At WWDC, Apple unveiled a slew of new software features for the latest version of iOS, 17. It’s still in beta for now, and iPhone users will have to wait until in September before you can enjoy it.
If you’ve been following the keynote or started seeing TikToks about what’s new on the iPhone, then the craving for iOS may be real, very real. But if you’re already an avid Android user, should the new iPhone features change your mind? If the features below are new to you, they probably aren’t. Indeed, the novelties of the iPhone may already be available in the palm of your hand.
Live voice messages
Not everyone has the bandwidth (or inclination) to take phone calls. Spam numbers are piling up, it’s not pleasant to wait for the next available rep while listening to elevator music, and more often than not, a text message is all it takes to get the job done.
That’s why Live Voicemail, a feature in iOS 17 that transcribes what the caller is saying without you having to pick up the phone, got ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ at WWDC.
But if you’re on a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy, there’s Call Screen and Bixby Text Call, respectively. These two Android features let you screen incoming calls, transcribe messages in real time, respond via text-to-speech, and switch back to a voice call when you’re ready to answer.
To activate the call screen, open the application Phone > tap the More icon (three dots) > Settings > Call screen > and enable the feature. To enable Bixby text calling, open the app Phone > tap the More icon > Settings > Bixby text calling > and toggle it on. The next time you receive a phone call, your phone should offer you the option to use the call screening feature.
Both features have other unique aspects, like the ability to automatically block unwanted calls in the Call Screen feature and the ability to AI-enable your voice in Bixby’s Text Calling feature.
Automatic deletion of used verification codes
One of the many unobtrusive features of iOS 17 is the “Auto Clean” feature, which automatically removes multi-factor authentication (2FA) codes shortly after you paste them into a text field. This is a nifty trick that helps empty your phone storage space little by little.
And guess what? Android also offers it. In the Messages app, Tap your profile picture > Message settings > Message organization > then enable automatic deletion of OTPs after 24 hours.
OTPs, or one-time passwords, can take up storage space, especially considering the number of apps and services that require you to copy and paste codes to log into your accounts. By activating this function, you delete these codes 24 hours after using them.
Standby
One of the features that caught my eye during WWDC was sleep mode. When iPhone is locked and connected to a MagSafe charger, it displays useful, easy-to-view information like the time, weather, smart home status, and even live activity. The iPhone thus doubles as an intelligent screen.
A similar function exists on Android, but it is not as detailed. Placing a Google Pixel on a Pixel (2nd Gen) stand, for example, gives you a carousel of Google Photos, smart home controls, and more. On a Samsung Galaxy, you can set the always-on display to appear in landscape orientation and change the style of the clock to show your upcoming meetings and a calendar.
While Apple is catching up with Android’s existing Ambient Display modes here, the attention to the StandBy option is to be appreciated, including how the phone will recognize the MagSafe puck you clip it onto and fill in so adaptive the previously used overlayer.
Source: “ZDNet.com”