Apple releases iOS 17: What is new in the free platform upgrade for iPhone

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 19, 2023 | Technology

Apple commenced the global rollout of iOS 17 for supported iPhones on September 19. This free platform upgrade is available for iPhone XR and later models, including the iPhone SE (second-generation and later). iOS 17 introduces new features enabled through new apps, a redesigned interface, and customisable widgets. Below are the details:

Messages

iOS 17 introduces a fresh iMessage app design with a single drawer for all iMessage-related services, including the camera, photos, stickers, and more, consolidated in one place. Additionally, iMessage now features a catch-up arrow to allow users to swiftly navigate to the first message in a conversation. Other enhancements include search filters for contextual searches, audio message transcription, a swipe-right gesture for quick replies, and auto check-in notifications. iOS 17 has also integrated Apple’s visual animations, such as live stickers, emojis, and memoji, under the Stickers banner. Furthermore, iOS 17 enables users to turn their live photos into Live Stickers.

Also Read: iPhone 15 series: Benefits to buy from Apple platforms; online and in-store

Widgets and StandBy

iOS 17 makes iPhone widgets more interactive. Users can now use widgets to access connected devices, receive real-time updates from supported apps on the lock screen, and manage music on the go. Additionally, Apple has introduced a new lock screen experience called StandBy, which utilises the iPhone’s always-on display mode to provide glanceable information. Designed to be viewed from a distance, the StandBy mode is accessible when the iPhone is in a horizontal orientation and while charging.

Phone and FaceTime

The Phone and FaceTime apps on the iPhone have undergone a redesign and include new features. The Phone app now incorporates a contact poster, a new feature introduced with iOS 17. The contact poster can be a photo or a memoji that you add to your contact card on the iPhone. It is displayed in full screen on the recipient’s Phone app. The Phone app also offers a live voicemail feature, allowing users to answer calls even if they have been redirected to voicemail.

As for FaceTime, it now supports video messages, similar to voicemails in the Phone app. This feature enables callers to record a video or audio message for the recipient in case the recipient misses a FaceTime call.

AirDrop

Expanding the capabilities of AirDrop, iOS 17 introduces the NameDrop feature. This feature allows users to share contact information by bringing two iOS 17-based iPhones close to each other. You can choose specific phone numbers or email addresses to share, along with contact posters, instantly.

Keyboard

The keyboard now displays autocorrected words with an underline, and users can revert to the original word with a tap. The new keyboard also includes the inline prediction feature, which suggests words to complete sentences.

Safari Browser

The Safari browser has received updates, including the option to separate user profiles with distinct histories, extensions, and cookies. The browser now supports autofilling one-time verification codes received in the Mail app. The iOS 17 update also enables users to share passwords and passkeys directly with contacts from the browser.

Maps

iOS 17 allows users to download maps for offline use, supporting turn-by-turn directions and place ratings.

Visual Look Up

Visual Look Up is a new feature that enables users to identify plants, animals, landmarks, and more from a video or an image. It can even find recipes for similar dishes from a photo. To use it, long-press on the object in the video or photo and tap “look up” in the pop-up menu to retrieve details related to the selected object.

Features not yet available

iOS 17 introduces collaborative playlists in the Music app and a new Journal app. These features are not available in the initial release but are expected to arrive in subsequent iOS 17 updates. Lastly, the Spatial Video recording feature for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is slated to come later this year in conjunction with subsequent iOS 17 updates.

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Musk says X may go behind paywall, charge users a ‘small monthly payment’

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 19, 2023 | Technology

Elon Musk on Monday suggested that Twitter may no longer be free to use, according to a report by TechCrunch. In a live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Musk said the social network is “moving to have a small monthly payment for use of the X system” to combat “vast armies of bots.”

The Tesla and SpaceX boss didn’t specify what the new subscription payment would cost but described it as a “small amount of money.”

