iOS 17 update rolling out alongside iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10 and tvOS 17: check features

iOS 17 is now rolling out to eligible iPhone models worldwide, including India. The company is also rolling out additional software updates including macOS Sonoma, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10 for compatible devices. These updates will add a few new features while improving several existing apps and services on devices currently supported by Apple. You can read our guide on how to download and install the latest iOS 17 software update on your iPhone and try the latest features.

If you’re looking for the new Journal app and collaborative playlists for Apple Music – two features revealed at WWDC 2023 – you’ll have to wait for a future update as they’re not part of iOS 17. Here are some of the best features available on iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma that you should try after installing the update.

Contact posters and live voicemail

While most UI elements on iOS 17 are quite similar to iOS 16, the Phone app is getting a major overhaul in the form of Contact Posters. This feature allows users to set their own poster and profile picture which are shared with other people in their contacts. These can include full images or Memoji, as well as customizable fonts with large text. In some regions, users will also see real-time transcription of live voicemail processed on the device, according to Apple.

NameDrop and AirDrop

iOS 17 will improve the company’s proprietary wireless sharing mechanism, AirDrop. You can simply bring two devices together to share a file, start a SharePlay session, or play a game together. In addition to bringing your phone closer to another user to share different types of data, you can also use a new feature called NameDrop that will allow you to share contact information, including your contact poster, with another user.

Standby

While Apple’s smartphones have supported wireless charging since the iPhone 8, the company is finally adding a way to display useful information while its handsets charge. After updating your iPhone to iOS 17, you will be able to see live activities, notifications, widgets and Siri from your smartphone screen, when it is in a horizontal position – the feature will work with wired chargers and wireless.

Safari Profiles and Private Browsing Lock

Apple’s web browser is gaining some new tricks with the latest iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma update. Incognito tabs will be locked behind Face ID or Touch ID, meaning unauthorized users won’t be able to access them without your consent. Safari also supports multiple profiles which will allow you to separate their cookies, bookmarks and browsing history and switch between them for business and personal use. Competing browsers like Chrome and Firefox have supported profiles for several years now, and Chrome allows users to lock Incognito tabs on smartphones.

Recording and live stickers for messages

Apple is adding support for a new Messages feature called Check In that will let you notify a family member when you’ve safely returned home. If you are not heading to the specified destination, the Messages app will securely and temporarily notify your family member of your location, battery level, and cellular service information. Meanwhile, you will be able to create stickers on your smartphone by long-pressing the image and sharing it with the Messages app. These will appear in a new stickers section that can be used on iOS, according to Apple.