Sorry iPhone users: These 5 new iOS 17 features were on Android first | Digit

While Apple’s first ever augmented mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro, stole the show at WWDC 2023’s opening keynote, similar excitement was received by iOS 17 as Apple showed off a whole host of new features and software upgrades coming to the mobile operating system.. 

However, now that we know what all iOS 17 is going to bring to the iPhone, comparisons between Android and the latest iOS 17 are inevitable, of course. Let’s explore the similar elements of the two operating systems.  

1) Smart display functionality while charging

Apple has now featured Standby functionality on the iPhones where the display showcases a host of information when kept in the landscape format or when the cell phone is using wireless charging. In brief, the screen will display notifications for calendar, smart home settings, photo albums among others.

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The features that are being introduced now have prevailed for Pixel phones. When kept on the proprietary wireless charging pad the cell phone display showcases Google photos, smart home buttons, Google assistant and others. However, Apple might take the technology further by enabling the functionality for any MagSafe wireless charging pad.    

2) Offline map downloads

We cannot explain if this feature is actually a latest addition or just a bad decision of not incorporating already. Google has had the option to download and access offline maps since 2012 and additionally, the system also offered offline navigation – however, Apple is offering it after a decade which really speaks volumes. 

Moreover, the feature allows you to download a rectangular area from the map and not the entire map so an upgrade is still required on this feature.  

3) Live Voicemail

Another feature that was introduced was transcribing voicemails so you can decide if you want to access the voicemail or not. The feature is called live voicemail however, we have seen this before as well with Google’s Call screen feature.

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Google introduced the feature for its Pixel phones back in 2019 where the caller was asked for more information which was given to the receiver to decide whether the call should be taken forward. While Google did it first, we can only expect that Apple introducing it will push the former to release the feature worldwide. 

4) Dropping wake words for some commands

With the new update you can roll out back-to-back commands with one voice command,“Hey Siri” instead of using a woke word for each command. The brand aims at making the smart assistant experience seamless. 

However, Google beat Apple to this long ago in 2017 with their Android TV system and then later in 2019 with the update for their cell phones. The continuous conversations functionality was called ‘Quick Phrases’. With this function you could access commands without having to say ‘Okay Google’ for instance, set a timer or stop an alarm. 

5) Quickly undoing an autocorrected word

Another feature that Apple OS is now offering is reverting an autocorrected word back to original. Now, yeah we get it. For all the Android users this is as basic as a calling feature on the system. However, for Apple this is a major update. Where you can go back to the autocorrected word. However, Gboard has been offering this feature for a long long time and it still does not give you the access to just backspace the word you need to manually select and change the word. So yeah, a major updated feature.  

Some of the other features that Apple has adapted from Android is EV charging station availability in Apple Maps which was offered long back by Google Maps in 2019. In addition, sole permission for a specific photo rather than all photos is another feature that was seen in Android 13 and apparent multi-timer support.

Apple has always been open and comfortable about taking inspiration from rivals and developing new improvements on it. And we can only hope that this camaraderie can be seen with developments for Android OEMs as well.

What are your thoughts about the WWDC announcements and what are the services and products that got you the most excited? Do you think taking inspiration from the rivals helps in advancement of technology at large? Let us know at [email protected].