What's new in iOS 17: 30 features that make it worth upgrading
Miscellaneous / / September 11, 2023
Thanks to them, using iPhone will become even more pleasant and convenient.
1. Standby mode
The new mode automatically turns on when you put your iPhone on charge and turn it horizontally. The screen displays a large clock, calendar, weather, reminders, photos and other widgets.
They can be switched by swiping to the sides. The appearance and style of each is customizable separately. In this case, the smartphone can turn on automatically when it detects movement, or by lightly tapping on the bedside table.
2. Interactive widgets
In iOS 17, widgets on the desktop not only show information, but also allow you to interact with them. For example, you can launch your playlists with one touch, mark completed tasks in reminders, turn on home appliances and perform other actions.
3. Contact Posters
You can set a full-screen cover photo for anyone in your phone book that will be displayed during a call. You can use a photo or memoji for a poster, apply filters, and customize the font, colors, and everything else.
The same thing works for your own card. If you design your own poster, it will be displayed to all people who call you, or only to your contacts, depending on the settings you choose.
4. Magazine
iOS 17 will feature a new app that will help you become more mindful and appreciate the moments of everyday life. Something like a personal diary, which, based on machine learning algorithms, will automatically suggest photos, places visited, workout and other activities worth recording.
All data in the “Journal” is encrypted locally on the device and is not sent anywhere; even Apple itself will not have access to it. The application will not appear immediately with the release of iOS 17, but a little later this year.
5. AirDrop by touch
Sharing files, photos, contacts and other content via AirDrop in iOS 17 is much easier. All you have to do is bring your iPhone up to your friend’s smartphone, confirm the transfer, and after a beautiful animation the data will be sent.
In this case, it is not necessary to wait until the process is completed - you can go about your business, and the sending will continue over the Internet. However, the latest scenario will be available towards the end of the year.
6. Listening to CarPlay together
If you often travel with friends by car, then trips will become more fun. Now passengers will not pester you with requests to play this or that song, but will be able to broadcast the content themselves from their iPhone to a car audio system with CarPlay.
7. Safari Profiles
With the release of iOS 17, there is no need to use different browsers to separate your personal and work Internet space. In Safari settings, you can create profiles for different scenarios, each of which will have a separate history, bookmarks, extensions, passwords and everything else.
8. Protected tabs "Private Access"
The pages you browse in incognito mode will become even more secure in iOS 17. The content of open tabs is locked using FaceID or password and is not accessible to anyone except you. At the same time, Safari blocks all advertising and search trackers on the pages you visit, increasing your privacy.
9. Autofill confirmation codes from Mail
If you actively use two-factor authentication, then with iOS 17 your life will become easier. Now one-time passwords, which are sent by email when logging into a protected account, are automatically recognized and can be inserted into the form with one touch. It works identically to SMS confirmations, which we have long been accustomed to.
10. Sharing passwords with trusted contacts
The new feature will allow you to create a group of family members or other trusted people and give them access to your accounts on websites and services. If desired, participants can also choose which passwords they want to share.
The codes provided can be used to log in, but cannot be viewed. In this case, all changes are automatically synchronized, and access can be revoked at any time.
11. Advanced Weather Data
In standard forecast a lot of detailed information appeared, including a precipitation map, lunar calendar and much more. Thanks to the Weather Conditions function, you can view weather reports for today, upcoming days and yesterday.
12. Custom animated stickers
In iOS 17 you can easily create your own animated stickers with effects. You just need to touch an object in a Live photo or video, and the system will cut it out, separating it from the background. For now, the created stickers are only available in iMessage, but Apple promises to add them to third-party applications later.
13. FaceTime Voicemail
Communicating with people via FaceTime has become easier in iOS 17. If the user is unavailable for some reason and does not respond, you can record a voice or video message for him, explaining the purpose of the call. To use such an answering machine, new iOS must be installed not only on you, but also on the interlocutor.
14. SharePlay
The new feature will help iOS 17 users share music, videos, games and other content with friends. Instead of sending links or searching for applications in the App Store by name, simply bring your smartphone closer to your friend’s device and your content will immediately appear on their screen.
15. Shared Apple Music playlists
If on parties If you often listen to music at get-togethers and always argue about which tracks to include, then “Shared Playlists” will greatly simplify your life. This feature allows you to create collaborative collections. In them, each participant will be able to add and delete tracks, change their places and leave reactions using emoji.
The function will not be added immediately after the release of iOS 17, but a little later this year.
