What will you find there and how to install it on the iPhone?

Announced at WWDC in June, iOS 17 presents itself to the boldest iPhones before then, with its first new features.

Perhaps this is not the most innovative version of the iPhone operating system. iOS 17 was unveiled at WWDC 2023, last June in Cupertino, but Apple spent very little time with the upcoming Apple Vision Pro (it’s called a headset or space computer) and even watchOS 10 for connected watches, which are richer in new functionality.

The fact remains that iOS 17 comes with some interesting changes that we can now test before its fall launch for the bravest who aren’t afraid of potential crashes lurking in beta builds.

What will you find there?

As is often the case, the new version of iOS comes with dozens and dozens of new functions, including more accurate and smarter spelling correction. Here are the ones we thought were the most relevant or fun to test.

• Highlight contacts better

Long deprecated, the phone app is getting a major facelift. Or rather, your contacts. From now on it is possible to add to each of your friends, colleagues, family members, acquaintances … custom visuals to see at first glance who is calling you. It can be a photo, Memoji, drawing, etc. This option called “Contact Sticker” can be customized at the display level and comes to add to the lock screen customization that started with iOS 16.

And for exchanging contacts, AirPlay gets even better. It is enough to bring two iPhones under iOS 17 close to activate Name Drop, and the ability to share personal information in the form of a contact card.

• iMessage to do it all

Already on the Google Pixel scale, transcription of voice messages is also being carried over to the iPhone. No more listening to a voice message or waiting to be in a quieter environment, it will instantly be put into text for reading. The screen also gets better for better returning to the first message of a long thread that you would have missed in a group chat.

Among the other novelties to be tested, the arrival check inShare the new job with your loved ones to reassure them when you get home. This is to indicate that you have reached your destination or to send them a notification if this is not the case. Your location and iPhone battery level are then shared. Overall, location sharing is more accurate and will show up in conversations.

The Messages search engine now allows you to search not only for words, but also for links, shared maps, situations, documents, voice memos, and so on. All apps and functions that can be compatible with iMessage now have a dedicated space.

• Richer FaceTime

You can now leave a video message for your contact if they don’t respond or directly without actually contacting them. It will also be possible for the recipient to read the video message received thanks to the transcription and thus reply to you with text. It’s also possible to add effects during your calls by configuring gesture recognition to turn on, or use FaceTime on TV using your iPhone as a camera.

• Stickers to brighten up all conversations

Stickers are also prevalent in many applications. To do this, Apple adds a drawer in Messages and Others for faster access to Memoji, Stickers, Live Stickers, Emoticons… It’s easier to create one from a photo by holding your finger on your snap. Detach and isolate an element before adding an effect to it.

• Create your voice in synthesis

Several accessibility options are among the new features that will arrive in the final version. And in particular to collect his voice before losing it permanently. Function Direct speech It will then allow the user to type a text that will be read to the recipient with their voice.

• Get ready for the night

When your iPhone is charged horizontally, wired, or on a stand in MagSafe mode, your display will switch to Night mode with widgets of your choice (Schedule, Calendar, Podcast, Photo, Agenda, Reminders, Home Automation Control, etc.). ). Brightness also decreases to adapt. And the iPhone becomes an alarm clock.

How is it installed?

Start by backing up your iPhone for security via iCloud or on your computer. Even a public beta is never without potential glitches. If you want to go back to iOS 16 later, you’d better backup your data. To do this, go to Settings > your name > iCloud > iCloud Backup.

– go to beta.apple.com To register for the beta program.

Go back to your iPhone and go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates. Choose the iOS 17 Public Beta.

If you want to install iPadOS 17, you will have to do the same on the respective device. For watchOS 10, this is done in the Watch app on your iPhone. In either case, you must go to the beta site to register.

What is the latest version of iOS 17?

The final and stable version of iOS 17 is expected to be released at the beginning of the school year. New operating systems usually come with new iPhones. We will therefore have to wait for the second half of September to see the arrival of iPhone 15 and iOS 17 for all compatible devices.

What devices are compatible with iOS 17?

This year, Apple will remove two generations of iPhone from its updates. It is now necessary to have a smartphone dating back to at least iPhone XR to be able to install the new version. iPhone 8 and iPhone X will continue to benefit from some updates for a while, but these will be the last iOS 16 updates. Major new features will not be compatible.

· iPhone 14

iPhone 14 Plus

· iPhone 14 Pro

iPhone 14 Pro Max

iPhone 13

iPhone 13 mini

iPhone 13 Pro

iPhone 13 Pro Max

iPhone 12

iPhone 12 mini

iPhone 12 Pro

iPhone 12 Pro Max

iPhone 11

iPhone 11 Pro

iPhone 11 Pro Max

iPhone XS

iPhone XS Max

iPhone XR

iPhone SE (2nd generation and later)