All the New Features Apple Didn’t Announce at WWDC

Apple’s WWDC keynote featured Mac product updates, a new “spatial computing” headset, and what felt like a rushed section of OS updates. But while Apple covered all the big new features, there are many small and interesting ones heading to your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch that Apple didn’t make time to cover. We have the time, though.

New features coming to iOS 17 and iPadOS 17

iPhone gets interactive widgets, too

Apple highlighted interactive widgets on the iPadOS section, but the iPhone will get them as well. You’ll finally get tappable buttons in widgets that will actually do something, instead of just opening the app. That includes things like pausing music, checking off a to-do list, and more.

New lock screen upgrades

The motion wallpaper from iPadOS is also available on the iPhone. If you use a Live Photo for your background, you’ll see it animate when you pick up your iPhone. And if you’re using a Portrait photo, you’ll be able to switch the background to a solid colour using a swipe. Plus, if you go into the font options, you’ll see a slider to increase or decrease the font weight for the clock.

Multiple timers finally come to the iPhone

The future is truly upon us: The iPhone (and iPad) now have the ability to run multiple timers together. You can name them to keep track of what each time is for, and they even show up as a stack on the Lock Screen.

Settings toggles appear in Spotlight search

You can now toggle settings items right from Spotlight search — no need to dive into settings just to temporarily disable the Always-On display.

AutoFill verification works over email

One-time password AutoFill is one of the best features Apple ever shipped, and now it works via email, too. If you get a login passcode via email, it will show up as a suggestion above the keyboard when you go to log into the account.

A related feature is this new toggle in Settings. It lets you automatically clean up used verification code messages for both SMS and email, so you don’t have to live with these one-time texts littering your Messages app.

iOS 17 will clean up all those verification code messages via text AND email 🤯 pic.twitter.com/FNDgDsAiXE

— Stephen Robles (@stephenrobles) June 5, 2023

Big changes to the Podcasts app

Apple didn’t mention this in WWDC, but the Podcasts app is getting some major changes. First of all, there’s a new interactive widget that lets you play and pause right from the home screen. The Up Next screen has also been redesigned. From the Now Playing screen, you’ll be able to drag and drop episodes to rearrange the queue. In the episodes list, you’ll get custom artwork for each individual episode, too.

Collaboration in Apple Music

While the feature is listed as “coming later in the year,” you’ll finally be able to collaborate on playlists in Apple Music. This is something that Spotify converts have wanted for ages now.

Shared Passwords and Passkeys

Apple had this in the Mac section, but you will be able to share passwords and passkeys with a specific set of users on iPhone and iPad as well.

Apple Maps and EVs

Apple Maps now lets you choose your preferred EV charging network, and will even show real-time availability.

New Memoji stickers

After a long time, Apple has added new Memoji stickers to the Messages app. They include Halo, Smirk, and Peekaboo.

Many new security features

Apple is expanding its Communication Safety feature, which helps parents track if their child is sending or receiving media containing nudity. It was previously limited to Messages but now includes AirDrop, FaceTime messages, photo picker, and even third-party apps. All users now have the option to blur sensitive images in the above apps before viewing them, using on-device processing. Plus, Lockdown mode now comes to the Apple Watch as well.

Shared AirTags

AirTags can now be shared with up to five individuals, who can keep track of the items in the Find My app. All group members will be able to see an item’s location, play a sound, and use Precision Finding to help pinpoint the location of a shared AirTag when nearby.

Activity History in Home app

The Home app adds the ability for users to view up to 30 days of activity history across door locks, garage doors, alarm systems, and contact sensors. Plus, Matter-compatible locks now get access to tap to unlock and PIN codes.

New features coming to watchOS 10

Control Centre anywhere on Apple Watch

You can now access the Control Centre from anywhere by pressing the Side button.

Ping your Apple Watch from your iPhone

We all know you can use your Apple Watch to find your iPhone, but what if you’ve misplaced your Apple Watch itself? Now, there’s a new control you can add to Control Centre that lets you ping your Apple Watch, too.