Apple has rolled out iOS 17.2.1, a minor update focused on bug fixes, concurrently developing iOS 17.3 with enhanced security measures against stolen devices. While iOS 17.2.1 itself primarily addresses underlying issues, its predecessor, iOS 17.2, brought a plethora of features and improvements.
iOS 17.2 featured the debut of the Journal app, an innovative tool designed to enhance users’ well-being through journaling. The app intelligently organizes moments, from outings to workouts, offering suggestions for meaningful journal entries.
With filters and scheduled notifications, users can easily revisit and reflect on key moments in their lives. Notably, the Journal app also introduces the option to lock entries using Touch ID or Face ID, ensuring privacy and security.
The update also brought enhancements to the Action button, offering a Translate option for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max users to quickly translate phrases or engage in multilingual conversations. The Camera features spatial video recording, allowing users to capture three-dimensional audio and video on the iPhone 15 Pro models. Additionally, improvements to the Telephoto camera focusing speed have been implemented.
In the Messages app, iOS 17.2 introduced a Catch-up arrow for easy navigation to the first unread message in a conversation, an Add sticker option in the context menu, and updates to Memoji, including the ability to adjust the body shape of any Memoji.
Noteworthy security enhancements include Contact Key Verification, providing automatic alerts and Contact Verification Codes for individuals facing digital threats.
The Weather app received attention with new widgets, including options for next-hour precipitation, daily forecast, sunrise and sunset times, and current conditions such as Air Quality, Feels Like, and wind speed. An interactive moon calendar allows users to visualize the moon’s phase for any day in the next month.
Among the improvements and bug fixes, Siri now supports privately accessing and logging Health app data using voice commands. AirDrop sees expanded contact sharing options, and users can share boarding passes and other eligible passes by bringing two iPhones together.
The Apple Music app introduces a Favorite Songs Playlist for quick access to marked favorites, and the Listening History can be disabled in a Focus to maintain privacy.
Users can check for updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update on their devices.
Source: via | iOS 17.2.1 release
