iOS 17 announced: new Journal app and StandBy mode, big updates to Messages, FaceTime, Phone, AirDrop, and more

Apple’s 2023 WWDC keynote is well underway, and the company just made one of its biggest announcements yet: iOS 17. As expected, the mobile OS isn’t getting a complete makeover, but the update does bring about a few new apps and features, and a number of major improvements to stock apps like Phone and Messages, features like AirDrop and AutoCorrect, and much more.

New Journal app

Apple says its Journal app is a “new way to appreciate life’s moments.” It has a heavy focus on gratitude, and the app uses on-device machine learning to offer personalize suggestions for entries based on your recent activity, photos, people, places, workouts, etc. You can lock the app, and it’s protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning no one can access your entries — not even Apple. In addition to the app, Apple announced a new Journaling Suggestions API, which developers can add to their own apps to help really flesh out the feature.

StandBy

Another noteworthy new feature of iOS 17 is StandBy, which essentially turns your iPhone into a smart display. It’s a full-screen experience with glanceable information designed to be viewed from a distance when iPhone is on its side and charging. It’s like the Apple Watch’s NighStand mode on steroids. It’s perfect for the bedside table, desk or kitchen counter, and it’s totally customizable with a range of clock styles, photos, and widgets to choose from. It even works with Smart Stacks, to surface the right widgets at the right time, and it supports Siri, Live Activities, and more.

AirDrop + NameDrop

AirDrop gets new ways to share in iOS 17 — namely NameDrop. This feature allows users to easily share contact info by simply bringing their iPhones together, or by bringing an iPhone and Apple Watch together. With the same gesture, users can share content or start SharePlay to listen to music, watch a movie, or play a game while in close proximity to other iPhones. It’s reminiscent of the once-popular contact-sharing app Bump.

Messages improvements

  • Live Stickers – Apple has revamped its sticker experience with new emoji stickers, and the ability to create Live Stickers by lifting subjects from photos.
  • New menu – a new expandable menu that can be accessed with a simple tap to display iMessage apps gives Messages a cleaner look
  • Better search – you can now add search filters to drill down search results
  • Auto audio message transcriptions
  • Check In feature for when users want to notify their friends or family that they’ve made it to their destination safely

Phone App improvements

  • Contact Posters – users can now customize how they appear on other’s phones for incoming calls with photos or Memoji, eye-catching typography, and more
  • Live Voicemail – users can see real-time transcriptions as someone leaves a voicemail
  • FaceTime Messages – FaceTime now supports audio and video messages, so when users call someone who is not available, they can leave a message to be enjoyed later

Other iOS 17 improvements

Safari

  • Safari adds greater tracker protection for Private Browsing, and it now locks when not in use
  • Users can now share passwords with a group of trusted contacts

Apple Music

  • New Collaborative Playlists feature makes listening to music with friends easier than ever
  • SharePlay in the car allows all passengers to easily contribute to what’s playing

Siri

  • Siri can be activated now by simply saying “Siri.”
  • Users can issue multiple commands in succession without needing to reactivate the assistant

Health

  • New mental health features allow users to log their daily moods and momentary emotions
  • New Screen Distance feature in Screen Time uses the TrueDepth camera to encourage users to keep their device 12 inches from their face

Maps

  • New offline maps feature allows users to download a specific area and access turn-by-turn navigation, see ETAs, find places, and more while offline

AirTag

  • Users can now share their AirTags with up to 5 other people, allowing friends and family to track an item using Find My

Home

  • The Home app adds the ability for users to view up to 30 days of activity history across door locks, garage doors, alarm systems, and contact sensors
  • Two popular HomeKit lock features — tap to unlock and PIN codes — are now Matter-compatible

Reminders

  • The Reminders app now features a grocery list that automatically groups added items into categories for easier shopping

Accessibility

  • New Live Speech feature gives nonspeaking users the option to type and have their words spoken in person, or on Phone and FaceTime calls
  • Personal Voice gives users at risk of speech loss the option to create a voice that sounds like theirs
  • Point and Speak helps users who are blind or have low vision read text on physical objects by pointing

Availability

The iOS 17 beta is available to developers beginning today, public beta testers next month, and it will launch to the public this fall as a free update for the iPhone X and later.