Today, Apple is releasing iOS 17, iPadOS 17, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10. The new versions may even be available by the time you read this email. Next Tuesday, macOS Sonoma will be generally available.

I generally recommend installing the first four within two weeks of their release. The iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Watch hardware platforms are tightly controlled so there end up being fewer bugs and incompatibilities affecting users’ devices.

It can be valuable to wait until Apple releases a .0.1 or .0.2 update that resolves the most immediate issues. Otherwise, these upgrades tend to be pretty thoroughly tested by developers and public beta testers before their final release.

Also, this is the first time since 2018 that Apple is planning to release a new version of macOS just a week after all of its siblings get their annual upgrade. However, I still recommend waiting 1–3 months until this receives one or two updates before diving in.

iPhone

There are some exciting new features coming to iOS 17, including the ability to ask Siri to read a whole webpage (and indicating how long the reading will take), Check-In to let loved ones know you arrived safely, and Ping My Watch to locate your Apple Watch using your iPhone just like you do the other way around.

One of the most significant additions is Offline Maps. This feature has been part of Google Maps for quite a while, however I think Apple’s designers have given it more thorough consideration, including making updates and conserving battery and storage.

After you upgrade to iOS 17, I recommend you open Maps and search for an area you frequent. In the location information card, tap Download. Drag the handles to select the specific area you want to capture. Maps will indicate how much space is required for the offline map before you download it.

Once you’ve done so, you can permit Maps to automatically update the offline map version, only use Wi-Fi or also Cellular for downloads, optimize storage, and even restrict Maps to the offline versions. This can be a great way to conserve battery and/or cellular data while on the go, especially when traveling beyond the coverage of your carrier.

Apple Watch

With watchOS 10, Apple has completely redesigned the Apple Watch interface, including the functions of buttons and the visual experience.

This may come as a surprise to you when you upgrade, but I’m told the new approach is way more intuitive, makes information more glanceable, and is more consistent with regard to navigation and accessing content.

Here’s an overview:

  1. To glance at information from a variety of apps, watchOS offers widgets organized in Smart Stacks. This matches the same elements on iPhone and iPad. Turn the Digital Crown or swipe up to show widgets and scroll through them.
  2. To activate Control Center, just click the side button. No need to go back to the clock; this works from any app.
  3. To see a list of available apps, click the Digital Crown. To see recent apps and force quit them, double-click the Digital Crown. (This makes the Digital Crown more similar to the iPhone/iPad Home button.)
  4. To change watch faces, think of them like iPhone lock screens: Long press on a face, swipe right or left to the next face, and tap on the face you want.

[Update: Customer feedback led Apple to reverse on that last one. To switch watch faces by swiping from left or right edge, enable this option on your Apple Watch in Settings > Clock.]

Mac

macOS Sonoma is chock full of exciting improvements, too, including:

  • Widgets on Desktop, a semi-redevelopment of the late Dashboard, with some interactivity that I hope will increase as developers add their own widget creations
  • Multiple ways to augment your presence and share windows or apps in a video meeting
  • Preview can detect PDF form fields and autofill with saved information (coming later this year)

Want to know more? Peruse the full range of new features in this PDF.

I look forward to sharing more tips and hearing what you discover in the new versions.

Are you using a device that doesn’t support the new software? Feel free to reach out for a consultation.

I’m happy to help you decide whether it’s time to consider something new (or newer), find you a good deal, and support your transition.