or traveling without data.
Shared Music Queue in Music
The Music app now has a 'Shared Music Queue' feature. This allows other users to add music to the queue via the SharePlay button, making shared listening experiences even more interactive.
Crossword Puzzles in News
Apple News+ subscribers can now enjoy daily crossword and mini crossword puzzles as an addition to their subscription. It adds another layer of entertainment to your news consumption experience.
Formatting Options in Notes
The Notes app has new formatting options for block quotes and lines of code. This enhances note-taking capabilities for coders and writers.
Browsing Profiles in Safari
New browsing profiles can be created in Safari. These enable you to easily switch contexts, preferences, bookmarks, and history while browsing.
Private Browsing Security in Safari
Safari now offers heightened security for private browsing tabs by protecting them with Face ID. This ensures your browsing sessions stay private even when you step away from your device.
Historical Data in Weather
The Weather app now has a feature that allows you to check the weather conditions from the previous day. This lets you track weather trends in your location more efficiently.
Accessibility and Convenience Features
The iOS 17 update introduces several enhancements designed to increase accessibility and convenience for users. They aim to streamline navigation, boost communication capabilities, simplify device management, and more. These features make for an even more inclusive and user-friendly experience. So, check out what's new.
Assistive Access
The newest accessibility feature, Assistive Access, is designed to transform your smartphone into a more user-friendly device with larger and easily accessible buttons and simplified features. This feature could be ideal for people who might be overwhelmed by the complexity of a smartphone and appreciate a more straightforward technological experience.
Live Speech
Live Speech is a new addition that transforms typed text into sound. The words you type in will be read aloud through the device's speaker or over the phone if you're on a call. Interestingly, you can create a 'Personal Voice' for Live Speech, mimicking your natural speaking voice by reading out on-screen prompts.
Detection Mode in Magnifier
Detection Mode is a creative feature of the Magnifier app that uses your iPhone's camera to describe the surrounding environment. This feature embraces multiple detectors for different scenarios - people detection indicates the number of people nearby and their proximity, while door detection and image descriptions work on similar principles.
Authentication Code Autofill
An added convenience in iOS 17 is the expanded functionality of Authentication Code Autofill, which now works with emails and text messages. It bypasses the need to manually enter authentication codes received through email, making sign-ins quicker and more secure.
Asking Siri
Enhancements to Siri now allow back-to-back requests without having to say "Hey Siri" before each command. This streamlining speeds up interactions and makes interactions with Apple's digital assistant more natural.
Ping My Watch
For Apple Watch users, a new feature enables you to locate your watch using the 'Ping My Watch' function in the settings. This is a great tool if you misplace your watch within the Bluetooth range of your iPhone.
Unlock Using the Old Passcode
iOS 17 allows using an old passcode to unlock your device for up to three days after a password change. This thoughtful addition acknowledges that users might forget their new passcode initially and provides a grace period to adapt.
AirPlay Using QR Code
Setting up AirPlay is now easier than ever, with the ability to simply scan a QR code to begin. This eliminates any need to remember or enter passwords manually.
Shortcut Widgets
Further improving the functionality of the home screen, shortcut widgets are introduced with iOS 17, enabling the inclusion of two shortcuts in a small Home Screen widget. This helps customize the look and operation of your device.
Home and Lock Screen Customization & Adaptive Audio For AirPods
Increased customization options for your home and lock screens allow you to easily choose and manage pictures. For AirPods users, adaptive audio blending offers optimized sound levels based on the ambient noise levels, enhancing your listening experiences wherever you are.