Apple iOS 17 public beta for iPhone released

in June, apple Released iOS 17, the latest version of the iPhone operating system. Now it’s available as a public beta, and iPhone users can try it out for free.

Remember, this is a beta, intended as a preview of the final software so that Apple can get help finding and squashing bugs before an official release to the wider public.

This fall, with the introduction of the new iPhones, Apple officially released the software to anyone with a compatible iPhone. Apple advises users who are unhappy with the beta software to wait until then.

Still, for those who like to live on the cutting edge, Apple’s iOS public betas give them a preview of what all iPhones will look like in a few months — as long as they own an iPhone XS (released in 2018) or newer.

There is a new process for installing public betas.Instead of registering on the Apple website and Install configuration filesall you have to do is go to Settings > General > Software Update and select Install iOS Beta from the drop-down menu.

Here are some of the biggest changes in iOS 17:

Contact poster. One of the most notable changes in iOS 17 is that you can choose pictures and fonts to change how you appear when calling other iPhone users. You can create your own Contact Poster just like you customize your own lock screen.

Better autocorrect. Apple says its autocorrect feature has been improved with a new Transformer-based language model. This should improve accuracy and even improve grammar at the sentence level.

iMessage improvements and UI revamp. Apple’s messaging app is getting one of its biggest updates in years. The most obvious change is that the interface hides apps like stickers or the camera, which are now inside a menu on the left rather than at the top of the keyboard. Apple has also improved message search, stickers, and will automatically transcribe short audio messages.

Diary application. iOS 17 includes a new Diary app that will encourage users to enter a few thoughts each day, then use on-device machine learning to intelligently prompt users to write more about their memories, people, music, or photos. This should come later, so you won’t see it in this beta.

New standby dock mode. When a user places an iPhone horizontally on a wireless charger, it will display a new interface with widgets like a calendar or clock, alarms and other real-time information instead of the same old lock screen. This will be very helpful for people who want to use their iPhone as a bedside clock.

Business card replacement. A new feature called NameDrop allows two iPhone users to share contact information simply by holding the phones close together.

Mental health features in the health app. In Apple’s Health app, users can log their daily moods and emotions and access tests and other assessments used to diagnose depression and anxiety.

Offline maps. Apple will add the ability to download and use maps offline in iOS 17. While Google Maps has offered the feature for years, this is the first time Apple has enabled it. Maps of the entire region can be downloaded.

New features for AirPods. Owners of AirPods Pro will find new features enabled through the new iOS. The biggest new feature is called Adaptive Audio, which uses machine learning and other software to analyze what you’re listening to and the sounds around you, and intelligently turn down the volume on the headphones, giving them a better sense of their surroundings.

Say “Hey” to Siri again. Apple shortened the command to wake up the voice assistant.

Photos treat pets as their own people. Apple’s machine learning has been able to detect cats or dogs in photos for years, but now it can identify individual pets and place them in its own photo folder. So if you have two dogs, Apple Photos can tell the difference between the two dogs in search and other apps.

Grocery list in reminder. Apple’s Reminders app can now take unstructured grocery lists and automatically sort them into categories like produce, frozen food, or dairy. It should make shopping more efficient.

The phone is too close to the face. Apple has also built in a detector called “Screen Distance,” which warns users that their face is too close to the phone. It’s built into Apple’s Screen Time feature.

A new reason to leave a voicemail. A new feature called “Live Voicemail” will show iPhone users real-time transcriptions of voicemails so they can decide whether to answer the call.

FaceTime voicemail. For the first time, Apple has added voicemail support to FaceTime calling. Previously, you could send text messages to each other.

Better two-factor authentication. One of Apple’s most popular features is that it automatically grabs two-factor codes from text messages and puts them into the appropriate boxes on websites and apps. In iOS 17, Apple will be able to automatically enter two-factor authentication codes in emails received in the Mail app.

Smooth transitions in Apple Music. Apple Music has added the ability to crossfade between tracks, or have the first song fade out at the end when a new song begins to fade in. Users can also collaborate on playlists, a feature Spotify has offered for years.