Dive Brief:
- Apple announced a slew of new features for the iPhone under its latest software release, iOS 17, according to a company release. The unveilings were part of the tech giant’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote on June 6.
- More personal experiences are a core focus for iOS 17, allowing for easier communication across apps like Phone, Messages and FaceTime. Additionally, AirDrop now allows users to more easily share contact info and other content while holding devices close together.
- The latest tools arrive as Apple begins to bounce back from a down period for iPhone sales. The company also revealed Apple Vision Pro, a mixed-reality headset that comes amid growing interest in a nascent metaverse.
Dive Insight:
Apple’s WWDC keynote on Monday was packed to the brim with flashy unveilings — as usual for the annual event — including a laundry list of new tools and features for its latest major software update. The release of iOS 17 could help boost sales for the iPhone, which have recently shown signs of a comeback following a down period over the holiday season.
Apple’s iOS 17 announcement was one of several other focuses during the WWDC keynote, with other highlights including its new 15-inch MacBook Air and the Mac Studio and Mac Pro – its two most powerful Macs ever made. Most notably, Apple revealed its long-anticipated blended reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, which could represent the company’s moves to be a part of the nascent metaverse — a word not mentioned during CEO Tim Cook’s keynote.
Among new additions with iOS 17 is a refresh to the Phone app, including the addition of Contact Posters, allowing users to customize how they appear on the incoming call interface through photo treatments and various fonts and typography options for name displays. The app will also feature Live Voicemail, which offers a real-time transcription of a voicemail and the ability to pick up as a caller is leaving a message.
Similarly, FaceTime will support its own type of voicemail, allowing callers to leave an audio or video message when a call isn’t answered. The video-calling app will additionally include Reactions, like hearts, balloons and fireworks, which can be utilized by third-party video calling apps. FaceTime will also become compatible with Apple TV, with a feature called Center Stage allowing users to maintain ideal framing while moving around a room.
On Messages, users will have access to new emoji stickers and will be able to create Live Stickers by lifting subjects from photos. Other updates include automatically transcribed audio messages, additional location-sharing tools and changes meant to make it easier to search for messages and continue conversations.
Apple is seeking additional avenues for consumers to connect with AirDrop, including the ability to bring iPhones together to automatically share and receive contact information complete with the new Contact Posters. SharePlay, a feature popular in FaceTime and Messages, will also extend to AirDrop to allow users to share additional content like movies, music and games warranting recipients have access to subscription-kept content, like for streaming services.
Additionally, Apple introduced a new well-being app, Journal. The tool is meant to help iPhone users reflect through intentional, scheduled prompt suggestions, which will be pulled from recent activity like photos, people, places and workouts. The company also introduced a Journaling Suggestions API to allow developers to add journaling suggestions to their apps. While privacy for the app is an immediate first concern, Journal entries are end-to-end encrypted, can be locked and rely on-device processing.
New features on the Health app are similarly focused on mental health, touting the ability for consumers to log daily moods and momentary emotions and access depression and anxiety assessments. A new Screen Distance feature also encourages users to move their device farther away from their face when they’ve been holding it closer than 12 inches for an extended amount of time.
Other updates under iOS 17 include StandBy, a feature for when an iPhone is on its side and charging that allows it to display glanceable information, like time, that can be easily visible from a distance. Additionally, iPhone users will be offered more privacy and safety features, enhancements to Autocorrect, and expanded Visual Look Up capabilities to allow for users to identify food, storefronts, signs and more from a paused video frame, among a handful of other tools.
