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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider My top iOS 17 features

My top iOS 17 features

Published Jun 6, 2023 12:40 am

It is the time of year when Apple releases a number of new features that are coming in the next iOS version. This is usually a preview of the features that will be available across all current models, whilst keeping features that will be available when iPhone 15 gets announced this September a secret. Here's a list of new features that I am looking forward to, in no particular order:

Check-in

As a parent, you want your kids to check-in when they are out to let you know when they have arrived at their destination or arrived at home. Having this feature on Messages gives you that peace of mind. You can, of course, use this with your friends, too.

Leave a Message on FaceTime

Apple has a new Live Voicemail feature that provides a transcription of the voicemail as the caller is recording it - giving you the chance to pick-up the call if or when necessary. However, this is not available from most carriers. In the Philippines, there is no voicemail service. I thought of this last weekend, actually, where the iPhone handles this (instead of the carrier), and using FaceTime audio/video definitely provides Apple full access to the call, albeit on device since it is end-to-end encrypted. Now anyone can leave a FaceTime audio/video message, even those with no voicemail services from their carriers.

Interactive Widgets

FINALLY! Currently widgets launch its corresponding apps and take over the entire screen. With this, the interaction makes it simpler and more convenient.

Safari Profiles

This has been in my wish list since using Containers on Firefox. Having a separate profile for Work definitely allows me to limit websites without having non-Work sites access to my personal websites, like banks. Since my Work uses Google Workspace and Microsoft Office 365, now any of their cookies will not interfere with my non-Work sites!

Enhanced Private Browsing Mode in Safari

Private browsing mode usually have an added feature of sandboxing the browsing session from the rest of the browser. This new feature locks your private browser tabs with your FaceID, TouchID or passcode, making it truly private. In addition, it blocks known trackers and even sanitizes URLs with trackers.

Autofill Verification Codes in Mail

The convenience of having the verification codes lifted from SMS messages and automatically filling the field on a form is heaven-sent. It is actually one of the most under-rated features! Now Apple extends this to Mail! I wonder if there is an API for this so my mail services, FastMail and ProtonMail, can do the same.

Shared Passwords and Passkeys

This is one of the must-have features I have been wishing for iCloud passwords (the other one is separate Password application) before completely replacing my third-party password manager (or should I?)

More PDF features in Notes

Extending PDF support with form field detection (and autofill, too) and collaboration in Notes make the Notes app even more powerful. I wish, though, that Notes adds Markdown support, too.

Expanded Communications Safety

When Apple first introduced this, it covered Messages - on-device scanning of content to protect sensitive photos and videos. This now includes AirDrop, FaceTime messages, and third-party apps.

Downloadable Map Area

IMHO, Apple should have added this feature from the start. In a country with poor cellular data coverage, being able to download a portion of the map and using it whilst offline can be a life saver!

Personal Voice

Whilst this was not announced in the WWDC 2023 keynote, Personal Voice was announced a few weeks ago. Using on-device machine learning and recording 15 minutes of your voice sample allows your iPhone to generate audio that sounds like you. Intended as an accessibility feature, but I am sure that its use will go beyond that. Note that this remains on device, so nobody else can use it without your consent (unlike voice samples recorded via cloud-based services). There are more features announced by Apple, but personally, some did not impress me that much because there's no use to me, like more drawing tools in Freeform. I cannot wait for September when iOS 17 gets officially released. For the meantime, I am helping find bugs on the beta version (and reporting it to Apple).
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