Here are the expected new iOS 17 features

Emre Çitak
Jun 5, 2023
iOS
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Believe it or not, the highly anticipated new iOS 17 features are just around the corner and are set to be announced at the much-awaited Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 5. Apple enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting this major software update, which promises to bring a host of new features and changes to iPhone users.

Once iOS 17 is announced at WWDC, Apple will waste no time and immediately release a beta version of the update for developers. Following that, in July, a public beta will be made available for all iPhone users to try out and provide valuable feedback.

Finally, in September, iOS 17 will be released to the general public, coinciding with the launch of the highly anticipated new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro lineups.

new ios 17 features
New iOS 17 features are expected to be announced at WWDC 2023 - Image: Apple

What are the new iOS 17 features?

While hardware product leaks are common, software leaks are relatively rare, as Apple tightly controls information disclosure. Nevertheless, rumors suggest that iOS 17 will bring a relatively modest update in terms of new features, with a focus on incorporating "nice to have" changes.

Bloomberg reports that iOS 17, along with Apple's other software platforms, is taking a backseat as the company dedicates its resources to the development of its AR/VR headset, which may also be announced at WWDC.

Revamped control center

One of the anticipated features in iOS 17 is a significant redesign of the Control Center. The Control Center, which provides quick access to settings and the "Now Playing" interface, has seen minimal changes since its introduction in iOS 11. However, rumors suggest that iOS 17 will introduce "major changes" to enhance its functionality and user experience, catering to users' long-standing requests.

In addition to the Control Center revamp reports from the Wall Street Journal indicate that iOS 17 will introduce a brand new journaling app. This app is expected to integrate data from various Apple apps, including Find My Device, and incorporate location-based capabilities to distinguish between personal and professional contacts, improving networking experiences.

Furthermore, iOS 17 is rumored to bring updates to the Find My and Wallet apps. The Find My app is set to gain location-based capabilities, acting as an extension of Apple's existing Find My service, while the Wallet app will receive user interface tweaks and enhancements, refining the management of digital cards and transactions.

Health app updates

Enhancements in the Health app are also on the horizon with iOS 17. Mood and emotion tracking capabilities will be introduced, allowing users to log their moods, answer questions about their day, and observe changes over time. Apple has ambitious plans to utilize algorithms to determine users' moods based on speech patterns, typed words, and other device data.

The Health app is also expected to support managing vision conditions and will make its debut on the iPad, expanding beyond its current availability on the iPhone.

new ios 17 features
Health app will get enhancements wth the iOS 17 update - Image: Apple

iOS 17's sideloading side quest

Responding to the Digital Markets Act, iOS 17 will reportedly introduce side-loading and access to third-party app stores for iPhones in the European Union. While this move aims to comply with regulatory requirements, Apple is expected to implement measures that make accessing third-party app stores more involved.

These features will be exclusive to the EU, with no plans to extend them to the United States or other countries. This one is surely the most exciting one among the new iOS 17 features.

Changes in the smart display

Expanding on the Always-On display features of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, iOS 17 will introduce a "smart display" interface that activates when the device is in landscape orientation and charging. This interface will showcase useful information such as calendar appointments, weather updates, and notifications, resembling the functionality of a smart-home display.

Lastly, iOS 17 will bring updates to SharePlay, allowing enhanced simultaneous streaming of TV shows, movies, and other content among iPhone and iPad users. Apple has also engaged in discussions with hotels and other establishments to make AirPlay more accessible, enabling users to effortlessly beam video and audio to devices they don't own.

new ios 17 features
Enhancements to Shareplay are coming up with the new iOS 17 features - Image: Apple

Supported devices for iOS 17

Reports suggest conflicting rumors regarding the devices that will support iOS 17. One claim states that iOS 17 will drop support for certain devices, including:

  • iPhone 8
  • iPhone 8 Plus
  • iPhone X
  • iPad (5th generation)
  • 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro (1st generation)

However, another source suggests that all devices currently supported by iOS 16 will continue to receive support in iOS 17, citing an anonymous member of Apple's iOS development team.

As the countdown to WWDC begins, more leaks and rumors may emerge, shedding further light on what iOS 17 has in store for Apple users. While Apple excels at keeping its developments under wraps until the official unveiling, expectations are high for this major software update.

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Comments

  1. Laina Betts-Dunn said on September 1, 2023 at 6:36 pm
    Reply

    Most people are finding it is related to the newest Pokémon Go! update. If you check control center, Pokémon Go! has accessed location just prior to the vibrations.

    1. Lillian said on September 4, 2023 at 9:17 am
      Reply

      You are the best I didn’t even think about that being the problem even tho I said to my friend it’s vibrating randomly like Pokémon go does when new Pokémon pop up

  2. John said on September 3, 2023 at 6:33 pm
    Reply

    It’s happening on beta release isn’t this to be expected? Any beta release is going to have bugs.

  3. Anonymous said on September 17, 2023 at 7:11 pm
    Reply

    “You can browse the internet privately on your iPhone too”

    No, you can’t. See below.

    “This means that no one will be able to see what you’ve been browsing unless you tell them.”

    No-one you would allow to use your devices. It’s important to remind that online trackers still get almost as much as before in this mode, tracking you for the duration of the session at least. In fact a quick search on whether cookies (and local storage, indexedDB, and so on) are even cleared at exit or not in Apple’s private browsing gives contradictory answers (maybe this has to do with Apple’s habit of conveniently avoiding to get technical with users, even when that means more opportunities to fool them) and your article doesn’t say more, so it’s not even clear to me that there is any protection against online trackers.

    About the other Apple privacy tools you mention, I wouldn’t trust them. They killed the actual privacy tools like ublock origin on Safari that hide the IP address from trackers, to then provide their own fake replacement, like Google and their Mozilla pet company are slowly doing too with their own browsers. From the mouth of such companies, even “blocking cookies” may actually mean something weaker, like having an undisclosed tracker whitelist for bullshit reasons that ublock origin doesn’t seem to need (Mozilla does that for instance), not actually blocking them but just isolating them while still writing they’re blocked (Mozilla did that through inaccurate UI wording for third-party cookies), or keeping in place for years privacy bugs that they are aware of and that don’t remove storage when it’s supposed to be (Mozilla again, and they’re not worse than the others). And it’s only a few examples.

    Is there also need to remind that Safari like all the other big browsers is infested with Apple’s own spyware antifeatures (including for advertisers, unlike what they pretend in their ads) ?

  4. You're welcome said on September 18, 2023 at 6:27 pm
    Reply

    Sneak PEEK.

  5. Seeprime said on September 20, 2023 at 12:29 am
    Reply

    It has been weeks where the comments sections are littered with old unrelated comments. Maybe it’s time to say goodbye to ghacks.

  6. makapav said on September 25, 2023 at 7:54 pm
    Reply

    This should have been an open standard that works across laptops, OSes, and phones. I doubt it will be though and we will just have to wait until the EU drops the hammer in 8-10 years ?

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