Exploring the Exciting Features of Apple’s Latest Operating System: What’s New in 2023?
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some new features in Apple's latest operating system: CarPlay now supports an upgraded Messages app passwords stored in iCloud Keychain can now be shared among groups; and Check In allows friends and family to know you made it safely to your destination.
Other upgrades include Assistive Access, which provides more significant user interface elements and layouts, and Personal Voice, which offers users at risk for speech loss an alternative means of communicating via text communication.
Redesigned Home Screen
Apple has revamped the Home Screen with iOS 17, adding a customizable Dynamic Island that displays essential information and actions at a glance. Users could take advantage of play/pause controls for Music app widgets on the Home Screen without needing to launch full apps first. Furthermore, they now include customizable weather widgets.
Other new features include the Journal app for digital journaling that uses machine learning to generate tailored recommendations based on who you speak to and the music you listen to. In contrast, the Messages app now features Live Voicemail transcription as well as Check-In functionality, which lets users notify friends or family when heading toward meetings or appointments.
Additionally, the iCloud Keychain has been updated with features to facilitate sharing passwords among iCloud users, and search has been enhanced with familiar app colors and icons; plus, there's a new App Shortcuts feature to locate apps quickly. In addition, Health now includes robust mental health features, while Maps now displays the real-time availability of electric car charging stations in some regions.
iOS 17 will only be made available to iPhone X, XS, and XR models and the 8/8 Plus models; other Apple handsets, such as 15 series phones, 14 Pro Max models, and 13 Mini phones, will get it next year.
Enhanced Widgets
Apple recently upgraded some of its widgets to provide interactive functionality on the Home, Lock, and Standby screens. For instance, clock widgets now display current times as well as a slideshow of photos, while users can use this widget to mark reminders as complete or control home app accessories. Third-party developers will also have the chance to create interactive devices for their apps.
iOS 17 brings several useful updates to Apple devices. One major addition is the ability to quickly scroll to and read unread messages in conversations in the Messages app. This makes it easy to catch up on conversations you may have missed messages in. iOS 17 also makes sharing your location in group chats simpler, allowing you to let friends and family see where you are with just a tap. For music listeners, iOS 17 now displays real-time lyrics as you listen to songs, so you can sing along with ease. Beyond messaging and music, iOS 17 includes other enhancements like improved Siri intelligence, customizable home screens, and more intuitive photo and video editing tools. Overall, iOS 17 aims to streamline common iPhone tasks and offer new ways to interact with your device and content. Airdrop has introduced NameDrop functionality, while Journal allows you to add photos, map locations, and music links directly into journal entries.
iOS 17 makes sharing your iPhone screen more accessible than ever by adding a feature to the Screen Sharing app that makes screen-sharing even simpler, along with updates for Hey Siri voice access and battery status in the status bar, Quick Look notifications, and battery status in Quick View features. All these changes are available today through either the Settings app or General settings menu and tapping Software Update - download today to experience them for yourself!
Revamped Control Centre
iOS 17's newly redesigned control centre now provides more accessible multitasking features that enable easier app switching without incurring lag or performance issues, mainly when dealing with apps using augmented reality features for immersive and realistic experiences like games or educational apps.
Messages have received an update that adds new ways for you to express yourself using stickers and effects. Now available are Live Stickers that let users add photos as subjects for Live Stickers, as well as a drawer that keeps all your stickers organized. Furthermore, Check In lets contacts share their locations with you, while Apple also added Live Voicemail, which transcribes calls so you can decide whether or not you wish to answer.
Journal is a new feature in iOS 17 designed to allow users to privately record thoughts and save images throughout their day in a safe way. Utilizing machine learning, Journal will create an individualized journal capturing conversations, music performances, and workout sessions.
Other improvements include a moon module in the Weather app with real-time lunar data. A new option in Messages allows people to send stickers with faces that look as though they are laughing or crying. Furthermore, the iPhone Camera offers fun new photo filters as well as the capability of recording HDR video recordings and enhanced privacy settings allow you to control how your personal information is used.
Focus Mode
Apple's latest operating system, iOS 11, features a focus mode feature that enables users to tailor notifications and apps on their home screens to meet individual needs. You can create different profiles - Reading Focus for book-related apps while Fitness Mode will hold on to health-related widgets - to keep yourself focused while working. Plus, calls, messages, and alarms will all be muted while using this feature!
iOS 17 features several notable upgrades for autocorrect and dictation that use updated machine learning to make it easier to say what you mean, additional customization options for the Control Center, improved Safari experiences, and an automated verification code verification service for an extra layer of cybercrime protection.
The Phone app also receives an upgrade with the introduction of Contact Posters, allowing users to customize what others see when calling them - this can include Memojis, font colors, font sizes, photo edits, and Memoji characters. Messages also received several updates, such as Check-In, which allows users to share their location or status with family and friends quickly.
Standby mode on the iPhone has also been improved, allowing it to serve as a customized bright display when placed horizontally on a charger. It can show photos, time, and calendar widgets while operating specific Apple applications and devices.
Siri Upgrades
Apple claims its Siri voice assistant has become "more intelligent" with the launch of iOS 17 due to a better text-to-speech tool, machine learning for predictive suggestions, and the ability to digitize one's voice so Siri recognizes you better. Furthermore, Siri now allows people to summon it by simply saying their name like Amazon Alexa does.
Apple's Visual Look Up feature, which allows users to take pictures of objects or text and receive instantaneous on-screen information about its purpose and usage, has also received an upgrade, making the phone capable of automatically detecting illuminated symbols on vehicle dashboards - an extra handy touch for users.
Messages are also receiving some exciting enhancements, with Live Stickers created from Live Photos and the option to share your location directly in conversations. In addition, Apple's Journal app offers users a private online diary where they can pen thoughts and ideas without anyone seeing what has been written down.
Find My is a new feature introduced with iOS 11 that utilizes iCloud to allow owners to track missing devices by sending an alert with your current location directly to friends or family. CarPlay also receives an upgrade, with cross-fading options now available to ease the transition between tracks.
Privacy Enhancements
Apple's iOS 17 update continues Apple's tradition of prioritizing privacy and security by including a Journal app that offers end-to-end encrypted journaling capabilities, along with FaceTime features enabling people you call to leave video messages if unavailable; you can use effect reactions similar to those found in Messages; you can project calls onto larger screens via Apple TV; plus more!
One of the more exciting privacy enhancements in recent Android versions is the ability to view live transcriptions of audio messages directly in the Messages app, similar to the Call Screen feature on Google Pixel phones. Android 13 builds on this by adding support for live voicemail transcription, so users can see a text version of new voicemails before choosing to listen to the full audio. This allows Android users to quickly scan voicemails to determine if they are spam or something important that requires immediate attention. Together, these transcription features give users more control over their audio communications while maintaining privacy.
Other privacy enhancements include being able to control how much of your Photo library an app can access. In a nod towards transparency, the App Store will soon feature updates that provide more details on what apps are sharing with third parties, as well as an improved Privacy Nutrition Label for each app and a new privacy report for the same.
Communication Safety features designed to warn children about indecent photos in messages are being extended to AirDrop, the system wide photo picker, and Contact Posters within the Phone app. You will also have the ability to easily blur incoming sensitive photos into your Camera Roll with just a tap of a finger.