Malcolm Owen
Apple's introduction of iOS 17 may provide more features than previously expected, with some highly requested features apparently on the table for inclusion in the release.
Apple's annual refresh of iOS mixes together new features and big changes alongside other smaller elements that fix bugs and improve overall performance. While it was previously thought that iOS 17 may lean more towards the latter half of the equation, it seems that Apple's widening focus a little bit.
Writing in his "Power On" newsletter for Bloomberg, Mark Gurman says iOS 17 was planned to be a bug-fix and performance-improvement release. The intention was to avoid problems demonstrated in iOS 16's release, which was ambitious but hampered by "missed deadlines and a buggy start."
However, Gurman now says that, at a late stage of the development process, "the strategy changed," and that several "nice to have" features will be included in the release. These features, under the codename "Dawn," is an effort meant to check off "several of users' most requested features."
Gurman doesn't state what the features will be, but understands that iOS 17 won't have a "tentpole improvement" like the lock screen revamp of iOS 16.
So far, there have been relatively few feature rumors for iOS 17, and for a bug fix and performance improvement release, that's to be expected. However, one sketchy rumor from October 2022 put forward that updates to iMessage involving a "new home," chat rooms, and AR chat features are apparently on the way.
Andrew Orr
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19 Comments
I assumed iOS 17 tentpole features would be support for the AR/VR headset. But… so few people may buy this first product (if the price is $3K) that focusing the iOS upgrade primarily on that product may be a mistake.
They need to fix the way apps are downloaded. I want the ability to choose my download location down to the page, folder, and it’s position within. The way we’ve been doing this for the last 16 years, where the new download just occupies the first available empty space, is awkward, inefficient, and outdated. The option to download directly to the App Library and bypass the home screen is a very small bandaid to a much larger problem. The iPhone will be entering its third decade in a few short years (!!!!)…it’s way past time that Apple addressed this oddity in iOS.
“Tentpole improvements”…? Hilarious…
Sigh. Rumor has it iOS 17 will allow the phone to make calls. These rumors have not yet been confirmed. Stay tuned for the tent pole.
Simple idea, let’s have the option to set the phone keypad screen to go away after being on a call. This could help reduce “butt dialing”. I hate when somehow my phone make calls without me intentionally doing it