Apple released iOS 17. The new version of the operating system goes back to basics and focuses on the way we communicate.

As usual, Apple presented the latest version of iOS on the opening day of WWDC. We have now arrived at the seventeenth version. Many people still use their phones to make calls and send messages, and Apple doesn’t seem to be losing sight of that. The main focus of iOS 17 is therefore communication, but the AirDrop function is also being revised, among other things.

Live answering machine

iOS 17 adds many new features to the Phone app. If you answer the call late, you’ll now see a live transcript when the caller leaves a message on your answering machine. This gives you the opportunity to answer the call as long as the other person is on the phone. You can use FaceTime to leave a video message for missed calls.

To add a personal touch, Apple is introducing contact posters that let you control how you appear on your contacts’ devices. In addition to the Apple apps, this feature is also supported by external communication apps such as Teams and Zoom.

Video calls with your TV

Would you like to see your colleagues close-up during a video call? Then use Continuity Calling to make video calls with Apple TV. You connect your iPhone to your TV and your contacts appear on your TV screen in full 4K glory. FaceTime’s algorithms keep people centered on the screen, even when they’re walking around. This feature is currently exclusive to Apple’s video calling app.

iMessages

The iMessages app is also expecting a major update in iOS 2017. Better search algorithms and filters make it easier to find messages. iMessages also shows you where you left off in the conversation with an arrow and introduces text bubbles that you can swipe to give a quick reply. The check-in feature allows you to notify the home front that you have arrived safely, and the feature also notifies them if your battery is low or you have no signal.

Share files

The AirdDrop feature has enabled wireless file transfers between iOS and macOS devices since iOS 7. This can be done in iOS 17 simply by bringing two iPhones close together, and also works between an iPhone and an Apple Watch. Contact data is also passed on or joint media sessions are started in this way.

Fast and intuitive data sharing is built into iOS 17. Apple is also making it easier to share data with AirPlay, share AirTags location, and broadcast passwords or passkeys to “trusted contacts.”

iOS 17 is still packed with new features, including a brand new sleep mode, as well as improvements to existing features such as private browsing in Safari. A complete overview of all new features in the iOS operating system can be found here.

Public beta in July

The developer beta is available now at this link. Unless you are a software developer looking to develop apps for the Apple ecosystem, we advise you to stay away from this version. If you have a device to experiment with, you can start the public beta starting next month.

The stable release date has not yet been officially announced, but it could follow in September. Find out here whether your iPhone is still receiving the update.