Apple unveiled many new products, including the Instantly viral Apple Vision Pro headset.
The company also announced several major updates and new features coming soon with the new iPhone OS update iOS 17.
“With iOS 17, we’ve made iPhone more personal and intuitive by taking a deep dive into the features we all rely on every day.” said Craig FederighiApple’s senior vice president of software engineering, in a press release. “Phone, FaceTime and messaging are central to how we communicate, and this release is packed with updates we think our users will love.”
Here are seven key updates to look forward to when the iOS update arrives this fall, according to Apple. (An exact release date has not yet been announced, but Apple has said that the updates will be available for all iPhone 11-14 models, as well as the 2nd generation iPhones XS, XS Max, XR and SE or newer.)
1. You can send audio and video FaceTime messages.
With the new software, you’ll soon be able to send audio and video FaceTime messages to others even when they’re not available for a call.
According to Apple’s preview of the update, you can record yourself via the FaceTime app to send a message and even have the option to spice up the conversation with some fun new reactions, including “hearts, balloons, fireworks, laser beams.” , rain and more.”
You can also switch between FaceTiming on an iPhone and Apple TV, whether you want your friends and loved ones to enjoy the treatment on the big screen or just move around your home.
2. You can create Live Stickers from your own photos.
As well as some extra cute emojis expected to be added, users upgrading to the new operating system software will be able to create Live Stickers from their photos. These are displayed in the iMessage stickers section and can be given additional effects over it. (Apple demonstrated this by turning a user’s real cat into a sticker you could text to others, then adding a rainbow filter over it.)
3. There is a new check-in function for security reasons.
Apple says its new check-in feature can help provide security beyond the traditional “let me know when you get home” text response. If you want to let someone know when you’re safely home, you can send a check-in and the person on the other end will be notified when you arrive at your destination.
Apple also notifies the other person when you’re not approaching your designated destination, and forwards battery status, cellular service, and other important security data to your Trusted Contact.
4. You can create a customized personal contact poster that will appear on someone’s phone when you call them.
While iPhone users with recent iOS software can already customize their lock screen’s fonts, colors, and other design aspects, the latest update takes it a step further.
You can also fully customize a new contact poster, a full-screen theme that appears when you call other people. The default name above the green and red accept/reject buttons will be gone. You can choose between a real selfie, a memoji or any other photo you like. Similar to the lock screen, you can also customize the font style, color, and more.
5. A new live voicemail feature is already getting people talking.
Apple currently provides a transcript of every voicemail message through the Phone app. However, you’ll soon be able to see a live version of any transcribed message right on your lock screen. and you have the option to answer the call while the person still leaves a message.
Thankfully, this feature doesn’t apply to calls marked as spam. Those calls will soon be rejected outright, giving iOS 17 users more peace of mind when it comes to avoiding pesky phone clerks.
It’s not yet clear how iOS 17 will display a message if the caller decides to re-record or delete it. According to Apple’s website, the transcription runs on the Neural Engine and remains confidential to callers as it is transcribed and processed on the device.
6. NameDrop allows people to share their contact information just by bringing their phones together.
AirDrop becomes even more robust with the addition of NameDrop, a new feature that allows users to share contact information by bringing their two iPhones (or an iPhone and an Apple Watch) together. If this concept sounds a bit familiar to you, people on social media pointed out that this update is reminiscent of an episode of the dystopian tech series Black Mirror.
7. You can keep a journal alongside your photos.
Another new app coming with iOS 17 is Journal. Unlike the standard notes app, Journal encourages a focus on wellbeing and gratitude. Possible suggestions are suggested through current photos and encounters with people. In Apple’s preview example, Journal recognized that a user went to the beach and asked, “What will you remember most about your trip?”
What’s next?
“We’ve also reimagined AirDrop with new ways to share, autocorrect gets even better, and we’re introducing all-new experiences with Journal and StandBy” – an app that shows “at-a-glance” information such as the time, when the phone is on, charging on its side – “and a lot more,” added Federighi. “We can’t wait for everyone to try it.”
Additionally, you no longer need to use the phrase “Hey Siri” to summon the voice-activated helper, just say a simple “Siri”.
Other notable new features in iOS 17 include collaborative playlists on Apple Music, password sharing, access to maps in offline mode, a mood and emotion tracker in the Health app, a quick way to stream to specific hotel TVs via Airplay, and a stronger privacy when using Safari private browsing mode.
