Apple CEO Tim Cook captures the essence of new products during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California, on June 5, 2023.
Josh Edelson | AFP | Getty Images
In a significant announcement, Apple has unveiled iOS 17, the latest iteration of its iPhone operating system. Now, iPhone owners can access a public beta version of the software for free.
It’s important to note that this is a beta version, designed to provide a preview of the final software and help Apple identify and fix bugs before the official release. The software will be officially available to all compatible iPhone users in the fall, alongside the launch of new iPhones. For those who are not comfortable with beta software, Apple recommends waiting until then.
However, for individuals who thrive on being at the forefront of technology, Apple’s public beta for iOS offers a glimpse into the future design and features of iPhones, provided they own an iPhone XS or a newer model released in 2018 or later.
The process for installing the public beta has also been streamlined. Instead of enrolling on Apple’s website and installing a configuration profile, users can simply navigate to Settings > General > Software Update and select the beta version of iOS from the drop-down menu.
Let’s delve into some of the most notable changes in iOS 17.
Contact posters. One of the standout features in iOS 17 is the ability to customize your appearance when calling another iPhone user. Users can choose a picture and font to create their own “contact poster,” similar to customizing a lock screen.
Enhanced autocorrect. Apple has revamped its autocorrect functionality with a new transformer-based language model, resulting in improved accuracy and grammar at the sentence level.
iMessage improvements and interface revamp. Apple’s text messaging app receives a major update in iOS 17. The interface now includes a menu on the left-hand side, housing previously top-of-keyboard features such as stickers and the camera. Apple has also enhanced message search, introduced improved stickers, and added automatic transcription for short audio messages.
Journal app. iOS 17 will feature a new Journal app designed to encourage users to jot down daily thoughts. Utilizing on-device machine learning, the app intelligently prompts users to expand on their memories, people, music, or photos. This feature will be available at a later stage and is not included in the beta version.
Apple Standby.
Source: Apple
New standby dock mode. Placing your iPhone horizontally on a wireless charger in iOS 17 unveils a redesigned interface featuring widgets like a calendar, clock, alarms, and real-time information. This mode is particularly useful for utilizing the iPhone as a bedside clock.
Business card replacement. iOS 17 introduces NameDrop, a feature that enables two iPhone users to share contact details by simply bringing their phones near each other.
Mental health features in the Health app. The Health app now allows users to log their daily moods and emotions, as well as access tests and assessments for diagnosing depression and anxiety.
Offline maps. For the first time, iOS 17 includes the ability to download and use maps offline. Users can download maps for entire regions, a feature already offered by Google Maps.
AirPods Pro, 2nd generation.
Sofia Pitt
New AirPods features. iOS 17 enhances the capabilities of AirPods Pro. The standout addition is Adaptive Audio, which utilizes machine learning to analyze the user’s surroundings and adjust headphone volume accordingly, ensuring better awareness of the environment.
Simplified wake command for Siri. Apple has shortened the command required to wake its voice assistant.
Photos recognizes pets individually. While Apple’s machine learning has been able to detect cats or dogs in photos for some time, iOS 17 can now distinguish between individual pets and organize them into separate photo folders. This feature extends to search functions and other applications.
Grocery lists in Reminders. The Reminders app can now automatically sort unstructured grocery lists into categories such as produce, frozen foods, and dairy, streamlining the shopping experience.
Screen Distance detector. iOS 17 introduces the Screen Distance detector, integrated into Apple’s Screen Time feature. This detector warns users when their face has been too close to the phone for extended periods.
Apple Voicemail transcription.
Source: Apple
Live Voicemail. This new feature, Live Voicemail, provides users with real-time transcriptions of voicemails, enabling them to decide whether to answer the call while the voicemail is being left.
FaceTime voicemails. For the first time, Apple introduces voicemail support for FaceTime calls, allowing users to leave voice messages instead of relying solely on text communication.
Improved two-factor authentication. iOS 17 further enhances Apple’s beloved two-factor authentication feature by automatically inputting authentication codes from emails in the Mail app.
Seamless transitions in Apple Music. Apple Music now offers cross-fading between tracks and collaborative playlist creation, a feature long offered by competitors like Spotify.
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