Apple unveiled iOS 17, its latest operating system for iPhones, at the Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Park in Cupertino, California in June.
The new software, which aims to make the iPhone a “more personal and intuitive” experience, is set to be released on Monday, September 18.
The National explores some of the top features of iOS 17. However, Apple Hub confirmed on X, formely Twitter, that not all of the features will be available at launch.
What time will iOS 17 be released?
The new software will be released at 10am Pacific Time, which is 9pm in the UAE.
The developer preview of iOS 17 was made available to Apple developer programme members at developer.apple.com in July.
A public beta has been made available to iOS users at beta.apple.com.
Contact Posters
In the new phone app, iPhone users can now customise how they appear when they call someone else.
The feature brings a new look to incoming calls, and users can choose customised photos, typography and font colours. These "Contact Posters" will also be available for third-party calling apps.
Live Voicemail
The new feature allows users to see real-time transcription as someone leaves a voicemail. If the voicemail is important, they can also pick up while the caller is leaving their message.
Calls identified as spam by carriers will not appear as live voicemail, and will instead be instantly dropped.
Using neural engine technology, live voicemail transcription is handled on-device and remains entirely private, Apple said.
Introducing NameDrop
Using NameDrop, the new operating system will let users share contact information simply by bringing their iPhones together, or by bringing an iPhone and Apple Watch together.
With the same gesture, users can also share content or start SharePlay to listen to music, watch a movie or play a game while in close proximity to other iPhones.
Enhanced Autocorrect to improve users’ experience
Autocorrect has received a machine-learning update that will enhance word prediction. It aims to improve the experience and accuracy for users every time they type.
Users will now receive predictive text recommendations inline as they type, so adding entire words or completing sentences will be as easy as tapping the space bar.
All-new Journal app
Apple has introduced a new app called Journal that is designed to help iPhone users reflect and practise gratitude.
Using on-device machine learning, personalised suggestions can be provided to inspire a user’s journal entry, Apple said.
“Suggestions are intelligently curated from recent activity, including photos, people, places, workouts and more, making it easy to start a journal entry, and scheduled notifications can help build a journaling habit,” the company said.
The Journal App however will not be made available at launch, and users will have to wait for it to be introduced.
Adding more mass to AirTag
AirTag can be shared with up to five other people, allowing friends and family to keep track of an item in the Find My application.
Users can form a group and everyone in it will be able to see an item’s location, play a sound, and use a precision finding feature to help pinpoint the location of a shared AirTag when nearby.
New StandBy feature
StandBy feature offers users a full-screen experience, displaying useful information that can be viewed on iPhone from a distance.
It is perfect on a nightstand, kitchen counter or desk, and can be personalised to display a range of beautiful clock styles or photos.
More features coming to 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.
Users can view up to four cameras simultaneously and new categories such as lights, security and climate are now at the top of the home tab, giving users instant access to them.
Check In - let family know you’ve arrived
iOS 17 has introduced a new feature, Check In, which will let users notify a family member or friend that they have made it to their destination safely.
After a user initiates a Check In, their friend or family member will automatically be notified as soon as the user arrives.
“If they are not making progress towards their destination, useful information will be temporarily shared with the selected contact, such as the device’s location, battery level and cell service status,” Apple said.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
Rating: Two out of five stars
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
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GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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