Apple revealed iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and watchOS 9 throughout the principle keynote of WWDC22 in June. Now that we have gotten our fingers on many of the promised options Apple has introduced and have been utilizing them for a number of months, we’re beginning to discover them fairly mundane. I have been shuffling via completely different iPhone Lock Screens since June. At this level, the key additions are not as vigorous or interesting as they’d been.
Regardless of iOS 17 being months away, I am already constructing a psychological wishlist of options I wish to see. And as you may see beneath, there’s so much Apple can nonetheless work on within the subsequent working system technology.
Will Apple entertain fixing its audio apps on iOS 17?
The phrases Apple and tight ecosystem go hand in hand. Many individuals put money into the corporate’s merchandise and minimally rely upon different manufacturers’ {hardware} to benefit from the seamless integrations available. Begin a Freeform board in your iPad, then resume it in your Mac. Copy in your iPhone and paste on a close-by iPad. That is to not point out Common Management, Sidecar, and the opposite Continuity options accessible throughout Apple gadgets.
Nevertheless, for some cause, Apple nonetheless hasn’t baked an equal to Spotify Join on its platforms, which lets you management the music playback on any of your signed-in gadgets. It is a very Apple-like function that, for causes unknown, stays absent. Now that I am used to handing off my Apple Music queue to and from my HomePod Mini, I am particularly pissed off that the function is unavailable on non-HomePod gadgets. If my iPad and Mac can management the Music on my HomePod, they need to be capable of management that on my iPhone, too.
One other minor frustration is the dearth of a cross-fade function. Surprisingly, Apple Music on Android helps it, nevertheless it’s nonetheless lacking on Apple working techniques. Once I used to depend on Spotify, I liked how songs easily transition into one another as an alternative of stopping and beginning abruptly. Perhaps 2023’s huge OS launch will introduce that.
Lastly, there’s Podcasts. The app does not appear to get any consideration from Apple. With each passing 12 months, the Music app will get upgraded with new UI components and options, which solely widens the hole between Music and Podcasts. The latter now appears to be like dated when hopping backwards and forwards between the 2 purposes. Apple has been providing paid podcast subscriptions for some time now, and it might solely make sense for it to keep up and preserve this income supply interesting to customers. Fingers crossed for an iOS 17 overhaul.
Re-Designed by Apple in California — deployed in 2023
Talking of overhauls, there needs to be an entire redesign part on each iOS wishlist, so right here it’s.
Let’s be reasonable, an iOS 7-like whole revamp possible will not occur anytime quickly, if ever. Contemplating the complexity of iOS at present and the brand new bugs that floor with each main OS launch, we won’t anticipate an replace that wrecks and rebuilds the consumer interface from scratch. We have had some new interface options not too long ago; iOS 16 bought a redesigned Lock Display screen/Notification Middle, and within the previous two years, we bought Residence Display screen updates. The corporate now overhauls one vital facet of iOS at a time, which ensures that the bugs and the general system stability stay beneath management. If issues get too buggy, the corporate solely works in a single sandbox, which may simply include the mess.
Nonetheless, iOS has felt mainly the identical over the previous few years. I am a agency believer of do not repair what’s not damaged, however customers additionally get bored. I at all times stress how familiarity advantages the consumer and their muscle reminiscence. Nevertheless, change can also be good — particularly when the transition is completed easily, in a means that does not shock the patron.
Here is a small factor Apple may deal with: For iOS 17, I hope we get app icons with extra depth, much like those launched in macOS Huge Sur. Apple has been bridging the gaps between its pc and cellular working techniques. By adopting the identical icons in every single place, it might probably additional familiarize its customers with its widespread UIs.
One other welcome change could be an replace to some system components. Many have regarded the identical since iOS 7, and a refresh is lengthy overdue. I, for one, cannot stand how giant the default on/off system toggle is. It appears to be like misplaced, and it definitely does not belong in 2023. To not point out, the Management Middle has regarded the identical for a number of years now, and introducing extra superior customizations to it might be a welcome change.
A foreground replace enabling background updates
One function I want Apple would copy from the other aspect is background OS updates. Usually, I set up beta software program updates on 5 gadgets each week. I do know the common consumer receives like one among these monthly and sure does not care, however a really welcome addition could be the power to put in these updates within the background whereas our gadgets are on and usable. As soon as the method concludes, we are able to then reboot our iPhones to use the adjustments launched within the newest construct. Newer variations of iOS already help fast safety responses and system file updates, so this implementation would solely increase to incorporate main OS updates.
The Portless Journey begins with Wi-fi OS Restoration
Some time again, Apple launched a really useful (and underrated) watchOS function: Wi-fi OS Restoration. Earlier than this variation, when somebody bricked their Apple Watch, they needed to head to the closest Apple Retailer (assuming their nation had one). The workers on the retailer would then restore the working system via the hidden Watch port (on fashions older than the Collection 7). To make everybody’s lives simpler, customers, in lots of circumstances, now can simply depend on their iPhones to revive their lifeless Watches.
