Apple is rolling out a new version of its mobile operating system for the iPhone, iOS 17 with many different new consumer-facing features. We shared a few earlier and promised a follow up. Here it is!
The Phone app gets an update for the first time in a long time.
Users can now create personalized contact posters that will appear when a contact calls in.
Name Drop is a new Airdrop feature that allows users to share phone numbers and email addresses seamlessly by simply bringing two phones close together. Name Drop works on iphones and on Apple watches too.
Journal is a new journaling app called “journal.” It uses on-device machine learning to create personalized suggestions around photos, activities, locations, music etc.
Standby is a full screen experience when a user puts the phone down. Instead of the screen going to sleep, this feature will turn the screen into a dynamic photo slideshow, a calendar of upcoming events, a clock, or a display of whatever customization you choose.
Autocorrect is now powered by an AI model that will learn your most frequently used words and personalize your chat experience over time.
“Hey Siri” is no longer the command phrase to start communication with Apple’s virtual assistant. Simply say “Siri.”
Other features include
- Recipe search for similar dishes with a tap on the image of the food image cutout feature has an extension that helps users to look up the objects they have lifted from photos and videos to find more information about them.
- New drawing tools including water colour brush, calligraphy pen, highlighter, variable width pen and rulers have been added to the free form feature.
- A Nudity filter can now be applied for naked photos and videos showing private body parts to prevent viewing unsolicited nudes.
- Users now have the option to blur out a sensitive image before viewing it.
- Shared playlist feature for Apple music. Users can now build a list with friends.
- A crossfade option on the music app.
- On the weather side of things, the previous day’s weather can now be viewed on the weather app.
- A new grocery list on the reminder app.
iOS 17 is expected to be generally available by fall – between September and December. However, in the coming weeks before that, Apple will release beta versions, so some of the features will experience changes before the final version of the iOS 17 is released.