WWDC 2023: Apple’s iOS17 Introduces Journal App, FaceTime Voice Notes, and More

WWDC 2023: Apple’s iOS17 Introduces Journal App, FaceTime Voice Notes, and More

News by Roberto Orosa
Published: June 06, 2023

Apple just introduced the iOS17 software update and its many features during its much-awaited Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) last June 5.  

Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi shared that the new changes were made to personalize the iPhone experience even further by “deeply considering the features we all rely on every day.” 

New Journal App 

One of its most notable changes includes the addition of the new Journal app for iPhone. With Journal, users can write down journal entries and receive personalized suggestions from the app based on their recent activity, photos, places, and more.  

It also guarantees the use of on-device processing and end-to-end encryption for increased user privacy and security. 

FaceTime Voice and Video Notes 

iOS 17 is also changing FaceTime by supporting audio and video messages that users can leave when the person they’re calling is not available. FaceTime will also allow video calls directly from Apple TV, and add new effects as well as Reactions like hearts, balloons, and fireworks.  

New Emoji Stickers and Live Stickers for Messages 

Messages is also getting an upgrade from the latest iOS with new emoji stickers and Live Stickers that users can create from subjects of their existing photos. Live Stickers that users create can be found in its keyboard section for easier access. 

Searching is also easier in Messages with search filters that help users narrow down the results of messages they’re trying to find. Other features include a new catch-up arrow that leads users to their last read message, improved location sharing, audio message transcription, and a new Check In feature that lets a user’s family members know when they have made it to their destination safely.  

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New StandBy Display 

IOS17 is also introducing a new StandBy product that allows the iPhone lock screen to display the time, weather, notifications and more while the device is charging.   

The feature was first reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman last week, where he detailed the interface as something that looks like a smart-home display similar to Google and Amazon devices.  

StandBy will also support features such as Live Activities, Siri, incoming calls, and notifications. 

Improved AirDrop, NameDrop, and AutoCorrect Services 

AirDrop, Apple’s Bluetooth file transferring system is also receiving an upgrade with the new NameDrop that allows users to share contact information just by bringing iPhones and Apple Watches together.  

With NameDrop, users can also share content, listen to music, watch a movie or play a game as long as their devices remain in close proximity.  

Autocorrect is also updating with a new transformer language model that more accurately predicts the next word users might use as they type. Users can also now receive predictive text recommendations inline, to which they can adopt just by pressing the spacebar.   

Improved Phone App and Live Voicemail 

The Phone app is introducing personalized Contact Posters that users can customize to how they appear, changing the look to incoming calls, typography and font colors. Meanwhile, Live Voicemail will now include live transcriptions to voicemails, as well as the option to pick up the call as a user leaves their message. 

Apple’s iOS17 comes out fall this year.

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