At Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), they talked a lot about their new Vision Pro headset. But they also announced some cool stuff about the next version of iOS, which is called iOS17.
This new version of iOS has some cool features, although they might not be as flashy as before. There are two new features in particular that caught people’s attention. We don’t know exactly how many new or updated features will be in iOS17 yet.
However, based on the information Apple has given us, I’ve already found 10 features that seem really cool. We’ll have to wait and see if these features are actually the best and useful or if they’re just added for show.
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Engage with posters while making phone calls
When you make a phone call on your iPhone, it’s been pretty much the same since the first iPhone came out in 2007. But things are going to be different with the new iOS17. One cool new feature is called Contact Posters. It allows you to change how you look to other iPhone users when they receive your call.
You can add pictures or Memoji that will show up on their screen while you’re talking. You can also customize it by adding different styles of writing and colors. Even other calling apps from different companies will be able to use this feature too. It’s a fun way to make your phone calls more personal and unique!
Live voicemail
iOS17 introduces a new feature called Live Voicemail. It’s really cool because when someone leaves you a voicemail, you can actually see what they’re saying in real-time as a written message. You even have the option to pick up the call while they’re leaving the message if you want to talk to them right away.
Another neat thing is that if the phone company detects a call as spam, it won’t show up as a Live Voicemail. It will just automatically be rejected. The best part is that the transcription of the voicemail is done on your iPhone itself using something called the Neural Engine, so it stays private and doesn’t go anywhere else.
Enhancements made to iMessage safety and application
In iOS17, there’s a big talk about these new sticker packs you can use in the iMessage app. They’re fun and all, but the most important thing is the new safety features. Now, if you want to let your family or friends know where you are, you can send them a message with your location.
That way, they’ll know where you are and that you’re safe. But here’s the really cool part: If you’re on your way somewhere and something goes wrong or you’re in trouble, your iPhone will remind you to check in. If you don’t respond quickly, your phone will automatically share important information with your contacts.
This includes where you are, how much battery your iPhone has left, and if you have a good cell signal. It’s all about keeping you safe and making sure people know if something’s not right.
Standby
Last year, Apple added a cool feature called Always On Display to some iPhones. Now, this year they’re introducing another feature called Standby. It’s kind of like having a Google Nest Hub or an Amazon Show on your iPhone’s lock screen.
When your phone is charging and lying flat, this feature automatically turns on. You can customize it to show you useful information at a glance, like pictures, stock market updates, the time, and other things you find helpful.
Standby is great to use when your iPhone is on a table next to your bed or in the kitchen. It makes it easier to see important stuff without having to unlock your phone.
Interactive widgets
You know those little boxes or buttons on your iPhone’s Home screen? They’re called widgets. In the next version of the iPhone software, called iOS17, these widgets will become interactive. That means you can do things right from the Home screen without opening specific apps.
You can also control music or podcasts using interactive widgets. So if you want to start or stop playing music or podcasts, you can do it right from the Home screen without opening the specific app.
The cool thing is that as you make changes or adjustments using these interactive widgets, they will update in real-time. So if you turn off a light using the widget, the widget will immediately show that the light is off.
NameDrop, SharePlay updates
So, you know AirDrop on your iPhone? Well, in the new iOS17, it’s getting some cool new features with NameDrop, you can hold your iPhone near someone else’s iPhone or Apple Watch, and instantly share information like phone numbers or email addresses.
It’s like a quick way to exchange contact details with someone without typing them in manually. The other person will also get a copy of your contact information.
But wait, there’s more! You can also use the same motion as NameDrop to start something called a SharePlay session. This means you can share things like music, TV shows, or other stuff with your friends in a fun new way.
It’s like watching or listening to something together, even if you’re not in the same room. You can also send files to each other in a similar way, like sharing photos or documents.
And here’s a cool twist: even if you walk away from the person you’re sharing with, the AirDrop session can still continue! How? Well, the transfer will switch to using Wi-Fi, so you don’t have to stay right next to each other to keep sharing stuff.