“It’s the only way I can think of to combat vast armies of bots,” Musk said. “Because a bot costs a fraction of a penny — call it a tenth of a penny — but even if it has to pay…a few dollars or something, the effective cost of bots is very high.”

This is not the first time Musk has mooted the idea of charging everyone for X. In 2022, Musk was considering putting all of Twitter behind a paywall, according to a report by Platformer. Musk has long advocated for charging users for verification as a solution for getting rid of bots and fake accounts on X.

Since Musk bought Twitter last year, he has been trying to encourage users to pay for an enhanced version of the service, which is now called X Premium. X has given paid subscribers more features, such as longer posts and increased visibility, to make the platform more attractive to them. At the moment, users can still use X for free.

Musk also revealed that X now has 550 million “monthly users,” generating 100 million to 200 million daily posts. Musk did not say how many of Twitter’s monthly users are authentic versus bots. This figure also didn’t allow for a direct comparison with Twitter’s user base pre-Musk. In May 2022, before Musk’s takeover, Twitter reported an “average monetizable daily active usage” of 229 million.

The main discussion between Musk and Netanyahu was about AI technology and regulation. They also talked about hate speech on X, where Musk said he is against antisemitism and anything that promotes hate and conflict. Musk recently threatened to sue the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for defamation. The ADL has accused Musk and his social media platform, X, of being antisemitic.

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iPhone 15 series: Benefits to buy from Apple platforms; online and in-store

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 19, 2023 | Technology

Apple has announced best ways to buy the iPhone 15 series from its online and in-store platforms ahead of September 22, which is when the smartphones will be available for purchase. Across its platforms, Apple is offering its customers with HDFC Bank credit cards options to avail special instant savings. Besides, the company is offering equated monthly instalment schemes, including no-interest options valid on three and six month plans, from select banks. Lastly, there is an Apple trade-in program for customers to get instant credit in exchange for their smartphone for the new iPhone models. Below are the details:

Instant savings on HDFC Bank credit cards

Apple is offering an instant saving of Rs 6,000 on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and Rs 5,000 on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models. These instant savings are available on use of eligible HDFC Bank credit cards.

Besides the iPhone 15 series, the instant savings on HDFC Bank credit cards are available on the iPhone 13 (Rs 3,000) and iPhone SE (Rs 2,000).

As for the watches, customers can get instant savings of Rs 3,000 on the Apple Watch Ultra 2, Rs 2,500 on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Rs 1,500 on Apple Watch SE.

Trade-in, GST invoicing, and no-cost EMI

Apple is offering instant trade-in credit in exchange for eligible smartphones. Besides, Apple is offering GST invoicing to business customers at the checkout window. Lastly, there is no-cost EMI from select banks on three and six month plans.

What more

Apple is offering free engraving, flexible delivery and pickup options, express delivery, and scheduled delivery options.

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Jio AirFiber: Reliance Jio to launch 5G-powered fixed wireless access today

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 19, 2023 | Technology

Reliance Jio’s 5G-powered fixed wireless access (FWA) internet service Jio AirFiber is set to launch in the country on September 19. Announced in 2022 at the Reliance Industries’ annual general meeting, the Jio AirFiber would provide internet speeds exceeding 1Gbps, matching the internet speeds offered by fibre broadband services, including the company’s own Jio Fiber, without the need for optical wires. Below are the details:

What is Jio AirFiber?

Reliance Jio’s 5G-powered fixed wireless access (FWA) internet service would utilise a plug-and-play wireless routers to deliver internet via Wi-Fi. Unlike traditional broadband services, such as Jio Fiber, which rely on optical fibre cables, Jio AirFiber would establish direct connections with Jio towers through wireless router receivers. With built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, the router would broadcast internet services wirelessly. Essentially, this means that the router would receive internet-ready 5G network signals without the need for optical fibre wires, which would then be wirelessly distributed to connected devices.

