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After the release of the first beta over two weeks ago, the second public beta of iOS 17 is now available to public testers in Apple Beta Software Program. Alongside this release, Apple has also introduced the second public beta of iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, tvOS 17, and macOS Sonoma. There are also new revised versions of the fourth developer betas of iOS and macOS Sonoma.
The release of the new beta signals the continuous testing of the update before Apple makes its final rollout to every compatible iPhone device. There are no huge additions to expect from the new public beta, but it is certain that the Cupertino company has made barely noticeable backend improvements in the update.
As usual, all the features tested in the iOS 17 Developer Beta 4 are still included in the second public beta. Some of them include:
- StandBy. After earlier reports, Apple confirmed the feature in the event. The idea behind the feature is to turn your iPhone into a smart home display when locked and placed horizontally. The information it will show will depend on the preferences of the iPhone owners, and it will employ the system’s widgets. Some include the calendar, clock, reminders, alerts, and more.
- NameDrop. Building on Apple’s AirDrop capability, NameDrop will allow users to use a new gesture to trigger a sharing action of contact information. This will enable an easier and more convenient way of sharing your details, especially when meeting several new people during events.
- Live voicemail transcription. In iOS 17, the devices will be able to display live transcripts while someone is leaving a message or voicemail. These transcripts will be shown on the device screen while simultaneously featuring the caller’s contact card and the Message and Accept buttons.
- Journal app. iOS 17 also signals the arrival of a dedicated journaling app for Apple customers. Like the keyboard improvements, the Journal app will use ML to provide suggestions. It can use different data on your device, including music and location, to suggest topics and content you can discuss and include in your journal.
- Contact Posters. iOS 17 users can customize the looks of their own contact cards or the cards that belong to other individuals in their Phone app. Contact Posters will give iOS 17 users a set of tools that they can use to customize (or, basically, edit) the appearance of their contact cards.
According to previous reports, Apple has been testing some hidden features in iOS 17, as shown in the codes of the update. This includes the possible optimization options for iPhone 15’s Action Button, such as Accessibility, Shortcuts, Silent Mode, Camera, Flashlight, Focus, Magnifier, Translate, and Voice Memos. Apple is also reportedly testing macOS’ Game Mode feature in iOS 17. Once available to iPhones or iPads, the feature should allow an optimized gaming experience through smoother and more consistent frame rates. The company says this will be possible by giving games the highest priority on the CPU and GPU when the mode is enabled.
The update’s official release is expected in September, but it is important to note that Apple will only offer it to certain devices. For the compatibility details of the update, click here. We also have a separate article for those considering trying the beta versions of iOS 17, though it is better to wait for the final version, where there will be lower chances of bugs to experience.
