iOS 17 cheat sheet: Release date, supported devices and more
iOS 17. Image: Apple, Inc.
While Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference keynote on Monday showcased the buzzworthy Vision Pro augmented reality headset, the announcement of iOS 17 should not be overlooked. This update to Apple’s latest mobile operating system offers iPhone users great new productivity tools, apps and system features that focus on improving communication, sharing content and inputting data more effectively.
Let’s explore everything you need to know about iOS 17 including features, release date and how to get the beta release.
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What is iOS 17?iOS 17 is the seventeenth iteration of the mobile operating system Apple releases for distribution on iPhone models. This new version of iOS includes features for business users, enterprise customers, developers and consumers; examples include the ability to better manage contacts, FaceTime features, AirPlay and content-sharing features, and privacy-related features.
iOS 17 was announced on June 5, 2023, during the Apple WWDC keynote address.
SEE: Previous iterations of iOS in these TechRepublic cheat sheets: iOS 16, iOS 15, iOS 14, iOS 13.
What is the release date for iOS 17?The exact release date for iOS 17 is not publicly known, though the full release is slated for Fall 2023. If tradition holds, we should expect iOS 17 to be released in approximately September 2023, perhaps coinciding with the release of new iPhone hardware.
Is there an iOS 17 beta release?Apple released a developer beta of iOS 17 for registered developers on June 5, 2023. Developers can download the iOS 17 beta from the Apple Developer website.
A public beta of iOS 17 for non-developers will be made available through AppleSeed in July 2023 for installation on non-developer devices.
How do I download and install iOS 17?As of June 5, 2023, only registered Apple developers may download and install iOS 17 on their devices.
iOS 17 should only be installed on development-specific hardware because features may not be fully implemented at this time, and bugs are common in beta releases. Using this beta on production accounts and devices may result in data loss.
Registered developers should follow these steps to download and install the iOS 17 beta on development devices. Note: Apple requires that any device the beta is installed on is part of the Apple Developer Program.
iOS 17 will be compatible with the following iPhone models:
Devices not listed here will not receive feature updates contained in iOS 17 and will only receive select updates for security for older iOS versions. Most notably, iOS 17 will not be compatible with the iPhone 8, which is a long-time enterprise-issued device.
What new features are available in iOS 17? Phone appSince the inception of the iPhone’s Phone app, it has remained relatively unchanged. In iOS 17, it includes a lot of new features, such as the ability to set a profile picture and customize it for what shows up on other devices when you call them (Figure A).
Figure A
Phone app in iOS 17. Image: Apple, Inc.
In addition, you can screen callers with the Live Voicemail feature, allowing you to see on the screen a dictation of what the caller says during the voicemail recording and letting you pick up and take the call while the caller is recording their voicemail.
MessagesFor many iPhone users, Messages is the most used app on their device. New features in this app (Figure B) allow you to more seamlessly use iMessage apps to integrate with messages, search with filters that let you refine searches to a particular contact and context, or catch up more effectively in a group chat by jumping to the last unread message.
Figure B
Messages app in iOS 17. Image: Apple, Inc.
In addition, if you prefer to use voice messages inside of the iMessage feature, these voice messages will now be transcribed inline, allowing for better searchability and the ability to read a voice message instead of needing to listen to it.
FaceTimeFaceTime is receiving a big overhaul in iOS 17. In FaceTime, you will get the option to leave a video voicemail for a user when they’re unavailable. Also, while on a FaceTime call, you will be able to perform hand gestures as well as react with 3D effects in the video. This is great when you want to give a quick thumbs-up and have it called out more prominently during a meeting.
Widgets and Standby featureApple has updated widgets in iOS 17, so they are interactive. Plus, you will be able to tap items in the widget to interact with the apps they’re connected to without opening the app; this will make interactivity with widgets much better and increase their usefulness for many apps.
Apple introduced a new way to use your iPhone while it’s charging or just sitting on your desk with a new feature called Standby (Figure C). This feature lets you rotate your iPhone while it’s charging to see an interactive view of your calendar, widgets, clock and more.
Figure C
Standby feature in iOS 17. Image: Apple, Inc.
Standby can turn your iPhone into a smart home-style screen for free and add a lot of useful features when it would otherwise just be charging and not in use, making for great glanceable interfaces while working, driving or at night while charging your device.
AirDrop and NameDropAirDrop received a major update after several changes to this system over the course of the previous year. AirDrop in iOS 17 will enable users to share data between iPhones or Apple Watches with ease by simply tapping their devices together (Figure D).
Figure D
AirDrop in iOS 17. Image: Apple, Inc.