Also Read: iOS 17 set to roll out today: Compatible iPhones, how-to install, and more

Differences between Jio Fiber and Jio AirFiber

Unlike the Jio Fiber network, AirFiber is not constrained by optical cable network infrastructure and can therefore offer broader coverage. Setting up the AirFiber network would be straightforward, as it employs a plug-in router. Jio has stated that the AirFiber router will adhere to the Wi-Fi 6 standard and include a built-in security firewall.

Jio AirFiber’s competition

Airtel already offers an AirFiber service in select cities, using a similar plug-and-play device for setup. Airtel’s 5G-powered FWA is based on the Wi-Fi 6 standard, which is known for delivering faster speeds, wider coverage, and reduced latency compared to Wi-Fi 5.

Also Read: Microsoft’s chief product exec behind Surface devices to step down

While Airtel AirFiber provides internet speeds of up to 100MBps, Jio has promised that its FWA service will exceed the 1Gbps threshold. At the 2023 AGM, Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani announced that AirFiber would serve as the foundation for Jio Smart Home solutions, which were also unveiled at the event.

Expected Pricing for Jio AirFiber

Jio AirFiber is expected to be more expensive compared to traditional optical fibre-based JioFiber. However, it may undercut its direct competitor, Airtel, by offering AirFiber services starting at Rs 4,435 for a 6-month subscription.

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Microsoft’s chief product exec behind Surface devices to step down

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 18, 2023 | Technology

Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi, who oversees its consumer marketing efforts, is taking over the firm’s Surface and Windows businesses with the external PC makers and retail partners as longtime product chief Panos Panay steps down.

Microsoft also said that Pavan Davuluri will lead a hardware engineering team that includes Microsoft’s efforts to develop its own chips, according to a staff email on Monday by Rajesh Jha, executive vice president of experiences and devices group at Microsoft. Reuters has seen a copy of the email.

Microsoft has made big bets on generative AI, integrating the technology into a wide array of its products, including cloud, search and productivity software and services such as its Office suite.

The rejigging of teams comes as Panay steps down after nearly 20 years with the Redmond, Washington-based company, where he helmed the creation of the Surface line of computers and more recently oversaw the launch of the Windows 11 operating system.

The company is hosting a “special event” on September 21, where it is expected to announce updates to its Surface lineup, among other updates.

Amazon is set to hire Microsoft’s departing product chief Panos Panay, Bloomberg News reported.

First Published: Sep 18 2023 | 10:58 PM IST

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HTech launch HONOR 90 5G smartphone in UP, to target major cities first

by Hansraj Agrawal | Sep 18, 2023 | Technology

Smart devices maker HTech will target major cities of Uttar Pradesh in the first phase to market its smartphone, HONOR 90 5G, which it launched in the state on Monday.

Senior vice-president of HTech C P Khandelwal, who was in Lucknow to mark the launch of the smartphone, told PTI, “The launch has been good, and we have launched it on online and offline channels.”

Speaking about the marketing strategy for the state, he said that the company has appointed distributors in major cities in the first phase keeping in mind the company’s first product, first launch, and “price band, which is majorly acceptable for the major cities”.

“But soon we will come up with more models, where we will go across cities, towns and everywhere,” he said and added that the next launch is likely within two months.

The premium device is available at a price starting from Rs 37,999 on online channels.

When asked how he sees Uttar Pradesh as a market for smartphones, Khandelwal said, “Definitely UP is one of the biggest markets for smartphones in India being the most populous state. We are targeting and have appointed our distributors and offline retailers.

Commenting on the launch, Madhav Sheth, CEO, HTech, in a statement said, “We at HTech, are pleased to mark an important milestone by bringing back to Indian consumers a strong brand that has cutting edge technology, and a self-reliant ecosystem.

“With a focus on empowering consumers with leading technology, Honor continuously works toward bringing innovation in display technology, battery tech software and artificial intelligence, which are backed by strong R&D capabilities.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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