Apple is planning to release a new feature that turns a locked iPhone into a smart home display with iOS 17, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The interface will reportedly display information such as calendar appointments, weather and notifications in the style of a smart home display when the phone is locked and positioned horizontally.
Gurman notes that the interface will work similarly to smart home devices from Google and Amazon. The idea behind the reported feature is to make iPhones more useful when they are not actually being used and lying on a desk or nightstand. The feature will use a dark background with bright text to make it easier to read from a distance.
The smart home-style display will build on Apple’s lock screen widgets, which launched last year as part of iOS 16 and allow users to see nitty-gritty information like the weather and news below the time on their lock screen. Is.
Gurman says that Apple is working on bringing this smart home-style display feature to the iPad, but notes that the company doesn’t bring features to the iPad as fast as it does with the iPhone, noting that iPhone lock screen widgets are not yet available. on iPad.
The report also states that Apple is planning to bring significant changes to the iPhone’s Wallet app with iOS 17 and will improve its location services. Other changes include a dedicated journaling app designed to help users log their thoughts. In addition, Apple is said to be working on an update to SharePlay, its feature that lets users stream TV shows, movies, and music together over FaceTime calls with friends and family.
AirPlay, which lets you stream or share content from your Apple devices to your Apple TV or compatible smart TV, is also going to be getting some updates. Gurman writes that the tech giant is in talks with hotels to make it easier for users to stream video and audio to devices they don’t own.
Gurman previously reported that Apple is working on technology to track emotions and plans to roll out an iPad version of the iPhone Health app this year. Apple’s Health app will also get tools for tracking emotions and managing vision conditions like myopia.
Apple will likely reveal the Smart Home-style DisplayPort feature alongside iOS 17 at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5. The tech giant is expected to release xrOS alongside its new AR/VR headset and new Mac laptops and software.