A new feature called NameDrop will enable two users to easily share their contact information (or a subset of contact data chosen by each user) by simply tapping their iPhones together. In addition, AirDrop will allow users to start a transfer, then leave AirDrop range and still continue transferring data between devices over the internet securely and privately.
SEE: How to limit AirDrop spam in iOS 16.2
Keyboard improvementsApple notes that iOS 17 has substantial keyboard improvements that make for a better typing experience for iPhone users.
Autocorrect is more effective at finding and replacing misspelled words and being more intentional about which words to correct. Autocorrected words will appear with an underline, allowing you to tap the word to revert to the non-autocorrected word instead.
In addition, new predictive typing will suggest words as you type, and pressing the spacebar will accept the word or phrase suggestion and insert it automatically as you type, making for much faster typing while on the go on iPhone and iOS 17.
AirPlayAirPlay’s update in iOS 17 will allow the system to automatically recommend content to be AirPlayed over time (Figure E). This feature, coupled with the ability for Apple TV to display a QR code to connect easily, means that sharing content via AirPlay for conferences and presentations will be easier than ever.
Figure E
AirPlay in iOS 17. Image: Apple, Inc.
PDFs and Notes
Apple is baking new PDF editing capabilities into iOS 17, making it easier to fill out PDFs that you’ve received by email or message or scanned in through Notes. PDFs will be scanned by built-in machine learning technology to find areas that need to be filled out, allowing you to easily tab through a document and type in data that needs to be inputted. Then, you can sign and date documents using your saved signatures from iPad using Apple Pencil or macOS.
Privacy and securityIn iOS 17, Apple has updated the following privacy and security features, continuing to make it one of the most secure mobile operating systems in the world:
Last year, Apple introduced passkeys as a way to reduce the need for passwords and make securing your online accounts more seamless and digitally secure. This year, Apple has added the ability to share your passwords and passkeys with other iCloud users right from the Settings app.
Select Settings | Passwords, and then, tap a password you’d like to share. This presents an option to share the password or passkey with others.
You can also create groups of passwords to share with trusted contacts, and when these passwords change or update, they’ll all receive the updated password. This is great for company or family password sharing for websites and accounts that are accessed by multiple people through a single account.
Other notable features of iOS 17Fantasy Football cheat sheets: PPR, non-PPR, depth charts
If you're seeking a one-stop shop for updated 2023 fantasy football rankings, depth charts and cheat sheets throughout the summer, you've come to the right place. Below, you will find them for PPR (point per reception) and non-PPR formats, as well as dynasty leagues.
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PPR positional cheat sheetOne sheet with players broken down by position, including overall rank, salary-cap value and bye weeks for leagues that award one point for each catch. We recommend this sheet for those using half-PPR, as the rankings are extremely similar. Download »
PPR top-300 cheat sheetThis sheet features 300 players in order of overall draft value, with positional rank, salary-cap value and bye-week information for leagues that reward each catch with a point. We recommend this sheet for those using half-PPR, as the rankings are extremely similar. Download »
Beginner's fantasy football PPR cheat sheetThe beginner's cheat sheet is streamlined to the 160 players you need to know for your 10-team PPR draft, organized by round and a write-in area to keep track of your team. Perfect for the first-time drafters and minimalists alike. Download >>
PPR top-300 superflex cheat sheetThis sheet features our rankings when drafting for a league featuring the offensive player (OP) slot, also known as superflex and available as a custom option in League Manager. The OP position can be filled by any QB-, RB-, WR- or TE-eligible player, which greatly enhances the value of quarterbacks in the rankings. Download »
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Non-PPR positional cheat sheetFor leagues using the scoring format that doesn't award an extra point for each reception. One sheet with players broken down by position, including overall rank, salary-cap value and bye weeks. Download »
Non-PPR top-300 cheat sheetThis sheet features 300 players in order of overall draft value, with positional rank, salary-cap value and bye-week information. Download »
Mike Clay's team-by-team projection guideIf you want the full breakdown for all 32 teams, you've come to the right place. Download »
Go deeper on every player
Mike Clay's projections and outlooks for hundreds of players for the 2023 fantasy football season.
2023 projections & outlooks
NFL team depth chart cheat sheetFantasy depth charts for each NFL team: top two quarterbacks, three running backs, four wide receivers, two tight ends and a kicker. Prioritized by fantasy value in PPR leagues rather than role-defined on a traditional NFL depth chart, this includes players' overall ranks. Download »
Dynasty cheat sheetFeatures the top 240 players and 60 best rookies to make all of your keeper and dynasty league decisions. Includes the players' draft years/rounds and ages at the start of the 2022 season. Download »
* All cheat sheets are in PDF format. Your device must be equipped with a PDF reader for you to access and print the cheat sheet.