16. New AirPods features
Apple has prepared several new features for owners of the second generation AirPods Pro. Specifically, the new Adaptive mode will adjust noise cancellation based on your surroundings. When you start talking, for example, answering something to a passerby on the street, the transparency mode turns on.
You can squeeze the stem of the earphone to temporarily reduce the volume, then release it and the sound will return to its previous level. Switching between devices is now even more seamless - the music doesn’t even interrupt during the transition.
17. Offline maps
Built-in cards You can use it offline, getting directions, viewing data about establishments and other information. You just need to select the area of interest on the screen and load this fragment.
However, the function is not available in all regions. It does not currently work in Russia.
18. Search in photos and videos
Machine learning algorithms are improving, and in iOS 17 you can use visual search to highlight objects in photos and videos. The system recognizes plants, animals, attractions, I'm going.
For example, you can take a photo of a dish you like, and the OS will give you recipes for similar ones. And with a photo of the clothing tag, you will receive washing and care instructions in a more readable form.
19. Distance to screen
iOS 17 introduced a useful feature that determines the distance from the smartphone to the eyes. If it is less than 30 cm for three minutes, a warning is displayed on the screen, which will disappear only if you move the iPhone to a safe distance.
You can enable the option in the Screen Time settings, even if you don’t use it.
20. Personal voice
In iOS 17, iPhone can talk to your voice, reading text typed on the keyboard during calls and using applications. To set up, you need to say a couple of phrases, after which the system will process the data within a few hours and be able to imitate your speech.
The voice is very similar, but sounds somewhat mechanical. This only works for English for now.
21. Easy access mode
Special mode "grandma's phone"With a simplified interface and easy navigation, it will be useful for elderly people or small children. You can choose the applications and settings that will appear in the menu, as well as the appearance of the latter.
The option is enabled in the universal access settings, and is deactivated by triple-clicking the side button and entering the selected password code.
22. Mood Diary
In the Health app, you can now track your mood and well-being by filling out simple questionnaires with prompts and descriptions. This will allow you to see changes and help you learn more about mental health and possible disorders.
23. Improved Notes
Standard “Notes” have fully learned edit PDF files, allowing you to make edits and fill out forms. You can also now insert links to websites and, more importantly, your own notes into the text, thus creating cross-notes.
To enter a link, just put two “>” signs in a row and select a note from the list of the last ones you worked with, or find any others by searching by name.
24. In touch
The new feature will let you notify family or friends in a group chat that you have arrived safely at your destination, such as home from a party or to a meeting. Participants will receive a message that you are already there or, conversely, are delayed. There are also prompts when the battery is low or there is no cellular signal.
25. Share AirTag
Good news For active users of Apple search trackers: you can now share your tags with others, transferring them for a while. For example, when you lend a friend your item with an AirTag attached. A person will be able to fully use it, tracking changes in geolocation, and you will not be bothered by notifications about the movement of an item.
26. Improved interaction with Siri
Apple is constantly improving Siri algorithms, making the voice assistant more useful and convenient. In iOS 17, you can access it for clarification after the first request without reactivating it.
In addition, the call command has been reduced and now you can just say Siri. True, this only works for now English language.
27. Horizon level in the camera
Even on older iPhones with iOS 17, photos will turn out better thanks to the frame alignment feature. If you accidentally block the horizon, level bars will appear on the screen, making it easy to correct the position and take a good photo.
This works for photos and videos, and the corresponding option is enabled in the camera settings.
28. Automatic cropping
Photo cropping, one of the most popular edits, can now be done in just a couple of taps. When you enlarge a photo in the gallery, a crop button automatically appears on the screen, by clicking on which you can immediately save the changes.
29. Resetting the passcode
The new mechanism will come in handy when you accidentally forget your password blocking. If you enter your PIN incorrectly several times, your iPhone will be locked, but you will be able to reset your passcode by entering the previous one.
This only works for PINs that were changed rather than originally set when setting up your iPhone. And only within three days after the shift.
30. Application loading time
A nice little thing that you will be grateful to Apple for when downloading large applications and games. With iOS 17, you won't feel like your loading indicator is frozen and doesn't move, because the remaining time until the end of the process is now displayed with second-by-second precision.
A few more articles for Apple lovers🍎📱🧐
- How to create an iPhone ringtone right on the iPhone itself
- How to install iOS 17 right now
- How to install macOS Sonoma
- 10 main new products that Apple will show in September
- Which Apple Watch to buy in 2023: comparison of characteristics of current models