iOS 17: Top Updates and New Features in iOS 17

Although Apple will make iOS 17 available to the general public later this year, WWDC has provided a sneak peek at what to anticipate from the impending OS version. Additionally, we provide information on registering for the iOS 17 public beta in case you want to test out all the fresh updates and features before the fall release of the finished product.

Early rumours said IOS 17 would have fewer features than the previous year. Even though iOS 16 was a very sizable release, iOS 17 will still offer many improvements later this year. Other notable updates are coming, like the video voicemail feature for FaceTime and the Standby mode.

Here is all we currently know about iOS 17

Top updates and new features in iOS 17

• For those occasions when a caller is unavailable, FaceTime users can now leave a video voicemail. Additionally, real-time message transcription on live voicemail lets you see who calls without picking up.
• When you arrive home safely, the Check-in feature instantly notifies your loved ones. With details like battery life and your route, this can alert folks if you encounter difficulty.
• By bumping two iPhones together, NameDrop, an update to AirDrop, enables you to transfer data and files and launch SharePlay experiences.
• This year, the iPhone will get the Journal app, which offers personalised tips and writing prompts to help you record your activities and travels.
• With voice controls and easy-to-read pages, information is available at a glance on your iPhone when it is in standby mode.
• Apple's voice assistant will soon support back-to-back instructions without repeating the wake phrase, and the "Hey Siri" command will quickly be replaced with the simple "Siri" command.
• Soon, Apple Maps will allow offline downloading, allowing you to navigate without a live internet connection.

Beta access and a potential release date for iOS 17

As a point of comparison, iOS 16 was released on 16 September 2022, while iOS 15 did so on 12 September 2021. Thus, we can safely assume that iOS 17 will be released in the middle of September 2023. The launch is anticipated relatively soon after the new iPhone 15 series. A few days before its most recent iPhones hit store shelves, Apple typically publishes the new operating system.

You'll be able to test out the new software before it is made available to the general public during the numerous developer and public betas that will precede the release of iOS 17. The first public beta is slated to launch this summer, and the first developer beta was released at WWDC 2023.

Other Feature Updates in iOS 17.

• Apple didn't have anything to say about Apple Maps or Apple Photos, much like with Siri. Yet changes are on the way. Finally, Apple Maps will support offline downloading, and your pets can be identified and tagged in Apple Photos.
• A "One-tap crop button" in Photos allows you to crop an image while zooming in, so the entire procedure only requires a few clicks.
• A pet-tracking camera mode is not a feature but it might be shortly. Apple has just released developer tools that enable this, but an app developer is still required to make it happen.
• Reading car warning lights has been added to iOS 17's Visual Lookup capability, previously available only in iOS 16. It's helpful if you need clarification on what the various icons on your dashboard mean.
• Although not an actual upgrade, iOS 17 also makes mention of brand-new MagSafe accessories. This may be the first official look at new accessories that Apple will unveil alongside the iPhone 15 in 2023.
• Additionally, Autocorrect will receive some much-needed upgrades in iOS 17, which is about ducking time. Apple claims that the spell-checking function in iOS 17 will employ a transformer model for better language prediction. This will enhance the autocorrected words and allow you to correct complete phrases as you type.
• Autocorrect will be able to learn how you type and eventually provide a more customised experience depending on the words or phrases you prefer to use even better.
• If you prefer to dictate, you'll be glad that a new speech recognition model will increase dictation's general accuracy, resulting in less post-production editing.