Apple today debuts iOS 11, its next-generation mobile operating system.
Starting with messages, iOS 11 introduces improved discoverability for stickers and emoji. iOS 11 will automatically synchronize conversations across devices (iPhone, iPad, macOS), including deleted messages and threads. Apple says most iMessage content is stored in the cloud, which means it uses less storage on mobile devices.
Apple Pay gets a boost in iOS 11, too, with the addition of person-to-person payments. The idea here is to make it easy to send money from one person to another when cash isn’t available.
Apple was sure to upgrade Siri. Apple used deep learning to create a new voice for Siri, both female and male. The app interface now displays multiple results, and can handle translation. Translations works between English and Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. SiriKit, for developers allows developers to push Siri deeper unto their own applications.
The camera application takes advantage of new compression techniques in order to use less on-device storage. The camera roll gains more tools for Live Photos, which allows for video looping and other effects such as bouncing.
The Depth API lets developers take advantage of the iPhone 7 Plus’s dual-camera array for portrait-style photos The camera roll takes advantage of machine learning to identify the subjects within photos and tag them accordingly. Live Photos now support trimming, shortening, and more. iOS 11 redesigns the Control Center, as well as the lock screen and notifications center in order to make vital controls and data as easy to reach as possible.
Apple Maps gains indoor map data, such as mall and airport floor plans, for navigating around within large buidings. A new tool called ‘Do No Disturb While Driving’ will essentially silence the device and prevent notifications from reaching your iPhone when it senses it is driving.
AirPlay 2 brings with it playback controls for multi-room speakers. A separate API will help developers add AirPlay 2 and multi-room functionality to their own speakers. Apple Music lets people see what their friends are listening to.
The new MusicKit API for developers will target social sharing for music, too. Apple is offering iOS 11 to developers in beta starting today.
Apple expects to kick off the public beta for iOS 11 later this summer. The operating system won’t reach all users until the fall.