To sum it up, with the new AirDrop features in iOS17, you can easily exchange contact information with someone nearby using NameDrop, share music or shows with friends through SharePlay, send files to each other, and even keep sharing stuff when you move away using Wi-Fi. It’s all about making it simpler and more fun to share things with people around you using your iPhone.
Journal
So, there’s this new app called Journal that Apple made for iPhones. The person who wrote this was thinking about not including it in their list, but not because they think the app is bad. It’s just that Apple keeps adding new features to their iOS software that might replace other apps made by different companies.
Now, let’s talk about the Journal app itself. It’s a cool app that lets you document your life in a creative way using the stuff already on your iPhone. You can add things like photos, music, workouts, and other interesting details to your entries in the journal. It’s like a way to keep a digital diary where you can store all these different things together.
Here’s something neat: the app uses the technology in your iPhone called machine learning. It’s like the phone’s way of learning and understanding things. With this technology, the app can suggest special moments or memories for you to write about in your journal.
It’s like having a personal assistant that helps you remember and write about important or interesting things in your life.
To sum it up, the Journal app is a new app made by Apple for iPhones. It lets you be creative and document your life using the things you already have on your phone, like photos and music.
It even uses special technology to suggest cool moments for you to write about. It’s like having a personal diary with lots of fun features.
The smarter keyboard
The iPhone keyboard got some cool upgrades in iOS17. Now, when you’re typing, the autocorrect feature is improved. It highlights the words it corrected with a temporary underline, so you can easily spot the changes. If you prefer the original word, you can tap on it to switch back.
But that’s not all! The keyboard also predicts what you’re going to type as you’re typing. It learns from what you usually write and starts suggesting those words to you. This helps you type faster.
For example, if you often write “I love you so very much,” as soon as you type “I love you,” the phone’s intelligence will suggest those words to complete the phrase.
In summary, the iPhone keyboard in iOS17 has better autocorrect that highlights corrected words and lets you switch back easily. It also predicts what you’ll type based on your habits, making typing faster and more convenient.
Safari profiles
Normally, when you browse the internet, all your browsing history, bookmarks, and other stuff get mixed up together. But with profiles, you can separate your browsing activities based on different topics like work and home.
The cool thing is that these profiles work across different devices. So, if you have an iPad and a Mac computer, you can switch between your work and home profiles seamlessly on both devices. This means you can access the same browsing history, bookmarks, and other settings on any device you use.
Mental and Vision health benefits
Let’s talk about mental health features in iOS17. There’s a new tool in the Health app that helps you keep track of your moods and feelings. You can record how you’re feeling each day, and over time,
The app will use this information along with other health data it collects to understand your mental health better. Based on that, it can give you suggestions and recommendations on how to take care of your mental well-being.
Now, let’s move on to the vision health feature. This one has two parts to it. The first part works with an Apple Watch. It has a special sensor that can measure how much time you spend in daylight.
Studies have shown that spending time outdoors, in daylight, can help reduce the risk of nearsightedness (also called myopia) in children. So, this tool can tell parents whether their kids have been spending enough time outside each day to keep their eyes healthy.
The second part of the vision health feature uses the front camera on your iPhone, called the TrueDepth camera. It can tell if you’re sitting too close to the screen, like when you’re using your phone or tablet.
If you’re too close, a new feature called Screen Distance will let you know and suggest that you move a bit further away from the screen to protect your eyes.
In a nutshell, iOS17 has introduced some cool health features. One helps you keep track of your moods and mental health, while the other helps you take care of your vision by encouraging you to spend time outside and reminding you to maintain a safe distance from screens. It’s all about promoting your well-being!
Who can use iOS17, and when
Apple developers can now start using test versions of a new software called iOS17. In July, these test versions will also be given to a special group of people called the Apple public beta group.
The final version of iOS17, which is the complete and official version, will be released to the public in early September. This release will happen just before Apple unveils their new iPhones for the year.
iOS17 works with different iPhone models, including the new ones that will be announced. It is compatible with the iPhone 14 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 11 series, iPhone XS series, iPhone XR, and iPhone SE (starting from the 2nd generation).
