iOS 17 has commenced its global rollout, extending to eligible iPhone models, including India. The software giant is also ushering in a series of additional updates, encompassing macOS Sonoma, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10, tailored for compatible devices.
These updates bring forth an array of new features while enhancing existing applications and services across Apple’s supported device lineup. To embark on this update journey and explore the latest iOS 17 features, consult our comprehensive guide on installation and usage.
If your anticipation centers around the eagerly awaited Journal app and collaborative playlists for Apple Music, both unveiled at WWDC 2023, it’s worth noting that these exciting additions are not part of the iOS 17 package. Stay tuned for future updates to access these features.
Here’s a rundown of some of the noteworthy features arriving with iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, providing compelling reasons to explore them post-update.
- Contact Posters and Live Voicemail:
- While the overall user interface remains consistent with iOS 16, the Phone app undergoes a significant transformation with the introduction of Contact Posters.
- This feature empowers users to set personalized posters and profile photos, sharing them with contacts. Options include full-length images, Memoji, and customizable fonts with enlarged text.
- In select regions, users will benefit from real-time transcription for Live Voicemail, processed directly on the device.
- NameDrop and AirDrop:
- iOS 17 enhances Apple’s proprietary wireless sharing tool, AirDrop. Beyond sharing files, initiating SharePlay sessions, or playing games by bringing devices in proximity, a new feature called NameDrop is introduced.
- NameDrop facilitates the sharing of contact information, including your Contact Poster, with other users, simplifying the exchange of relevant data.
- StandBy Mode:
- While wireless charging support has been a staple since the iPhone 8, iOS 17 introduces StandBy Mode.
- This feature provides valuable information, such as Live Activities, notifications, widgets, and Siri, on your iPhone display when it’s in a horizontal position, whether charging wirelessly or through a cable.
- Safari Profiles and Private Browsing Lock:
- iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma bring new capabilities to Apple’s web browser, Safari.
- Private Browsing tabs are now protected behind Face ID or Touch ID, safeguarding them from unauthorized access.
- Safari introduces support for multiple profiles, enabling users to segregate cookies, bookmarks, and browsing history, facilitating the separation of work and personal web activities.
- Check In and Live Stickers for Messages:
- A novel Messages feature, Check In, offers the ability to notify family members of your safe arrival at a specified destination.
- If your progress deviates from the intended route, the Messages app discreetly conveys your location, battery status, and cellular service details to the concerned family member.
- Additionally, iOS 17 enables the creation of stickers directly from images via long-pressing and sharing to the Messages app. These stickers find a home in a dedicated section, accessible across iOS.
These engaging enhancements underscore Apple’s commitment to delivering a seamless and secure user experience while introducing innovative features across its ecosystem.
