Date of release announced for Apple iOS 17: Here is how to update your iPhone

Earlier in June, Apple announced the iOS 17 with a wider range of new features and changes for iPhone.
With over three months of beta testing, the free software update will be released this Monday, September 18 for the iPhone XS and newer versions.

Below are everything you need to know about the iOS 17 including its 10 key features and how to upgrade your iPhone to the latest iOS 17.

Additional features are still coming out later this year. The update should be released to users around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday.

Ten Key Features of iOs 17

1. Contact Posters Feature:
   
   The new iOS 17 lets users create a personalized Contact Poster that appears during an incoming phone call on another user's iPhone.
   The poster can include a emoji or other photo, plus you can also customize the background color and font size/style. The feature is available in the built-in Phone app and will also be available for third-party calling apps as well.
   This is and awesome feature as it makes your phone more beautiful and customizable.




2. NameDrop Feature:
   
   The new NameDrop feature allows users to easily share contact information by bringing their iPhones close together, more like a more active sensor.
   Both users can choose the phone numbers or email addresses they would like to share with each other, and can as well share their Contact Posters.




3. StandBy Feature:
   
   The iOS 17 StandBy feature is a new full-screen view that provides glanceable information. This is designed to be viewed from a distance when an iPhone is placed sideways and charging, according to Apple.
   The customizable interface can show many things on the screen like, clock in variety of styles, calendar, favorite pictures, weather forecast, music playback controls, widgets, and more.
   

4. "Hey Siri" Now Shortened to "Siri":
   In the new iOS 17 Apple has simplified the voice command to invoke Siri on the iPhone and other Apple devices, including the iPad, Mac, HomePod, and newest AirPods Pro. Instead of using the former "Hey Siri," users are now simply say "Siri" to activate the voice assistant, and can issue multiple commands in succession without having to repeat "Siri" again.




5. Live Voicemail Feature:
   The new Live Voicemail feature provides real-time transcription on the screen as someone leaves a voicemail.
   If the user considers the voicemail to be important, they can pick up the call while the caller is leaving their message. Apple can respond with calls identified as spam by carriers are not transcribed and will instead be instantly declined.

   
   
6. Improved Autocorrect Feature:
   Apple also announced that iOS 17 includes a state-of-the-art language model for word prediction that will greatly improve autocorrection on iPhones with the new iOS 17. When typing, on your iPhone device machine learning will intelligently correct mistakes with greater accuracy than ever.
   In addition, users can now receive predictive text recommendations inline as they type, allowing for words or complete sentences to be added by tapping the space bar.
   Auto-correction has an updated design on iOS 17 that briefly underlines an auto-corrected words. And you can click on an underlined word to reveals the original word you typed, making it easy to quickly revert the change if needed.
   The system will also learn the user's typing habits over time and avoid some corrections, which Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi said is designed for those moments where you just want to type a ducking word.
   

7. Stickers Drawer Feature:
   The new stickers drawer feature on iOS 17 provides access to all stickers, including Live Stickers, emoji, Memoji, and iMessage sticker packs in one place. And Live Stickers can also be created by touching and holding an object in a photo, such as a cat or a dog.




8. Swipe to Reply in iMessage Feature:
   The iOS 17 has also added another feature to the Messages app. This allows users to send inline reply instantly, by swiping to the right on any message they receives.

   
   

9. Interactive Widgets Feature:
   New interactive widgets are now available on iPhone across the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and the new StandBy view.
   Apple gave some examples of what interactive widgets can be used for, including marking a reminder as completed, playing or pausing a song or podcast, and controlling accessories in the Home app, and there will be many more possibilities as third-party apps are updated with support in the coming months.
   Home Screen widgets offered limited functionality until now, as Apple did not allow developers to include scrolling, buttons, or animations.

   
   

10. Apple Maps Offline Feature:
    The iOS 17 have enhanced the Apple Maps with a key Google Maps feature. This new iOS 17 now give users the ability to download maps for offline use. Apple says users can download a specific map area and access turn-by-turn navigation, view their estimated time of arrival, find places, and more when an iPhone is not connected to the internet.

How to Install iOS 17

Now we have explored most of the iOS 17 features, now here is how you can install it on your iPhone devices. Once this update is available, you can install it from the Settings app under General → Software Update.