I definitely see Apple introducing a portless iPhone down the street. It is probably not the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Professional, nevertheless it’ll possible occur inside this decade. The corporate has already discovered wi-fi charging and wi-fi information switch, which leaves us with OS restoration. Proper now, if somebody bricks their iPhone, they join it to a Mac or Home windows PC via its Lightning port. They then rely upon the pc to flash the working system.
If Apple plans to go portless (and even when it does not), a useful addition could be the power to revive a lifeless iPhone utilizing one other close by iPhone, iPad, or Mac via the identical watchOS mechanism. This may spare customers the necessity to cope with cables, and it might carry the iPad a step nearer in the direction of changing into a PC substitute.
Cease leaving us on learn after we request RCS, Apple
iMessage is in style in some international locations, significantly the U.S. Nevertheless, many areas do not rely upon this platform for texting in any respect. In some areas, folks rely solely on WhatsApp, even for formal and enterprise communications, whereas others depend on different Instantaneous Messaging (IM) apps, resembling Line.
When somebody with an iPhone texts an Android consumer, the message is distributed as an SMS, which signifies that with out third-party IM apps, customers on the 2 completely different platforms cannot trade high-quality media, recordsdata, and so on. I am not saying by incorporating RSC, the Blue/Inexperienced Bubble problem will all of the sudden be resolved, or that Google will cease calling on Apple to implement it. I do not anticipate the world to ditch WhatsApp anytime quickly. Nevertheless, it might be good to have the choice to succeed in these on a special platform correctly while not having to rely upon third-party options.
Apple has explicitly acknowledged that it hasn’t applied RSC as a result of its customers seemingly do not care about it. Properly, I am just one Apple consumer, however I am positive at the least tens of 1000’s of different clients would additionally recognize having this addition. It is a respectable bridge between the 2 working techniques that may solely assist carry folks collectively.
Your Mac is aware of the battery stage of your iPhone and iPad. It is true, you may go forward and launch the Discover My app on any of your Apple gadgets. There you will notice the approximate battery stage of every system. What I do not perceive, although, is why Apple nonetheless hasn’t applied this piece of knowledge into the Battery widget. We will surely recognize with the ability to view the extent of any system via the easily-accessible widget, as an alternative of launching the Discover My app and making an attempt to make approximate guesses primarily based on the visible.
Apple gadgets are already conscious of one another’s presence. They act as a single entity, because of the corporate’s tight ecosystem. Such implementation ought to require lots of assets, and it definitely could be a welcome change. Talking of widgets, permitting us to work together with the recently-revamped widgets would positively carry them a step nearer to perfection.
Notifications look higher within the mirror
Talking of Apple gadgets speaking with one another, let’s transfer on to notification mirroring. Android customers with suitable gadgets can mirror their notifications to their computer systems and work together with them. My iPad already detects textual content fields on my Apple Watch and might kind into them, so the gadgets are all conscious of one another. Why does the Apple Watch solely mirror iPhone alerts?
The perfect execution could be a toggle that enables customers to decide on which of their gadgets mirrors notifications. Proper now, I can select the iPads and Macs my iPhone pushes textual content messages to. This implementation would increase to cowl all notifications. This manner, once I’m occupied, I can rapidly reply to a third-party app’s textual content on my iPhone via my work Mac’s Notification Middle.
2007 known as, it needs its Telephone app again
It is the twenty first century, and the Telephone app on iOS desperately wants a lift, and a predictive dial could be a great begin for iOS 17. Once I begin hitting digits, the app ought to concurrently scan for 2 issues: matching telephone numbers in my contacts and speak to names. I should not must dig via my contacts each time I wish to make a name. Reintroducing the discontinued, legacy Favourite Contacts widget for taking an instantaneous, customizable motion would even be a welcome change in iOS 17.
Will Now Taking part in on the Lock Display screen get Shazamed into existence?
One Google Pixel telephone function that my colleague and I wish to see in iOS 17 is Now Taking part in on the Lock Display screen. For these unfamiliar with it, supported Pixel telephones scan your environment for music tracks always. When it detects a track, it shows its identify in actual time. It additionally retains a historical past log that lists all of the tracks it has detected. So even should you’re not being attentive to your telephone at a celebration, you may nonetheless examine the complete listing of music they performed after you permit.
Shazam already has an Auto Shazam function that listens to music within the background, and as you may’ve heard, Apple acquired Shazam some time again. Since then, the corporate has built-in it into its working techniques and Siri. It even gives a built-in, non-obligatory Music Recognition toggle within the Management Middle, regardless if the Shazam app is put in or not. A welcome iOS 17 change could be introducing Pixel’s Now Taking part in function on iOS. That is a really reasonable request, contemplating Apple owns Shazam and has been actively merging its options into its gadgets.
iTunes is lengthy lifeless. Bury it already, iOS 17.
Apple killed iTunes on macOS years in the past, and it introduced that the Music and TV apps can be launching on Home windows in 2023. By then, the corporate may kill iTunes on Home windows as nicely — and we would not miss it in any respect. Whereas the buggy iTunes app on iOS is deletable, it should not exist in any respect on iOS 17. The TV app already helps film purchases. What’s lacking is track buying capabilities within the Music app. This manner, these trying to purchase music head to the… Music app, and clients in search of films and sequence can purchase them from the — you’ve got guessed it — the TV app. Plain and easy.
