Widgetization — iOS 17 review: StandBy for more features Messaging features lead a low-key refresh of the iPhones software.
Samuel Axon – Sep 20, 2023 7:03 pm UTC Enlarge / iOS 17 isn’t a radical step forward, but there’s still plenty to dig into.Samuel Axon reader comments 159 with
With the impending launch of Vision Pro and visionOS, it might look like iOS and iPadOS arent Apples main focus right now. Nevertheless, this years update promises some notable additionseven if some wont be available until weeks or months down the line.
Theres one major new feature thats available right awayStandBy, which turns your phone into a smart display. Core communications apps like Messages, Phone, and FaceTime are cornerstones of this update, too, along with new ways to use AirDrop. And as usual, Apple has introduced some new AI-powered features, including improved autocorrect and typing suggestions.
Meanwhile, the iPad got some key features from last years iPhone software update, plus improvements to the controversial Stage Manager multitasking view.
Several planned features, like a new journaling app, didnt make it in this initial launch, but Apple plans to roll them out in smaller updates during iOS 17s yearlong cycle.
Even though this isnt one of the more dramatic iOS annual updates, theres still plenty to talk about. Lets start with StandBy. Table of Contents StandBy Widgets, Photos, and Clock Live Activities and Siri Notifications The widgetization of iOS continues Interactive widgets Live Activities Phone, Messages, and FaceTime Contact posters The dream of the 90s is alive in the Phone app Messages and more Search filters NameDrop Check In and Live Location The grab bag: Other notable changes Offline maps Safari profiles New privacy features Siri stuff Autocorrect and predictive text iPadOS 17 Coming later Its a slow year (but were not complaining) The good The bad The ugly StandBy
While there are several app-specific additions throughout iOS 17, the headlining new feature is StandBy, which turns your phone into a sort of smart display or digital clock on your nightstand. Its on by default, and it activates when you connect your iPhone to a power source and leave it still in a landscape orientation.
Given leaks and rumors about a HomePod-with-smart-display over the past couple of years, its hard not to see this feature as a peek at a future product. It probably is, but its also a nice addition for iPhone owners, even if its not an essential one.
You might remember the multi-year craze at CES of Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa smart displays. Those products found their niche, but they were clearly overhyped. Regardless, thats basically what this is, but it runs right on your iPhone without the need for additional hardwareand its Siri instead of those two arguably more useful voice assistants. Advertisement StandBy’s clock page in night mode. Samuel Axon The widget page in night mode. Samuel Aoxn
You can choose between two viewing modes for StandBy in the Settings app. The default one is a low-brightness full-color option akin to the default behavior of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pros always-on home screen. Theres also a night mode, which brings the brightness way down for a two-tone, red-text-on-a-black-background look that reminds me uncannily of Nintendos ill-fated Virtual Boy. Id pick the night mode option if I put an iPhone in StandBy mode by my bed at night; the other one is too bright and distracting and is more suitable for an office desk or the kitchen counter. Widgets, Photos, and Clock
StandBy takes over your phones entire screen when it activates, and its split into three distinct pages: widgets, photos, and clock.
The first of those shows two side-by-side app widgets, each of which takes up wholly half of the screen. The designs and functionality of these widgets are similar to small, 2×2 home screen widgets. The widgets page in StandBy with a calendar and weather. Samuel Axon The clock and photo widgets. Samuel Axon This is the widget picker for StandBy. Samuel Axon This is the full-screen photos page. Samuel Axon
Photos serves up full-screen images from your library in the Photos app. You can swipe up and down between albums, and it automatically picks some to start with, like featured, pets, and cities. You can choose your own albums for it, too.
Lastly, theres a full-screen clock that comes in five swipeable styles: Analog, Digital, World, Solar, and Float. These clocks look great, and I have a feeling many people who use StandBy will just opt for these instead of the more involved pages. The “Analog” StandBy clock. Samuel Axon The “Digital” StandBy clock. Samuel Axon The “World” StandBy clock. Samuel Axon The “Solar” StandBy clock. Samuel Axon The “Float” StandBy clock. Samuel Axon Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next → reader comments 159 with Samuel Axon Samuel is a senior editor at Ars Technica. He primarily covers software development, gaming, Apple, consumer technology, and mixed reality. He has been writing about gaming and technology for 15 years, and is a Chicago-based game developer. Advertisement Channel Ars Technica ← Previous story Next story → Related Stories Today on Ars