Apple has just announced the upcoming release of iOS 17 at WWDC 2023. An update that announces greater customization of the iPhone.
Does iOS 17 mark the beginning of a revolution within the Apple ecosystem? The new version of the iPhone operating system brings its share of new features. Several major changes already mentioned in recent months by the rumor were confirmed this Monday, June 5 on the occasion of WWDC, Apple’s 2023 conference dedicated to developers.
With iOS 17, the lock screen will evolve to become smarter and support new widgets. Apple’s software makes iPhone more useful, even when not in use. A major update that should be available after Apple’s Keynote in September, for regular users. The Beta could be released in the next few days.
Personalized contact cards in iOS 17
iOS 17 paves the way for extensive graphics customization in multiple apps. Contacts can be personalized, with photos of your friends, or memojis. During a call, the image chosen on the contact card will be displayed in full screen on the iPhone to quickly identify who is calling you.
The Phone application can also answer for you, and transcribe text on the screen. A more effective way to identify possible scams. A transcription made locally, to preserve the confidentiality of the exchanges.
The smarter Messages App
Searching for a word or phrase in the Messages app becomes more intuitive with the arrival of filters. Within a group, you will also be able to go back to the last unread message. Quickly replying to a text also becomes easier, a simple swipe should now be enough.
Transcription of voice messages or answering machine
On the user side, consulting a voice message becomes more natural. Apple will integrate the direct text transcription of your correspondent’s audio message.
In terms of location, sharing your location with your contacts has never been easier. Messages will embed a map directly into the conversation to locate your friends.
Messages also includes new security features: Check In. If you activate the option, your contacts will be able to receive a notification if you have not arrived at home. If you don’t answer, and haven’t arrived home, your contacts will receive a notification with information about your last location and battery level.
In terms of ergonomics, sending attachments in Messages becomes easier. A new menu will appear for easier access to photos and stickers. It will also be possible to stick your best creations directly on a message to react.
More intuitive AirDrop
On the occasion of WWDC, Apple did not fail to announce new, ever more intuitive features for AirDrop. Apple’s file transfer technology will transfer textual data. With NameDrop, you can send a contact card directly to another iPhone or Apple Watch user by simply bringing your two devices together.
SharePlay in iOS 17 will also allow you to share an activity (playing music, a video, etc.) to a nearby person in real time. A function that Apple presents as a new possibility of sharing the present moment.
Finally, it will be possible to hide the notification of an AirDrop transfer, while continuing the download in the background.
A keyboard powered by AI
With iOS 17, Apple is integrating its in-house Transformer-based AI technology. Word autocorrection is getting smarter and will now be based on the context of the expression. Apple promises fixes smarter than ever “.
In parallel, the generation of predictive text is improving and will offer words adapted to your conversation, personalized (again) according to the context.
Finally, dictating text on the iPhone just got easier. Apple is implementing a new voice recognition model in iOS 17 that should recognize your spoken words more easily.
A diary
Expected for several days, Apple took advantage of WWDC 2023 to unveil Journal, an application entirely based on your personal experiences. Halfway between a diary and a notebook, the “Diary” application will allow you to express your day in writing.
It is possible to ingest photos, music and many multimedia contents. The app would even be “intelligent” and could suggest elements to integrate into your productions.
Your iPhone turns into an alarm clock
With StandBy, Apple wants to transform your smartphone into a practical, almost decorative object. The application is triggered when your phone is locked, in landscape mode, on a dedicated base (no price yet officially announced).
Your iPhone screen then turns into a clock with customizable graphics. It is also possible to transform the screen of your smartphone into a small photo frame where the selected shots scroll in a slideshow in a natural way.
More useful, StandBy should allow integration with many third-party widgets, in addition to those used by default (Agenda or Weather in particular). Apple mentions the possibility of transforming the iPhone screen into a Smart Display to control all the devices in your connected home. Finally, personalized suggestions will be displayed to give you the right information at the right time (based on your habits). The goal is to make your iPhone more useful when you’re not using it.
The end of ” Say Siri »
WWDC 2023 is also an opportunity to rethink Siri. Although no major development has been mentioned, the conversational assistant should be triggered with iOS 17 by the simple word “Siri”. An iteration of the call phrase that risks accentuating the agent’s untimely triggering.
Finally, Apple also announces the arrival of the automatic classification of animal photographs thanks to the detection by AI of the pictures representing your cat or your dog.
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