The moment Apple fans have been waiting for is finally almost here, as the iOS 17 update is launching today.
The software update includes several exciting new features, including a live voicemail tool and the ability to share your contact details by simply holding your iPhone close to another.
“With iOS 17, we’ve made iPhone more personal and intuitive by deeply considering the features we all rely on every day,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering.
“Phone, FaceTime and Messages are fundamental to the way we communicate, and this release is packed with updates that we think our users will love.”
Here’s everything you need to know about iOS 17, including how and when to download it to your iPhone.
The moment Apple fans have been waiting for is finally near, as the iOS 17 update is launching today.
Which iPhones are compatible with iOS 17?
iOS 17 will be compatible with the iPhone XS and newer models.
This means that you will be able to download it if you have one of the following iPhones:
- iPhone 14
- iPhone 14 Plus
- iPhone 14 Pro
- iPhone 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 13
- iPhone 13 mini
- iPhone 13 Pro
- iPhone 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone SE (2nd generation or later)
What time will the update be available?
Apple has confirmed that the iOS 17 update will be released today, although it has not yet announced the exact launch time.
However, based on previous updates, iOS 17 is likely to be available around 10:00 PT (18:00 BST).
With Apple’s new Check In feature, you’ll receive an automatic notification when a family member or friend arrives safely at their destination.
How do you download it?
If you have one of the supported iPhones listed above, once the update is released you will be able to download it through the Settings app.
Open the app, then General > Software Update.
Once iOS 17 is available, you can download it here.
What are some of the key features?
1. Sign up
With Apple’s new Check In feature, you’ll receive an automatic notification when a family member or friend arrives safely at their destination.
“After a user initiates a Check In, their friend or family member will be automatically notified as soon as the user arrives,” Apple explained.
‘If they do not proceed towards their destination, useful information will be temporarily shared with the selected contact, such as the device’s location, battery level, and cellular service status.
“Any information shared is end-to-end encrypted.”
The days of having to manually type a new friend’s contact details into your iPhone are a thing of the past in iOS 17. The update includes the ability to share your contact details, simply by holding your iPhone close to another.
2. Live Voicemail
If you’re over a certain age, you’ll remember old-school voicemail machines, the kind that let you pick up the phone mid-message if you decided the call was worth answering.
Apple is bringing that back with the Live Voicemail feature, which transcribes the message in real time and allows you to take the call.
“Live Voicemail gives users the ability to see the real-time transcript when someone leaves a voicemail, and the opportunity to reply while the caller leaves their message,” Apple said.
‘Calls identified as spam by operators will not appear as live voicemail and will instead be instantly rejected. With the power of Neural Engine, Live Voicemail transcription is handled on the device and remains completely private.’
3. Name Placement
The days of having to manually type a new friend’s contact details on your iPhone are a thing of the past in iOS 17.
The update includes the ability to share your contact details by simply holding your iPhone close to another.
“NameDrop allows users to easily share contact information by simply putting their iPhones together or putting an iPhone and an Apple Watch together,” Apple said.
“With the same gesture, users can also share content or launch SharePlay to listen to music, watch a movie or play games while near iPhone devices.”
4. Waiting
If your iPhone moves around the room, it can be annoying to have to stand up to check what notifications are coming through.
But a new feature in iOS 17 called StandBy will make it much easier to take a look at your device.
The Live Voicemail feature transcribes the message in real time and allows you to take the call.
“StandBy offers users a full-screen experience with viewable information designed to be viewed from afar when the iPhone is on its side and charging,” Apple said.
“StandBy is perfect for a nightstand, kitchen counter, or desk, and can be customized to display a variety of beautiful clock styles, favorite photos, or widgets, including Smart Stacks, which display the right widgets at the right time “.
5. Screen distance
The Screen Time tool has a new feature called Screen Distance, which will alert you if you hold your iPhone too close to your face.
“Screen Distance uses the TrueDepth camera to encourage users to move their device away after holding it less than 12 inches from their face for an extended period of time,” Apple said.
6. Autocorrect improvements
iOS 17 will prevent Apple’s autocorrect feature from correcting one of the English language’s favorite insults like “stoop.”
“AutoCorrect receives a comprehensive update with a transformative language model, a next-generation on-device machine learning language model for word prediction, improving users’ experience and accuracy every time they type,” Apple said.
“It also gets a revamped design to better support typing, and sentence-level autocorrections can fix more types of grammatical errors.”
APPLE’S TRILLION DOLLAR RISE
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne created the company on April 1, 1976 while selling computer kits to hobbyists, each of which was built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple launched the Apple II in June, which was the first PC made for the mass market.
Steve Jobs introduces Apple Computer Corporation’s new Macintosh on February 6, 1984 in California.
1981: Jobs became president.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during a Super Bowl ad break and then officially unveiled during a launch event. It was discontinued a year later and Jobs left the firm.
1987: Apple launched Macintosh II, the first color Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal that sees Jobs return to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took office in 2000.
Then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS X, and the first-generation iPod.
The first iPod MP3 music player was launched on October 23, 2001, at an event in Cupertino, and could hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple introduces the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was presented.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, handing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October of pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple introduced the Apple Watch. It also introduced its first larger iPhones: the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr Dre, Apple launched Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the firm is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, with the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who was killed in a shooting after carrying out a deadly attack in December in San Bernardino, California. , with his wife. The warrant was withdrawn on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple is introducing new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage and spend less time on their devices. The move was prompted by a strongly worded letter from shareholders urging the company to address the growing problem of smartphone addiction among children and teenagers.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first drop in revenue and profits in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed the sharp decline in revenue from China.
2020: In March, Apple closes all of its physical retail stores outside of China in response to the coronavirus.
2021: In a virtual online event in April, CEO Tim Cook declared Apple’s goal to become carbon neutral by Earth Day. The iPhone 13 was announced later in the year.
2022: The iPhone 14 was announced in September. One of the new features included a new sensor to detect if a user had been in a car accident, as well as an improved camera system.
2023: So far this year, Apple has brought back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home as it works with voice commands.
