It’s the big night for big updates to Apple’s operating systems! iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17 and watchOS 10 are all available this evening: the boxes are going to heat up hard.
After a summer of betas, iOS 17 is finally available in final version, which can be installed from the iPhone SE (2nd gen.) and the iPhone XR. There is no big new thing that changes everything this year, but appreciable improvements for certain functions such as widgets which gain in interactivity, sharing your position with loved ones in Messages, stickers used in all sauces, a video answering machine in FaceTime…
iPhones compatible with iOS 17 also gain a new Standby function which displays widgets when the smartphone turns horizontal and is plugged into power. Useful on the nightstand to quickly glance at the time, and it’s an additional selling point for smartphones with an always-on screen: on these models, the widgets do not disappear after a few moments.
Read iOS 17, macOS Sonoma: these new Apple features that will make your life easier
In parallel, Apple also delivers the final version of iPadOS 17, a nice surprise since last year, the tablet operating system was released a few weeks behind that of smartphones. It must be said that this new version does not shake up habits. iPadOS 17 shares the same features as iOS 17, the big new thing being the customizable locked screen… a function present on the iPhone since iOS 16.
We will still note the presence of a new Health application, a real dashboard powered by the HealthKit database: monitoring of sleep, sports training, number of steps and calories burned, monitoring of the menstrual cycle… iPadOS 17 can be installed on iPad mini 5th generation, iPad 6th generation, iPad Air 3 as well as the iPad Pro 2nd generation.
And that’s not all! watchOS 10 is also available, to download and install on Apple Watch Series 4 and later (SE is compatible). Of the entire 2023 vintage of Apple’s OS, watchOS is certainly the version that has undergone the greatest number of changes, starting with new gestures: turning the digital crown now displays a series of widgets to control use the different apps on the watch more easily and quickly (smart scrolling mode).
Along the same lines, clicking the side button launches the Control Center. It’s impossible to summarize all the new features of watchOS 10 here, but the Weather app has been completely revised and is much more graphic, the Exercises app is more practical for cyclists, it is possible to download (finally!) plans for consult them offline, new Snoopy and Palette dials are appearing…
If Apple has remained fairly discreet regarding tvOS 17, the Apple TV operating system has no shortage of new features. Starting with FaceTime support via connection with an iPhone or iPad! Zoom aperitifs will be much larger on the living room TV… The interface has also benefited from a little refresh that is always welcome, including a more discreet control center as well as pop-up windows which take up the design of ‘iOS. A timer is also available to automatically put the box on standby.
To download these new versions, go to the settings General > Software update on iPhone and iPad. For the Apple Watch, everything happens in the Watch app, then General > Software update. Finally, on the Apple TV, you have to go to the Settings app, then System > Software updates. You will have to wait until September 26 for macOS Sonoma. 01net will accompany you throughout the coming days in discovering iOS 17, with tips to better take advantage of all these new features.