Bigger clouds, happier clients, richer company
When Apple launched iCloud an eon in the past, it included 5GB of free storage for all customers. Those that want extra storage can often hire as much as 2TB via iCloud Plus. Apple boasts about newer iPhones taking beautiful images and movies, particularly with the iPhone 14 Professional launch and its 48MP primary sensor, however higher-quality media require extra storage. Giving customers 10GB as an alternative of 5GB of free iCloud will not depart a gap within the firm’s deep pockets, and it’ll give customers extra space to retailer content material on its cloud service. After they’re utterly depending on it, they are going to possible pay for extra after they run out of house. 5GB is not a free trial in 2023.
I do know my charging habits higher than your AI
Optimized Battery Charging is an iOS function that goals to guard customers’ battery well being. Your iPhone learns out of your charging habits and refrains from totally charging your iPhone till you want it, so you may depart your iPhone plugged in in a single day and it will solely cost the ultimate 20% proper earlier than you sometimes unplug it. However this is the factor, Apple, I do not observe uniform charging routines. It might be useful to get a manually-set, non-obligatory charging schedule for iOS 17. This manner, I can depart the telephone on its MagSafe charging stand and instruct it to complete charging by once I plan to take away it.
Will Siri lastly attend preschool and be taught to converse?
Nearly yearly, Apple claims that Siri has turn out to be smarter. I do not see it, and I am assuming you do not, both. At this level, I’ve misplaced rely of what number of occasions I’ve requested Siri to show my gentle crimson, just for it to begin enjoying music I’ve by no means heard in my life. It is also not the best at sustaining context in an extended dialog. At this level, I virtually want Apple applied Google Assistant on iPhones as an alternative. That digital assistant is infinitely smarter and extra intuitive to make use of. I at all times discover myself overthinking methods to phrase a command simply to ensure it’s going to perceive my request.
“Hey Siri, save a backup of this iOS 17 article I am engaged on.”
“Positive, Mahmoud, completely deleing your iOS 17 article and all of its backups immediately!”
I — much like most individuals, I might prefer to consider — scroll on my telephone earlier than falling asleep. Usually, I am mendacity down on my aspect, so my iPhone is of course held in panorama orientation. Each single evening, I’ve to lock the telephone’s orientation to portrait as a result of in any other case, the content material may even flip to panorama orientation. The TrueDepth digicam, which powers Face ID, can already scan my face in pitch-black environments. I solely hope iOS 17 introduces a True Orientation function that makes use of these superior sensors to detect my face’s orientation earlier than flipping all of the display content material on its aspect.
Offline help ought to navigate its means into Apple Maps on iOS 17
We have reached some extent the place many (most?) of us have an web connection always. Indoors we’ve dependable Wi-Fi networks, and outside we depend on 4G or 5G. Nonetheless, we typically discover areas with no/unhealthy protection. Folks typically must navigate whereas they’re offline, and this can be a function Apple Maps fails to ship.
Google Maps have had offline map help for years now. You choose the border/radius and obtain whole cities for offline navigation. This manner, you by no means must get misplaced when you do not have a connection for no matter cause. We solely hope Apple consists of this useful addition in iOS 17.
Ought to it actually require antitrust lawsuits for us to get extra default app choices?
Apple presently permits customers to decide on default electronic mail and net searching apps within the Settings. However what about Maps, Recordsdata, Music, and so on.? Apple apps are nice, however completely different customers have completely different preferences. Simply because an app works, does not imply it needs to be to the compelled default. With iOS 17, we hope Apple implements extra default app choices to make everybody’s lives simpler.
Can the Pockets app lastly dwell as much as its identify?
Nowadays, many individuals can depart their bodily wallets at residence. In any case, the Apple Pockets app permits customers to retailer financial institution playing cards, IDs, boarding passes, and extra. There is a catch, although — help is proscribed.
On Android telephones, it is potential to rely upon the NFC chip for contactless funds, even when the issuing financial institution does not help Google Pay. The method is not easy, nevertheless it’s doable. On the darkish aspect, issues are completely different. If a financial institution does not help Apple Pay, then you definitely merely cannot write the NFC chip to imitate the cardboard. Consequently, you continue to have to hold your playing cards round in case your financial institution or area does not help Apple Pay. Equally, you may already add QR codes to the Pockets app via third-party options.
Having a local card creator would simplify our lives. Many people rely upon QR codes to go via sure gates. Being able so as to add these QR codes while not having third-party apps in iOS 17 would make our lives simpler. That is to not point out that many customers are unaware of those third-party purposes and the truth that you may create your personal Pockets playing cards.
iOS 17 continues to be months away. Nevertheless, Apple possible already has a normal thought of what primary adjustments it’s going to introduce. At this level, there is no strategy to inform whether or not it’s going to be feature-packed or a principally bug-fixing replace that focuses on enhancing the battery life and patching the glitches launched in iOS 16.
What would you like Apple to introduce in iOS 17? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.