As every year, Apple reveals the news of iOS, its mobile operating system, at its WWDC conference, dedicated to developers. Not surprisingly, the iPhone maker has announced iOS 17, which will be rolling out this fall, free of charge, on iPhones.
Return to basic
Apple returns to some essential features of the iPhone, starting with the application… Phone. The latter is undergoing a major overhaul, in particular as regards the management of your contacts. Much more space is given to images, with redesigned contact sheets, which now resemble Apple Music-style artist sheets.
Above all, it will be possible to customize the image that will be displayed when a contact calls the user, with an option called “Contact poster”. Each contact can be associated with an image, full screen, but also the source. An option reminiscent of previous iOS updates to customize your lock screen.
Apple also updates FaceTime, adding the possibility of leaving a message -which consists, specifically, of recording a video in selfie mode- and adding an option to transcribe a voice message live, at the same moment that a correspondent leaves it trying to get to the user. A possibility that, however, may be subject to agreements between Apple and local operators.
iMessage takes WhatsApp
With iOS 17, iPhone takes advantage of new iMessage features, with one clear ambition: to better compete with WhatsApp. The user will thus be able to share his position, in particular by using a function called “Check In”: before a departure in the late afternoon or early morning, it will be possible to share his position and his starting point with a third party.
If there is a problem, the iPhone will detect that the user has not returned home. An alert message will then be sent to the third party, showing in particular the iPhone’s battery level and location.
Apple adds a few extra features, notably with a new filter search in the Messages app, to make it easier to find an SMS/iMessage. The AirDrop function has also been reviewed, to exchange a phone number for a simple reconciliation (between two iPhones, of course). In the case of a large file exchange, the transfer will no longer be interrupted if the two users walk away. It will simply complete using mobile data.
Improved Auto Corrector
Faced with multiple artificial intelligence announcements, Apple responded, in its own way, by promising a much-improved autocorrect. Audio messages can also be converted to text using Apple’s AI. More symbolically, Apple says goodbye to the famous “Dis Siri”. Thanks to advances in AI, the iPhone will now be able to recognize requests just by saying the word “Siri.”
Apple is also introducing two new features in iOS. First, an application called “Diary”, designed to create a diary. A piece of writing that can be accompanied by suggestions from the iPhone, for example a piece heard while traveling. Of course, the manufacturer promises that all this information will remain encrypted and confidential.
As mentioned by several sources in the last few days, Apple is also adding a landscape display for the iPhone, with the “StandBy” function. Once placed on a proper stand, which Apple should probably be happy to market, the iPhone will be able to display some information in large format, starting with the time, calendar, or home control functions.
Source: BFM TV
